There are many websites that explain what a round-the-world air ticket is, so please refer to them.

I didn't originally plan to use a round-the-world air ticket, but I looked into it just in case.
As a result, I still don't plan to use one.
Unless it's half price, there are too many disadvantages for the price.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of a round-the-world air ticket for my case:

■Advantages
- It's easier to accumulate miles (probably).
- The return date becomes clear.
- It's easier to find flights with good conditions (e.g., good connections or daytime flights).

■Disadvantages
- If the period is shorter than the maximum of 1 year, the air ticket will be wasted.
- It's not designed for things like returning home temporarily.
- If you decide to "stop the round-the-world trip," the air ticket will be wasted. If you take a few months off and then restart, a year might pass, and the air ticket will be wasted.
- Actually, it's not much cheaper than buying tickets individually (I think). It's probably a good deal during peak season, but if you choose cheaper days, it might not be that expensive.
- It becomes difficult to stay in a place if you find a business opportunity locally.
- There's a restriction that you can't go back.
- You feel frustrated every time you find a cheap and good way to travel locally (mainly cheap airline tickets).

Based on the above, I actually got a quote.

You can get a quote for a OneWorld round-the-world air ticket that is strong in South America here:
https://rtw.oneworld.com/rtw/default.aspx?lang_id=ja
https://rtw.oneworld.com/rtw/default.aspx?lang_id=ja

It allows you to book up to 16 flights on a 4-continent course (Asia, Europe, North America, South America).
I set the period for land travel and created a quote for 14 flights, which came to about 480,000 yen (370,000 + 110,000 for surcharges).

When I got a quote for the same itinerary individually using Skyscanner, it was about 450,000 yen including surcharges.
However, the flights weren't as good as those offered by the round-the-world air ticket.

The above quote includes a round trip to Easter Island in South America, which costs about 100,000 yen. If you don't include that, it will be cheaper.
With a price difference like that, there are few advantages to using a round-the-world air ticket.
Also, you can save a little more by using accumulated miles to get award tickets for some segments.

Unless it's half price, the price difference isn't that big, and I think it's better to choose freedom of action and mental freedom than to buy a round-the-world air ticket and lose freedom.

Bag.

■Main bag
60L bag. Quechua FORCLAZ 60.
Purchased at Decathlon in India. I think it's worth about 4,000 to 5,000 yen.
Even though it's the same size, this backpack is lightweight. I also have a Millet hiking backpack (which I bought about 15 years ago), which is much heavier than this one. It's either the passage of time, or perhaps this one is superior, but it's lightweight and feels good.
It feels good to wear, and it feels like the load is light.

The inside is divided into upper and lower sections, and it's convenient because you can open the upper and lower sections separately.

On the other hand, I'm worried about security, so it may be necessary to lock it every time I wear it.

I will attach a Moomin name tag that I received from my circle members during my time in India.


■Backpack cover
It can prevent the backpack from getting dirty when putting it in the luggage compartment of a bus. The same applies when checking it in at an airport.
Some airports offer a service where they wrap your luggage with something like Saran Wrap, but this is not available everywhere.
Otherwise, it can be used normally in the rain, and if you cover it, it can provide some level of crime prevention (though it's just a deterrent). I bought a backpack (mentioned above) in India for 4,000-5,000 yen, but I didn't buy a sleeping bag cover (probably around 1,000 yen) at that time, so I was planning to buy a sleeping bag cover only in Japan this time. However, a 60L backpack cover alone costs 3,500 yen (expensive!), so I decided not to buy it in Japan. I thought, "A flimsy plastic cover for 3,500 yen? How much profit are they making?"
→ So, I bought a backpack cover at an outdoor shop in Urumqi, China, for 40 yuan (about 790 yen). Since it's just plastic, this price seems reasonable.

■Shoulder bag
When traveling, I basically use this.
Many people talk about the safety of shoulder bags, but it's better than carrying a bag on your back, and if you're going to wear a bag in front of you, there's not much difference between a shoulder bag and wearing it across your body.
The shoulder bag I used before had a thin strap that dug in and hurt, but this one has a wide strap, so it doesn't hurt my shoulder, and it's very comfortable.

Purchased in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).
MYR30 = approximately 1,000 yen.

Documents, etc.

■Passport: It's valid for 10 years. There are still about 5 years of validity remaining, so it's sufficient.
■Passport copy: A copy of the photo page is kept in my bag. I also store an image of it in the cloud.
■Diving license (C card): There is a possibility of going diving.
■Driver's license: Strictly speaking, an international driver's license alone is not valid, so I need to bring it along with my driver's license.
■International driver's license: I obtained it in case I might drive.
■Credit cards: Visa, Master, and AMEX, each from a different company (Rakuten Premium VISA, JAL Gold Master, Saison AMEX). VISA/MASTER cards sometimes get rejected, but AMEX can be useful in those situations.
■RFID blocking card: I keep it on top of my credit cards. It's always in my wallet.
■Insurance certificate (paper): The paper version can be restored if printed. I keep the PDF version in the cloud.
It is difficult to get long-term insurance, so I contacted the Kaneko Sompo Insurance Agency, which I had heard of before.
http://www.kaneko-sompo.jp/

I chose the S21 plan. It costs about 140,000 yen for one year, which is about 10,000 yen per month.
About 20 years ago, it seems like it was cheaper to get individual policies, but now most places only offer packages.
I could have divided it up and paid for it each time I returned to Japan, but it seems much cheaper to pay for it all at once, so I paid for one year.

