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Japan Without the Stress: A Local’s Guide to Family-Friendly Travel
1 Plays4 minutes ago
Planning a trip to Japan but feeling overwhelmed? Kay A. is here to help. As a Canadian woman raising a family in Japan, she’s got the inside scoop on how to make your travel experience smoother, richer, and way less stressful — whether you’re going solo, as a couple, or with kids in tow. We chat about where to go, what to skip, and how to avoid the common mistakes first-timers make. This episode is packed with real talk and practical tips to help you travel Japan with confidence and curiosity.
Follow Kay on TinyTotInTokyo
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Transcript
Introduction and Early Impressions of Japan
Cultural Adjustments and Living Expenses: Japan vs. Canada
00:00:05
CHANTELLE KINCY
Hi, and welcome back to Go Far Girl. Today, we're here with Kay. Kay is a Canadian freelance writer and occasional voice actor who's been living in Japan for more than a decade. She writes about what it's like to raise a child in Japan and to travel with them on her website, Tiny Tot in Tokyo.
00:00:21
CHANTELLE KINCY
You can find that link down in the description. So be sure and check that out so you can follow Kay's adventures through Japan and maybe plan your own adventures. So if you missed last week, you'll definitely want to go back and check that out.
00:00:33
CHANTELLE KINCY
Kay was talking about how she ended up by living in Japan from Canada, what it's been like raising her daughter there and all the juicy details of her life that she was so kind to share with us. But today she really wants to tell us about Japan itself and how you can get to Japan and what you should do while you're there and how to do it. because
Travel Tips and Culinary Experiences in Japan
00:00:51
CHANTELLE KINCY
and Japan is an amazing destination, but it really does feel very overwhelming for people, especially new travelers.
00:00:58
CHANTELLE KINCY
So having someone who's been a tourist but also lives there now is going to be invaluable to your Japan traveling. So, okay, welcome back. Thanks for being with us again.
00:01:08
Kay
what Thank you for having me again.
00:01:11
CHANTELLE KINCY
course. So tell us a little bit about um family travel. So your daughter, is is she toddler, a young child now?
00:01:21
Kay
yeah she's five years old.
00:01:22
CHANTELLE KINCY
She's five. Okay. so that's the age group that we're working with here.
00:01:24
Kay
Yeah.
00:01:26
Kay
Mm hmm.
00:01:26
CHANTELLE KINCY
So just for everyone listening.
00:01:27
CHANTELLE KINCY
So what have been kind of your favorite destinations that you've gone to with, with your family, with your husband and your daughter?
00:01:35
Kay
Ah, well, um, Obviously, i like Osaka, but that's not necessarily a destination for me. But for other people, Osaka is absolutely amazing for kids. um And I didn't realize that until I moved here. I find the fit the city far less overwhelming compared to Tokyo. it's For me, it's easier to travel with my daughter, um to go different places. There's lots of like indoor playgrounds, outdoor playgrounds.
00:02:07
Kay
great places to eat. There's Universal Studios Japan. um
00:02:12
CHANTELLE KINCY
Oh, yeah.
00:02:12
Kay
But yeah, apart ah apart from Osaka, I, well, my family really likes Wakayama Prefecture.
00:02:13
CHANTELLE KINCY
Forgot about that.
00:02:20
Kay
And I think not many people know about Wakayama.
00:02:20
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:02:22
Kay
It's like, still, I suppose, a bit of a hidden gem. um
00:02:26
CHANTELLE KINCY
o Tell us about it.
00:02:27
Kay
It's, yeah, it's ah it's, you know, right next to ah Nara Prefecture, which is like right next to, oh, next to Nara and next to Osaka. So It's very easy to get there.
00:02:39
Kay
um It takes about two hours, but I think it's absolutely worth it. um So every summer we make sure to go on a trip to Wakayama and, you know, we go to the beach because the water there is absolutely beautiful.
00:02:54
Kay
It's ah some of the best I've, sorry, it's some of the clearest I've seen in Japan ah so far.
00:03:00
CHANTELLE KINCY
Ooh.
00:03:01
Kay
And, you know, they have world heritage sites. They have, you know, this place called Kumano Kodo, which is a series of pilgrimage trails in Japan. um And what else they have? They have an Animal Kingdom, which is one of the few zoos in
Navigating Japanese Cultural Etiquette
00:03:21
Kay
Japan where animals are really taken care of and they have plenty of space.
00:03:25
Kay
So yeah, we have a lot of fun going there.
00:03:29
CHANTELLE KINCY
Is public transportation the way to do things in Japan? Or do you drive? and Maybe you drive because you live there, but as a tourist, would you get a car or would you take a train? How do you get around?
00:03:41
Kay
ah It depends on where you want to go If you want to stick to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, you know, cities like that, um you should definitely take public transportation. I do not recommend driving in those cities whatsoever.
