The first ever Global Travel Blogger Summit 2017 was hosted in Japan, and I was one of the lucky bloggers to participate in this media tour. Bloggers from all over Asia got together for a week, and the journey starts in Kobe. Read on for more!

大一回のグローバル・トラベル・ブロガー・サミット2017が日本で開催され、私も光栄ながら参加させていただきました。日本の魅力を発信していくために、アジアの各国から沢山のブロガーが参加しました。一週間の度は神戸でスタート!

In Japan, Tokyo is probably the most popular tourist destination for many travelers. It’s featured in movies, TV shows, music videos, and so many travel bloggers post photos and videos on their social media. While Tokyo is a unique and amazing city without a doubt, there are other beautiful places in other parts of Japan that are charming in their own ways but not as known to the world like Tokyo is. This is where I’d like to introduce the first ever Global Travel Blogger Summit 2017, an event based in Japan to bring together travel bloggers and influencers from around the globe to spread the word about the beauty of lesser known areas in Japan.

日本では、東京が多分一番知られている観光スポットであり、毎年観光客がどんどん増えています。海外でも映画やドラマ、ミュージックビデオなどに登場し、最近ではトラベルブロガーがSNSで写真や動画をアップし、東京の魅力を発信しています。東京はもちろん素晴らしい場所ではありますが、日本には他にも魅力的であまり知られていないエリアが沢山あります。そこで、今回参加させていただいたGlobal Travel Blogger Summit 2017を紹介したいと思います。このイベントでは、世界中のブロガーが12人集まり、東京以外の日本の魅力をSNSの力で世界中に発信していこうという目標でスタートしました。

Since this is the very first post of this series, I’d like to introduce the travel bloggers that participated in the summit. Youtuber Joan Kim from Korea; Blogger & Youtuber Olivia Lazuardy from Indonesia; Blogger Gail of The Equinox Fashion from Thailand; Youtuber Tiffany Theng from Malaysia; Blogger Joewy from Taiwan/Malaysia; Blogger & Youtuber Laureen Uy from the Philippines; Blogger & Youtuber Mehak Ghai from India; Blogger Lena Maria from Austria/Bali; Photographer & Blogger Melina Heidinger of Austria/Bali; Talent Erina Matsui of Japan.

このサミットについてのブログ記事第一弾ということなので、参加者を紹介したいと思います。韓国のYoutuber Joan Kim; インドネシアのBlogger & Youtuber Olivia Lazuardy; タイのBlogger Gail of The Equinox Fashion; マレーシアのYoutuber Tiffany Theng; 台湾とマレーシアのBlogger Joewy; フィリピンのBlogger & Youtuber Laureen Uy; インドのBlogger & Youtuber Mehak Ghai; オーストリアとバリ島のBlogger Lena Maria; オーストリアとバリ島のPhotographer & Blogger Melina Heidinger; 日本のタレント Erina Matsui.

 

Our first stop was Kobe City, a lovely port city and capital of Hyogo Prefecture known for its stylish cafes and bakeries. It’s the sixth largest city in Japan, it is part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kyoto. This year Kobe City is celebrating its 150th anniversary. “Of what?” you may ask. In 1868, Kobe was one of the first cities in Japan to open for trade with the West after the end of the policy of seclusion. Kobe City was kind enough to allow all of the bloggers to dress in beautiful kimonos and hakamas, and to show us around Meriken Park, which recently underwent a renovation. Afterwards, we trekked over to Kitano Shrine, where we had an amazing view of the city from above. We were luckily in time for cherry blossom season, as they are only in bloom for about 2 weeks. We also briefly stopped by the Kobe Animal Kingdom, a cute tourist attraction that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. While we only had a few hours to explore the city, having a kimono experience with the entire group was very special and something I normally wouldn’t have done. Many thanks to Kobe City for hosting us and for Saganokan for allowing us to wear these beautiful kimonos for the day! Stay tuned for more posts from this trip.

サミットのファーストストップは神戸市でした。神戸はお洒落なカフェやパン屋さんで知られていると思いますが、実は日本で6番目に大きい都市であり、日本を代表する港町です。今年でちょうど神戸開港から150周年であり、最近レノベーションされたメリケンパークなどを他のブロガー達と廻りました。さがの館で素敵な着物や袴を着せてもらい、メリケンパークを始め、神戸市を見渡せる北野神社へ行きました。ちょうど桜が咲いていたので、ブロガーの皆と写真の撮り合いっこをしてました。その他にも、神戸動物王国にも立ち寄りました。家族連れにぴったりな観光アトラクションでした。神戸でこのように着物を着て150周年を祝うことは、滅多にないチャンスで、本当に感謝しています。神戸市の皆さん、さがの館の皆さん、貴重な経験をさせていただきありがとうございました。そして、これを読んでいる皆さん、サミットについての記事はまだまだ続きます。お楽しみに!

 

 

All photos by Bell Chang and myself

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30 comments

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You all look amazing! What a cool event – perfectly timed with the cherry blossoms

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I am dying to go to Tokyo and your pictures and experience is making me want to go even more! That event sounds amazing and I wish I was able to join. Thanks for sharing babes 🙂

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This is an amazing blog from all the beautiful bloggers, different countries, photography, your outfits, and on and on. I have not been to Japan. I was lucky enough to go to Bangkok, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and just returned from Rome, Paris and London. So Japan is definitely on my bucket list. Gorgeous photography.