■Various documents: Credit card number, contact information in case of loss, etc. I kept the minimum amount on paper, and I will store the rest in the cloud (as a photo or memo).

■Bank account balance certificate (1 copy): This is required when I apply for the Chinese visa, which currently only issues 30-day visas in Tokyo, and I need another 30 days. I made a copy for proof of funds, as it might be a problem when entering the country with a one-way ticket.

■Yellow fever vaccination certificate: The validity period for this is apparently changing from 10 years to a lifetime starting next year. I will write a separate article about vaccinations.

Small items.

■ Eye mask
■ Neck pillow: A cheap one from a 100-yen shop. (I also have expensive ones, but they are bulky.)
■ Earplugs
■ Nail clippers
■ Tweezers
■ Ear cleaner: I prefer the Japanese type, so I always bring one.
■ Razor: I only bring the minimum necessary, and buy the rest locally. Even though things are cheap locally, the 100-yen shops in Japan are actually cheaper, so I feel like the Japanese yen is undervalued and that we are in a deflationary economy. Is Japan okay?
■ Key (small): 2. One for the backpack and one for the locker. → I brought them, but I couldn't find them, so I bought a new one in Shanghai (5 yuan = about 100 yen).
■ Wire: Used in combination with the key. I also have pacsafe-style products where the wire and key are integrated (wire lock), but the combination of a small key and wire is lighter and better. Bicycle wire locks are a bit heavy, and if someone really wants to steal it, they will just cut the bag's fabric and steal it anyway, so a wire is a good balance. In terms of length, the integrated wire and lock type is about 80cm, but I prepared a 2m wire. 80cm is surprisingly short, so it's more convenient to have about 2m. When using the wire, I attach it to a loop, so an 80cm wire will only allow you to tie your belongings within a distance of 40cm. With a 2m wire, you can place it within a distance of 1m, which is easier. You can't always find a pole in the exact location you want.

■ Creams and sunscreen, etc.: I only bring the minimum necessary, and buy the rest locally. Carrying them individually is bulky, so this time I decided to use Nepia's blue can for multiple purposes. It has a slightly firm texture and is a bit dry, but you can add water when applying it to spread it, and the fact that it has less moisture is actually better because it takes up less volume and is easier to carry. Although it looks whitish immediately after applying it to the skin, the whiteness disappears quickly and blends into the skin, which is great. The smooth and non-sticky feeling after it dries is also good.
■ Toothbrush and toothpaste: I only bring the minimum necessary, and buy the rest locally.
■ Soap: I bring one, and buy the rest locally.
■ Small clothes pins with strings: I bring several to hang up laundry.
■Eye drops: In Japan, eye drops are not commonly used, but when traveling to countries with poor sanitation, eye fatigue and increased eye discharge can occur (apparently because the body is trying to expel bacteria from the eyes), so I bring them along. Foreign eye drops can be too strong, so Japanese ones are better.
■S-shaped hook: Used when there is no bag hook in the toilet, or for hanging laundry.
■Small mirror: I bring it just in case there is no mirror in the shared shower in a dormitory.
■Chopsticks: I keep them on hand because sometimes there are no forks available, or they are not provided at restaurants.
■Camera accessories: Blower: Essential for blowing dust off the CCD of a mirrorless camera. If it's too small, it may not be effective and the dust may not be blown away, so I bring the one I normally use.
■Camera accessories: Lens cleaning cloth: The basic practice is to use a paper lens wipe once at the beginning of the day, and use a cloth for minor cleaning throughout the day.
■Camera accessories: Lens cleaning wipes: I choose individually packaged wipes that are pre-soaked with liquid. If the dirt cannot be removed with a cloth, I use these to remove it. While wipes with separate paper and liquid are overwhelmingly common, these individual packets allow you to carry only the minimum amount needed for the day, and they are safer because there is no risk of liquid leakage that you might not notice, leading to the liquid running out. You can't obtain liquid anywhere.

Electrical appliances.

■Smartphone, SIM-free version. Android One, obtained in India.
INR6,499 = approximately 12,000 yen.
It is dual SIM, so it is convenient.


■SIM card: For now, I obtained a SIM card for the first country, China, in advance through online shopping.
It is a China Mobile Data-only card that can be used for 2G.
Since it may be difficult to obtain it locally due to the situation where submitting identification documents is complicated, and the price difference is not significant, I decided to obtain it in advance. For other countries, I will basically obtain them locally.

■Digital camera (main): Sony α5100, body only, approximately 40,000 yen.
224g without battery and SD card, 283g with battery and SD card.


I replaced only the body of my NEX-5.
The tilt is only 180 degrees, which is a drawback. I can't see the screen when I tilt it up to take a picture.
I wasn't expecting much from the touch panel, but it's surprisingly good. The touch-to-focus feature is very useful.
The LCD screen is easier to see than on the NEX-5, and it's easy to see where the focus is, which is a plus.

However, touch focus is not all-powerful. When I tried to focus on something behind a cage at the zoo, it focused on the cage instead. With Canon, Nikon, or even Pentax, I could have just slightly moved the focus ring to prioritize focusing on the object behind the cage, but I wonder why Sony doesn't allow such a basic operation. I feel that cameras from companies that have been in the camera business for a long time (Canon, Nikon, Pentax) are generally better, but I'm using this one now because it's lightweight and takes decent pictures.

