Author: Vanessa Whalen

  • 5 Adorable Foods I Ate in Japan

    5 Adorable Foods I Ate in Japan

    Japan has a way of turning food into a delightful spectacle, from rainbow colored desserts to themed cafes and character dining experiences. As someone who loves Sanrio, cute cafes, and all things kawaii, I was excited to eat some cute meals during my 18 day trip to Japan! Here are 5 of the cutest foods I ate while visiting last fall.

    1. Hello Kitty apple pastry at Universal Studios Japan

    Universal Studios Japan has a dedicated Hello Kitty area in the park. There is a Hello Kitty bow museum with an opportunity to “meet” Hello Kitty at the end of your visit, a teacup ride, a gift shop, and a food stall called “Hello Kitty’s Corner Cafe”. This is where I picked up this adorable apple pastry with a mascarpone topping. Decorated with a pink bow and pearlescent sprinkles, and placed in a cute pink box depicting Hello Kitty herself, this dessert was a visual delight, as well as very tasty! It was almost too cute to eat (key word: almost!), but my husband and I enjoyed sharing it as a mid-day snack before continuing our adventures at USJ.

    The Hello Kitty area of the park is small but very charming and well themed. I saw lots of Hello Kitty fans in cute HK-themed dresses just hanging out, taking selfies, and snacking on the cute desserts on offer. I wish that Universal in Florida had this much Hello Kitty representation. And yes, I made my husband meet Hello Kitty and ride the teacups with me! Sometimes you just have to fully embrace your inner child.

    2. Rainbow French toast at Pink Kawaii cafe

    While exploring Osaka, we stopped into a cafe called Pink Kawaii. The bright colors and over the top presentation made it impossible to resist coming in. This place really committed to the bit, and the execution was on point. While there, we had some cute drinks and one of the most colorful desserts I’d ever seen. And thankfully, it wasn’t just pretty… it was really tasty, too!

    The rainbow French toast we shared was impressively colorful, with saturated rainbow hues swirled into the bread. It also came with a scoop of ice cream served in a star shaped dish, and a cute little ceramic pitcher for maple syrup.

    We also ordered a couple drinks to refresh and rehydrate in the middle of our long day in Osaka. I got pineapple juice, and Tim got some kind of blue soft drink. I can’t remember exactly what it was, but it came in a souvenir cup shaped like a duck that we got to keep as a memento to remember the cafe by. Pink Kawaii is definitely worth checking out if you are a kawaii lover visiting Osaka. The food is good and there are many opportunities to get some very instagrammable shots.

    3. Duffy-themed lunch at Tokyo DisneySea

    For those unfamiliar, Duffy is a widely beloved character in Japan. He is Mickey Mouse’s teddy bear, and he is so popular that entire shops are dedicated to him and his friends. He was created for Tokyo DisneySea, and he is undeniably the face of the park. It wasn’t uncommon to see park visitors carrying around Duffy stuffed animals or otherwise donning Duffy merchandise. I fell in love with some of these characters myself during my day spent at the park, and indulged in Duffy photo ops, purchasing multiple stuffed animals and keychains, and ordering this themed meal for lunch.

    The meal was offered for Duffy’s 20th anniversary celebration, which happened to be going on while we visited. It consisted of Japanese curry with rice, pumpkin soup, and a small salad. I also ordered a fun boba drink with a scoop of kiwi.

    As you can see, the rice in the curry dish resembles Duffy the bear! Between the adorable presentation and the fact that I had just fallen in love with this sweet little guy, this meal quickly became one of my favorite memories from visiting Tokyo DisneySea.

    My love for this bear knows no bounds!

    4. My meal at the Cinnamoroll Cafe

    I go much more in-depth about this dining experience here, but despite having already written about it, the Cinnamoroll Cafe needed its own spot on this list.

    This cafe was whimsical, adorable, immersive, and everything a Sanrio fan would hope it would be. My husband ordered Japanese curry, and I ordered omelette rice. As you can see from these pictures, the sheer cuteness factor alone makes this cafe worth a visit. There are locations in both Tokyo and Osaka, and I’m sure you cannot go wrong with either location. We went to the location in Tokyo. I truly can’t recommend this place enough.

