One of my first thoughts when we secured our (what would later be moot) visas for Japan was, “I’m introducing my baby to the happiest place on earth!” I mentioned this early on to Bryce, the anti-Disney member of our family. “But, she won’t remember anything,” was one of his first responses to my idea. … Continue reading We’re going to (Tokyo) Disney!
Category: japan
Dreams coming true: making friends with otters
As I scrolled on my phone to learn more about the aquarium we'd be going to the next day, I stopped at a picture of an Asian small-clawed otter sticking its paw through a small hole in its enclosure. You can feed slash hold hands with otters at this Japanese aquarium?!?! I turned my phone… Continue reading Dreams coming true: making friends with otters
Date night with Yokohama FC
Once we knew we'd be going to Japan -- you know, we secured that travel visa that ended up being moot since Japan "opened up" to foreigners the day after we arrived. -- Bryce and I both started planning the "one thing" we wanted to do while there. His was to go to a soccer… Continue reading Date night with Yokohama FC
Karuizawa: a trip within a trip
I had honestly never heard of Karuizawa before. One of my cousins informed me that a season of Terrace House was filmed there though. It's "in the mountains" and is pretty was all I had heard from family members. They were not wrong! We flew into Japan on a Wednesday afternoon and already the next… Continue reading Karuizawa: a trip within a trip
Osaka v. Tokyo
"How was Osaka?" "It was good. Well, I prefer Tokyo though," I replied. My mom's reaction to my response was a burst of laughter. She then followed with: I'm not surprised. Because we are Tokyo people. This conversation occurred more than two years ago. Bryce and I had just returned to my grandma's house in… Continue reading Osaka v. Tokyo
Flower carrots, sleep deprivation and memories
Every New Year's Day, my mom would make osechi ryori, traditional Japanese New Year foods. Actually, I need to correct myself. She'd be cooking all day and night before New Year's Day. If we weren't home in Seattle, then we'd have an even more elaborate osechi in Japan with my baa-ba (grandma). In recent years… Continue reading Flower carrots, sleep deprivation and memories
Kyoto: Sloshing about at Fushimi Inari
Being from Seattle, we scoff at people who use umbrellas. We don't need umbrellas! Yes, it rains but it's usually just an off-and-on type of rain, or a light drizzle. Nothing our rain jackets, or even a hoodie, can't handle! However, I was grateful I brought my grandmother's umbrella with me on our trip to… Continue reading Kyoto: Sloshing about at Fushimi Inari
Japan: bullet trains, family time, good food and lots of walking
I've been back home in Seattle for four days and am still trying to recover from my jet lag. I enjoyed a fantastic two-week vacation in Japan visiting family and also exploring new places. Isn't that the best though? When you get to see family and also see new cities you have never been to?… Continue reading Japan: bullet trains, family time, good food and lots of walking
Looking to Tokyo 2020
Ever since it was announced that Tokyo would be the host city of the next summer Olympics, I've been going around telling friends and family that I will be there. Whenever it's come up in conversation -- which happens often when I'm the one starting the conversation -- Bryce and I exclaim in union: Tokyo… Continue reading Looking to Tokyo 2020
Will travel for matcha
If I had to pick my favorite food, it would be cheese, closely followed by matcha parfaits. Although, I really love anything matcha. Matcha tea. Matcha lattes. Matcha pound cake. Matcha roll cake. Matcha cookies. Matcha mochi. You get the idea. It's hard to find good matcha though. I am in no means a matcha… Continue reading Will travel for matcha
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