couch surfing in japan

Tokyo Neon

One of the most awe inspiring countries I have ever visited. The neon, the rush, the mountains dripping in washes of luscious greens and autumnal leaves, the ancient temples, the speedy trains and the people. Japanese people are as unique as their country and with hearts just as big. I spent one month traveling around Japan, everyday brought a new adventure, a new word (I was determined to learn a word a day) and a new source of inspiration.

Infamous masses at one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world

As someone who intends to spend a year traveling in destinations that challenge and transcend the normalities of the daily routine that life in the Western world presents, I am mindful that I want to avoid being a typical 'backpacker'. I've always wanted to get to know the places I am in rather than hover along in hostels dipping in and out of cultural destinations without tucking in to the real lives that are lead in these places, hence, I decided Japan would be a great place to Couchsurf.

Couchsurfing.

Couch surfing in Kyoto with my friend Natsumi

Couch-surfing is an online community where essentially people offer a spare room, piece of sleeping bag real estate or, as the name suggests, a couch for travelers to crash. My first couch-surf was with Vincent a lovely French dude who translates computer games in Shinjuku for a living. An apt career for someone who enjoys the intense rush of a projected combat game between puffs of a cigarette and a coffee breakfast. So French! I didn't know the protocol of couch-surfing and I didn't realise I would befriend such kind characters through it. Vince took me to some great bars with his friends in 'Tok Tok', introduced me to Oolong sake and thanks to him, I met Natsumi who coincidentally was also couch-surfing at his place as she made tracks to volunteer in Yokoma. Natsumi was my inspiration to also volunteer , a life changing experience with now a very close friend.

Vincent & Natsumi in Tokyo

The beauty of couch-surfing is it allows you to let go of any preconceptions you may have of a place and indeed your plan to some extent as you'll find the people you meet along the way also invite you to sample their life, their favourite places and learn from them. New cultures. New ways. New paradigms or shades to perceive the world through.

I am so grateful to couch surfing for allowing me to meet a number of Japanese hosts and inspiring me to also host along the way. Hence in Koyasan I invited a couple of friends I met along the way to pull up a couple of futons in my room in an ancient temple. Subsequently leading me on to further twists and tales on my galavants.

Sharing the love and green tea at the temple home

The community is a wonderful way to encourage people to learn from one another and to share and dismantle our conditioned ideas around separatism. You witness the kindness and compassion of hosts and are also inspired to spread the same to those who cross your path. A wonderful initiative. And one that sent my life spurring in so many directions I would never have expected.

I never made it out on my Nitro Snowboard. I didn't make it to the snow. The itinerary was torn up by day 2, however, the wonderful friend who hosted me along the way kindly offered to give snowboarding a go, while taking the board off my hands. I now realise it was for her all along.

Sign up for couchsurfing at www.couchsurfing.org