    Along with our main entrees, we got a dessert to share and a cheesecake flavored milk. The dessert, as seen above, featured a scoop of ice cream made to resemble Cinnamoroll’s friend, Chiffon. It also had whipped cream, fruits, and some Pocky for good measure.

    If you are interested in visiting the Cinnamoroll Cafe on your upcoming trip to Japan, please refer to my post dedicated entirely to my experience here!

    5. Rainbow cheese corn dog on Takeshita Street in Harajuku

    On our final full day in Japan, we visited Harajuku. Harajuku is a neighborhood in Tokyo known for its over-the-top street fashions, often called J-fashion. It is also known for it’s many novelty food items, including this Korean style corn dog filled with rainbow colored cheese.

    Taste wise, it was a pretty basic street food. It was fine. Visually, it was much more impressive than it was taste-wise. As soon as I pulled it apart, colorful strands of melted cheese stretched between my hands. I wish I had better photos!

    Takeshita Street was far too crowded for my tastes, and in some ways our visit there was a bit disappointing, but at least I got to eat rainbow cheese.

    Final Thoughts

    Japan is famous for its incredible cuisine, but one of my favorite discoveries was how cute and fun the food can be too. The foods I listed above were just as much experiences as they were meals. Most of them made me smile as much as the theme parks, temples, and other attractions did. As a foodie traveler, I absolutely cannot wait to experience even more cute food on my next trip to Japan. I already have some places in mind!

    Whether it’s a rainbow dessert or a curry resembling the world’s cutest teddy bear, Japan has a way of making themed dining experiences feel like you’re a little kid again. These meals may not have been the most authentic or sophisticated things I ate in Japan, but they captured another side of the country that I fell in love with over and over again: its willingness to embrace joy, fandom, and whimsy.

    Gallery:

  • My Day Trip to Uji: The Matcha Capital of Japan

    My Day Trip to Uji: The Matcha Capital of Japan

    When people think of day trips from Kyoto, Osaka and Nara tend to get most of the attention. And while those destinations are incredible and certainly worth visiting, one of my favorite excursions during my honeymoon trip to Japan was our day spent in Uji.

    Located just outside of Kyoto, Uji is best known for centuries of superior quality matcha. For those unfamiliar, matcha is Japanese powdered green tea. In the last decade or so, it has become increasingly popular globally. Most popular coffee shops, including Starbucks and Dunkin’, offer their own matcha latte drinks. The matcha you’ll find in Uji, however, is the real deal! We saw some matcha shops with signs boasting their centuries-long tenure. One shop in particular was 400 years old. Uji is also home to Byodo-in Temple and the recently-opened Nintendo Museum.

    Pre-Nintendo Museum lunch: conveyor belt sushi at Kappa Sushi

    Kappa Sushi, located near the Nintendo Museum, is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. This is a popular genre of sushi restaurants in Japan, and it was our first time eating at one. You order small plates on a tablet or on your phone, and the food arrives at your table shortly after via conveyor belt. Ordering many dishes is encouraged, as each dish is usually only two pieces of sushi. We really enjoyed eating at Kappa Sushi. There’s just something about conveyor belt sushi restaurants that make me so giddy with excitement. It is a lot of fun getting to try so many different kinds of sushi. Visiting a restaurant like this on your trip to Japan is an absolute must if you are a sushi lover like me!

    The Nintendo Museum

    After our early lunch at Kappa Sushi, we headed straight to the Nintendo Museum. As lifelong Nintendo fans, this was an attraction that my husband and I were both very excited to visit. Fun fact: this museum is in a former Nintendo manufacturing plant!

    The museum opened only recently, and it does an incredible job of showcasing Nintendo’s history. There were lots of interactive exhibits and opportunities to play Nintendo games, and a gift shop that sold exclusive items that you could only get at the museum. The layout and the design were very modern and pleasing to the eye, and the displays did a great job of highlighting the evolution of the company over the years.