I'm using the E 35mm F1.8 OSS lens (SEL35F18, 154g) that I purchased previously. I've been using this lens with my Sony NEX-5 for about 5 years, so I'm just replacing the body and continuing to use the lens. There's also a Carl Zeiss 35mm lens called the Sonnar T* FE 35mm F2.8 ZA (SEL35F28Z, 120g, about 6.9 million yen), so I considered replacing it, but I decided to stick with my current lens because the aperture goes from F1.8 to F2.8, which would require me to be more careful about shutter speed and shake, especially in low light. The Carl Zeiss lens is appealing, but I'm sticking with my current one. Perhaps I could achieve a higher shutter speed with a full-frame digital camera, so F2.8 might be sufficient.

However, like the WX-300, Sony products are often unstable.
It's frustrating that the time it takes for the camera to be ready to take a picture after turning it on is not consistent. I checked it at several stores, and the same symptoms were observed, so I guess that's just how it is.

The lens on the NEX-5 clicked into place and felt stable, but when I attach a lens to this α5100, it doesn't feel like it clicks into place. That's probably why the lens sometimes doesn't register when I turn it on, and I have to reattach it.

I've bought several Sony lenses, so I'm still using this series, but the usability of the camera is better with Canon or Nikon. I was even thinking about switching to a Canon mirrorless M3, but it would cost over 100,000 yen if I bought a prime lens, so I'm holding off for now. The image quality is also better with Nikon. I've also considered switching to a Nikon D5500, but again, it would cost over 100,000 yen if I included a prime lens, and Sony is the only option that's small and light. For now, I'm using Sony because of its "smallness" and "lightness," but if I have to replace the camera body and prime lens in the future, Canon or Nikon are likely to be the top contenders. Companies that have been in the camera business for a long time seem to have more passion.

What's great about Canon's single-lens cameras is that you can turn them off and on again after taking a picture, and they're ready to take another picture immediately, even if the image hasn't finished writing to the memory card yet. With Sony, you can't turn it on again until the image has finished writing to the memory card. It's sometimes fatal for a camera to not be able to take a picture immediately after turning it on, because you might miss a shot. Canon seems to understand that, and they probably think that users should be able to take a picture immediately after turning it on, regardless of what's happening internally. I should have started with Canon, but I've been using this small and lightweight Sony mirrorless camera because Canon hasn't released many mirrorless cameras for a while. But if Sony doesn't change, I'm likely to switch to Canon eventually.

I'm imagining a future where I switch to a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 50mm prime lens, because the Canon 50mm prime lens seems lightweight and takes good pictures. But for now, I'm still using this Sony.

The Sony full-frame compact camera DSC-RX1 was also a candidate, but I rejected it because it has a 35mm lens, which would be wider than I want. I've been using a 35mm prime lens because it's equivalent to a 50mm lens on a film camera when combined with an APC-sized CCD, which makes it a "standard lens." If the CCD were full-size, I would naturally choose a 50mm lens. A 35mm lens on a full-frame camera would be too wide, and I wouldn't want to capture things I don't want to see. I want a "standard lens" equivalent to a 50mm lens (35mm lens on an APC digital camera, 50mm lens on a full-frame digital camera). I might have bought it if the DSC-RX1 had a 50mm lens.

■Digital camera (sub) Sony WX300. Although it's a sub camera, the movie quality might be better with this one. It's a backup for when the main camera is lost or malfunctions, so I basically don't carry it around.
■SD cards: 64GB x2, 32GB x3.

■Laptop: Lenovo Flex 10, 50,000 yen. A cheap one is sufficient. I chose this one because it's small and light. If it's cheap, the damage from being stolen is less.
■External HDD 2TB. It's only 168g, so it's lightweight. It probably doesn't have much shock absorption, so I'll carry it in a cushioning case.




■ Mouse: It is inefficient if you don't have one, so please bring it.

■Power conversion connector: Only for power connector conversion. A transformer is not required. I used to have something called "Sascom," but I haven't seen it sold recently.
■Extension power cable (Japanese type): Essential. The outlet may not always be in a convenient location.
■USB power connector: A type that can output both 1A and 2A.
■Earphones: Cheap ones are sufficient. Used during long journeys, etc. For playing music on smartphones.
■USB battery: Necessary for overnight travel or long flights.

Clothing.

■Valuables pouch (bag type). Something that has been used for a long time.


■Sheet: Logos brand (Silky Inner Sleeping Bag), 280g.

I bring a sheet because sometimes the bed is dirty. Some places don't dry the bedding properly. I also had a silk one, but I was concerned about its durability, and cotton sheets take too long to dry, so I chose this polyester one. A silk sheet would be about 160g, and a cotton sheet would be about 400g. This polyester one is 280g, which is a good middle ground in terms of weight. For some reason, it's also cheaper than the others (regular price is 1980 yen), so it's just right. The shape is also good, with the head end being longer and the front end being shorter, making it bag-shaped, which is perfect. It also helps prevent silverfish.

■Three pairs of pants. I chose polyester pants because cotton pants sometimes don't dry even after a few days. The plan is to wash and change clothes while showering.

■I brought several pairs of socks. Pants are somewhat okay to wear even when slightly damp, but if you wear socks that are slightly damp, the shoes will start to smell. Even with polyester outdoor products, I can't be completely at ease. Instead, I mainly use cheap ones, and if they can't be washed, I'll discard them and buy new ones. They sell for around 200 yen per pair. Pants are about the same price as in Japan, so I hesitate to use them in the same disposable way, but socks are not that expensive, and while I prefer to change pants frequently, socks are fine even if I wear the same ones for about three days in terms of dirt and odor. Of course, when I'm in Japan or on a short trip, I change them every day, but I think this method is better for traveling.

