A Roller-Coaster 2024 in Japan: Earthquakes, Cats, and UFO Catcher Obsessions
- Yanka
- Dec 31, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: May 10
A Year in Review
With 2025 peeking around the corner, I’m doing what I always do at this time of year: looking back at the whirlwind that was this year. It’s wild how fast the months flew by, yet when I pause to reflect, I realize just how much has happened—new trips, new experiences, new prefectures, new challenges, and a healthy dose of growth. So here’s a month-by-month breakdown of my life in Japan this year for anyone who might be interested in living in Japan, or is just looking for a light slice of life read.
(P.S. Throughout the post, I’ll sprinkle in links to other blog posts on jpndiaries.com if you want the full scoop on some of these adventures!)
January
An Unforgettable Start
The year kicked off quite literally with a bang. On January 1st, I was admiring a stunning view from the 34th floor of the Prince Gallery Hotel in Tokyo when an earthquake struck. Its epicenter was in Noto Peninsula (ironically, a place I’d planned to visit this year), but the tremors reached all the way to Tokyo. The entire building started swaying side to side, and looking out the window, I saw the rest of the skyline following suit—definitely not a sight for the faint of heart. Thankfully, the quake subsided pretty quickly, although we were stuck on that high floor until the elevators were cleared for use. I can only imagine how intense it felt near the epicenter. Needless to say, that was a rather “shaky” start to the new year.
Shrine Visits & Big Resolutions
Despite the quake, everyday life in Tokyo carried on. I kicked off the new year with my first shrine visits—one personal and one company outing. My omikuji (the little paper fortune you draw at shrines) predicted I’d have a super lucky year. Obviously, I decided to believe every word and set some lofty resolutions, including the super-ambitious goal of visiting all 47 Japanese prefectures in 2024. Spoiler: I did not get close to that number. But hey, the dreaming part was fun!
Promotion & Snow Day
Career-wise, January started with a bang too—I was promoted to a senior position! The added responsibilities made my dream of traveling all over Japan a bit trickier, but I’m still grateful for the new role (or the extra cash rolling in each month, haha). Then, just to keep things interesting, we had our annual Tokyo snow day. A whopping few centimeters fell, and, predictably, the entire city went into minor meltdown mode—something that’s always hilarious to me, having grown up in a place where snow hardly fazes anyone. Naturally, I ventured out to snap some rare snowy Tokyo photos.
February
Akita & Aomori Adventures
My first big trip of the year happened in February, when I was still bright-eyed and determined to check off more prefectures. I managed to visit two new ones—Akita and Aomori, up in northern Japan. We stayed at a remote ryokan with zero Wi-Fi, electricity, or cell service. Let’s just say “off the grid” means really off the grid in these parts.We also attended the Namahage Sedo Festival on the Oga Peninsula, which was epic! Nothing like ogre-like demons storming around in straw capes to relight my passion for exploring and sharing more about this amazing country.
Spartan Race
In the midst of all that winter excitement, I also did my first Spartan Race with colleagues—a 5km course packed with 20 obstacles, from rope climbing to the infamous spear throw. Even though I try to stay fit, my arms were definitely not ready for that level of challenge. But with solid teamwork, we all crossed the finish line sporting medals, sore muscles, and a huge sense of accomplishment.
March
Blooming Ume & Heartfelt Chats
March brought the start of ume (plum) blossom season. My friend and I have this little tradition: we take a Friday off work, wander around to enjoy the sight of the blooming trees, and talk about basically everything—the ups and downs of life, relationships, future plans, mental health, and living in Japan. This year was no different, except we found a new café afterward called Rengetsu Café inside a beautiful Japanese building from the 1930's. Highly recommend if you’re ever in the mood for cozy vibes, delicious beer and good conversation.
Hokkaido Getaway
At the end of the month, I took a quick trip to Hokkaido. Because my flight was super early, I spent the night at The Royal Park Hotel that had fantastic plane-spotting views (perfect for aviation nerds). I landed in Memanbetsu Airport (bet you’ve never heard of that one!), revisited some favorite Hokkaido spots, enjoyed the lovely winter scenery, ate far too much delicious food, and stayed at my go-to hotel, Hokuten no Oka. They had an optional add-on for freshly caught crab at dinner. No regrets. I really love this not so well known part of Hokkaido and hope more people will give it a chance.
