Hi There!
I’m Krysti, a travel writer based in Japan. Originally from Vermont, my journey has taken me far beyond New England – from Europe to the islands of Micronesia, throughout Asia, and eventually to Japan, where I’ve lived for the past 3 years.
Since moving here, I’ve had the opportunity to explore well beyond the typical tourist trail, from island-hopping around Okinawa to wandering Kyoto’s historic streets and uncovering hidden gems across Kyushu. Of course, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. I’ve also experienced plenty of travel mishaps – from missed trains and translation mix-ups to unexpected detours.
That’s why I decided to create Wanderful Horizons: to share my stories – the good and the bad – and turn those experiences into practical advice you can actually use. Whether you’re looking for detailed itineraries, insider tips, or honest recommendations, my goal is to make planning easier so you can spend less time stressing and more time creating meaningful experiences in Japan and beyond.
A Few of My Favorites
My Story
Growing up, I was always surrounded by stories of faraway lands, foreign adventures, and exotic horizons. My mother, who’s a travel agent, had the opportunity to travel often for work. She would go off to places like Costa Rica, Thailand, and Morocco and bring back the most incredible accounts of the people she met, the sights she saw, and the food she tried. I would always beg her to take me along with her, even when I knew it wasn’t possible. And while she was gone, I’d spend my days imagining the adventures she was having in the most incredible places and dreaming of one day traveling myself.
While I did have the opportunity to take a few family vacations when I was younger, they were mostly closer to home and did little to satiate my curiosity. In fact, it wasn’t until I was in college that I had the chance to truly experience life abroad. In the fall semester of my junior year, I did something I always told myself I would do: I spent a semester studying abroad in Germany. Those few months in Europe were a catalyst for me that set into motion my unyielding desire to explore the world.
Unfortunately, it would be a few more years before I could act upon those desires. I ended up finishing college and did precisely what society expected of me – I got a full-time job and rented an apartment in my home state of Vermont. While I enjoyed the work I was doing at the time, I knew there was so much more out there to experience; I just didn’t know how to make it happen. Thankfully, I didn’t let that stop me. I researched, I planned, I schemed, and I saved until I had enough money to quit my job and hop on a plane.
My destination, and what would become my home for the next four years, was the Federated States of Micronesia, a teeny, tiny island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I was originally only supposed to stay for one year – I was headed over there as a volunteer English teacher – but I ended up falling in love with the country and extended my stay. During those next three years, I worked full-time for a local college, where I had the opportunity to travel, visit many of the nation’s islands, and experience its varied cultures.
Around this same time, I also met my now-husband while on a trip to Guam. What started as a chance encounter turned into a long-distance relationship as he was in the process of moving to Japan. While it was admittedly hard, we made it work and spent the next 2.5 years traveling across Asia to meet up with each other. During this time, I had the incredible opportunity to explore a number of countries with him, including Thailand, the Philippines, and, of course, Japan.
In 2019, my contract with the college came to an end, and I decided not to renew it. As much as I loved the islands, I knew it was time for me to move on and experience something new. My husband was also about to move for work, and it seemed like the perfect time for us to officially “close the distance.” Before doing this, though, there was one more thing I needed to do – backpack across Southeast Asia. So I did; I spent the next 2.5 months traveling through the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Part of this trip was done solo, part with friends, and part with my husband – and all of it was incredible, magical, and unforgettable.
Jump forward to the beginning of 2020, and I’m living with my husband in South Carolina. I know – surprisingly, I went back to the US. While it wasn’t the first choice for either of us (we’d have much rather continue our adventures living abroad), it was the only option that made sense with his work and with our desire to finally live in the same city. We had hoped to make the most of our time there and had plans to travel throughout the Caribbean and Mexico; however, the universe stepped in, and COVID-19 happened. And so, as it was for many other people around the world, our lives were turned upside down, and our plans over the next two years fell to the wayside.
Thankfully, that all finally turned around for us in 2022. This was the year we got married, went on a month-long honeymoon to Europe, and finally moved back overseas to Japan! We spent our first three years living just outside Hiroshima in the small former samurai city of Iwakuni. While there, we had the opportunity to explore mainland Japan extensively – from major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto to lesser-known gems like Hagi, Matsumoto, and the Geiyo Islands.
Then, in 2026, we made another exciting move – this time to Okinawa! While my husband has lived here before, it’s my first time calling these beautiful islands home. I’m so excited to explore this incredible region and cannot wait to share the tropical side of Japan with you all! 🥥🌴🌺🍍🌸😊
See you in the blog!
Recent Posts
Is Shibuya Sky Worth It? What to Expect & Honest Review
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