Hi! I’m Hikari from Japan, currently living in Zhongshan, Taipei. I hold a professional chef license and have spent ~5 years in sushi R&D/product development. Food and people are my favorite ways to understand a place, whether that’s a neighborhood morning market or a tiny late-night noodle shop.

In January 2026 I’m starting a year-long, mostly overland world trip. I travel slow when I can, walk a lot, and try to leave each place a little better—cleaner kitchen, new recipes shared, and a few good photos for everyone.

•Languages: Japanese (native), English(conversational), Chinese (basic but improving—patient listeners appreciated!)
•Diet: No allergies, almost no dislikes. I enjoy spicy food.
•Personality: curious, open, respectful; I communicate clearly and keep spaces tidy.
•Cameras & hobbies: Canon R-series, street & food photography, running, light hikes, café hunting, GPS logging my routes.

Hosting in Taipei (until Nov 2025)

Location: Zhongshan, Taipei (walkable from an MRT station).
Can host: 1–2 guests, up to 2 nights depending on my schedule.
Sleeping arrangements: shared space in the living area; bedding provided (floor mattress/sofa).
Amenities: fast Wi-Fi, shower, light kitchen use; laundry on request; A/C .
Availability: evenings on weekdays, most weekends. If I can’t host, I’m happy to meet for coffee or a market walk.
House rules:
•No smoking/drugs/parties.
•Quiet after 22:30.
•Please reset shared spaces after use (dishes/counters/trash).
•Kitchen is fine for simple cooking—ask first and clean up.
•No additional unannounced guests; key handover and schedule to be coordinated by message.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

•To share daily life with locals instead of just sightseeing.
•To exchange home cooking—I’m happy to buy ingredients and cook Japanese meals as a thank-you.
•To learn small, real details about places: your breakfast spot, your grandma’s recipe, the bus that everyone uses.

Interests

Markets • home cooking • ramen & sushi • neighborhood walks • hot springs • supermarkets (yes!) • mountains & sea • photography walks •watching movies • soundtrack • classical music

• photography
• cooking
• movies
• food
• netflix

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I mostly listen to film scores and soundtracks—especially Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, and Ludwig Göransson—plus classical (Vivaldi, Beethoven) and jazz (piano trios and mellow standards). When I’m running or working out, I switch to funk and EDM, especially Steve Aoki, David Guetta, and Avicii. I love finding local concert halls, jazz bars, and record stores in each city.

Movies: I watch across genres and always in the original language with subtitles. I’m a big fan of Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, and Michael Bay. I’ve watched around 800 films and have watched every Marvel (MCU) and DC movie.

Books: I read widely in psychology and philosophy, and I love crime fiction—especially Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme series. I’m also into cookbooks and food-science writing that explain the “why” behind technique and flavor.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I helped develop sushi menu items for a nationwide chain, and then—months later in Taipei—watched strangers enjoy them in a neighborhood shop. Seeing an idea turn into someone’s dinner was unforgettable. Moving to Taiwan alone and building a new life from zero is a close second.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Japanese home cooking (dashi, miso soup, oyakodon, sashimi), simple sushi at home, knife basics (use & sharpening), beginner food photography.

Learn: your family recipes, local phrases, everyday history of your city/region.

Share: I’ll cook 1–2 dishes if ingredients are available, and share any good photos I take of you/your place.

What I Can Share with Hosts

•A homemade Japanese meal
•Cleaning help (dishes, counters, trash)
•Quiet, respectful stay (usually 1–2 nights)
•Friendly conversation in JP/CN/EN and photo souvenirs

Countries I’ve Visited

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, Taiwan