    Photography isn’t allowed in much of the museum, so I don’t have a lot of photos. You’ll have to go see for yourself! And trust me when I say that it’s more than worth a visit for any Nintendo fan. I am not always a huge fan of museums, but I had an absolute blast here.

    Uji Matcha

    After finishing at the Nintendo Museum, we took a bus to historic Uji, where we wandered into a cute little cafe called Rokujoan to finally sip on some world-renowned Uji matcha. We got some traditional hot matcha to try, as well as a brown sugar iced matcha latte topped with a scoop of matcha ice cream. We also shared a crepe with some fun toppings. Everything we got was delicious. I really enjoyed hanging out in a matcha cafe in historic Uji, and I recommend anyone visiting Uji find a similar place to relax and refresh for a little while. Spending some time here was the perfect little pick-me-up before continuing our sight seeing.

    Our goodies from the cafe in historic Uji!

    I’ve enjoyed matcha many times, but drinking it in Uji felt like a special experience. It is clear that this city takes a tremendous amount of pride in being the matcha capital of the world. There are endless tea shops and matcha related treats and souvenirs to see while you visit. While you’re here, make sure you take some time to walk the streets and pop into some of the shops. The vibes here are traditional yet modern in a uniquely Japanese way.

    Byodo-in Temple

    Next, we went to Byodo-in Temple and museum, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. It’s even featured on the ten yen coin! Sadly, we arrived after ticket sales to visit the interior of the temple had closed, but we were still able to explore the grounds, admire the temple from the outside, and visit the museum. Just walking around outside was really nice. As you can see, Byodo-in Temple is quite a sight to behold!

    The museum was very interesting. There were restorations of old paintings, maps of Uji created during the Edo period, statues, and other artifacts. No photos were allowed, but the exhibits offered a wonderful glimpse into the history of Uji.

    And even without visiting the inside of the temple, I thought it was one of the most beautiful sights of our trip.

    A sunset stroll

    My favorite memories from Uji weren’t from visiting a major attraction! We left Byodo-in around sunset, wandered away from the more densely touristed areas, and explored some of the city’s side streets. Eventually, we found a bench overlooking the Uji river and a pedestrian bridge. Across the river, there were mountains visible in the distance, as well as a mix of both traditional and modern Japanese homes. The sky was pink, and the energy was quiet and reflective. I remember that during this part of our day in Uji, it hit me that I’m in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and in one of it’s most historically and culturally rich cities.

    Why Uji was one of my favorite day trips

    My day in Uji was packed with variety, which is one of the things that made it stand out the most. On the modern side, I got to experience conveyor belt sushi and the incredibly impressive and brand-new Nintendo Museum. On the more traditional side, I got to sip matcha in historic Uji, and I got to visit the stunning Byodo-in Temple. It was cool getting to see one of Japan’s newest major attractions before learning about centuries of history. And our evening spent at a slower pace and enjoying the sights and the sunset on the slower side streets made for a beautiful end to our day.

    If you’re visiting Kyoto on your upcoming trip to Japan, I strongly recommend a day trip to Uji. It’s an easy day trip, and it combines food, culture, and history with a little bit of Nintendo magic. I don’t think you’ll regret coming to this beautiful city.

    Gallery:

  • How to Spend 4 Days in New Orleans: My Complete First-timer Itinerary

    How to Spend 4 Days in New Orleans: My Complete First-timer Itinerary

    New Orleans had been on my travel bucket list for years. Between the food, the history, the music, and the unique culture, it neared the top of my list of US cities to visit. I knew I wanted to experience it at least once. Earlier this year, my husband and I finally made the trip. After four days of eating our way through the city, staying at a French Quarter hotel, visiting museums, and even taking a swamp tour on an air boat, I can confidently say that NOLA lived up to the hype!

    Day One: French Quarter, Jackson Square, and the Garden District

    We arrived the evening before our true “Day One”, and headed straight to our hotel. We stayed at the Best Western French Quarter on North Rampart, just a short couple minutes on foot away from the famous Bourbon Street. We checked in, set down our bags, got dinner at Mambo’s on Bourbon, and came back to our room to crash for the night.

