How I Became a Travel Vlogger in Japan
Mt YouTube travel vlog is now two years old and looking back I realized that my first real trip as a travel vlogger was in Japan. Last year, I already shared the story “How Kinmen in Taiwan Turned Me into a Travel Vlogger”, and Kinmen Island indeed played an important role. However, the first time I was traveling and shooting videos without the chance to return to a place and re-shot a scene was in Japan.
Today I have mixed feelings about these videos and I want to share this article to motivate other travel vloggers to keep going. As always, shooting videos in Japan was just a side activity for me; I did not travel to the land of the rising sun to create videos. My travel vlog is just a way to document my travels.
And I am glad that I did, as all these good memories come back when I watch my videos like a travel diary. Especially my episode about Nara is emotional, as the main mission was to fulfill the pledge to return to the Kashihara Shrine with my wife.
However, I also regret not putting more effort into the videos. At the time, I lacked the skills and patience to do better. The content is a bit lengthy, and I wish I had paid more attention to the details.
A Travel Vlog Without a Camera
During my travels in Japan, I only used my phone and had no other camera. I was also only able to shoot in 1K resolution at 30 FPS. Especially in places such as Kanazawa, I wished I had footage with higher quality. The parks and nature were just so amazing, and a better camera would have added a lot of value.
Today, I am still producing videos on a budget, but I upgraded my equipment a bit. I also got better at editing and more experienced in shooting videos. However, I suggest not being too cheap, even if, like me, you are not focused on making money with your travel vlog. For me, it is about sharing and preserving travel experiences, and exactly because of that, I should have invested in better tech earlier.
No Idea About Travel Vlog Music and Other Stuff
A friend of mine called my Japan videos “very German,” pointing out my nerdy looks and lack of entertainment. And while she was joking, she was not entirely wrong. Today, I believe that adding the right music and sound effects can help set the vibe for videos and improve the overall experience. If you want to start a travel vlog btw, read my blog about “How to Become a Travel Vlogger“.
For example, in my video about Nagano, I should have tried to give it a bit more of a spin. Originally, the video was meant to be about hiking, but due to the weather, I had to change plans. I am still glad that I got to see the Kenkoji Temple and Matsumoto Castle, but I am sure that if I were to edit the same footage today, I would do a better job of telling the story.
Thanks, Japan, for a Great Journey and for Starting My Travel Vlog
My Japan Journey Journal was my first playlist outside of Taiwan. I am still mostly traveling in Taiwan, and if I have time, I also produce videos about Kinmen. Therefore, I am very glad about the trip to Japan and that I got to see cities like Sendai. And still, when I look at my new playlists, I see that I have come a long way.
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[…] However, in 2024, I aimed to produce videos in 4K and 60 FPS, so I had to invest in a “new” PC. I spent 550 USD (15,000 NTD) on a second-hand PC in Taiwan. This is the budget option, it has next to no mobility. Something that became an issue, read about my limitations in my article “How I Became a Travel Vlogger in Japan“. […]