- Kayoko Okubo "My Ideal Trip" -

If I had to describe my travel preparations, I would say that I don’t have any “essentials” for traveling.

I don't have any particular travel essentials. The only thing I always bring is a small pouch. I always bring a pouch when I fly. "Pouch" is an old word, isn't it? lol. My wallet, passport, a small pouch to put my passport in, and a mask. Also, a ballpoint pen and a book? Not a hardcover, but a paperback. That's okay. Because airplanes are comfortable. To be honest, I haven't been flying economy class much recently, so I don't have to worry about swelling in my feet. Sorry, I've become a celebrity lol. I guess it's just a way of thinking about how to spend the time on the plane with the minimum amount of luggage, unconsciously. Like, I want to look cool. Well, when I look at Asako (comedian Asako Ito), she brings things like, um, toes-opening items and does it very carefully lol.
Oh, and I also needed fake glasses. I usually don't wear any makeup when I fly, so I use fake glasses to hide my ugliness when I interact with flight attendants.

Getting my female friends ready for a trip - Some are reliable, some aren't -

Conditioner or treatment is important when traveling, isn't it? Even if the hotel shampoo doesn't suit you and your hair is rough, it can be all right if you have the conditioner you usually use. ...But I don't bring it. Most of the friends I go with have it, so it's not a problem. And, when someone doesn't have it, or I'm sure they definitely didn't bring it, I buy it at the airport. I'm the kind of person who likes to carry less luggage. So when I'm in a pinch, I simply ask my friends. I also get it locally. When I go on location, I leave everything to the hair and makeup artist. I even have cleansing, so I put it in the makeup artist's bag. I think about how I can travel as light and easy as possible. Or rather, the idea of making it easy for myself is amazing, and it seems to work.

I can't travel with a man like this

I'm not that careful, so I don't pay attention to the details of people's behavior. When I travel, I see different sides of people, and I guess there are things that make me feel irritated when I'm with them for a long time. Basically, I like to drink alcohol when I travel. Even on our regular trips with Asako, I like to drink local alcohol from noon. So I don't think I could travel with a man who can't drink alcohol. I think it would be boring for him too.

Kayoko Okubo's Ideal Trip

Drinking Sherry in Spain

My ideal trip... I wonder what it would be like if I had unlimited options for the person and the travel budget. Everyone says Spain is a great place, so I'd like to go there once. I had plans to go on a trip to Spain with someone I dated a while ago. We broke up before it could happen, so I've been thinking about Spain. I guess I'd go with a guy who drinks, and go to a Spanish bar? A place that's open during the day, drinking sherry and eating something like pintxos...wouldn't that be great? I've been imagining that scenario for a long time.
That's why I definitely won't go to Spain with Asako. I'm saving that for a trip to Spain with my boyfriend, who I've already fallen in love with. If Asako invites me to go, I'll decline, haha.

Going to the hot springs with my beloved fiance

A few years ago, I would have said that I wanted to go on a trip with a young man, but the first thing that came to mind was that it was impossible... But even if it was an impossible partner, if I could freely decide how the other person felt, well... I'd choose Sasaki Kuranosuke. I'm single, after all. Wow, that might be the best.
We'll take this trip when we've already decided to get married and want to go and meet our partner's parents.

A hot spring trip with Sasaki Kuranosuke and his determination

Sasaki Kuranosuke's family runs a long-established sake brewery in Kyoto, so when it comes time to greet them, I get nervous. So, instead of just going to Kyoto, I'll fly to Ishikawa Prefecture and maybe go to a hot spring? There are a lot of things around there. I think I'll stay at a hot spring inn for one night. And then, "It's finally tomorrow." "Shall we do a little practice?" As I sip my sake, my excitement grows.

The next day, when I said, "Hmm, I still don't have much confidence," Kuranosuke replied, "No, it's okay," supporting me in my uncertainty. We then took a slow, local train south to Kyoto... As a result, we weren't able to make it that day and spent another night somewhere along the way. "Ah, if he loves me this much, I'll go and greet him with confidence," I decided, and we went to Kyoto and tied the knot. I really hope that he realizes this delusion. I want to convey the nuances as well, so please read this article, Kuranosuke.

Next time, we will bring you Kayoko Okubo's "Mistakes While Traveling" column in the form of an original article by Okubo. Please look forward to it!
*The contents of this article have been confirmed by the relevant parties before being published.