Meet the Nomads – Justin Egli of Ikimasho

Ikimasho is probably one of the most unique blogs I have encountered lately and one of the most interesting too. It features alot of interesting stuff about Tokyo (and other parts of Japan) that you wouldn’t easily find in some magazines or other websites.

Justin, the owner and author of Ikimasho writes a lot about some peculiarities that he sees in Japan and he also shares some stories about what it’s like to live in Japan.

My favorite part of this blog is of course, everything about his travels in Japan and his artworks.

Get to know more about Justin and follow his adventure at Ikimasho.

But before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Justin.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“In my late teens I toured all over the UK and Ireland in a punk band. I must have played about 200-300 gigs. Some of the itineraries our drummer ‘planned’ were completely ludicrous. I remember playing Glasgow one day and then having to drive to Plymouth for a gig the next night. That’s about 400 miles. After seven hours on the road we got to the gig late and played for ten minutes in a venue behind a bus station in front of no one. To any sane person this probably sounds like hell on earth – but it was my first introduction to hardcore travel. And you know what? A ten-hour hell ride on a bumpy Cambodian bus is nothing compared to sleeping in a car in -2 degrees with full-blown tonsillitis using a drum kit for a pillow. Trust me. I’ve done both.

Eventually though, sleeping on floors and not getting paid took its toll-and by the time I graduated at 22 I’d had enough of the band. I’d also had enough of Northern Ireland, so I moved to Japan. That’s when the travel bug really started.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“Most are band related. Seriously. But one time in Laos with my ex-girlfriend I got electrocuted in our room and then had a peeping tom perv on us through the window. Or there’s the time I had to sleep in Seoul airport with no money waiting to get money wired to me so I could buy some food and a flight home. On my birthday. That sucked. But these ‘horrible’ experiences always turn out good in the end. They provide you with a story to tell, and ultimately are what makes travelling so exciting.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“In recent years, it has to be watching the sun come down over the Temples of Bagan in Myanmar. But sleeping in primary rainforest in Borneo was pretty special.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“Planet Earth is awesome.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“The name of my blog is ‘Ikimasho!’ That literally means “let’s go!” in Japanese. Like most people who are passionate about travelling, I can’t sit still. I always have to be doing something or going somewhere. There is nothing more exciting than travelling into the unknown. Looking at a world map is like looking at a list of endless possibilities. To travel means to learn: eating new foods, meeting new people, seeing new places.”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Louis Theroux. I’d make him walk behind me, narrating my trip.”

Where’s your favorite place in this planet and why?

“In the last year I’ve really milked Tokyo for all its worth: I feel I know the city pretty well now – and my happiest moments have been when I’m simply lost with my camera in some nondescript little area. I love Asia. I really do. But being away from home has also made me appreciate it more. Sometimes, just for an afternoon, I wish I could be with my mates drinking a beer along the little coastal path that stretches between Bangor and Helen’s Bay in Northern Ireland.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveler?

“Put sh*t in a bag and go. That’s the only travel advice you ever need.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“In 2007 I was sand boarding in New Zealand and fell hard on my ass. I had to walk like I was constipated for about a week. As for funny stuff, well I live in Japan. I recently gave my friend battered fish but the fish was pregnant so the eggs all splurted out in his mouth. He wasn’t happy.”

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

Gut instinct. If something feels bad, it probably is.

What do you think about yourself?

A creative guy who likes to travel. Or a traveler who likes to be creative. One of the two anyway.

“Ikimasho is an outlet for my creativity: be it art, writing or photography. For me, living in Tokyo is an endless source of inspiration. I get to draw, write and be creative in the coolest city in the world. Ikimasho, shows a snapshot of daily life in Tokyo and Japan that isn’t just all about karaoke bars and anime. It’s full of the kind of inside information that only comes from living and breathing a city like Tokyo on ground level. It was nominated for Wanderlust’s Travel Blog of the Year 2012 – and the Japanese National Tourist Organisation recently added it to its list of ‘Great Japan Sources’ alongside The Japan Times and Lonely Planet.” Justin Egli of Ikemasho

Editor’s Note: All photos are provided by Justin.

Next: Adam Finan of Tropical Nomad Previously: Tammy Lowe of Tammy and Chris on the Move For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.