■Outerwear: Several items. One short-sleeved, one long-sleeved. All are made of Montbell's quick-drying material. With Montbell, one item can often cover a wide range of temperatures.
■Shirts: 3 items. One to wear during the day, one for a daytime change, and one mainly for sleepwear. Reliable Montbell and The North Face. I feel that The North Face's quality is better for shirts.

■Fleece jacket: One item. I am bringing a K-Way brand fleece jacket that I bought in India (around 600 yen). It is easier to use than a down jacket, so I am bringing one. It takes up a little space, but I expect to use it more roughly than a down jacket.
■Gore-Tex rain gear (top and bottom): The jacket can be used as a windbreaker (I don't have enough space to carry them separately). I bought it a long time ago, so I don't remember the price. It has a hood, so it can handle light rain without an umbrella.

■ Main pants: 1 pair. These are embroidered pants from Columbia called "TITANIUM." I bought them over 10 years ago, and I haven't used them much because I gained weight, but I took them out again because I lost weight during my assignment in India. They are made of stretch material, so they are comfortable. Also, they can surprisingly adapt to a wide range of temperatures. They are comfortable in temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, and can be used up to around 0 degrees Celsius. They are relatively comfortable at around 5 degrees Celsius. Among Columbia's products, which tend to prioritize design over functionality, these pants are an excellent item. There aren't many pants that are this soft and comfortable. Items like these are valuable for long trips where you might go to both hot and cold places. However, I remember the original price was around 10,000 yen.

Initially, I was going to get pants from Montbell, but I decided to get the Columbia pants instead because Montbell pants are stiff and I thought they might make noise when I move around in places like museums. The Montbell pants have zippers on the side pockets, which is better for security.

■ Shorts: For sleeping and walking around near the hotel. Also used while the main pants are being washed.

■ Swimsuit: I am bringing a thin swimming swimsuit.

■Down inner jacket (top and bottom): I brought a Montbell U.L. down inner jacket and Montbell UL down inner pants (which seem to be discontinued). While Uniqlo is popular these days, I feel more comfortable with Montbell. I bought these about 10 years ago, and they are still perfectly usable, so I brought them along.

I thought I might not need them if I had a fleece jacket, but it's better to have something lightweight to put in my bag, and each of these weighs only about 200g, so I brought them.
Montbell products, even those from about 10 years ago, have a "fill power" of 800 or more, which is a good indicator for down products, so they are still perfectly usable. Uniqlo seems to have a fill power of 640, which is probably appropriate for the price. Uniqlo writes "high quality" for products with a fill power of 640, but compared to Montbell, it's not that great. When I looked at Montbell's latest products, they are selling products with a fill power of 900 or 1000 for the same price (around 15,000 yen) as what I bought. It seems that the price is appropriate. Since they are not worth replacing, I will continue to use the ones from 10 years ago.

Although the pants mentioned above make down inner pants unnecessary for everyday use, I intend to use the down inner pants mainly in accommodations. I might not be able to sleep because it's cold at night.

■Face towel: One small one. If it gets dirty, I'll buy a new one locally, but Japanese-made towels have good absorbency, so I'll use it carefully.
■Hat: A Quechua hat I bought in India. It cost about 1000 yen.

■Shoes: Quechua shoes I bought in India. About 3800 yen. They are not Gore-Tex, but they are inexpensive and have good basic quality, so I use them. Quechua is truly the leader of Europe. I don't want to wear expensive shoes when I go to dirty places, and I also want to do a little trekking, so these are just right.

■Beach sandals: Mainly used inside hotels/guesthouses.
If you are only traveling to warm places, you can probably manage without them by going barefoot, but when traveling to places that are somewhat cool, you might feel cold and want to wear sandals when walking around the room or hallway.
Because cold feet can easily lead to a decline in physical condition, sandals are necessary.
I got a light pair at my first destination, Shanghai. They were green and cost 20 yuan (about 390 yen).
After that, it seems I dropped them during the trip from Beijing to Datong, so I bought another pair in Luoyang. They were black and white striped and cost 10 yuan (195 yen).
They are light and good.

Other.