00:03:55
Kay
um
00:03:55
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:03:56
Kay
But if you, you know, want to do a day trip somewhere, definitely consider renting a car. Um, It can be really tricky driving in Japan. Like as a Canadian, I'm so used to our wide, spacious roads. And ah I was so nervous to first drive here. Like it took me a little a little while to get used to it. And still, i'm i'm I can't do certain certain paths. Like for instance, I cannot drive to like the center of Osaka because it's really overwhelming. The traffic is like,
00:04:33
Kay
super crazy.
00:04:35
Kay
um And then when you get out to, you know, the countryside, the roads are so small. And sometimes there'll be a road that's two ways, but like goes in both directions.
00:04:35
CHANTELLE KINCY
Cheers.
00:04:48
Kay
But it's really the size of a one way. So you if a car comes, one of you has to back out.
00:04:51
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:04:55
Kay
And who knows how far you're going to be backing out until you find a spot where you can kind of like pull in and let the other car go. It's crazy, but yeah.
00:05:03
CHANTELLE KINCY
That's so stressful. Oh my God.
00:05:05
Kay
Yeah. Yeah. So if you're like a very, very confident driver, rent a car, if you're not so confident, I don't know if I would recommend it.
00:05:11
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah. If not.
00:05:17
CHANTELLE KINCY
Well, you lost me at the backup part because I would just have a panic.
00:05:21
Kay
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:22
CHANTELLE KINCY
I can go forward. Yeah.
00:05:24
Kay
Yeah. Just keeping it real.
00:05:25
CHANTELLE KINCY
i can go forward
00:05:29
CHANTELLE KINCY
Do you think that Japan is a good family friendly destination overall? Or would you recommend it more for like solo or couples? Or do you really think like anybody can find their place traveling to Japan?
00:05:40
Kay
Oh, anybody. It's like for all ages, I think.
00:05:42
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:05:44
Kay
Although I will say that, you know, maybe if you have a baby, it might it might be a little bit more challenging and because you got the stroller and then you you got the trains. And then for me, like when my daughter was a baby, I was quite nervous about taking the trains. and We were living in Tokyo at the time.
00:06:02
Kay
um And I was just, it was so overwhelming for me taking the trains with her that I just stayed home.
00:06:09
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:06:10
Kay
But ah yeah, other,
00:06:11
CHANTELLE KINCY
But that's kind the case in a big city, New York and LA.
00:06:13
Kay
yeah
00:06:14
CHANTELLE KINCY
I mean, it's always hectic.
00:06:14
Kay
Right, right.
00:06:16
CHANTELLE KINCY
So, you know, that makes sense, I guess, a big city like that and kind of the ins and outs of everything is just hectic.
00:06:23
Kay
Exactly. yeah And that's why i like I like on my blog, I have an article about whether or not to take a stroller. And like, I recommend taking a baby carrier if you can. But I like I also see the benefits of taking a stroller, you know, and
00:06:36
Kay
I guess it depends on the family.
00:06:36
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:06:38
CHANTELLE KINCY
probably so much baggage for babies for being so little they require so much
00:06:38
Kay
Um, but yeah yeah, exactly, exactly. Right. And then you're carrying everything and getting sweaty and then, uh, yeah, exactly. yeah,
00:06:47
CHANTELLE KINCY
is that the main thing you didn't like about Tokyo is the hecticness of it not that you didn't like it but like why you chose to not live in Tokyo would it just because it was like just too chaotic all the time too big
00:06:58
Kay
yeah yeah. I lived there for seven years and, um, you know, we go back about once a year. Um, and every time, um um Actually, like as a family, we go back once year, but my husband goes back like almost every week for work.
00:07:10
Kay
um And ah every time we're both of us were like, no, like we're so glad we moved.
00:07:18
CHANTELLE KINCY
it's another place yeah
00:07:19
Kay
It's it's not for us. It's not for us. And you know they and of course, they're city people. They thrive in those kind of environments, like and that's great for them. But you know for us, no, it's too much.
00:07:27
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah one of my sons is 25 now but he's always oh i just want to live in a big city where i can like
00:07:30
Kay
Yeah.
00:07:36
CHANTELLE KINCY
walk from work to a, to a bar and then walk to my apartment.
00:07:36
Kay
e
00:07:39
Kay
here
00:07:40
CHANTELLE KINCY
and And I was like, that sounds terrible. That sounds actually terrible. So maybe when I was, would have been great, but like, I don't want to do any of those things.
00:07:44
Kay
Oh, I know. Yeah.
00:07:49
Kay
Exactly. Exactly. you know, my husband and I, we thought the same thing when we were younger, when we when we were in our 20s, about the same age as your son. That's why we wanted to live in Tokyo. Of course, the the jobs are there.
00:07:59
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:08:00
Kay
That's one big thing that took us there. But we were both like, yeah, the big city, like going out every night.
00:08:05
CHANTELLE KINCY
there's always something to do. And yeah, no.
00:08:07
Kay
Oh, yeah. And now, now, no, like, oh yeah I think even if we didn't have um child, like we would much prefer going to like a local park, going camping, like we're those kind of people.
