Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

Lessons from Hosting Visitors in Japan

Published by

Karl

on

Lessons from Hosting Visitors in Japan

I have been hosting my cousin and her partner’s visit from Thailand for several days now. I must admit, it’s another enlightening experience in becoming a better travel guide—not that I aspired to be one. My goal is to ensure that their experience of visiting Japan is the best I can offer. Yet, this endeavor feels like a never-ending story. While I happily drive them to numerous beautiful destinations, I’ve encountered some unexpected challenges along the way.

One of my biggest blunders was my attempt to show them Amidaga Falls in Shirotori two days ago. Upon arriving, I discovered that the street leading to the parking area and the path to the falls were completely snowed in, buried under meters of snow and ice.

Next, we tried to walk the Nakasendo trail between Magome-Juku and Tsumago-Juku. The weather forecast assured me that the rain would cease by the time we arrived in Magome-Juku, but it was far from over when we started our hike. Only as we neared Tsumago-Juku did the rain finally stop. Consequently, we hiked the majority of the trail with umbrellas and raincoats, turning our adventure into a wet experience. In hindsight, I learned that the weather can significantly dampen the hiking experience.

Today, I took my cousin and her partner on another hike up Mount Kinka. For me, it was a relatively light hike, but for my not-so-experienced visitors, it proved to be tougher on their stamina than I had anticipated. I underestimated how challenging it could be to hike on consecutive days for people who hike only occasionally. Having traversed various trails since moving to Japan, I realized too late that hikes with visitors should never be taken lightly.

Through these experiences, I’ve come to understand that being a good travel guide isn’t just about showing beautiful places; it’s about ensuring comfort and enjoyment for those you accompany.


Leave a comment

This blog is for thoughtful adults who are starting again — in learning, creativity, or life — and want to grow steadily without noise or pressure.

Here you’ll find daily reflections and practical guides shaped by lived experience. The focus is on learning through doing: building consistency, adapting to change, and finding clarity in everyday practice.

The stories and guides here come from real processes — creative experiments, hands-on projects, life in rural Japan, working with nature, and learning new skills step by step. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is polished for performance. The aim is steady progress, honest reflection, and practical insight you can actually use.

If you’re curious about life in Japan, learning new skills at your own pace, or finding a calmer, more intentional way forward, you’re in the right place.

Recent posts

Receive Daily Short Stories from Karl

You can unsubscribe anytime with a few button clicks.

Continue reading