Japan and Vietnam, by someone who actually lives here.
First-hand guides and honest stories from 8 months backpacking Southeast Asia, living three years in Japan's Hokuriku region, and a current base in Da Nang. Written by a real person who's still figuring it out on the ground.
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Hey, I'm William
I'm a Florida man who ended up backpacking Europe and Asia for 8 months, then spending three years in Japan's Hokuriku region. Toyama as home base, with Kanazawa and Takayama a short train ride away, before trading the snow for a motorbike and a beach town in Da Nang, Vietnam. Barefoot Surfer is where I write the guides I wish I'd had: the ones written by someone who actually lived in the place, paid the rent, learned the language badly, and figured out the local market prices the hard way. No AI-generated top-10 lists, no places I've never been. Just honest, first-hand travel writing from Japan, Vietnam, and the rest of Asia.
Latest from the road
Kanazawa's Kenrokuen Garden: Worth Your Day in Japan?
Thinking about Kanazawa's Kenrokuen? Get William's honest verdict on if this famous garden is worth a precious day on your…
Kanazawa: What to Do and What to Skip on Your First Trip
You only get one shot at this city, and the difference between a great Kanazawa day and a wasted one…
How to Get from Tokyo to Toyama: What I Wish I'd Known
Your Tokyo to Toyama trip, sorted. An honest breakdown of trains, buses, and flights from someone who lived there, plus…
Takayama Itinerary: How Many Days Are Worth Your Japan Trip?
Deciding on Takayama? William, who lived in Hokuriku, breaks down how many days are truly worth your Japan trip, what…
Da Nang vs Hoi An? From a Past Backpacker who moved Here
Da Nang or Hoi An? Real Talk From a Guy Who Backpacked Both and Just Moved HereIn April 2023 I…
Laos to Vietnam: Crossing Border Muang Khua to Dien Bien Phu
Laos to Vietnam: Crossing the Border When You're Still Figuring Things OutMeta description: Heading from Laos to Vietnam? I've done…
Get the Da Nang First-Timer's Cheat Sheet
One page with everything I wish I’d known before landing: getting a SIM, fair taxi and Grab prices, where to eat, how to rent a bike, and the stuff guidebooks skip. Plus weekly stories from the road across Japan and Vietnam.