Amber Mezbourian

@amber.mezbourian

I spent three years living in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Programme, not knowing what to expect but with images of Tokyo, geisha and Mount Fuji in my mind. I was placed in Yamagata prefecture in a small rural town that I couldn't find in any guidebook.

I learnt to snowboard, climbed mountains, tried my hand at ikebana and kyuudo and koto, dressed up as a samurai, karaoked til the early hours, become obsessed with onsen, and had countless other adventures and experiences.

For a relatively small country, Japan has so much to offer, and I love nothing better than exploring - particularly heading off the beaten track and into the beautiful countryside. I set myself a personal challenge to visit each of the 47 prefectures, which gave me a great excuse to do a lot of travelling. Although I've now ticked them all off, there's still so much I want to see.

Japan will always be my second home and and I'm looking forward to discovering and learning more for a long time to come.

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Culture

Goldfish Lanterns in Yanai

Goldfish lanterns in Yanai: This picturesque city is famed for its delicate paper lanterns, shaped like goldfish and hung proudly..

Yamaguchi 8

Activities

Yamagata in Winter

With winter comes the opportunity to experience a different side to life in Yamagata. Snow festivals, winter sports and onsen are..

Yamagata 3 2

Food

The Great Wanko Soba Food Challenge

Wanko soba represents Iwate’s most famous (and possibly only) food challenge. The aim is to consume as many small bowls of noo..

Iwate 9

Culture

Tagata Honen Matsuri

Sunday - Mar 15th

The Tagata Honensai Matsuri is a fertility festival, with the main event centering on the lively procession of a large wooden ..

Aichi, Tagata Shrine 2 6 Free

Food

The Great Wanko Soba Food Challenge

Wanko soba represents Iwate’s most famous (and possibly only) food challenge. The aim is to consume as many small bowls of noo..

Iwate 9

Accommodation

Couchsurfing in Japan

Japan's reputation as an expensive destination to visit can be off-putting, so Couchsurfing is the ideal option for advent..

Tokyo 18

Transportation

On the Slow Boat to China

Make the journey as memorable as the destination by taking a ferry between Osaka and Shanghai, giving you time to relax and soak..

Osaka 6

Accommodation

Afternoon Tea at British Hills

Leave Japan behind and explore British Hills, a surreal holiday resort in the heart of the Fukushima countryside. Enjoy afternoon..

Fukushima 6

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