When I was asked if I’d like to contribute to the Voyapon My Japan series, I faced a dilemma. The idea of the series is to give an insight into everyday lives in Japan, but as a freelance writer, each day for me is either extraordinary, or extraordinarily mundane!
So, when I came across a week where I had a three-day coverage trip planned, I thought that would be the perfect balance.
I’m Cassandra, and here I’ll share with you both the exciting, adventurous side of being a travel writer, alongside the more mundane side of the remote work that follows.
Monday
Today I’m heading off for three days around Tochigi and Fukushima for an Iglooo project, the company that heads Voyapon. I pick up my rental car and set off towards Ashikaga Flower Park in the 33°C heat, sweating but glad there’s some sun for my day of photography.
I’m visiting Ashikaga Flower Park for the first time. It’s mainly known for its hanging purple wisteria in May. But right now it’s August, so it’s mostly water lilies. I’ve always wanted to see the wisteria here, and if anything, my visit this time has only cemented that wish. One day.
After visiting my other two spots for the day, taking pictures and video along the way, I head to the ryokan (traditional inn) where I’ll be staying.
I take my photos and head down for my traditional dinner. My first ever dinner at a ryokan a few years back surprised me, because you start with a full tray of different small dishes, but throughout the meal they keep on adding things. This is no different, with a small pot and flame at the table cooking wild boar, among other things.
I come back to my room to see my futon has appeared as if by magic (the staff prepare your bed during dinner), and go down to the shared baths. I have the baths all to myself, so I spend a while there relaxing and listening to the cicadas chirping in the night.
Tuesday
Today, breakfast is downstairs at the ryokan, and is a selection of fish and vegetables, with a single half a boar sausage.
I return my car, hop on the Shinkansen to Fukushima, and get in my next rental car. I head to a delightful café that harvests its own peaches and apples to sell as sweet treats. After taking my pictures and talking to the owner, I dig into the kakigori shaved ice to find fresh peaches at the bottom.
I get back on the road and make my main stop of the day at a local crafts museum, where I learn about the art of grass and yama budo (a type of grape) stalk weaving. I drive to my final stop, my next ryokan, battling my way through torrential rain that stops and starts as I go. At some points, I can barely see two feet ahead because of the rain.
At the ryokan, during my dinner, I join a conversation the table next to me is having with the waitress. They’re discussing the zashiki warashi that live here. Zashiki warashi are mischievous but good-natured child spirits that supposedly bring luck to those who see them. All this talk of spirits haunting the halls and unexplained children’s laughter at two in the morning doesn’t fill me with a feeling of luck heading down the moodily-lit staircase towards the shared bath. Thankfully, I see no apparitions, and safely come back to rest my head on my futon.
Wednesday
I wake up at 2am, confused about why I’m awake. I turn the air conditioning down a little and close my eyes. About 10 minutes later, I suddenly hear a loud voice, clear as day, coming from the air conditioning. It lets out a sound like a combination of a giggle and a tape recorder rewinding, then says “rei fuu ni” which has no particular meaning.
I am startled more awake than I have ever felt, my whole body covered in goosebumps. The sound definitely came from the air conditioning. It must be faulty. Even so, with the creaking sounds of the old building sounding like footsteps, it takes me a long time to get back to sleep.
In the morning, the owner leads me around to take a few more pictures and video, and I tell her about my encounter. She tells me that a zashiki warashi only shows itself to kind-hearted people, and that I will have good luck. I just wish that good luck came with good sleep!
I hop in my car and head towards Goshiki Numa, where I’m meant to go hiking. But as I approach the area, rain starts bucketing down on my windshield. I get to the car park and can barely hear my podcast over the sound of the rain. I contact my itinerary organizer, and we decide to call off this portion of the trip, so I head back home.
Thursday
After my lack of sleep the previous night, I sleep like a baby in my own bed and get up for a day of remote work. I always start the day with a quick walk around the block to get my body moving.
Then I start by responding to a few messages that piled up in my absence, and then by finishing off an article I had started.
I always make sure to have an hour’s break at lunch to make sure I don’t overwork myself. Usually, I’d eat leftovers for lunch, but as there aren’t any today I cobble together a pizza toast with cheese and frozen pepperoni.
After lunch, most of today is just admin — messaging clients and doing some research to figure out what to write about next. I finish at around 7pm and head out for a quick run. I come back and make a dinner of tomato pasta with pork and eggplant, watch some YouTube videos and head to bed.
Friday
Today is another mundane day, starting with my morning walk, feeding the degus, and having breakfast.
Everything is much the same as the day before. I work on admin tasks and respond to requests, send in an article pitch. Tired from the week’s antics, I ended up taking a long lunch, so I head to my kickboxing gym in the hopes of sparking some energy.
I cycle back in the 32°C heat, take a quick shower and come back to my desk. The degus are fighting, and in the midst of a scramble I get bitten, a rarity, and have to separate them for a while.
I boil up some more pasta to eat with the leftover sauce, and head to bed, excited for a leisurely lie-in tomorrow.
Saturday
I have my lie-in and a slow morning doing laundry and chores. There are some clothes I’ve been wanting to buy from Uniqlo, so I get in the car and drive to the shopping mall. The traffic is always pretty bad around this particular mall on the weekend. I head straight to Uniqlo and come out with some trousers and a few tops to go with it.
Then I pop my head out to check if the kebab truck is here today, and it is! I nab myself a beef kebab pita before moving on to do my groceries for the week.
I come home and before I know it I’m already hungry again, so I make a soba salad, topped with avocado and tomato. Lately it seems I’ve been eating more western-inspired food than Japanese, perhaps it’s because I’ve had such Japanese food at the beginning of the week!
Sunday
On Sunday it’s time to clean the degu cage. They’ve been fighting the past couple of days so I had to separate them.
I reintroduce them in the bath — neutral territory — and they seem to get on, so I feel like it’s safe to put them back in the cleaned cage. They disappear to snooze together in their little house after days of separation.
I spend the rest of the day doing a bit of painting, working on my YouTube channel, and making a chili. It turns out the chili was not the best idea as today is 35°C and I need it to simmer for two hours, but I spend time in an air-conditioned room while it’s bubbling away.
I head to bed, ready to start it all again tomorrow.
