Category: Blog

What to Do If You Experience an Earthquake in Japan: A Traveler’s Guide

Japan is one of my favorite places in the world, but there is one reality every traveler should understand before visiting: Japan has earthquakes.

The recent earthquake in the Kumamoto area is another reminder of that.

On July 28, 2026, a powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, reaching a magnitude of 7.1 and maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. The earthquake caused significant damage and disruption across the region.

That doesn’t mean you should cancel your first trip to Japan. Far from it.

But if you’re traveling to Japan for the first time, you should know what to do if the ground suddenly starts moving.

The good news is that Japan has extensive earthquake preparedness systems, early-warning technology and procedures designed around earthquakes. And as a traveler, there are a few simple things you can do to make the experience much less stressful.

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The First Place You Return To

Every traveler has that place.

The one they find themselves returning to every single trip.

Not because it’s the biggest attraction. Not because it’s the most famous.

But because somewhere along the way, it became part of their story. For me, Japan has two of those places.

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What Travel Teaches You About Time

Time behaves differently when you travel.

It’s one of those things that doesn’t make much sense until you’ve experienced it yourself.

Back home, the days can blur together. Monday becomes Friday before you know it. Weeks disappear into meetings, errands, rush hour traffic, and routines that quietly repeat themselves. You look at the calendar and wonder how another month has already passed.

Then you travel.

And somehow, time changes.

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Lost in the Middle of the Map

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want this blog to be moving forward. Travel still excites me more than anything—packing a bag, stepping into a new place, wandering a city I’ve never seen before. But the act of blogging about it? Lately that feels a little less like an adventure and a little more like homework.

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Why I Travel Solo – And Why This Blog Will Speak to Those Who Do Too

There’s something liberating about traveling alone. No set itinerary to follow. No debates over dinner spots. No waiting for someone to catch up. Just me, my thoughts, and the world waiting to be explored.

This blog — Travels with Matt — is now focused on solo travel. It’s where I’ll share the raw, honest experience of being out in the world on my own: the unforgettable highs, the unexpected lows, and everything in between.

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New name, new direction

I promised myself that 2025 would be the year I would make changes, real changes, in order to improve myself and my dreams. One of those changes was making changes to this blog to make it what I truly want it to be and the first steps have been made.

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Under Construction

It’s time to get to work and actually follow through on one of my New Year’s goals, making this blog into something I can be proud of!

Over the next few weeks I am going to be working on this blog, overhauling everything from the content, to the layout, and even the name.

So please pardon the digital dust as I put in the needed work and get this blog to where I want it to be. No more excuses, time to get up and get this done and moving for 2025!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone has a safe and fun New Year’s celebration and brings in the 2025 year in style.

2025 is going to be a pivotal year for me. I am going to make some major changes in my life, which started just a few weeks ago and will continue into 2025. These changes will include this little blog and I’m quite excited about it!

So hope you have a wonderful holiday, don’t go too crazy out there, and are able to start 2025 with a bang!