00:08:20
CHANTELLE KINCY
mr For sure.
00:08:21
Kay
Mm
00:08:22
CHANTELLE KINCY
sure. it's funny how that evolves over time, right? Like, i was ah I host women's trips and I'm hosting this trip to France.
00:08:26
Kay
hmm.
00:08:30
CHANTELLE KINCY
We're doing Christmas markets in December. And um my mom is coming with us and she said, oh my gosh, what am I going to do to keep up with you guys? Because you're all so much younger than me and you're going to just want to be up all night. And I said, mother, my itineraries are not going past 9 p.m.
00:08:46
Kay
no no yes yes absolutely yep yep yep
00:08:47
CHANTELLE KINCY
like We are resting. There will be plenty of bathroom breaks and resting. We are not doing this.
00:08:58
CHANTELLE KINCY
Whereas even just like 10 years ago ago, I would have been like, oh, we got to do this and this and this and this and this. And now I'm like, eh, nah.
00:09:05
Kay
yeah exactly and yeah when
00:09:05
CHANTELLE KINCY
Next time.
00:09:07
Kay
When you mentioned resting like that, that is what I want to do on a trip. Like I want to see maybe a few things, but I also want to relax and enjoy myself. I don't want to come back from a trip more exhausted than I was when I left.
00:09:19
CHANTELLE KINCY
oh Exactly. So wait, I just thought of this. This isn't what we were going to talk about, but where do people in Japan go for a vacation?
00:09:24
Kay
Hmm.
00:09:27
CHANTELLE KINCY
Like where's like the big destination, like Australia or like where do people go?
00:09:28
Kay
Hmm.
00:09:32
Kay
Ah, internationally. Hawaii is a big one. Japanese people love Hawaii.
00:09:36
CHANTELLE KINCY
oh okay.
00:09:38
Kay
So we we actually went last year. um and then our neighbors went ah this year. They just went two months ago. So ah yeah, people get married there a lot. ah Hawaii is big.
00:09:50
Kay
um Where else? Australia, definitely, because it's so close by. ah People go to ah South Korea. South Korea is a big one.
00:10:02
Kay
ah Yeah, people, that it's, you know, mainly, you know, women who go there for, you know, the cosmetics and the food and K-pop. Yeah.
00:10:14
Kay
Yeah, yeah.
00:10:16
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay. That just popped into my head because I think about that when I travel somewhere. Like I'll go to the Caribbean and i was like, man, you get to live here. And he's like, yeah, but it's a small island. It gets old after a while. And I was like, oh, that's true. So where do you go? And he's like, to like where you live. And i was like, that's sad. I'm sorry. Like.
00:10:33
Kay
No, I mean, America, like, ah you know, I've been to America a few times, but I'm Canadian.
00:10:34
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:10:39
Kay
So like, yeah, I guess but from the perspective, okay, from the perspective of Japanese people, though, like they, i think they they love visiting America.
00:10:41
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:10:48
Kay
Like my my in-laws went on their, they went to America for their honeymoon, San Francisco.
00:10:54
CHANTELLE KINCY
Interesting. Isn't that something?
00:10:55
Kay
Yeah, ah yeah.
00:10:58
CHANTELLE KINCY
never would have thought. Huh. Fun. Okay. Well, i just had to throw that in there because it popped in.
00:11:04
Kay
No, it's a good question. Definitely.
00:11:06
CHANTELLE KINCY
So just kind of get a little insight into, you know, what other people think and see, because when you are somewhere, of course, it's not exotic or enticing. You just want to get the heck away.
00:11:15
Kay
o Yeah.
00:11:16
CHANTELLE KINCY
So interesting. Interesting.
00:11:18
Kay
yeah I mean, like personally, like, um because I live in Japan, like I would love to go abroad more. um But especially Europe, I love Europe.
00:11:29
Kay
But unfortunately, plane tickets are very expensive. so they're just going going up and up and up so yeah you stay domestic
00:11:33
CHANTELLE KINCY
Are they?
00:11:35
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah. Is living expensive in Japan, would you say?
00:11:39
Kay
um not really i obviously tokyo is very expensive um it really depends on you know where you live if you live in the center of a big city like osaka or tokyo it's going to be the rent is going to be a bit more and you know
00:11:45
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:11:56
Kay
restaurants and groceries can be a little bit more expensive. And then when you go out to the countryside, it's really, really affordable, but it's really, really inconvenient.
00:12:05
Kay
But I think compared compared to Canada, it's definitely more affordable to live in Japan.
00:12:05
CHANTELLE KINCY
Gotcha.
00:12:12
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay. I love that. What would you say to a traveler? So what would be like the right amount of time for a vacation, which I know we would say indefinitely, like just come here forever.
00:12:22
CHANTELLE KINCY
But can you do a vacation justice in 10 14 days, 10 days?
00:12:22
Kay
Mm-hmm.
