Three Books That Made Me Want to Visit Japan
How Reading Shaped My Curiosity for Culture, Purpose, and Intentional Living
Japan has always been on my bucket list, but recently, it’s become a more personal goal. What started as curiosity about travel and culture has grown into an intentional trip I’m planning for 2026 or early 2027.
But the truth is, my fascination with Japan didn’t begin with flights, cherry blossoms, or itineraries.
Instead, it began with books.
Long before Japan became a destination, I was drawn to the philosophies that shape Japanese life — purpose, simplicity, balance, and respect for daily living. Over the years, a few books stood out as lenses through which I began to see the world differently.
These books didn’t just teach me about Japan; each offered a different window into principles that now shape how I aspire to live.
They helped me align with it.
They helped me align with it.
These three books have most inspired my desire to experience Japan — not as a tourist, but as a student of its way of living.
1. Ikigai: Finding Purpose in Everyday Life
The concept of ikigai was one of those ideas that immediately felt familiar — even before I fully understood it.
Ikigai is often described as the intersection of:
- What you love
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs
- What you can be paid for
But beyond diagrams and definitions, ikigai is really about living with intention — designing a life where purpose is woven into the ordinary.
When I learned about ikigai, it felt practical, not abstract. It made me reflect on how I was living, working, and creating.
Today, I can honestly say I’m living my ikigai.
My publishing company sits at that center. I love what I do, creating, teaching, and sharing ideas. It adds value and supports me financially. That alignment came from intentional choices over time.
What fascinated me about ikigai is its ordinariness in Japan. Purpose isn’t just for careers—it’s in craft, routine, contribution, and consistency. People stay engaged with life.
That mindset alone made me want to experience Japan firsthand — to observe how purpose shows up not in theory, but in daily rhythms.
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2. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: Respect for Space, Respect for Life
I read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up years ago, before minimalism was trendy or Japan was on my travel radar.
What stuck with me wasn’t just decluttering tips, but the philosophy behind them.
Marie Kondo’s approach reflects a deeply Japanese way of thinking:
- Respect for space
- Mindfulness in ownership
- Care for what supports your life
As someone who practices feng shui, I saw the connection. Both philosophies recognize that the environment shapes energy, focus, and emotions.
I love Marie Kondo’s method for its simplicity. It’s practical, not about looks. It asks: Does this support my life?
That idea changed how I relate to my home, my belongings, and even my schedule. Over time, it reinforced something I already believed: order creates calm, and calm creates clarity.
When I think about Japan now, I don’t just imagine temples or design — I imagine how people move through space, how public areas are respected, how homes are intentionally kept small but meaningful.
This book didn’t just inspire me to tidy.
It inspired me to experience a culture that lives this philosophy daily.
It inspired me to experience a culture that lives this philosophy daily.
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3. The Blue Zones: Okinawa, Longevity, and Intentional Living
The third book that deeply influenced my curiosity about Japan was The Blue Zones, particularly the chapter on Okinawa.
Okinawa is one of the world’s original Blue Zones — regions where people live longer, healthier lives. But what stood out to me wasn’t just longevity. It was how people live.
In Okinawa, life is shaped by:
- Strong community bonds
- Daily movement (not intense workouts, just consistent activity)
- A clear sense of purpose
- Simple, nutrient-dense food
- Low chronic stress
Sound familiar?
These principles not only overlap with ikigai and Japanese cultural values, but each book also illustrates a unique way in which purpose, simplicity, and health are intertwined in daily Japanese life.
As someone deeply interested in health, nutrition, and intentional living, this resonated immediately. It reinforced something I already believed: longevity isn’t built through extremes — it’s built through daily habits.
Understanding that Okinawa is part of Japan gave my interest new depth. Japan wasn’t just aesthetically beautiful or culturally fascinating — it was a living example of the kind of life I value.
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Why These Books Made Japan Personal for Me
What connects these three books isn’t just Japan as a place—they each highlight philosophies that define what draws me to Japanese culture.
Together, they paint a picture of a culture that values:
- Purpose over productivity
- Simplicity over excess
- Consistency over intensity
- Meaning over speed
By the time I began seriously thinking about travel again — especially with more time, flexibility, and intention — Japan naturally rose to the top of my list.
This isn’t about checking off destinations.
It’s about learning through experience.
It’s about learning through experience.
That’s why Japan is firmly on my 2026–2027 travel bucket list — not as a rushed trip, but as a place to observe, absorb, and understand more deeply.
And it’s why reading will always remain part of how I decide where I want to go next.
Sometimes, the journey begins long before the plane ticket.
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Japan Has Always Been on My Bucket List — But Now It Feels Personal
This article explores why Japan feels aligned with my values, lifestyle, and future travel vision — and why it’s a place I want to experience slowly and intentionally.
This article explores why Japan feels aligned with my values, lifestyle, and future travel vision — and why it’s a place I want to experience slowly and intentionally.
