← Back to Hub
What we travel with The router, luggage, adapters, apps and insurance we use on the road.See our gear →
Our Japan Base — Otaru, Hokkaido
We're an American couple setting up a base camp in Otaru, on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, a second home we'll visit for a few months at a time while we loop through Asia on tourist visas. This is where we keep all of it: buying a second home and a car as non-residents, the visa loop through Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, and what Hokkaido is like to travel around. No polish, no hindsight, just what actually happened, in order.
Where we are now
We've signed the contract on our second home in Otaru. Handover is in mid-December, and we're back in March. We'll add each step here as it happens.
Last updatedStart here
Part 1
A Japan Base Camp: Buying a Second Home in Otaru to Explore Asia
Japan
The 30 Japanese Phrases That Get You Through Restaurants and Konbini
Buying a second home and car in Japan
Exploring Otaru & Hokkaido
Japan
Japan Etiquette for Americans and Australians: A Quick Reference Guide
App
Kana Hanko Is Now Live on Google Play
App
Introducing Kana Hanko: A Free, Ad-Free Way to Learn Hiragana and Katakana
