About me
Traveling between worlds
From Germany to Japan – and from there into the world
I spent the first 24 years of my life in Germany. Around the end of high-school, I started learning Japanese – not just because of anime or manga, but because the culture in general just wouldn’t let go of me. After an exchange year and Japanese Studies at university, it was clear: I wanted to know what it actually feels like to live there.
In 2014, I moved to Tokyo on a working holiday visa. The capital was my home for ten years, and now I live in neighboring Chiba – still close enough to feel the city’s energy, but far enough for more peace and quiet.
After years working in marketing for Japanese and American companies, I eventually went freelance. Not for the money, but for the freedom. Freedom to travel when I want. Freedom to take on projects that interest me. Freedom to shape my life according to my own priorities.
And the biggest priority? Staying curious.
What you’ll find here
This is my digital notebook for everything that occupies me on the road and in everyday life. No perfectly staged Instagram moments, but honest observations – sometimes about centuries-old temples, sometimes about the small things in Japanese everyday life that still catch my attention.
I write about places that have impressed me. About cultural peculiarities that make me think. About moments when I realize again how little I actually know. And yes, also about the failures – like that thing with the visa I “forgot” at entry. Embarrassing, but hey, solvable.
Documentaries and travel magazines are usually to blame for another place ending up on my bucket list. So far, I’ve been to over 30 countries (airport layovers don’t count), and hopefully, the list will get significantly longer. It all started with Sydney and Uluru – that trip showed me how small my world had been until then.
Why I do this
Every trip shows me anew how differently people live, solve their problems, celebrate their festivals. And often with a creativity and composure I could never have imagined at home.
I want to share these stories. Not filtered through a marketing lens or with travel influencer positivity, but as they felt. With the highs and the moments when things go wrong.
I’m not an expert. Even after ten years in Japan, I know shockingly little about this country. But I’m curious. And maybe curiosity is more important than expertise.
If you’re interested in these kinds of stories – reflections on life as a German in Japan, travel experiences between World Heritage Sites and spontaneous adventures, or simply thoughts that make you think – then stick around.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did you end up in Japan?
Through Japanese Studies and an exchange year. Japan had fascinated me before, but it was only through academic understanding and real encounters with Japanese people that I had the courage to actually move there.
Why did you stay?
Because I found a job I liked. And then another one. And suddenly ten years had passed. Japan feels like home now – even though I still regularly despair at garbage sorting.
Why do you travel so much?
Because every place offers new perspectives. It helps me see my life here in Japan in a bigger context. And honestly? I’m just curious about how people live elsewhere.
How do you choose your travel destinations?
Documentaries are responsible for at least half of my travel plans. Otherwise: travel magazines, friends’ recommendations, sometimes just a photo that sticks.
Do you give concrete travel tips?
I share observations and experiences, but not classic travel guide tips – there are professionals for that. But if you have questions about a place I’ve visited, feel free to write to me.
How do you finance your travels?
Since I started freelancing, I can work wherever there’s internet. That gives me the flexibility to plan longer trips while still earning money. Remote work makes a lot possible.
Will you stay in Japan permanently?
Good question. Right now, it feels right. But who knows? Life has its own way of throwing plans out the window.