■Staff bag: Used to hold and organize belongings.
Used for separating items. Ordinary bags can be noisy, which can be a nuisance to others in a dormitory. Outdoor products are designed with use in mountain huts in mind, so they are quiet.
■Sunglasses: Bring inexpensive ones. If they break, you can buy them locally. Sunglasses are necessary in areas with strong sunlight to protect your eyes. I have a pair of sunglasses that I bought in the Philippines for about 1,000 yen, and they are surprisingly good, so I will bring those.
■String: Not used very often, but I will bring a short piece just in case.
→ (Added on 2015/05/11) ...I thought I wouldn't use it, but if you hang the string over the top bunk of a bunk bed and hang a hanger underneath, the length is just right, so I'm actually using it quite a bit.
■Clothes pins: I got some with strings attached from a 100-yen shop.
About 5. Used to hang clothes to dry.
■Laundry detergent: I will bring a few small packs. Small packs are not commonly sold overseas, so if I can't find them, I will look for soap or a small box of laundry soap and divide it into small portions in plastic bags.
Laundry detergent is more effective at removing dirt.
■Writing utensils: The minimum is sufficient.
■Medicine: Only cold medicine.
■Pocket tissues: The minimum is sufficient. You can buy them locally if needed.
■Wet wipes: The minimum is sufficient. You only need them at the beginning; you will gradually stop using them. Washing your hands with water is sufficient. Basically, they are not necessary, but I have some left over, so I will bring a little.
■ Door alarm: For nighttime security. I don't use it often, but sometimes I worry. It's lightweight, so I'm bringing it.
■ Tripod: One lightweight, small tripod.
■ Band-aids: A small amount.
■ Folding umbrella: A hooded jacket is usually enough, but I thought it would be better to have a lightweight folding umbrella in case of heavy rain, and to consider bringing a backpack cover. I'm bringing a lightweight folding umbrella, "Snow Peak Umbrella UL," which I've been using for a while. It's durable, doesn't break easily, and is lightweight, so it's perfect.
■ Hangers: Dormitories sometimes don't have hangers, so I'm bringing two. I chose thin, lightweight hangers from a 100-yen shop. If they break, I'll get them locally. I also bought a folding hanger (about 500 yen), but the moving parts seem fragile and it's slightly heavier than the 100-yen shop one, so I ended up choosing the cheaper 100-yen shop one.
■ Skimming prevention card: A card that prevents skimming by being placed on top of a credit card. I originally had one and kept it in my wallet for overseas travel, but this time, I bought one more for the spare credit card I'm storing in my valuables bag.

Things to not bring.

■Sleeping bag: A lightweight down sleeping bag from Montbell (approximately 700g). I hesitated, but this time I decided to bring both the down inner jacket and the down inner pants (mentioned above), so I should be able to manage with those. I considered using it for trekking, but there are often rental options for tours, and for serious tent trekking, you need to figure out the tent itself, so I decided to forgo bringing a sleeping bag this time. Besides trekking, as mentioned above, I should be able to manage with the down inner jacket and the down inner pants.
■ Mileage card: "If you know the number, you can get it issued on the spot, so it's sufficient to just save it on your smartphone. OneWorld is JAL (credit card included), Star Alliance is ANA, and SkyTeam is Korean Air."
■ Money clip: I used to use it, but I don't use it much recently.
■ Dummy wallet: I don't feel the need to have it, so I don't bring it. If necessary, I can get it locally.
■ LAN cable: Not necessary. There's usually Wi-Fi, and most of the time, there's only Wi-Fi.
■ Wi-Fi router: A small mobile Wi-Fi router that connects to a LAN cable and converts it to Wi-Fi. I don't bring it because there are usually no LAN connectors overseas, and it's mostly Wi-Fi. Nowadays, it's the age of smartphones rather than PCs.
■ Bluetooth keyboard: Not necessary this time because I'm bringing a PC, but I often bring it for short trips. It makes it easier to enter text on a smartphone.
■ Camera waterproof case: It's surprisingly unnecessary. It's not very transparent, and I don't feel the need to take pictures to that extent. If necessary, I can cover it with plastic.
■ Slippers: If it's a short trip, it's fine to bring disposable ones, but they are not essential. I plan to get beach sandals somewhere.
■ Bluetooth speaker: Basically unnecessary, but I might bring it as a hobby.
■ Headlight: An app on your smartphone is sufficient.
■ Shampoo: I use soap instead. If it's a slightly good soap, it can be used for multiple purposes without any problems.
■ Conditioner: I use soap instead. It will be dry, but I use Nepia's blue can as a substitute for conditioner.




↓ I put the items in (other than the laptop). Surprisingly, it's light, so I think it will be okay.



■Addition (4/9)
While cleaning my house, I thought about throwing away old shirts and underwear before leaving, but since they might still be usable to some extent, I decided to pack them into an old, unused carry bag. I plan to use them and gradually discard them, as doing laundry will be troublesome, especially when I'm getting used to the new routine. The carry bag is also old and flimsy, and I barely use it, so I plan to discard it once I've used everything inside. I think this stock should last for the first month or two. Because I have a carry bag, I'm also bringing some cosmetics from home, which I plan to use up and then discard. Since the first country I'm visiting is China, and the guesthouses are mostly located in the city center, there shouldn't be any problem with bringing a carry bag. Also, since I'll be traveling and my diet might be unbalanced, I'm also bringing a partially used bottle of multivitamins.

■Regarding souvenirs
I basically won't buy any souvenirs. They just take up space.

Originally, I was planning to fly to Beijing, but since flights arrive too quickly and it's not very interesting, I'm planning to go to Shanghai by ferry. However, if I can't prepare all the necessary documents, I will proceed with the original plan to go to Beijing.

April 8: China visa obtained & passport arrived at home.
April 10: Departure from Osaka.
April 12: Arrival in Shanghai.



Suzhou (also known as Suzhou number, or in Chinese as Sūzhōu mǎ).
https://www.shanghai-ferry.co.jp/

Originally, I had planned to take another ferry to Shanghai called Shin Kanjin, but the dates didn't match, so I chose the Suzhou.

I live in Tokyo, and the Osaka departure is at 12:00, and check-in is required by 10:30. I could have stayed overnight in Osaka, but since I will likely be taking a harsh bus soon, I decided to take a comfortable Japanese overnight bus. I chose a 3-seat configuration, so it shouldn't be too harsh. Either way, I can rest and relax on the ferry, so being a little tired the night before is not a problem.

