Nabhel in Japan 🇯🇵

Introduction

At the start of the year, I wrote down a simple travel goal, Japan or Australia. Just two destinations scribbled in my diary. By June, that goal became my lifeline. My life was doing cartwheels, the kind that leave you dizzy, disoriented, and searching for solid ground.

So I did what felt impossible at the time: I quit my job. Catch all the highlights in my blog “Chasing recognition”. 👉 https://nabhel.medium.com/chasing-recognition-51f931c96d9c

Not because I had some grand plan waiting in the wings. Not because I’d figured out my next move. But because I needed space to breathe. Instead of curling up under a blanket of uncertainty, I decided to book a ticket into adventure.

When Paradise Tries to Kill You 🇸🇬

Now, because I’m a responsible adult who flies on a budget 😁, I got the cheapest flight and that came with a 13-hour layover in Singapore. I made a reel of my journey, watch here.

Changi is essentially a five-star hotel disguised as an airport, complete with gardens that make you forget you’re in transit. Singapore is one of my favourite destinations to visit. Catch some highlights of my first trip to Singapore in my blog. 👇

https://nabhel.medium.com/nabhel-in-singapore-222488ed1530

Okay I digressed a little, lets get back to the story. So when I got to changi, I found what I thought was the perfect spot: a cozy little garden where I could rest and reset before the final leg of my journey. Made a reel of it here.

Plot twist: That turned into a full-blown allergic reaction

Within hours, I couldn’t breathe. My nose turned into a fully blocked faucet, and by 1 a.m., I was roaming the airport like a sleep-deprived hypochondriac. Turns out I’m allergic to something in that beautiful garden, a fact my body revealed in the most dramatic way possible. I went to a pharmacy and bought some medication to barely survive the night. Sometimes travel is glamorous, other times, you’re wheezing in an airport at dawn.

Touchdown in Osaka 🇯🇵

I arrived in Japan looking like I’d been emotionally dragged through a hedge which, metaphorically speaking, I had been. But I made it, watch the reel of my journey here. Went through immigration and my bag was waiting for me, neatly placed on the side of the luggage belt (because of course this is Japan). I navigated my way to the train station heading to Namba, each step feeling like a small victory.

My hotel was very close to the station. That first night, I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t explore just showered, took my meds, and stared at the ceiling with a mixture of disbelief and pride thinking, “Nabhel, you really did this.” Sometimes the biggest adventures begin not with grand gestures, but with quiet moments of recognizing your own courage.

Osaka Expo & 20,000 Steps …🚶‍♀️

One of the things on my Japan bucket list was to go to the Osaka Expo. I woke up still feeling woozy but determined. Armed with ChatGPT directions (bless technology), I arrived early, only to learn that in Japan, your 12 PM entry time means 12 PM sharp. Not 11:59. Not 12:01. Rules here aren’t suggestions they’re sacred contracts with order itself.

Once inside, it was pure magic wrapped in efficiency. I wandered from pavilion to pavilion, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Germany etc. each one a tiny world unto itself. I learned, explored, photographed everything, absorbing cultures like a sponge. Watch the reel of my expo experience here.

The best part? I met two lovely African ladies who radiated the kind of warmth that transcends language and borders. Had an amazing time with them visiting the Ghana pavilion where we turned into celebrities. Watch a tiktok of my experience here. We bonded instantly over shared glances, knowing smiles, and the unspoken understanding of being far from home. They invited me to church, an invitation that would become one of the trip’s unexpected treasures. Only downside? I walked over 20,000 steps. My feet were SCREAMING. I had to limp home, picked up food from AEON Mall, and crashed like a baby when I got to my hotel.

Rest, Praise & Takoyaki 🍱

The next day, my legs staged a protest. I tried to move. I couldn’t. I stayed in my hotel room all day. Watched YouTube, scrolled through social media and made peace with the fact that sometimes the journey is about doing absolutely nothing and being okay with it.

Sunday came and I dragged my aching body to church. I’m so glad I did. I had a warm welcome, enjoyed the beautiful worship, and the best African food after service.

I laughed, danced, exchanged contacts, and just felt home. It’s amazing how strangers can feel like family in a foreign land. That evening, I met up with my Japanese friend from last year (we met in Malaysia). Catch the highlights of my Malaysia trip👇

https://nabhel.medium.com/malaysia-uncovered-87dc141be40e

His English had improved a lot and he brought two of his colleagues. We bonded over takoyaki, laughed, shared stories, and it felt like such a full-circle moment. Made a reel of my outing here.

Becoming a Kimono Queen 👘

Next day was a personal fave. I went out planning to visit a shrine and stumbled upon a kimono rental studio. Fate! I knew I had to do it. The lady who helped dress me was an artist, carefully wrapping me in silk and tradition until I emerged looking like a Black Japanese princess. The transformation wasn’t just physical, something about wearing that kimono made me stand taller, move with more grace, inhabit my body with a new kind of confidence. Watch a reel of my experience here.

As I walked the streets, people kept stopping to say, “You look so pretty!” I handed my phone to complete strangers, turning sidewalks into runways, collecting compliments like precious stones.

It was like the universe’s way of reminding me of my own beauty. It was one of those moments where I felt completely alive. After returning the kimono, I tried to visit Osaka Castle. Google Maps, however, had other plans. I got lost. After circling a few blocks in confusion and mild defeat, I gave up and went back to the hotel. It was still a win. 😂

Period, Patrols & Singapore…Again! 🩸

As if the universe wanted to test my newfound zen, my period decided to make its grand entrance right before I left Japan. So there I was bleeding, exhausted, and facing another epic layover at Changi Airport.

To add flavor, I was woken up by an airport officer at midnight:
“Where are you going, can I see your tickets?”
Sir, to my destiny, but first…Indonesia. 😭

I finally boarded my last flight in the morning and by noon, I was back at home. Exhausted but deeply satisfied. Made a reel of my journey here.

Looking back…💭

Would I go back? A thousand times yes. Japan didn’t just give me a vacation; it gave me a masterclass in resilience, patience, and the art of finding beauty in structure.

Things I Loved:

• The public transport. I got an ICOCA card, and moving around was a breeze.

• The respect for queues. Japanese people queue for everything, trains, elevators, Expo entries etc

• The people showed me a different way of being polite. Reserved but helpful, quiet but present. In a world that often mistakes loudness for confidence, Japan reminded me that grace can be whispered.

• The fashion & aesthetics, simple but stunning.

Things I Struggled With:

• The food, I couldn’t wait to get home and swallow better eba.

• The language barrier but Google Translate and kindness got me through.

I didn’t make it to Kyoto, but it’s on my list for next time. Maybe during winter.

Until Next time✌️

Here’s to milestones disguised as breakdowns. To solo trips that heal parts of me that I didn’t even know were broken. To allergic reactions that taught me about resilience. To kimono dreams that reminded me of my own royalty. Dear Japan, you held me when I was falling apart and sent me home whole. You taught me that sometimes the journey we need isn’t the one we planned, but the one our soul calls for when we’re brave enough to listen.

I’ll be back.

🦋 Nabhel.