00:12:28
CHANTELLE KINCY
fourteen days I mean, how many places would you go? Kind of what if you, if I've never been there and I said, okay, help me plan a trip.
00:12:35
Kay
Yeah.
00:12:38
CHANTELLE KINCY
What would you, what would you tell me?
00:12:40
Kay
o
00:12:42
CHANTELLE KINCY
Because actually I want to plan a trip.
00:12:42
Kay
Well, yeah.
00:12:43
CHANTELLE KINCY
so Okay.
00:12:44
Kay
I see. i mean, i think minimum 14 days because, you know, you're flying all the way here, right?
00:12:51
CHANTELLE KINCY
Right.
00:12:52
Kay
And you you want some time to kind of adjust to the time difference and maybe, you know, take it easy on some days.
00:12:53
CHANTELLE KINCY
Right. right
00:13:00
Kay
it really depends on what you want to do. But I also recommend not trying to do it all. It can be so tempting, especially with social media, just like, you know, Japan influencers saying, go here, go here, go here.
00:13:12
CHANTELLE KINCY
I know.
00:13:14
Kay
Like, and then you'll, you'll have this like fear of missing out.
00:13:15
CHANTELLE KINCY
rent
00:13:17
Kay
Oh, I didn't go there. I should have gone. so you know, but yes.
00:13:19
CHANTELLE KINCY
Well, especially like you said, it's so far away, right? Like it's, you know a huge flight over a day to get there and then a day to get back.
00:13:25
Kay
Yeah.
00:13:29
CHANTELLE KINCY
And so, and then like you said, the time difference, I'm 16 hours behind you. So that's, that's difficult to adjust to too. So you do need to factor in that time, Do you see influencers and things like that telling people to go places and you're like, that's a tourist trap, don't go there?
00:13:46
CHANTELLE KINCY
Or like, yeah what are the tips?
00:13:47
Kay
You know, o i yeah, no, yeah, I, I did. um i don't really, you I've actually completely stopped using social media this year. It's like a little bit of a test and see how I'm doing without it.
00:14:01
Kay
um So I don't know what's trending right now.
00:14:02
CHANTELLE KINCY
I love that too.
00:14:04
Kay
um And actually I tried not to, yeah, in general, even last year, I tried not to use social media very much. um But my friends, they, sometimes would go, for instance, visit my friend in Kyoto. You know, she's living there. And at the time she also used social media. She stopped recently as well.
00:14:26
Kay
um But she, you know, she was like, oh yeah, this one restaurant, it's like really somebody living in ah Japan, um recommended it like an influencer. So I, why don't we go check it out? And it was really disappointing.
00:14:41
Kay
um And yeah, I think, you know, these places get hyped sometimes unnecessarily, or people are getting paid to promote it, or, you know, they just want content.
00:14:56
Kay
um And then these places get flooded because you're not you know it's not just one person watching this video it's probably thousands and thousands of people especially if the influencer is very ah popular so yes
00:15:04
CHANTELLE KINCY
Right.
00:15:10
CHANTELLE KINCY
And I think thin places lose their authentic authenticity too because they can't keep up with the people being there or they just don't care as much because they're still making money. So think that it sort of has this kind of spiral effect as well that's not always possible.
00:15:20
Kay
exactly yeah yeah exactly and Right, like, you know, seeing, I don't know, restaurants making things, making foods that are like aesthetically pleasing, but don't taste good.
00:15:37
Kay
Like to me, it's a little silly, um you know, just,
00:15:37
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah. That's so disappointing. I know.
00:15:42
Kay
Right. And, you know, it makes my, my daughter, I guess she's happy. She's five years old. So she likes things like that, you know, going to like the Pokemon cafe.
00:15:50
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:15:52
Kay
Actually, I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Pokemon cafe. I thought it would be worse because I had very low expectations,
00:15:55
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:16:00
Kay
but it was better than I thought it would be. um But yeah, I think for me, you know, okay. When you're first visiting Japan, like, I think it's good to go to the famous spots because they're famous for a reason.
00:16:16
Kay
And I'm talking about very traditional famous spots like in Kyoto, Kiyomizudera, right? It's one of the most famous temples like in the world.
00:16:22
CHANTELLE KINCY
Right.
00:16:24
Kay
um You know, go, but just be prepared for the crowds. um But if you go like, you know, super early or if you go like super late, there's going to be less people.
00:16:36
Kay
So, you know, if it's, I guess it's easier to plan your time accordingly if you don't have kids because kids run, you know, run on their own schedule.
00:16:45
CHANTELLE KINCY
For sure. For sure. um Is there a time of year that you think is the best, well, probably the best weather is going to be the highest cost and the most people too.
00:16:57
CHANTELLE KINCY
So is there a time you would recommend not to come?
00:16:58
Kay
Hmm.
00:17:00
CHANTELLE KINCY
Like, does it get too hot? Does it get too rainy?
00:17:01
Kay
Yeah.
00:17:02
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:17:02
Kay
Hmm. Yeah. Well, um, June is rainy season, but recently it's kind of been all over the place. And I feel like climate change is, you know, playing a role when it comes to that.