Eagle Bus, Shinjuku to Osaka: 5600 yen.
http://www.new-wing.co.jp/

Recently, the situation of internet usage in China has become well-known.
About 15 years ago, when talking about internet censorship in China, people would say "Is that true?" But nowadays, it's become a matter of course that it appears in the news.

Previously, it was like the connection would suddenly be cut off while browsing the Web.
It seems that this was probably because if a website contained prohibited words based on keywords, the connection would be cut off.

It may be even more sophisticated now, but it seems that blocking websites is still ongoing.

Since Facebook is also included in this, it's unclear whether it can actually be used, but I decided to prepare some ways to circumvent it.

■ Prepare a VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and it means creating a secure network path between your computer and a specific server.


In the diagram, the explanation is simplified for web access, but in principle, it is possible to use a VPN for any type of communication.

When searching, various options appear, so I am considering trying out some existing services. However, I also thought I could create my own, so I set it up on a server (Sakura VPS) that I plan to cancel at the end of May.

■ Server Specifications
Sakura VPS
Linux (CentOS)
OpenVPN

■ Client
I tried using the standard OpenVPN client (http://www.openvpn.jp/document/openvpn-gui-for-windows/), but something didn't work, so I used Vpnux (http://www.vpnux.jp/).

■ Server Configuration Notes

Installation
yum install openvpn

Startup
/etc/init.d/openvpn start

Automatic startup at Linux boot
chkconfig openvpn on

Initially, the following folder is empty
ls /etc/openvpn/

Copy the sample configuration to create a template
cp /usr/share/doc/openvpn-2.3.6/sample/sample-config-files/server.conf /etc/openvpn/

OpenVPN server certificate creation
yum install easy-rsa

cd /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0
source ./vars
./clean-all
./build-ca
→ Enter certificate information. The most important part is the common name; the rest can be entered arbitrarily.
./build-key-server server
→ Enter certificate information. The most important part is the common name; the rest can be entered arbitrarily.

Create a certificate for the connecting user
./build-key username

./build-dh

Create symbolic links
cd /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0
ln -s /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/keys/ca.crt .
ln -s /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/keys/server.crt .
ln -s /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/keys/server.key .
ln -s /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/keys/dh2048.pem .

Configuration
vi /etc/openvpn/server.conf

The following settings are applied:
ca /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/ca.crt
cert /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/server.crt
key /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/server.key
dh /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/dh2048.pem

The port may need to be changed from the default value to connect from China (apparently).

Restart OpenVPN
/etc/init.d/openvpn restart

Set up IP forwarding for VPN
vi /etc/sysctl.conf

Set ip_forward to 1
net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1

Reload the settings
sysctl -p

Copy the client-side private key to the client terminal (PC, Android)
The following files in /usr/share/easy-rsa/2.0/keys are the targets:
ca.crt
username.crt
username.key
This username.key is important, so be careful when transferring it, as it could be compromised.

Firewall settings
In addition to other settings, set the following:
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 1194 -j ACCEPT
Of course, in a real-world environment, port 1194 may not work for connections from China (apparently), so change it as needed.

iptables -A INPUT -i tun+ -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -i tun+ -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -m state --state NEW -o eth0 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT
iptables -A OUTPUT -m state --state NEW -o eth0 -j ACCEPT
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s 10.8.0.0/24 -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE

In this area, if there are any connection issues, we will adjust them later. For now, please proceed with this configuration.

I won't write in detail because various things come up when you search, but the procedures I took are as follows.

- Remove the resident registration.
At the government office, I submitted a notification stating that I was "moving to the first country I will go to."

- I did not enroll in the National Health Insurance.
You cannot enroll without a resident registration.
In my case, I retired at the end of March, so I did not enroll in insurance for the short period until my departure (early April).
While I am abroad, I will be covered by travel insurance.
Even when I return to Japan temporarily, it seems that I can be covered by travel insurance if I add a special provision.
The National Health Insurance system has changed in recent years, and there is a system that allows you to continue it voluntarily and settle the overseas portion, which is convenient for dental treatment, but most things can be covered by travel insurance, so I will not enroll in the National Health Insurance. If you enroll in both, it is surprisingly expensive.

- I will not pay the pension while I am abroad.
The amount is not increased, but the number of months is counted.
Because I do not have a resident registration, I do not have an obligation to pay.
According to what I heard at the government office, if you do not pay for one month, it seems that you can consider it as a reduction of approximately 1000 yen per month.
I was mistaken, but the amount of pension received does not decrease, but increases only by the amount you pay.
So, it seems that the "6-7 million yen payout" currently shown in the pension statement will increase even further if I continue to pay it.
I understand this based on the explanation I received from the government office, but I may be mistaken.
In any case, I think that the business I start will become a pension, so I am not too worried about the pension.
Since I have already paid the pension for more than 15 years, I think it is sufficient if I can at least have the number of months counted.

It seems that the standard pension amount is 780,000 yen per year.
If you do not pay for some years, that amount will be deducted.

When I chose to become a salaried employee during my student days, I thought the monthly pension amount would be 200,000 yen, but it seems that is not the case.
The fact that I can only receive the same amount as the National Pension is either because the system has changed, or because I am single.
Or perhaps, it is because my salary is extremely low compared to the bubble era.

In any case, it seems that even if you work as a salaried employee for your entire life, it will be different from the era when your parents received a decent pension.
If you take your parents' stories seriously, you will suffer later.
The idea that you can live comfortably with the pension if you work until retirement seems to be a thing of the past.
If things continue this way, I will only receive 6-70,000 yen per month.
With that amount, I would starve to death.

