I Van Lifed through Every Region in Japan for a Year
After years of dreaming about it, I quit my 9-5 job, bought a 1996 Toyota Hiace, and spent a full year van lifing every region of Japan. From the wild north in Hokkaido to the forgotten roads of Shikoku, the volcanic landscapes of Kyushu, and everywhere in between.
This is the full story of year one. Every season, every island, every region, chasing Japan off the beaten path in a way that’s only possible with a van. From backcountry skiing volcanoes in Hokkaido’s cold winters, to having Japan’s most stunning cherry blossom spots entirely to myself in Shikoku, to hiking the Japanese Alps in summer, this video covers it all. If you’ve ever wondered what Japan looks like beyond the Golden Route, this is it.
#JapanVanLife #JapanTravel #offthebeatenpath #vanlifejapan
🎶 Musicbed:
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🫶 Check out my Patreon to get my Ultimate Van Life Japan Map, or to support my journey!
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⚡️ Connect with me:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/ryan_bednar
📧 ryan.bednar97@gmail.com
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Video: Sony ZVE1 https://amzn.to/432R9TM
Photo: Sony A7iii https://amzn.to/3HwPaR4
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🎬Chapters:
0:00-1:50 Intro
1:51-6:42 Fall
6:43-13:33 Winter
13:34-14:55 Musicbed
14:56-21:48 Spring
21:49-27:23 Summer
27:24-30:01 Outro
⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared on this channel, Ryan Bednar, is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. The creator, Ryan Bednar, documents personal experiences, thoughts, and travel adventures through Japan while living a minimalistic van life.
The creator and channel assume no responsibility for any accidents, injuries, damages, or losses that may occur from attempting to replicate or follow any content presented here. Viewer caution and judgment are advised.
✖️ Copyright notice: This video and this YouTube channel contain dialog and images that are property of “Ryan Bednar” You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to this YouTube Channel is provided.
© ryan_bednar
Ryan Bednar
33 Comments
And in the process I found Life.
Your dream came true after years! It's good you got to JLPT N3 level before doing van life
Although I technically visited or drove through every region, there are obviously many that I need to do in more depth. My second year of van life has already brought me through areas I hadn’t been before, but there’s still so much to see in all the places I HAVE been. I’ve got my work cut out for me before my visa runs out!
Was lucky to be recommended the first Hokkaido video by Youtube when it came out and have watched each new chapter along the way.
Let me know if you ever come up to Hokkaido again, you're welcome to stay!
Love the story hope one day I can do it to
I did make it home early on a Friday. Made a stop at the fridge and fired up YouTube! Nice summary of your time in Japan. Although I’ve seen all the videos you posted, it was great to see all the experiences tied together with a continuous narration. There is a nice thread where you reveal your trip itinerary decisions along the way. Appreciated also seeing your distillation of the van life experiences and what was memorable to you. And I could swear there is footage you haven’t shared before! Safe travels Ryan.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for going to these places. ❤
You are amazing!! Such a cool story and amazing skills with the camera! Well done and definitely looking forward to more of your adventures and photos! 🇨🇦
I’ll be in a kei campervan for 13 days this august. I’ve gotten some great ideas from your videos and I’m really looking forward to it
Congratulations for this video Ryan, it reminds me of my year of vanlife in New Zealand and try to documented it. Many places you show here are also good memories for me, I visited Japan 2 times in vanlife, from North to South, and it is one of the best experiences of my life. That's why in 2026 I returned to Japan, like you, on a Working Holiday Visa, to spend 1 year here and explore this country more deeply. I will be delighted to be able to go a long way with you on occasion! At the moment I am settled in Kanazawa. Let's get in touch ! 🤙🏼
Great video!!!!!
What a beautiful video almanac with all the Seasons, islands, villages, temples, landscapes, waterscapes and people! Thank you Ryan….don't stop!
Outstanding video Ryan 👏🏻👏🏻
I highly respect and applaud your use of real music by real people. I’m so sick of all this AI crap everywhere.
Great video my man! I'm going to save it in my playlist to when I do vanlife in Japan next year and hit all of the spots u highlighted here :))) thanks for sharing all of your adventures with us 👍👍👍
Thank you for this
Such an incredible recap!! I’m so inspired to see more of Japan 🥹 what a journey 👏🏼
Awesome video! And I'm glad to see you're using music by REAL people! My wife and I are going to Shikoku in a couple months. Thanks for the preview!
Masterpiece. I miss you too, I love you more!
This is gold! 🫡
I’ve always admired Japan, but you made it even more special.
Thank you for this beautiful gift, brother. One day, I’ll experience it myself for sure.
Best wishes for your future endeavors.
Very nice. Almost pushing me to fully change careers!
Can’t wait to see more of the journey.
Just about to start taking my Honda Freed on the road here around Kyushu myself to start. First time sleeping in a car, so keen though. Keep up the rad work legend 🤙🏽
Hi Brother, Love from India 🇮🇳
This is so beautiful, I’m sure you did this trip for yourself and adventure, but Im so grateful that you shared it in such a beautiful way for all of us to enjoy ❤
Beautifully shot. Beautifully produced. But wait, you had to hike back up the volcano?? Wtf. Lol.
So well done and amazing life experience.
Crazy video Ryan, I watched the whole thing! I love all your footage its so gorgeous and I hope you had a life changing experience. Curiously, how did you afford to do this? I know you quit your 9-5 but how long did you have to save? I'm also from Canada so at least that's a common variable. Cheers
This is SOOOOO good Ryan. You should be so proud of what you have achieved already in such a relatively short time. I continue to be so inspired for my upcoming Japan travels. Thankyou. x
Hey Ryan, I have been following your journey since the start and really enjoyed every bit of it. Since 2024 fall, I have made 3 separate trips to Japan and coincidentally they all lined up with significant parts of your itinerary. Tohoku, Hokkaido, Izu, Chubu region, Hokuriku region, Hyogo, Mie, Wakayama. Everytime when I return home from one of my trips, I would catch your latest video essentially going through a similar itinerary as mine. It was wild how we were just passing each other maybe a few weeks apart. It felt like I was reliving my own journey through yours but in all your cinematographic glory. It made your videos a lot more personal and memorable for me.
Thank you for sharing your incredible journey so far. Your videos are the best out there in the Japan content space, especially since you cover a lot of hidden gems that people rarely visit. You deserve a lot of followers and I look forward to the next chapter of your Japan van life!
It’s been a joy following your journey ❤🎉
Been following you awhile. Prayers for you and glad to live through your eyes. I hope this video blows up!!!
And damn your videography has gotten amazing!!