Japan

Virtual Journey

💌 Want to see more? Here’s my full YouTube playlist for Japan.

Full Japan Playlist

Art, Inspiration & What I Made

During my Japan exploration, I also visited the Cleveland Museum of Art and Botanical Gardens to spark some creative inspiration.

The Art Museum’s Japanese collection was small, but seeing the textures, patterns, and traditional pieces in person helped me notice details I wanted to bring into my own work — the shapes of lanterns, the flow of robes, the calm in muted colors.

At the Botanical Gardens, I was drawn to the soft greens and quiet paths — even though it wasn’t what I expected, it reminded me that art and beauty don’t always appear where we plan to find them.

Back home, I turned those feelings into my own mixed-media piece: “Lantern Light.”
I used Ohuhu alcohol markers, Prisma colored pencils, and Pentel oil pastels on premium cardstock to recreate the sense of stillness I’d been searching for.

During my soft launch of the Bright Side Clubhouse I came across this page on Tokyo Japan in a travel magazine and it was like Japan was speaking to me to make this decoupage coaster.

🎨 Art Prompt: “Glow From Within”

Each destination includes a simple creative prompt — something to help you slow down and connect.

For Japan, the theme is “Glow From Within.”

Create something that feels like it holds its own light — a lantern, a moon, a person, or even just a feeling. Use any medium you love, from markers and collage to digital art or doodles.

This isn’t about skill… it’s about reflection.
Ask yourself while you create:

“Where does my light come from right now?”

Listen While You Wander

I usually listen to audiobooks while I’m working or walking the dogs — it’s my quiet way of traveling through stories while life keeps moving. For Japan, I’ve been listening to two that couldn’t fit the theme more perfectly:

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

A story about connection across oceans and time, written with such mindfulness and emotion that it feels like meditation. It made me think about how every small moment we live becomes part of someone else’s story someday.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

I’ve loved revisiting this one — the way it paints beauty and sadness in the same brushstroke feels so human. It’s soft, reflective, and a little haunting in the best way.

These stories have been my background music while exploring Japan — blending with the sounds of footsteps, rain, and real life. They remind me that even when I can’t go somewhere physically, I can still walk there in my mind.

I try to keep my Sad Girl Travels as free and simple as possible — little adventures shouldn’t come with a big price tag. For my audiobooks, I use the Libby app, which lets you borrow audiobooks and e-books for free through your local library.

It’s such an easy way to listen while I’m walking the dogs, working, or painting — and it’s kind of poetic, honestly. I get to wander through stories from all over the world without spending a cent, just by using my library card.

Small reminder: sometimes “travel” is just opening your mind, not your wallet.

Food and Flavors

Lazy Girl Edition

I may be a Sad Girl on the Bright Side, but let’s be real — I’m also a lazy girl and a broke girl who doesn’t exactly find joy in cooking elaborate meals. While I totally admire those dreamy YouTube food vloggers who spend hours hand-folding dumplings and perfecting broths... that’s not my lane.

Instead, I hit up the freezer section like a champ. For my Japan-inspired eats, I grabbed Bibigo Chicken Wonton Soup and Ajinomoto Chicken Gyoza, plus some instant jasmine rice to round it out. I even tried some sticky rice on the side (not pictured because, well, I ate it too fast).

Was it gourmet? No.
Was it cozy, delicious, and easy enough to make while doodling art on the side? Absolutely.

These little shortcuts still let me taste a bit of Japan without turning my kitchen into a full-blown project — because sometimes exploration looks like dumplings in a steamy bowl while you daydream about faraway places.

🍳 For the More Ambitious Travelers…

🥣 Homemade Dumpling Soup (Lazy Gourmet Style)

You’ll need: Frozen dumplings or gyoza (any kind you like — chicken, veggie, pork)
4 cups chicken or veggie broth
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 green onion (sliced)
A handful of spinach, bok choy, or cabbage
Optional: a few carrot slices or mushrooms for extra flair
Directions: In a pot, bring your broth to a gentle boil.
Add soy sauce and sesame oil — this gives instant flavor and warmth.
Drop in your frozen dumplings and let them simmer for 6–8 minutes (no judgment if you toss in extra).
Add your greens in the last couple of minutes so they wilt just right.
Garnish with green onion, pour into your coziest bowl, and pretend you’re in a tiny ramen shop in Kyoto while you slurp.
🩵 Mood Pairing: Play some soft lo-fi Japanese beats or the sound of temple bells while you eat. Instant vibe.

Journal & Reflection

The thing I’ve loved most about exploring Japan is the peacefulness that seems to flow through everything — the way people move, speak, and even tend to small details. There’s a sense of quiet respect in their culture that feels so grounding.

No one’s rushing or rude. People take care of themselves, their spaces, and their belongings with this gentle pride that I really admire. It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence.

I think I’d love to spend time in Japan someday, but for now, I’m bringing parts of that energy into my daily life — slowing down, cleaning up with care, noticing beauty in simplicity, and treating little routines as rituals.

It’s made me realize that peace isn’t something you have to find… it’s something you can practice. 🌸

When you look at the waves of the sea, you forget all your worries.— Japanese Proverb

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