00:17:15
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:17:16
Kay
So I guess we'll see this year how rainy June is going to be. It's not as, what is it, consistent as it used to be. Like, I think, I feel like last year the beginning of July, it was like raining like crazy when you usually expect that in June.
00:17:29
Kay
um the But when it comes to the season, I absolutely do not recommend people... ah visit Japan, it is summer summer. So that lasts from about July until September, October.
00:17:44
CHANTELLE KINCY
okay
00:17:45
Kay
Usually summer ended, you know, in the beginning of September. But recently it's just been longer and longer and longer. And I remember October, it was still, I was still so in my summer clothes, like sweating.
00:17:58
Kay
was awful. You know, you just, we we just stay inside.
00:18:00
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:18:03
Kay
It's very humid.
00:18:03
CHANTELLE KINCY
Is it, is it muggy and humid? Oh yeah.
00:18:05
Kay
Yes, yes.
00:18:06
CHANTELLE KINCY
That's the worst.
00:18:07
Kay
Yeah. You know, like it's cloying, right? Your clothes are just like stuck to you. So like we don't we don't go out like i try like, you know, I try to take my daughter to like water parks and things like that.
00:18:12
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:18:19
Kay
And she doesn't want to go. She says like, no, I don't want to go outside. Like, okay. And it's really sad because I want her mean to get fresh air.
00:18:24
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:18:27
Kay
But.
00:18:30
CHANTELLE KINCY
Interesting. And then how are, how are winters? I guess that depends on where in Japan you are though, too.
00:18:33
Kay
Hmm. Yeah, actually, I actually like the winter. Like, I think the only downside is you, you know, I, one of the things I really, really love about, um you know, the Kansai area where, you know, Osaka, Kyodo are located is, are the mountains. they have these beautiful, like rolling green mountains.
00:18:52
Kay
And in in the winter, it's like not as stunning, ah but, but um especially in, i think January and February, there are not nearly as many tourists. It's a, you know, low season.
00:19:04
Kay
So, and I think in February, you can see lots of plum blossoms, ah which are very beautiful.
00:19:09
CHANTELLE KINCY
blue
00:19:11
Kay
ah So if you don't mind it being like a tiny bit, you know, nippy ah and it's snowing sometimes, that definitely like come in January, February.
00:19:22
CHANTELLE KINCY
See, that's, I love that so much. I would rather sacrifice perfect weather for less people any day of the week. Like.
00:19:30
Kay
Yeah, yeah, you're definitely going to get that.
00:19:32
CHANTELLE KINCY
Oh, okay.
00:19:32
Kay
Yeah, in February. Oh, but don't come. Sorry, don't come during a Chinese New Year. And I'm hoping I'm saying that in like politically, politically correct way.
00:19:39
CHANTELLE KINCY
ah Okay.
00:19:43
CHANTELLE KINCY
No, that's, that's, yeah, you're fine. yeah Yeah.
00:19:46
Kay
Okay, Lunar are you New Year. um Because, you know, our neighbors, it's their vacation period.
00:19:48
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:19:51
Kay
So a lot of them come too. So yeah, just, you know, trying to look at when are the vacation periods for people in, um you know, South Korea, or Singapore, or um China, Hong Kong, because a lot of visitors to Japan come from there.
00:20:07
CHANTELLE KINCY
See, and that's something I hadn't thought about is other people having different schedules. Yeah. Because I was i just thinking like I'll probably avoid cherry blossom peak because that would be hectic. And, you know, even though it's coarse, it's hectic for a reason, right? Because it's beautiful and people want to see it.
00:20:23
CHANTELLE KINCY
But I just feel like when I go somewhere that far, I'd rather...
00:20:26
Kay
Oh,
00:20:28
CHANTELLE KINCY
have less chaos and be able to see more in a way because you can really experience it and and just be there and not just be fighting like cues and traffic the whole time.
00:20:30
Kay
yeah.
00:20:36
Kay
oh yeah Exactly. Exactly. Actually, right now is a good time. um Golden week just ended. That's like a series of national holidays in Japan and also so in China.
00:20:47
Kay
ah So um last week I went to Universal Studios Japan with my daughter last week. Yes, last week. And I'm trying to remember. And there were it was the emptiest I'd seen it in a very, very long time.
00:21:00
Kay
um
00:21:00
CHANTELLE KINCY
and
00:21:01
Kay
There's surprisingly not that many people, ah not that many travelers. So like Also probably because cherry blossom season ended as well. So yeah, exactly.
00:21:12
CHANTELLE KINCY
Everyone's leaving. Now you can go back to having a good life and going where you want to go. ah
00:21:17
Kay
yeah exactly.
00:21:20
CHANTELLE KINCY
um So you told us about one hidden gem. Do you have another like kind of top secret spot that you think people don't read about, but they should definitely go?
00:21:32
Kay
Well, I really like, where do I like? i like Awajishima. So Awajishima is a small island that's located in Hyogo prefecture.