In order to improve this situation, it is necessary to start a business, but I will talk about that again later.　

Budget:
Approximately 2.5 million yen plus contingency funds for a trip lasting about a year.

Here's a rough estimate:

■Airfare/International Ferry: Approximately 400,000 yen
Japan to China: 30,000 yen (ferry + domestic transportation)
India to Turkey: 40,000 yen (airfare)
Europe to South America: 100,000 yen (airfare)
Round trip to Easter Island: 60,000 yen (airfare)
South America to Central America: 60,000 yen (airfare)
North America to Japan: 50,000 yen (airfare)

■Land Transportation: Approximately 200,000 yen?
Uncertain, so just an estimate.

■Accommodation: Approximately 700,000 yen?
Varies by country, but generally:
Developing countries: Approximately 1,000 yen per night for a dorm room.
Developed countries: Less than 3,000 yen per night for a dorm room (around 2,000 yen).

I haven't stayed in dorm rooms since I was a student, but I'll mainly use dorms this time.
It would be a waste to spend around 8,000 yen per night for a single room. That would cost 3 million yen in a year. Even for a short trip, accommodation costs can be significant.

■Food and Other Expenses (Entrance Fees, etc.):
3,000 yen/day x 365 days = 1,000,000 yen

Therefore, I'll aim to spend around 200,000 yen per month.

I feel that:
- Prices are increasing due to inflation in foreign countries.
- The value of the Japanese yen is decreasing.

Therefore, I estimate that:
- The value of the Japanese yen is about half of what it was 10+ years ago.

I believe that if I had traveled during the bubble era, I could have had the same level of trip for half the price.

Airfare is cheaper than during the bubble era, but the biggest expense for a long trip is accommodation and food, so the actual travel cost is higher.

I experienced the increasing prices in India during my overseas assignment there.

It's possible that in 10 or 20 years, it may be impossible to have the same level of trip for the same amount of money. Therefore, it's better to go while you can. While I can't predict the future, I think it's better to seize opportunities when they arise rather than assuming things will always be the same.

■Cash Management:
I don't want to carry much cash, so I'll keep the amount in my wallet to a minimum.
I'll withdraw local currency using cash advances on my credit card.

■Credit Card Management:
I'll use credit cards for payments in some countries.
I'll keep a backup credit card separate from my wallet in case I get robbed.

I have credit cards from different companies.
If one company is compromised, all cards from that company may be blocked.
Also, some companies may stop all cards if there's fraudulent activity.
This may vary by company, but if there's fraudulent activity, the card will be canceled and need to be reissued, making it unusable. Therefore, it's important to have multiple cards.

- Rakuten Premium Card (VISA): My main card. It has an annual fee of 10,000 yen, but it comes with "Priority Pass," which allows access to lounges. This is convenient because meals are often free at overseas lounges. I'm a long-time Rakuten customer and a Diamond member. I've had fraudulent activity on this card a few times, so it seems they're monitoring it closely. When I was in India, I had fraudulent activity, and my card was canceled until I returned home and got a new card.
- JAL Card (Master): My secondary card.
- American Express (from Saison): Useful if overseas VISA/Master cards are not accepted. American Express usually has an annual fee of 10,000 yen, but Saison's American Express is 3,000 yen, making it a good insurance card.
- UC Card (VISA): A backup card, stored separately from my wallet. UC was acquired by Saison, but they seem to be managing it separately.

■Japanese Bank Cards:
I won't bring any Japanese bank cards, as they likely won't work anyway.

■Traveler's Checks:
I've never used traveler's checks for short trips, and I've been able to get by with cash advances on my credit card, so I'll do the same this time. I'm concerned about the information that "ATMs are generally dangerous in South America and can be skimmed," but that information is often outdated, and skimming is a risk everywhere, not just in South America. I've had fraudulent activity on my cards many times, so I'm not particularly worried. Fortunately, the credit card companies have caught the fraudulent activity, so I haven't actually been charged.

However, I recently found out that American Express stopped accepting traveler's checks on March 31, 2014. Traveler's checks seem to be a thing of the past.

■International Cash Card
Do not bring it.
Credit card cash advances are sufficient.

■Addition (2015/04/24)
The value of the Japanese yen is falling more than expected.
If the value of the Japanese yen continues to fall, it is not surprising that it will cost 100 million yen to travel around the world in a few decades. If the salaries of Japanese people do not increase accordingly at that time, traveling around the world may become a luxury only for the rich. It used to be that budget travel was the norm.

Therefore, being able to travel around the world for 1 million or 2 million yen for a year was something of the past, and I feel that the above estimates are too low.
After a few months, I would like to readjust the funds.

My parents are carefree and say things like, "You can do it after retirement." But retirement is more than 30 years away, and by then, the prices in the world may have increased so much that traveling around the world may become a fantasy.
I can somehow manage the finances now, so I will do it while I can.

The laptop PC may be stolen, so I encrypted the contents.

I used a software called TrueCrypt.
It encrypts the entire drive.

The official website has stopped development, but it is being continued by volunteers, so I used that version.

http://truecrypt.sourceforge.net/ This is the official website, which has stopped development.
https://truecrypt.ch/ I used this website.

Unfortunately, I was unable to encrypt the boot drive on my system, but I created a virtual drive and encrypted the data inside it.
Furthermore, I encrypted the entire external HDD.

With this, there is less worry about data leakage even if it is stolen.

