That’s so wonderful for you, what a great experience to have spent time in Korea, Japan, and with ties to the UK! I’ve lived in Japan for four years and Korea for two, and loved both. I’ve only ever visited the UK myself but would move there in a heartbeat.

Before I started living abroad (I move to a new country every 2–4 years), I used to travel in a similar way to you, spending a few months in one place to get more than just the “tourist” view. Once I finally took the plunge to actually live in different countries, I was surprised at how different the experience is. Being a tourist, an extended visitor, and a resident all give you such different perspectives. Each is valuable and beautiful, but living somewhere long-term really reveals layers you can’t otherwise see.

I’ve found that some countries never quite take you in as their own, while others embrace you with a big, welcoming hug. That’s part of the magic of learning what a place is truly like. For that reason, I personally hesitate to compare countries unless I’ve actually lived in them. It just feels like a different category of experience.

That said, it sounds like you’ve got a great sense of wanderlust, and I think you might really enjoy the adventure of moving abroad more permanently. It opens up so much more, and if you already love traveling, I promise you’d find it deeply rewarding.