00:21:43
Kay
And, you know, the the water there is like really beautiful. But I actually don't go there for swimming. It's just, it's place actually like to drive to. So it's, yeah, it's one of those destinations that you need a car to get to.
00:21:56
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay. Yeah. Okay.
00:21:58
Kay
But if I'm trying to think about places where that you don't need a car, I would actually recommend going to Yamaguchi prefecture.
00:22:08
CHANTELLE KINCY
okay
00:22:08
Kay
And that's, that's where I lived when I was on the jet program. That is the place where I fell. I really, really fell in love with Japan because it's a side of Japan. Not many people see, but it's, to me, it's a very authentic side of Japan, like not touristy. This is where, this is like how Japanese people live. It has lots of, um you know,
00:22:31
Kay
famous temples and shrines. um It's very, very beautiful. My family, they visited me ah twice and, you know, they've been to Tokyo, they've been to Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, um Nara.
00:22:47
Kay
They said Yamaguchi was their favorite place.
00:22:50
CHANTELLE KINCY
Oh, that see, that's good to know Yeah, I love that.
00:22:52
Kay
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I haven't written about it yet while my blog because I haven't taken my daughter um
00:22:59
CHANTELLE KINCY
Oh, well, now you have a project.
00:23:00
Kay
But yeah, I feel like, yeah, right, exactly. I'm like, maybe I should write about Yamaguchi now. So I do know places, know lots of places.
00:23:12
CHANTELLE KINCY
I love that. Well, anything else you want to share with us about Your love for Japan or any places that we've not talked about that we should. What about food? ah you have to be pretty adventurous for food when you're coming from somewhere or how do you know where to eat?
00:23:27
Kay
No, thankfully,
00:23:28
CHANTELLE KINCY
Mm
00:23:30
Kay
So thank thankfully, yeah, Japan is really great when it comes to offering like tons of different kinds of food. Obviously, the more you go to you know, to a remote area, the less you'll find maybe Western dishes.
00:23:43
Kay
But, you know, you can find and anything, basically anything you want to eat.
00:23:44
CHANTELLE KINCY
hmm.
00:23:49
Kay
Like, you know, I don't live in the center of the city at all. Like we yeah we actually live in kind of like, a a well, we live in the suburbs. of Osaka, like very suburbs area.
00:23:58
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:24:00
Kay
um And, you know, within like 15 minutes of where we live, there's like Vietnamese food and Thai food and lots of Italian restaurants, like anything, anything you want, you can probably find it. Although I have, yeah, ah yeah.
00:24:18
Kay
what ah What is something I haven't been able? Oh, ah well, of course I'm Canadian. I haven't been able to find good poutine here. I think I want some Canadian person to move here and make an authentic like patine restaurant.
00:24:24
CHANTELLE KINCY
ah
00:24:28
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:24:29
Kay
I need that.
00:24:30
CHANTELLE KINCY
bring some ketchup fries with you when you come that's funny I had um now I can't remember but I had poutine in Nashville of all places but we were at an Indian restaurant in Nashville and so they had tried like combine like
00:24:33
Kay
Exactly. Exactly.
00:24:44
Kay
oh so that's interesting.
00:24:52
CHANTELLE KINCY
poutine with Indian plus make it Southern. And it was just this very odd like combination.
00:24:55
Kay
oh
00:24:57
CHANTELLE KINCY
And I remember thinking, now I kind of just want poutine. Yeah.
00:25:01
Kay
Yeah, yeah, the real thing. But yeah, when you mention these odd combinations, sorry, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:25:03
CHANTELLE KINCY
Cause it was kind of like, yeah, it was a lot going on. was lot.
00:25:09
Kay
But yeah, when you mentioned like odd combinations, a lot going on, like you might actually find that, well, you will probably find that when you're in Japan, like for instance, like pizza, there'll be um ah mayonnaise corn pizza is a very popular ah dish, for especially for kids.
00:25:22
CHANTELLE KINCY
no no oh
00:25:25
Kay
um Yeah, so on like kids' menus, like my daughter loves it. I wish she didn't, but you know, what are you going to do? ah Yeah, so things like that. um ah have like Neapolitan pasta, but it's made with ketchup.
00:25:42
CHANTELLE KINCY
okay okay yeah
00:25:42
Kay
Like, yeah, ketchup and like ah green peppers and wieners. Like, yeah, things like that.
00:25:53
Kay
So and definitely you'll see some spins on ah you know traditional dishes. What?
00:25:53
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:25:59
CHANTELLE KINCY
We ordered a pizza in Slovenia and we didn't know what was on it. And it was, tuna fish, sliced up hot dogs and nacho cheese in the middle.
00:26:10
CHANTELLE KINCY
And we were like, Oh, okay. Didn't see any of that coming, but great. Let's try
00:26:15
Kay
and No.
00:26:16
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:26:18
Kay
Yeah, and I guess that's the thing.
