In a time of hyper-curated travel vlogs and adrenaline-fueled adventures, it’s the quiet, sincere journey of a man and his dog walking across Japan that has captured the internet’s imagination. Kantaro Inagaki, a soft-spoken content creator with an eye for simplicity, is not just trekking across his home country—he’s rediscovering it, one step (and paw) at a time, alongside his loyal Shiba Inu companion, San-Chan.
“I love Japan and I love walking!” Inagaki says, when asked what sparked this ambitious endeavor. That might sound like an understatement—but it’s exactly that kind of earnestness that defines both his personality and his project.
Having studied abroad in New Zealand and Australia, Inagaki returned to Japan with a new perspective: “That time I thought I want to know more about Japan with my own eyes, not through a screen, but through real experiences like walking.”
So, in early 2024, he laced up his shoes, packed a modest bag, and set out on foot from Japan’s southern tip. Since then, he’s walked for hundreds of days, logging thousands of kilometers and weaving through the full tapestry of Japanese geography and culture—from misty mountain roads to neon-lit megacities.
But everything changed on day 250 of the journey, when Inagaki stumbled upon a hand-painted sign in Beppu: “Shiba Inu puppies have been born.”
“Wow I love Shiba Inus let me have a look,” he recalls thinking. “I did not think of actually adopting one of them.”
The encounter lingered in his mind. For five days, he couldn’t stop thinking about the brown-eyed puppy that had quietly won his heart. “What if I walk around with Shiba? How amazing that would be? Is it possible for Shiba to walk a lot?” he asked himself. The answer, it turned out, was yes. “I found out that Shibas are actually the best for walking around Japan with—physically, mentally, and in terms of personality. So I was like, OK, let’s go back and get her.”
On day 256, San-Chan officially joined the expedition—and from that moment, the walk across Japan became something far deeper.
“San has become my greatest supporter and partner, and family,” Inagaki says. “Just seeing her walking next to me motivates me more than anything and gives me so much power. I don’t feel lonely… even on the most exhausting days, and on cold winter nights, as long as San-Chan’s by my side, I know I can overcome anything.”
Their adventures are now shared with an audience of millions across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—though Inagaki insists the content comes second. “My top priority is enjoying the journey and not growing my social media,” he explains. “So whenever I feel tired or don’t feel like editing, I don’t. I’ll just enjoy the moment with San-Chan.”
Still, he recognizes the connection he’s built with fans who eagerly await updates. It’s that audience that inspired a playful yet heartfelt next step: the San-Chan crypto project on the Solana blockchain—a “heartwarming meme project” that offers supporters a way to engage with the story, receive exclusive content, and help fund the journey through decentralized, community-driven tools.
It’s not just tech-savvy fans or dog lovers who are captivated—San herself has proven to be a kind of four-legged diplomat. “She waits for the light to change like a human. She walks on the sidewalk. She runs so fast for so long… but she sleeps like a baby anywhere, anytime when she’s tired,” Inagaki laughs. “The best part is that she loves everyone on the road. Whether it’s a human or a dog, she gives so much love to everyone, and it makes me so happy.”
Still, life on the road with a dog has its limits. “There’re so many places that I can’t go with a dog,” he notes. “Restaurants and supermarkets—I feel bad to make her wait outside… but she smiles to everyone that passes by, so it’s OK. But I want more places to be open for dogs.”
Inagaki’s mission has become more than a travel diary—it’s a message, a mood, a gentle philosophy for modern life. “That animals are our family and we all should treat them like family,” he says. “Love is the most important thing and if you love them, they love back! Also, our world is truly beautiful and we all should appreciate everything we’ve got… If you stop taking things for granted like being able to live a normal life, it is easier to feel happy.”
As for whether the journey has an end? “Life is a journey and my journey will never stop!” he says. “After walking around Japan, I’ll go travel all around the world with San.”
In an age where the fastest, flashiest, and most clickable stories often rise to the top, Inagaki and San-Chan remind us of something more enduring: the quiet power of walking, wondering, and loving—with every step, a little closer to home.