April
Sakura Season & Postcards
Spring in Japan means sakura, sakura, and more sakura. I hit up my usual hanami spots: the Nakameguro River, Aoyama Cemetery, Sakura-zaka, and a secret little walkway from Jiyugaoka to Midorigaoka Station. There’s nothing quite like pastel pink petals framing everyday city life. I also started a fun tradition of sending out self-made postcards to a few of my Instagram followers. Printing photos, writing messages, and actually mailing them was truly satisfying—digital is great, but there’s something so special about holding a physical photo in your hands, trying out different kinds of paper and seeing how the colors look printed out.
Osaka Business & Pleasure
Mid-April saw me traveling to Osaka for a business event at a lovely co-working space called Grand Slam. The event went well, and afterward, I extended my stay. Hotel Lively Osaka had been on my radar for a while, and it lived up to the hype with chic rooms, a fun social area, and a tasty breakfast.The next day I wandered Osaka’s photogenic streets, snapped some photos, and checked out the iconic Osaka Castle. Not ready to head home yet I discovered a Cat café Neu, just a short walk away! This one is special because all the cats are rescues looking for forever homes. I actually chatted with a sweet older lady who was there to potentially adopt. Heartwarming stuff.
May
Birthday & UFO Catcher Addiction
May is my birthday month, and it’s also when I discovered the true joy—and danger—of UFO catchers (those claw machines in Japanese game centers). I was given a few thousand yen to play as a birthday treat, and I got way more stuffed toys and anime figurines than I ever expected. Once you learn the right technique, it feels like you can’t miss. Let’s just say my tiny apartment quickly overflowed with plushies. I eventually donated two huge boxes of goodies to a children’s organization and mailed another box of Japan-themed prizes back home for friends. (You’ve been warned—these machines are addictive!)
Getting Back to Nature
The warmer weather inspired some easy hikes. I started with Hiwadayama in Saitama, a short trek with a beautiful view under a wooden torii gate. I ended this first hike of the year by relaxing at Café Nichigetsu which offered lovely views of the river below.
Later in May, a dear friend from Slovakia visited Japan for the first time. We took the ropeway up Mitake-san, explored shrines, rock gardens, waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints, then stayed in a traditional minpaku - accommodation originally run by shinto priests. We were the only guests—apart from a massive spider in our room that we gently escorted outside. Our lovely tatami room came with a great view and the dinner was exceptional, overflowing with delicious dishes.
The next morning, after seeing a lovely sunrise from our room and enjoying the breakfast here we hiked again. Shortly after we entered the forest we stumbled upon a group doing takigyō (waterfall meditation). They were dressed in white, chanting, and trembling under the cold waterfall. I almost shivered just watching them! We ended up having a great hike through Ontake-san, Nokogiriyama and down to the Okutama station and ended it with crapes from a vending machine.
June
Mountains, Therapy & Hydrangeas
One more trip with my friend took us to my beloved Nagano Prefecture. We rented a car at Nagano Station, ventured to Kamikochi on Day 1, tackled Yakedake - an active volcano on Day 2, and scaled the 2857m tall Jonendake on Day 3, even staying in a mountain hut for the full alpine experience. The mountain hut stay had another reason which was our hike to the top to see the sunrise. It was a tough hike, but more than worths it! I broke down the details in a two part blog if you want all the gritty details.
Around this halfway point of the year, I felt… better. After a tough 2023, I’d started therapy and focused on mental health, relationships, and personal growth. By the time the ajisai - hydrangeas bloomed, I was finally able to admire them without feeling like the next negative thing that will happen will make me fall apart.
To celebrate that emotional breakthrough, I took another leap of faith: rafting with colleagues in the Okutama area. At first, I was super nervous, but it turned out to be a blast. We only capsized once and even jumped off a big rock into the water. It was exhilarating and a great lesson in overcoming fears and working together as a team. We ended with a barbecue and friendly chats before heading back to Tokyo.
July
USA for the First Time
Continuing my newfound spirit of “firsts,” I visited the U.S. for the very first time! The main reason was a work conference in Las Vegas, but I couldn’t resist swinging by New York beforehand. It was exactly as I’d imagined: yellow cabs, towering skyscrapers, that movie-like atmosphere. I walked for miles taking photos I still haven’t fully edited yet. At Shake Shack, I befriended a fellow European solo traveler—in line, she turned to me and said: "Hi! I'm from Europe, this is my first time in NY..can I take a subway as a woman alone?" I laughed and admitted that this is my first time in NY too and I have no idea. To my surprise, she was from Czech Republic, the country where I studied for my university degree! We go to talking, chowed down on burgers, and then went our separate ways. She braved the subway just fine!