00:26:19
CHANTELLE KINCY
and
00:26:20
Kay
you're You're exposed to like new kinds of foods. And yeah, if you're not a picky eater, then, you know, it's a good experience. But even if you're a picky eater, like you will, you can find things you can eat here.
00:26:29
CHANTELLE KINCY
you know
00:26:34
Kay
Just make sure you use the Google Translate app. Like, you know, back in the day, we didn't have that luxury. So a lot of things were surprises.
00:26:42
CHANTELLE KINCY
Right.
00:26:44
CHANTELLE KINCY
Well, and I tend to just go somewhere and have the waiter or waitress just give me whatever they want because otherwise I don't know what to choose. And that's how we ended up with that weirdo pizza. But, um, I'll just say, you know, get me your favorite thing and then I'll, and I'll try it.
00:26:59
CHANTELLE KINCY
Um,
00:26:59
Kay
But see, that's another thing in Japan.
00:26:59
CHANTELLE KINCY
So I did.
00:27:02
Kay
so sorry. Yeah.
00:27:04
CHANTELLE KINCY
No, go for
00:27:05
Kay
Oh yeah. In, in Japan, if you go to a restaurant and if it's like, um, you know, maybe like a bigger restaurant, a chain restaurant where, um, you know, you can't really see the owner anywhere or anything like that.
00:27:16
Kay
Um, if you ask the waiter, like, you know, give me like your favorite dish or a recommendation or something like sometimes they they'll just point out to recommended items on the menu. They will usually not tell you what they personally like.
00:27:32
CHANTELLE KINCY
Interesting, because that goes back to that, what you were saying on the last episode that you just kind of have to get inside their mind and guess.
00:27:34
Kay
Yeah.
00:27:38
Kay
Right. right
00:27:41
Kay
Right. Exactly. Like people will not, especially like, uh, staff working at a store will, not say what they actually like feel. Well, what's actually on their mind.
00:27:51
CHANTELLE KINCY
Interesting.
00:27:53
Kay
Yeah.
00:27:54
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah. That would drive my anxiety crazy. I think that would be a a hard thing for me to get used to because I'm always kind of inside my head anyways, wondering what people are thinking or if they're being you know authentic.
00:28:04
CHANTELLE KINCY
So that would kind of drive me crazy, I think.
00:28:05
Kay
a
00:28:07
CHANTELLE KINCY
But I guess once you know it's there, then you know it's not about you. And then maybe a little less abrasive.
00:28:11
Kay
Right. Exactly. Right, right. It's never about you. Like they're, they're playing, you know, their part, right? Like their, I guess, role as ah staff in a store or a restaurant and just doing their job.
00:28:18
CHANTELLE KINCY
Right, right. Yeah.
00:28:25
Kay
But yeah, i you know, yeah, you end kind of missing those, like, you know, um, when you go to restaurants in North America, like you can have like casual, like chit chat or whatever with the waiter and they'll, they'll bring up something like totally random about their life.
00:28:25
CHANTELLE KINCY
have to get that
00:28:36
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yes.
00:28:39
Kay
And you're like, okay, but it's fine.
00:28:41
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah, yes.
00:28:41
Kay
It's interesting. Yeah.
00:28:43
Kay
Yeah. You usually will not get that in Japan. A small talk.
00:28:43
CHANTELLE KINCY
Small
00:28:47
CHANTELLE KINCY
talk in general. Not so much.
00:28:49
Kay
Yes. Small talk. Yeah.
00:28:50
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:28:50
Kay
No, no.
00:28:53
CHANTELLE KINCY
People smile because when we were in Slovenia and I smiled at people, they thought I was psychopath.
00:28:55
Kay
Yes. o
00:28:58
CHANTELLE KINCY
Like they're very friendly.
00:29:00
Kay
That's, that's good to know.
00:29:00
CHANTELLE KINCY
They were very kind, but don't just like look at me and smile because that's scary. Like i was like, okay, sorry. Yeah.
00:29:06
Kay
Ah, Yeah, I, well, I mean, if you're in the middle of, you know what, I don't smile at people anymore.
00:29:14
Kay
Like in the middle of the street and stuff. So like, I don't even know if I recognize if people are smiling, you know, like the service staff, they'll smile for sure.
00:29:14
CHANTELLE KINCY
can you
00:29:16
CHANTELLE KINCY
yeah
00:29:24
Kay
But in the middle of the street, like people, no, I don't think they will.
00:29:28
CHANTELLE KINCY
Isn't that something?
00:29:30
Kay
Yeah.
00:29:31
CHANTELLE KINCY
Because I didn't smile when I was in California, but now that I live in Washington, everyone's really weirdly friendly and like, we'd be on a hike and people would be like, hi, how's it going?
00:29:36
Kay
Yeah.
00:29:40
CHANTELLE KINCY
And for a while I thought they were going to just murder me. I was like, why are you talking to me? Don't look me here. But now like I smile and talk to people. and now when I'm other places, they're like, hi don't look at me like that, please. And was like, oh, sorry.
