Matthew Baxter’s experience of living in Tokyo for ten years as an expat has taught me a lot.
Checking out Senso-ji in Tokyo, Japan in 2018
Episode 138 - Travelling With Matthew Baxter - Super Cheap Japan + Tokyo Outdoors
I interviewed Matthew Baxter in February, who wrote the book Tokyo Outdoors: 45 Walks, Hikes, and Cycling Routes to Explore the City Like a Local.
Matthew has been living off and on in Toyko for around ten years, and it was great to have him on the podcast to discuss the highs and lows of living in Japan, specifically Tokyo.
We all hear how great Japan is to travel to (like myself), but we rarely hear from expats who move there from other countries and what the challenges are due to the move.
Matthew came onto the podcast to share his experiences of the last ten years as well as his tips and tricks for moving to Japan, especially if you are in one of those countries where you can get a working holiday permit for a year.
What is great about this chat is that Matthew compares his own experiences of living in other countries, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He has utilized the work permit system to the fullest.
You can check out our episode below, but here are some thoughts about topics that resonated well with me.
Matthew Baxter in Tokyo, Japan - credit Matthew Baxter
Why Matthew wrote his book, Tokyo Outdoors
When researching a trip to Japan, we all know about the Shinkansen and how to use it to see the main cities such as Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc. However, there is so much to see within these cities.
Tokyo has a population of around 37 million people, making it the largest city in the world, four times the Manhattan population and 2,642 people in each kilometre in the Greater Tokyo Area. This place is massive.
However, even when visiting Tokyo, we know a lot of the main sights, and they are definitely worth visiting, but what about the other areas around this huge city? What do you see and do there?
This is where Matthew’s book comes into play. Matthew dedicated 45 areas within Tokyo to have their own chapter in the book, which details the best bike ride route, local coffee, restaurants, places of interest, museums, parks and accommodation recommendations! He has niched down Tokyo for the outsider.
I loved this concept, as it breaks down the local areas into day trips from your base in Tokyo. If you want something different, local, or out of the norm, this book is for you.
Matthew has visited every area in the book, so you can be assured that the recommendations are top-notch.
Sometimes, we all need that local tip to find the gems of a vast city you won’t find in your standard travel blogs or podcasts.
This book is perfect for returning travellers to Tokyo; for the first time, you will check out all the main sites, such as Shibuya, Tokyo Tower, etc. I can not wait to visit again and see a different side of Tokyo.
Book cover of Tokyo Outdoors
The crucial five-year milestone of living in Japan
Many people who live in Japan get to a point at around five years where they question if they want to stay long-term or not, and Matthew reached this point, too.
Japan can be intense and so alien to many other cultures that even after living there for years, it can take its toll on you.
Matthew decided to head off into the world to try out the working visas in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, try something new, and test whether he would miss Japan.
You can hear more about this in the episode, but of course, he went back to live in Tokyo as he missed it quite a lot, and a part of this conversation was about being an introvert.
I am an introvert too, and we both agreed that places like the UK and Australia have a large drinking culture, which is very social, and this can be challenging to a lot of people if they do not want this all the time.
Matthew explains on the podcast that Japan is the introvert's dream for travellers and expats. There is so much to do if you are only looking for people who are like you. This is precisely what Miyuki said on my podcast when she came on for a chat.
All in all, Matthew realized that Japan was the perfect place for him as an introvert. His interests align with Japanese culture, and ultimately, he loves the Japanese people and how they live their day-to-day lives.
Here is a snippet below.
Trailer for Episode 138
Learning Japanese is key, and an appreciation for Coco Ichibanya
Matthew is currently learning Japanese at school, and he relays the importance of knowing a few words and phrases so you can get by in Japan and endear yourself to the locals.
As with most places worldwide, Japanese people greatly appreciate tourists trying to speak their language, and Japan is no different.
There is a slight caveat to this: Japanese has three alphabets and is one of the hardest languages to learn.
However, Matthew, in the episode, gives us some keywords, phrases, and tips for speaking the local language. He has come unstuck many times, but that is part of the fun of trying to communicate with local people.
Please don’t be shy; learn some words and give it a go. We certainly did in 2018, and people loved it!
To finish, we had a few minutes to share our love for Coco Ichibanya, a Japanese chain serving Japanese food such as curries, ramen, appetizers, sushi, and much more! I love their curries!!
Each store will have staff who speak English, or if that is not possible, an iPad where you can order your dish in English and have it served to your table in good time. This is great if you need an easy way to order food and to add to that, they detail allergies as well as choice for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
I miss that place!
Check out my latest YouTube episode in Budapest, Hungary.
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Who is Matthew Baxter?
Matthew in front of the cherry blossom in Japan - credit Matthew Baxter
Matthew Baxter is a travel author living in Tokyo, the heart of Japan. Having traveled across the country for several years, without much money, he has built up an extensive knowledge of budget travel in the Land of the Rising Sun. He now writes professionally for several websites and publications, such as the Japan National Tourist Association, GaijinPot, Japan Visitor and All About Japan.
Be sure to join him on Instagram for the latest pictures and videos from his travels in Japan.
“To create the ultimate guidebooks for low-cost travel in Japan. I want budget travelers from across the world to use my books, so they can have a chance to enjoy Japan’s amazing tourist spots on the cheap. My books will focus on getting the most out of these wonderful places, whether you are a backpacker, budget traveler, worker or student.”