PSA: Forgetting my portable water filter led to an unexpected eco-wakeup call in rural Japan
I was solo backpacking through the Japanese countryside and ran out of bottled water, with no shops in sight. A local farmer noticed my predicament and offered me water from his well, but only if I used my own container, which I didn't have. He lent me a ceramic cup from his home, explaining how single-use plastics were ruining their local streams. That moment made me realize how reliant I was on disposable items, even when trying to travel lightly. Now, I always carry a collapsible silicone cup and a filter straw, which has opened up more genuine interactions and reduced my waste significantly.