00:29:51
CHANTELLE KINCY
Yeah.
00:29:51
Kay
Oh, well actually when you're hiking, if you're hiking, i Japanese people will like smile to you and they'll say, Konnichiwa. So yeah, it's's it's very contextual.
00:30:01
CHANTELLE KINCY
okay
00:30:03
Kay
It really depends on like where you are.
00:30:04
CHANTELLE KINCY
That's good to know though, because I want to do some hikes while I'm there. So that's good to know I'm allowed to speak then.
00:30:07
Kay
Yes.
00:30:09
Kay
Yes, yes. even When you're hiking, definitely if you see somebody passing by, say konnichiwa and bow a little bit.
00:30:15
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:30:15
Kay
Yeah.
00:30:16
CHANTELLE KINCY
Oh, and bowing. So do we bow? is that a greeting that's just respectful? do you do that when you meet someone always?
00:30:24
Kay
um Yeah, I mean, when like in the workforce, if you meet somebody for the first time and you exchange like business cards, yes, you bow.
00:30:36
Kay
Um, hiking, yes, you do a little bow, not a deep one, just a tiny, like nod of your head basically.
00:30:36
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:30:39
CHANTELLE KINCY
Right. It's a nod. Yeah.
00:30:41
Kay
um right. But otherwise you don't, you don't really need to bow unless you're like ask a really big favor of like the service staff or something. and then you're like, oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And they're like, please, you know, can you do this for me? And do like a little tiny head bow.
00:30:55
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay. Okay.
00:30:57
Kay
The tiny head bow is a good one.
00:30:57
CHANTELLE KINCY
See, those are the little things that just always go with it if if in end doubt.
00:31:01
Kay
Yeah.
00:31:02
Kay
Yes.
00:31:02
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:31:02
CHANTELLE KINCY
Okay.
00:31:02
Kay
Yes. Whenever in doubt, tiny head bow.
00:31:05
CHANTELLE KINCY
I love that. And um that sounds good. So those are the kind of things that I like to know before I go somewhere, because you're already going to stand out, obviously, right?
00:31:12
Kay
Mm-hmm.
00:31:13
CHANTELLE KINCY
People know you're a tourist, but I always want to be respectful and at least have like the basics of your culture to be understood.
00:31:14
Kay
Mm-hmm.
00:31:21
CHANTELLE KINCY
That way I'm just not being obnoxious tourist that, you know.
00:31:22
Kay
Mm-hmm.
00:31:26
Kay
Oh, I mean, just speaking to you, I know you're definitely but far, far, far, far from it obnoxious tourists. You're going to be completely fine.
00:31:35
CHANTELLE KINCY
ah root Sometimes I get like secondhand embarrassment from seeing other people the way they act around places. and they're like, well, that's not how we do it in Kentucky. And i'm like, well, go back to Kentucky because that is not what we're doing here.
00:31:47
Kay
yeah Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
00:31:52
CHANTELLE KINCY
Well, I love this so much.
00:31:52
Kay
Yeah, as long as you know, you're polite and respectful, I think you're Yeah, you're gonna be completely fine.
00:32:00
CHANTELLE KINCY
And I think that's half the battle, no matter where you live or where you visit, just trying to be respectful and not expect everyone to, you know, do it your way and understand that, you know, there's different ways of doing things.
00:32:03
Kay
Exactly.
00:32:11
CHANTELLE KINCY
And that's what makes traveling fun me too, is learning those different things and picking up kind of those little different habits and, and, and fun little things like that.
00:32:14
Kay
Yeah.
00:32:20
CHANTELLE KINCY
So think that's awesome. Well, I will definitely have to be stalking your blog as I plan this trip and probably hit you with a couple of emails as I get my itinerary going.
00:32:31
CHANTELLE KINCY
So you can check it off for me and make sure I'm doing the right things.
00:32:32
Kay
Oh, yes, please do. yeah
00:32:35
CHANTELLE KINCY
But, um, it's definitely somewhere I'd like to go. um if not next year, the the year after, but I'm hoping for next year. So, and I think that a lot of the people that listening to this podcast are going to want to come with me. So I'll probably just make it a women's group trip.
00:32:50
CHANTELLE KINCY
Um,
00:32:50
Kay
Oh, that sounds fun.
00:32:51
CHANTELLE KINCY
for mistake so yeah hint hint anyone wants to do that leave it in the comments and i'll sign you up so yeah thank you so much for talking with us again you've given us so much of your time and i really appreciate that so very much uh for our listeners just again remind you that kay's website tiny tot in tokyo description um will have the link so go ahead and follow her there she's not on social so that's okay just follow her on her blog
00:32:51
Kay
Okay.
00:33:18
CHANTELLE KINCY
And if you've been waiting for the perfect time to plan your Japan trip, I think this is a sign from the universe that this is it. All right, Kay, thank you so much.
00:33:28
Kay
ah Thank you for having me.
00:33:30
CHANTELLE KINCY
All right.