■Notes
When I insert an encrypted USB drive, a dialog box appears every time asking "Do you want to format it?", so I need to address this.

Open the command prompt as an administrator and execute the following:
C:\> diskpart
DISKPART> list disk
DISKPART> select disk 1 (Select the appropriate number from the list above)
DISKPART> list partition
DISKPART> select partition 1 (Select the appropriate number from the list above)
DISKPART> set id=64 (Set the ID to 64. 64 means an encrypted drive.)
DISKPART> exit

There is also a method of not assigning a drive letter, but this seems to require setting it for each PC, so I haven't tried it.

Supplement:
In the future, when decrypting, you may need to set the ID back to 1. Or, it may return to its original state when formatted. (It's not a big problem because you can just try it if it doesn't recognize it properly.)

This time, I selected regions that are difficult to access while working a regular job, focusing on the following areas:
- South America
-This time, I selected regions that are difficult to access while working a regular job, focusing on the following areas:
- South America
- This time, I selected regions that are difficult to access while working a regular job, focusing on the following areas:
- South America
-

I have already received the basic vaccinations for my previous assignment in India, so no additional vaccinations are needed.

I received a yellow fever vaccination 11 years ago, and I thought the validity period was 10 years, so I was planning to get an additional yellow fever vaccination before going to South America. However, it seems that the validity period is changing from 10 years to "lifetime" (!) from next year, so I may not need an additional vaccination. From what I've read, it seems that this is not a new type of yellow fever vaccine, but rather a change in the understanding that the traditional vaccine has been effective for life. I plan to check again when I get closer to South America. Therefore, I will bring the yellow card I have.
http://www.forth.go.jp/moreinfo/topics/2014/06131316.html

However, currently, no countries in South America require a yellow card for entry, so I will simply bring it with me.

■Tetanus
I received an additional vaccination 11 years ago, and also a few years ago. Therefore, it should be effective for about 8 more years.
I am most concerned about tetanus during long-term travel.

■Hepatitis A
It is effective for a few more years.

■Japanese Encephalitis
I received an additional vaccination before my assignment in India, so the effects should still be sufficient.

■Rabies
The number of vaccinations required to maintain immunity is too high, and I haven't received one recently.
However, even if I get vaccinated, it will only alleviate the symptoms, so it's questionable.
It is expensive in Japan, so I will not get it, but I might get it if I can find a place where it is cheaper.

■Polio
I received an additional vaccination about 10 years ago.
It is probably time for the next additional vaccination, so I will get it if I can find a place where it is cheap.

First, I obtained the following visas from neighboring countries.

■China
Currently, only 30-day tourist visas are available, so I obtained one in advance with the plan to extend it for another 30 days in Dunhuang.
In the past, it was possible to extend a visa even without a visa, but now there is information that it is difficult (or impossible?) to extend a visa if you enter without a visa, so I decided to obtain one in advance.
It seems that before the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations, 60-day tourist visas were issued, but now it seems that only 30-day visas are available.

You cannot apply directly at the Chinese embassy; you need to ask a travel agency.
I asked World Tours http://www.worldtours.co.jp/.
The application fee is 4,500 yen, plus 600 yen for the courier, for a total of 5,100 yen.

Once the documents arrive at the travel agency, they apply the next day, and it takes 4 business days for the visa to be issued, and then it is delivered by courier the next day, so it takes about a week in total. In my case, it took exactly one week because the embassy was closed on a holiday.

■Indian Visa
Applied at the Indian embassy.
A multiple-entry visa (allowing multiple entries) is available for 2,156 yen.

■Pakistan Visa
If you apply at the Pakistani embassy in Tokyo (Hiroo), it will be ready the next day.
The application fee is 100 yen.
It seems that it was possible to obtain a visa (arrival visa) at the border of the Karakoram Highway in the past, but it seems difficult now, so I decided to obtain it in Tokyo.

The information on the website is inaccurate, and the visa acceptance hours are slightly shorter than what is stated on the website, and the pickup time is also different.
The website states that applications are accepted until 1:00 PM, but in reality, they are accepted until 12:30 PM.
The website states that the visa can be picked up between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, but in reality, it can be picked up between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

You have to enter through the back gate, and the gate was closed, so I initially thought, "Is this really it?"
It was completely empty inside.
It's completely different from the Indian embassy.
It seems that there are not many people who want to go to Pakistan...

After receiving the Pakistan visa, I was very concerned about the phrase "Purpose of Visit" which says "Visit". What does "the purpose of visiting is visiting" mean? (laugh) When I asked about this, I was told that it is usually written like that, not exactly as written on the application form. It seems that it is fine if it is for tourism. Hmm. I don't quite understand, but well, I guess it's okay.

■Turkish Visa
No visa is required for up to 90 days. It's truly a friendly country.

■European Countries
No visa is required due to the Schengen Agreement.

■Moroccan Visa
No visa is required for up to 90 days. It's truly a tourist-oriented country.

■Brazilian Visa
A Brazilian visa must be used within 90 days of issuance, so if I have a chance to return to Japan temporarily, I will obtain it then. If I am traveling from Europe, I will obtain it in Europe.
It seems that Lisbon (Portugal) is easy to obtain a visa.
Alternatively, you can enter a neighboring country other than Brazil and obtain a Brazilian visa in that neighboring country.
However, there is a possibility that I will skip Brazil... I will think about it later.

■South American Countries other than Brazil
No visa is required (supposedly).
I will check the latest information again when it gets closer.