Xxgracie

snappedbygracie.com

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Wow, that’s a lot of traveling!! hope you enjoyed yourself babe 🙂

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I love that you were able to tour the city in traditional kimonos. That must have been so much fun! These photos turned out beautifully. Especially love the one of you admiring the cherry blossoms. And everyone’s hair is adorned so beautifully with those ornate flowers.

xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com

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All of your kimonos you ladies are wearing look so amazing! It’s nice to know summits like these exist because they allow bloggers like yourself not only to meet other bloggers, but experience new places with similar bloggers. I hope we have a summit like this in the States soon. I would love to go!

http://www.thebeautybeau.com

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amazing post 🙂

http://itsmetijana.blogspot.rs/

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You look so gorgeous! This event sounds gorgeous, I can see the appeal of Tokyo but would love to explore more of Japan when I visit

The Quirky Queer

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What an amazing start to this series!! I’m excited to see what you come up with after this, Sam!! You all look stunning and it’s sounding like you had an awesome time!
Jordan xx
http://www.thehatlogic.com

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This looks like so much fun! I love dressing up. One day I will make it to Japan. I love Gail! Checking out some of the other bloggers now. Will bookmark this post for when I do eventually make it over there!
xx Jenelle
http://www.inspiringwit.com

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Wow this looks so fun! I want to visit now after looking at all your photos! So pretty!

Linh
http://www.xcapewithlinh.com

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This looks like it was so much fun! And you all look gorgeous in those beautiful colors. I can’t wait to experience more events like this in the future!

Stephanie // SheSawStyle.com

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I have to go to Tokyo one day!!! It just looks so interetitng there. I really love the style over there. The kimonos are everything! You guys look so fashion forward!! Love this!

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Wow what an amazing experience! I’ve always wanted to visit Japan and loved seeing your photos on Instagram from each place you traveled to. These photos are beautiful. You all looked stunning wearing those traditional kimonos.

xo, Jo
http://www.cutandchic.com

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See, this is why I basically need to spend at least 3 months traveling Japan as I first of all need to spend several weeks in Tokyo, then move on to Kyoto and now, as it seems, Kobe. I don’t know where my love for Japan and everything Japanese springs from, but a lot comes from reading Art History as well as studying art, but there are of course pop culture references as well such as Lost in Translation and numerous other movies. The whole lot of you look amazing in the kimonos and I can’t wait to see what you’re up to next!
xoxo
Thomas

http://thomasfalkenstedt.com

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You definitely need a few weeks to go to all these please for sure!! If you have any questions you know you can always hit me up 🙂

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You look beautiful babe! And I’m so excited that you’re doing this and showing us other places to Japan besides Tokio!!

xo| Cindy Elena
http://www.boringclothes.com

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What an amazing start to the series. Can’t wait to see more of your trip. It looks so pretty in Kobe and you girls looks fabulous. You’ll have so much to takeaway from this!

Sweet as Fiction xx
http://www.sweetasfiction.com

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This is such an amazing idea! I love to travel to new places, and the lesser known ones always seem to be the best. And it’s so cool that you are bringing different bloggers together.

meg
http://www.meghanlaurie.com

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This series is getting me super excited. What a great way to spend time with bloggers with different backgrounds and experience travel with them. You all look gorgeous in these traditional kimonos. I have never been to Japan but it is on my bucket list. The pictures here are amazing!

Bisous, Josie
http://www.petiteandbold.com

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What a lovely squad of lady-bloggers you’ve got there. Such an amazing event and you all look so beautiful in those Geisha- dresses. Thanks for sharing babe, X Charissa, http://www.ladygoldapple.com

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Such a great opportunity to wear kimonos and find other bloggers. And was a spectaculous place surround with cherry blossoms wow. You looks super gorgeous and love also the make up and hair. I hope you had an unforgettable day. <3
xx
Eva
http://www.themermaidfashion.com

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Omg such a cool set of photos and I love the kimonos! So unique and cultural. You look so stunning too

xo, sharon

http://www.stylelullaby.com/interior/wake-up-better-tuft-and-needle/
@stylelullaby

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How amazing is this summit to unite travel blogger and influencers to explore other parts of Japan and spread word on its beauty. Kobe is a beautiful city and you girls cannot have picked a better time when the cherry blossoms are blooming. Everyone looks so stunning in kimonos and I love the floral head piece you have for that extra drama!! Stunning!!

~ xo Sheree
Posh Classy Mom
Instagram

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Wow babe such a beautiful experience and it looks you have a blast! I agreed Japan is such a beautiful culture and cant wait the day I have The opportunity to explore it.

You look absolutely stunning in the kimono look

Xoxo
Marcy

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What a wonderful experience, Samantha!!! you look very lovely and the pictures are all so beautiful!!! I would love to visit Japan one day, Hopefully, it will come true. All your pictures are always so artistic!!! :)))

Happy Weekend! xx. Gina

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This is such a truly amazing and magnificent account of suchbs memorable experience. You are completely stunning and I’m obsessed with the gorgeousness of the kimono and the floral head piece! Kobe is truly a unique city and you’ve completely captured its essence.

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I just can’t get over how beautiful the kimono is. I love history and beauty of traditional clothing in any culture and it’s so awesome that you had the chance to wear kimonos with other bloggers at this summit. I would love to visit Japan one day and wear a kimono too!

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You have a cute style babe and your makeup looks pretty. I hope to go to Tokyo one day, it looks beautiful there. Thank you for sharing the great tips!

Xo,
Gabriela Vera
http://www.gverastyle.blogspot.com

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What an incredible experience to see Japan off the tourist track and meet great bloggers!

https://www.bunnybernice.com/single-post/2017/04/25/Dress-For-Work-Without-Being-Dressy-For-Work

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