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Her Plan Was to Travel the World Until She Discovered Rural Japan ...
Kira Bella's plan was to travel indefinitely until she visited Japan. Provided by Kira Bella 2026-05-01T04:03:01.291Z After graduating from college, Kira Bella set out to travel the world indefinitely. She visited 16 countries during her first year but decided she wanted to settle in Japan. Now, at 25, she runs a rural revitalization business in a small town in the Japanese countryside. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kira Bella, 25, the CEO of Kirameki, an experiential travel company in Japan. It's been edited for length and clarity. After graduating from college, I made plans to travel indefinitely, and I began with a year visiting 16 countries across Asia and Europe — but Japan checked all the boxes for me in a way that nowhere else did.I moved there on a 6-month working holiday visa and kept extending it. During that time, I found a few jobs and traveled around the country.I became especially interested in rural towns after discovering kagura, a performing art rooted in Japanese mythology. It's still actively practiced in Kitahiroshima, the small city, just southeast of Sapporo, where I live now. I joined the dance team and quickly clicked with people. It felt like I'd been adopted by the entire community. As my visa was nearing its end, I wasn't ready to leave. I started looking for ways to stay and came across the business manager visa. One of the requirements was to have a business idea, so I developed a rural revitalization concept for my rural town and didn't think much of it at the time. In February 2025, I got the visa. Bella isn't Japanese — she has dual Australian and American citizenship. Provided by Kira Bella A life well traveled I'm not Japanese. I have dual Australian and American citizenship and a mix of different ethnicities. I was born in Tanzania, raised in Australia, and moved to the US when I was 15.My American father worked for the United Nations, so we traveled a lot growing up. My mom is from a small village in Myanmar, and I was raised Buddhist. That shaped how I travel and how easily I integrated into life in Japan. Bella began practicing a performing art rooted in Japanese mythology. Provided by Kira Bella Finding my way in JapanI've had part-time jobs since I was 15. I started at McDonald's, then worked as a waitress through college.By my senior year at the University of Oregon, where I majored in environmental studies, I was juggling three jobs and had saved about $30,000. My savings helped ...
Japan Packing List: 50+ Things I ALWAYS Bring (+ free checklist!)
We’ve created the perfect Japan packing list that has the essentials (many of which you might not think about) and what you should NOT pack for a trip to Japan. We’re also sharing what to wear in Japan for all seasons as well as tons of practical tips! Packing for Japan is a little different than packing for most destinations. There are things you’d never think to bring that end up being game-changers, and stuff that just adds bulk without earning its place in your bag. I’ve traveled to Japan several times and have learned the hard way on both ends. This list covers everything you actually need, a few things you probably haven’t thought of, and what to leave at home, as well as what to pack if you’re traveling in Japan with kids. My personal experience My biggest packing philosophy for Japan: don’t overpack. Hotel rooms tend to be on the smaller side, you’ll be navigating a busy public transportation system, and stores like Don Quijote and Daiso mean you can grab most small things cheaply once you’re there. That said, a few things have earned a permanent spot in my bag no matter what. For example, since I’m a coffee drinker, I will never go to Japan again without my Aeropress (since hotels don’t often have coffee makers!). I also think comfy walking shoes are worth their weight in GOLD in Japan because trust me, you will be walking a lot! I have so many more tips throughout this article to hopefully make packing much easier! Japan Packing Guide Travel essentials for Japan What NOT to pack for Japan Packing tips for Japan Psst! Before we dive in, I want to mention that we created a Japan packing checklist that you can download (totally free!) so you’re sure you don’t forget anything. It has everything on this list and more, so don’t forget to grab your copy! 1. Passport You might be saying duh, but you’ll want to triple check that you have your passport packed before leaving for the airport! Insider tip: We like keeping our passports in a cover (like this one) so that we can keep arrival documents and important business cards together. 2. Japan Rail Pass If you choose to get a Japan Rail Pass for your trip, you will need to have the physical copy packed with you. Important: You cannot get the Japan Rail Pass inside Japan, so it needs to be delivered to you before your trip. Grab your Japan Rail Pass before you go! If riding the bullet train is already on your Japan bucket list, the Japan Rail Pass is a no-brainer. It gives you unlimited...
Japanese Kominka Houses Under $30K: A Practical Buyer's Guide
A practical look at Japanese Kominka houses under $30K, covering what these traditional rural homes really are, where to find them through akiya banks, what hidden renovation costs to expect, and how foreign buyers can complete a purchase remotely from outside Japan.
Middle-of-Nowhere: The Untold Struggles of Living in Semi-Rural Areas
Living in semi-rural areas, often referred to as "middle-of-nowhere," presents a unique set of challenges. While the countryside is sometimes dreamt of with a sense of nostalgia, how about those places that are neither truly rural nor urban?
