As a busy model, she often travels abroad for work, but she also loves to travel and goes on trips regularly for personal reasons. We spoke to her about her unique travel style.
Text: Arisa O
Photo: Masahiro Kojima
Two travel styles: weekend getaways and long stays
Matsushima made her modeling debut at the age of 12. She has visited France over 30 times for photo shoots, but surprisingly, she says, "I've actually never been to Paris privately."
So where is she going and what kind of journey is she on?
"I have two travel styles. One is a whirlwind trip on the weekend. I usually go to Taiwan and Korea, where my friends live.
It's a blissful time to go to my favorite places while visiting friends and eating delicious food. Korean Samgyetang and Dakgalbi, Lu Rou Fan at a night market in Taiwan... Everything is delicious in Korea and Taiwan.
Other than that, I like to chat with local friends at their favorite cafes, shop for clothes and cosmetics, go for a massage when I get tired of walking, and in Korea, I like to go to mugwort steam baths. It's a whirlwind trip, but I'm sure I'll pack everything I want to do into it and have a great time."
"My other travel style is long-stay trips that last a week to 10 days. I adjust my schedule and destination well in advance. I often go to cities like Paris, New York and Italy for work, so for long-term personal trips, it's important to be able to take it easy and relax, so I often choose resorts rather than those kinds of cities.
I've been to Hawaii, the Maldives, Tahiti, Bali, etc. I also love Thai food, so I often go to Thailand. I've been to Koh Samui twice."
Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand, and the entire island is covered with coconut trees. When I asked, "When it comes to resorts in Thailand, Phuket is more popular, so why did you choose Koh Samui?", he replied, "When I go to a resort, I look for a hotel I want to go to before I look for the country."
"When going to a resort, I think the choice of hotel is very important. That's because when you're staying for a long time, you're spending a lot of time at the hotel. Also, since resort areas often don't have any shops nearby, I choose hotels with private beaches, rooms with pools, good restaurants, and nice spas, where the hotel itself has great facilities."
Listening to Matsushima's story, I got the impression that travel, whether it's a whirlwind trip or a relaxing trip to a resort, is an extension of everyday life.
Information is collected from people living in the area.
Matsushima seems to be spending his time at his own pace while traveling.
"Apart from the country, hotel, and food I want to eat, I almost never have any plans. I don't decide what day or time I want to go to a certain place, but rather decide on the restaurant and destination depending on how I feel that day.
For me, food is the most fun part of traveling! That's why I don't want to make a mistake when it comes to restaurants, I want to go to a really delicious place. So when I look around the place, I often go to places that are crowded with locals, or places recommended by locals who have given me directions. I value information from people who actually live there, rather than from guidebooks."
She enjoys authentic food, actively talks to locals to find restaurants, rarely refers to guidebooks, and doesn't make any preconceived plans... Listening to her stories about her travels, they are all adventurous and active. You might want to ask her, "Aren't you being too careless? Are you sure?" but that's because she's just enjoying an extension of her everyday life.
When traveling, choose clothes that match your usual scent and mood
When we asked her what she always brings with her when traveling, she answered, "Clothes for more than the number of days you will be staying," "Aroma candles and room fragrance," and "Pajamas." These are also selections that give a feeling of everyday life. She told us the reason why she brings these items with her when traveling:
"Because I travel freely, some days I go to high-end, fashionable shops, some days I go to local shops, some days I just walk around town, and some days I take part in activities. That's why I want to choose clothes that suit the situation. I bring more clothes with me than the number of days I'll be staying, so that the hotel closet feels like my own closet at home. On top of that, I often buy things while I'm there, so my luggage is full when I get back (laughs).
Room fragrance is an important item for making a hotel room comfortable. I try to bring along some fragrance in a small bottle or a small aroma candle that isn't too heavy and keep them in the toilet, bathroom, or near the bed.
When people from overseas come to Japan, they say, "Japan smells like soy sauce," and no matter where you go, there's a scent that's unique to that place. But when you bring your own scent with you, it's strangely calming. Fragrant items have become one of the must-have travel items.
Pajamas are also essential in terms of feeling at ease. Of course, the hotel has pajamas available, but wearing what you wear at home makes you feel more at ease."
After talking about her favorite things to bring, Matsushima-san laughed shyly and continued, "As I was talking, I realized that I really do have a lot of luggage (laughs). But I'm good at packing. I enjoy packing things like a puzzle, and I even do it for my friends."
Matsushima brings along the items he regularly uses when traveling, offering a completely different experience. His attention to detail makes it seem as if he is blending his own life into the journey.
"I could live here" - Memories of my trip to Spain with my family
"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt you during this travel-related interview, but I love Tokyo."
Matsushima spoke up in the middle of the interview. She spends her time traveling as if it were an extension of her daily life, but perhaps that's because she loves her everyday life in Tokyo.
However, more than 10 years ago, while visiting a city in Spain with her family, she first thought, "Maybe I could live here."
"The climate, the people, the food... I was attracted to everything. Maybe the trip was special, but everyone I met was warm and welcoming.
One particularly memorable time was when I didn't know how to get on the train. I asked one person, but a lot of people in the area came over and helped me out. People of all ages and genders, people I didn't even know, volunteered to help me and recommended places to go. I was impressed that they could tell me more than I asked. It was a situation that could have been overlooked, but I was really happy to see them trying so hard to answer even though they didn't understand the language.
The cityscape and architecture are really beautiful. Just walking around made me feel like I was in a museum. My body got used to it very quickly."
Matsushima says that he usually doesn't have a plan when he goes on family trips. One day, he bought ingredients at a market in Barcelona, made simple sandwiches at the hotel, and ate them in the park. Another time, on a whim, his father suggested they go to Tarragona, a city about an hour from Barcelona that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"I can't forget the sunset I saw in Tarragona. My family and I talked about all sorts of things while watching the sun go down. Even though it was about 10 years ago, I remember that scene very clearly.
Since then, I haven't been able to go to Spain, so I'd like to go there again once the current situation calms down. I'd like to rent an apartment in Spain and live there for about 2-3 months."
Serendipity occurred as a result of blending into everyday life in Spain. It was encounters like this that made my trip to Spain an unforgettable one.
I love the city of Tokyo, but why do I still travel?
Finally, we asked Matsushima why he loves traveling.
"I love the city of Tokyo, and no matter which country I travel to, I always feel at ease when I return to Japan. Even though I travel to find relaxation, I've never felt confined in my daily life.
So, the reason I travel is because I want to get to know new places and see scenery I've never seen before. When I see new places, I can absorb expressiveness and energy that I didn't have before. It also gives me new ideas. I don't go out of my way to find a new me, but I think I like traveling because I can suddenly find something new. I think I'm looking for stimulation, rather than relieving stress, both physically and mentally."
She sees travel as an extension of her daily life and blends into the city she visits, not because she wants to be healed. She stays true to herself, seeing the same sights as the locals, eating the foods the locals like, and traveling the same way the locals do. By doing so, she made me feel that she is experiencing emotions she has never experienced before.
Click here for a list of interviews
OnTrip JAL editorial staff interview people they want to talk to right now. We bring you travel-related stories.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
