Constantly in pursuit of excellence, it's no wonder Tim Ferriss has more or less mastered the art of globetrotting. He’s successfully helped millions of people lose weight, make money, learn foreign languages, and cook; all by testing hundreds, if not thousands, of methods directly on himself. His trifecta of New York Times bestselling books began with 4 Hour Work Week, a how-to guide on how to make money from anywhere in the world.
With a heavy emphasis on travelling while generating “passive income”, Tim’s passion for adventure has fuelled his desire to help others see the world (before reaching retirement). While visiting SXSW in Austin, Texas we caught up with Tim after his talk with Deena Varshavskaya, CEO and founder of Wanelo.com, a creative e-commerce platform he was an early investor of.
A seasoned voyageur to say the least, Tim describes his memorable experience at Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi Hills, the Michelin two-starred restaurant operated by Jiro Ono, considered the world's best sushi chef in Tokyo, Japan. In 2011 film maker David Gelb documented the epic tale of sushi chef Ono who rose to prominence with his three-star Michelin restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro. Jiro Dreams of Sushi was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival, where critics adored the unique tale of Jiro's son preparing to continue the legacy of his flagship restaurant.
What is one of the most memorable destinations you’ve ever visited?
The most memorable destination I’ve ever visited, and one I repeatedly visit, is Tokyo. It is simultaneously one of the most monolithic yet futuristic cities on the planet. Tokyo is where you can be entirely lost in a foreign environment, where you are effectively illiterate, and it’s perfectly safe. You can experience the discomfort of being a stranger in a strange land; of being the weird one who stands out; the Waldo in a foreign country - with utter confidence that you will get back to your hotel safe and sound without any problems. It’s just such a shock to the system for most people accustomed to any Western culture and it’s an experience that I think everyone should have at least once.
What is a destination that you’re eager to visit that you have not seen yet?
I would like to spend some more time in some of the smaller islands of Indonesia, and go to the Philippines. I’ve never been to the Philippines and I’d like to visit both of those for diving purposes.
Is there a recent luxurious experience you had you can recount?
For those who have seen Jiro Dreams of Sushi on Netflix, I went to his son’s restaurant and spent about two hours there. My friends and I had the restaurant to just the five of us. I spoke to him (because I speak Japanese) for about an hour and a half, and he gave me recommendations for restaurants in other areas of Japan, like Okinawa where we were going to visit next.
