Meet Emma Bassett who grew up in Kent but currently teaches environmental science in Japan while documenting her adventures in the country on her beautiful Instagram feed. We talked about her favourite places to unwind on weekends and a dish she wasn't expecting to like but now she orders it every time she goes to a Japanese izakaya pub!
Hi, thanks for talking to us today. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, my name’s Emma, I’m 32 years old and I’m from Rochester, UK. I’ve lived in Japan twice, the first time from 2011-2014 and this time since 2019. I currently work at an international school teaching environmental science.
If you could bring something from Japan to the UK, what would that be and why?
Oh that’s a tough one! If we’re talking food, I’d bring kare pan back and open a little bakery, I think they’d be so popular as Brits love curry and it’d be a good alternative to a Gregg’s sausage roll! I’d also want to bring back the pinpon button in all restaurants or just being able to shout ‘excuse me!’ to the waiter without getting glared at, as I’ve noticed when I visit home it is painstakingly difficult to get any waiter’s attention in the UK.
What is your favourite place to unwind in Japan?
Favourite place to getaway and unwind for me is the Izu peninsula, there are so many ryokan there that are wonderful to stay at, plus you’re surrounded by such beautiful nature with many hiking trails and the coastline is stunning, it makes me feel like I’m on holiday. I also have to recommend Okinawa, especially Hoshinoya Resort on Taketomi island, it was absolute paradise!
Do you have any travel recommendations for people who are planning to visit Japan for the first time?
For the first time of course I recommend the usual cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, but I’d also like to recommend Hiroshima, especially Miyajima and if you like bunnies, Rabbit Island! For activities, staying at a ryokan is an absolute must and I recommend getting a room with a private onsen so you can unwind in peace. You’ll also get to try kaiseki ryori which helps you experience a range of delicious, traditional Japanese dishes, which are just as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the stomach.
What are some must-try foods that new visitors might not know about?
My favourite izakaya food is エイヒレ(ray fin) eaten with mayonnaise and shichimi pepper. It might not sound appetizing and I was reluctant to try it at first but it ended up being my favourite and I now order it every time I see it on the menu! For desserts, during the summer, I recommend trying kakigori (shaved ice)! Perfect to cool down with and there are so many flavours, it’s fun to try as many as you can!
Thank you!
Follow Emma on her Instagram and read about her latest adventures on her website here.
