ABOUT
Lin is from the Netherlands, and she has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration for hospitality management. She speaks Dutch and English, some French and German.
Tell us about yourself
I first moved abroad when I was 22. Since then I’ve worked in hotels, got married, had kids and started working in affiliate marketing.
Moving to Kyoto
When and why did you move to Kyoto?
I lived in Kyoto for 3.5 years, July 2018 – Jan 2022, as my husband was opening a hotel there. We were already in Tokyo, so the move was kind of ‘local’, even though Tokyo is very different from Kyoto.
How did you get set up? (phone plan, bank ..)
My husband’s company arranged everything for us – we’re really lucky in that way!
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?
We have international medical insurance that we keep when moving to different countries.
What did you bring with you?
We always bring our own things! We haven’t lived ‘home’ for almost 20 years, and move from country to country shipping our own things.
How did you find an apartment?
We rented a beautiful old Kyomachiya, an original Kyoto style wooden house. Japanese people don’t really like to live in old houses, as they are very drafty, not well insulated and in general they are not keen on living in something that used to belong to someone else. We loved it though, as it had lots of character and a very large traditional garden.
What should people consider before deciding to move to Kyoto?
Kyoto local people are very proud as Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan. It can take a while to make connections with local people, as they are not very fond of foreigners.
Living in Kyoto
What specifically is Kyoto famous for?
Obviously the old town of Kyoto is a UNESCO heritage site.. so that’s what it’s famous for! It is also a busy university town with quite a lot of international students.
What apps do you find useful in your daily life in Kyoto?
Google translate..
How can people from the Netherlands immigrate to Japan?
Find a job first that will provide you with a work permit.
Do you need to speak Japanese to live in Kyoto?
I lived in Japan for 7 years, but was too busy to learn Japanese as I was raising 3 kids without any help from family or a nanny. It is possible to survive without speaking, but if I had known we would stay for that long, I would have learned a bit.
What are your favorite places in Kyoto?
Actually Kyoto the city is famous, but the province (perfecture) of Kyoto is quite unknown but beautiful. I always loved camping in the north of Kyoto, in Kyotango, where you can set up your tent in front of the ocean and wake up with the sound of the waves. Within Kyoto city, I loved hiking Daimonji, and the trail at Fushimi Inari (famous for the 1000 red gates).
What is the most recent thing you've read in the news about life in Kyoto?
I don’t follow the news, but I heard from friends that unfortunately Kyoto is overcrowded with tourists again.
Do you feel safe as a woman?
Yes, very. As a woman, or a man and even young children – everyone can safely move around town. Kids as young as 6 travel to and from school by themselves.
What's your list of favorite restaurants and cafés in Kyoto?
I’ve moved away from Kyoto over 2 years ago now, so some places we used to go to may have closed, but our friend has a great restaurant called Que Pasa burritos. Our family is vegetarian, and Kyoto has a large number of vegetarian / vegan restaurants. My favorite was Kanga-An, in an old temple. Beautiful ‘temple food’ omakase.
How does Kyoto compare to other cities in Japan?
Because it is surrounded by mountains, it is very contained and there is a lot of hiking you can do close by. It is easy to navigate as the streets are in a grid with straight lines. Because of the way it is situated though, it is hotter in summer and colder in winter than a lot of other places on Honshu. I also love the river running through, and most weekends we would meet our friends with picnics and drinks by the riverside, away from tourists.
Final Thoughts
Can you tell us something else about Kyoto that we might not know?
No buildings can be higher than the pagoda! So there are no skyscrapers.
What are some local artists that you recommend checking out?
Asahiyaki in Uji is a tea pottery in Uji, just south of the city. The pottery master is already the 4th or 5th generation to run this pottery.
What books should people look at to learn more about Kyoto?
I self-published a couple of children’s books about Kyoto, combining real life as an international family, with original Japanese traditional figures like the Four Mythical Beasts of Kyoto. You can find them on Amazon under Lin de Leeuwerk.
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of or that surprised you?
As there are not many foreigners in Kyoto, I started a monthly Inspirational Women’s Gathering at my house where women could network. I’m doing the same now here in Bangkok.
WHAT ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES TO LIVING IN KYOTO?
Not many expats or international shops. Many, many tourists. It is like Disneyland sometimes.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
I love meeting people and making connections, so I never have an issue finding friends, but in Kyoto it was a little bit harder as there are not many expats (no big international companies). The international student population is quite big though, as there are many universities. I have a few Japanese friends. They are always somehow connected with living abroad as well – they are either partly Japanese or studied abroad.
What are your plans for the future?
My family and I will be living in Thailand for the foreseeable future, and I’m busy building my team in high ticket affiliate marketing, working as a distributor for a Japanese wellness company. With my website and instagram, I want to show other women a way to create income with time- and location freedom. If you’re interested to know more, you can follow this link for an introduction to the company and our team.