I also met up with a colleague in NYC, visited the LinkedIn office, which was amazing and enjoyed a beer with a killer view from Rockefeller Center. We could not miss the Times Square at night which was madness and included a dance performance to the legendary "New York, New York" song. The next day, feeling under the weather, I took it slow exploring the surroundings of my hotel and then wandered to DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) in the evening for more iconic photos.
On the last NYC day after a short cruise to see the Statue of Liberty (the guide was phenomenal, he taught us so much about the city and its history), we hopped a flight to Las Vegas for the big work conference. Around 6,000 people gathered to learn, network, and celebrate our company’s culture. Naturally, we tested our luck at the casinos—some wins, some losses, tons of fun. I needed a full week to recover after returning to Japan!
August
Beating the Heat
August in Japan is scorching and humid, so I mostly hid indoors, checking out new restaurants and browsing my favorite bookstore in Shinjuku (they have a huge English section). The highlight was our office move from Marunouchi to Roppongi, known for nightlife and upscale shopping. The new workspace is so nice that I’ve been going in more often, especially with free breakfast, lunch, coffee, and a sweet view. Who could say no?
September
Family Visit
September’s big event was hosting my family in Japan for 10 days. We covered Tokyo, Kamakura, Yokohama, Kinugawa Onsen, Kyoto, and Nara. Planning a trip for five people is no joke, especially in lingering summer heat, but I think everyone had a blast. I know I did. I detailed our itinerary in a three-part series in case you’re looking for inspiration or just want a peek at our family shenanigans.
October & November
Busy Season & Little Luxuries
Autumn arrived—my favorite season—but somehow work piled up, and I was too tired to fully bask in the fall leaves. I did manage some café hopping and indulged in the famous “I’m donut?” donuts, which are absolutely worth lining up for at 8:30 a.m. (Yes, I’m that person). I also tried to get back into writing and posted a small blog called “Life Lately,” where I reflected on consistency (spoiler: it’s something I still struggle with). At the end of November, I planned one last group hike with ex-colleagues but ended up not feeling up to it. I still hopped on the train with them, just to escape Tokyo for a while. While they hiked, I sipped coffee at Takao Coffee near Takaosanguchi Station—a lovely spot to watch the world go by.
Working in Japan
I also used this time to actually sit down and write more—something I promise myself every single year. This time, I decided to focus on articles that might help folks who land in Japan feeling as clueless as I once was, scouring for jobs and apartments with zero idea where to begin. So, I started small: one super simple guide on how to find work in Japan, and another piece about my own ups and downs navigating that process. Here’s hoping they’ll be a game-changer for anyone eyeing Japan as their next big adventure.
December
Home for the Holidays
And here we are: the last month of the year. I’m actually typing this on the plane back to Tokyo after spending Christmas at home. I love going back, enjoying my childhood house, and reconnecting with old friends. There’s a wonderful sense of community where I grew up—neighbors and families pop in to say hello, and everyone regardless of their age ends up chatting in our living room.
I’m only able to do this partly thanks to my company’s policy allowing remote work from abroad for part of the year. And speaking of work, I was on the planning committee for our huge Year-End Social—think decorations, food, entertainment, the works. It was a crash course in event planning, vendor management, time management, improvisation, and, of course, having fun!
Osaka Finale
Before the year wrapped up, I squeezed in one last trip to Osaka. Every year, AMEX rents out Universal Studios Japan after 7 p.m. for cardholders, which means minimal wait times and nearly crowd-free rides. It’s like a theme park dream come true—I went on as many roller coasters as I could and savored the magical nighttime vibes.
The next day was dedicated to exploring…and eating. I made sure to have all the Osaka foods - Takoyaki, kushikatsu, and okonomiyaki at a fabulous little shop near our hotel—bliss! We even hopped on the HEP Five Ferris wheel for some city views and enjoyed the night winter illumination in Umeda. On the train ride home, Mt. Fuji made a cameo in the distance. Perfection.
Looking Back—and Ahead
So that’s my year in a (not-so) tiny nutshell. Reflecting on 2024 reminds me that even when time flies, we still get to pack in plenty of memorable adventures. From the shaky start in Tokyo’s tall towers to the roller coaster rides and everything in between, I’m grateful for every twist and turn.
Now I’m gearing up for 2025 with fresh determination—hoping to keep traveling, continue taking care of my mental health, and cherish the people around me. Doing this annual review is such a great way to appreciate the journey so far and set the tone for what’s next.
Thanks for reading, and here’s to an even brighter, bolder, and more adventurous 2025!
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Stay tuned for more updates and stories on jpndiaries.com. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember!