    Our dinner at Mambo’s shortly after landing in Nola. We had a crab cake appetizer, Tim had a “taste of New Orleans” trio, and I had redfish with corn grits and collared greens. A great dinner at this very busy and bustling restaurant!

    The next day, we slept in a little bit and headed straight to the French Market around lunch time. Our first stop at the market was Loretta’s Famous Pralines for some authentic New Orleans beignets. We had heard that his place was beloved by locals, and we were hoping the line would be shorter than the famous and always busy Cafe du Monde. We should have gone in the morning instead of sleeping in, as we did still have to wait a fair bit! Our beignets were delicious, though, and I think the wait was worth it. We had praline beignets and crab beignets.

    Loretta’s was clearly a local favorite as well as a tourist hot spot

    One of our crab meat beignets

    After enjoying our beignets and wandering around to take in the sights of the many vendors, food stalls, souvenirs, trinkets, and live music, we got a muffuletta to share. A muffuletta is yet another staple of New Orleans cuisine. They are round Italian sandwiches with salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad. Tim really enjoyed it. And although I’m generally not a fan of olives, I also found it to be quite good!

    The muffuletta we shared at the French Market

    After our afternoon at the French Market, we headed to Jackson Square, which is home to St. Louis Cathedral. It is one of the oldest cathedrals in the US in continuous use. It was beautiful and a very cool historic landmark to check out. While you’re there, make sure to get some photos in front of the cathedral and the iconic statue of Andrew Jackson.

    Don’t mind the Crocs- I had a broken toe and needed loose shoes to walk around in!

    After some souvenir shopping and a little more sight seeing, we took a ferry across the Mississippi River and back before taking a bus over to the Garden District of New Orleans. The Garden District is beautiful, with impressive architecture and very old oak trees with branches that arch over the streets. There are historic mansions to admire as well. The energy here is completely different from the French Quarter, and offers a different side of New Orleans. I strongly recommend taking a stroll through the Garden District on your trip. Getting to see those oak trees was easily a highlight for both me and my husband.

    My pictures don’t do it justice!

    For dinner, we tried a Haitian restaurant near our hotel called Fritai. I ordered crab mac and cheese with Creole hot wings, and Tim had a plantain sandwich. We shared some vegetable fritters with a spicy house-made sauce called pikliz. This was a delicious meal and I highly recommend eating at Fritai. It was also a great reminder that New Orleans is influenced by many different cultures beyond the well known Cajun dishes!

    Finally, we went back to our hotel room for the night. There, we were greeted by Gary the hotel cat, who turned out to be an unexpected highlight of our trip! We met her when we heard her meowing outside of our room, and then she proceeded to barge in and make herself at home! And yes, despite her name, Gary is a girl.

    Day two: museums, Mardi Gras, and Bourbon Street

    On day two, the first stop on our agenda was the National World War 2 Museum. Even if you’re not a huge history buff, I’d still recommend visiting if you enjoy museums. This one is huge and quite impressive, with different themed areas that were clearly designed to be part of an immersive experience. There were several interactive exhibits as well. The museum does a great job of bringing history to life. We left after a couple of hours but there was still more to do and look at if we had stayed.

    After that, it was time for lunch. We went to a restaurant called Cochon. Tim got brisket with deviled egg potato salad, and I got fried alligator tossed in chili garlic mayo and macaroni and cheese casserole. Both of our meals were delicious and distinctly Louisiana! If you haven’t had alligator before and are nervous to try it, I would say to give it a shot. If I had to compare it to another meat, I would say it’s most similar to chicken. It’s not a perfect comparison, but trust me that alligator tastes very inoffensive.

    After lunch, we took an Uber to our next stop: Mardi Gras World. This ended up being one of my favorite attractions of our trip, and it was easily the highlight of our second day in NOLA. It’s a huge warehouse where Mardi Gras floats are made, and they offer tours every half hour. We took one, and it was so much fun! Everyone in our group got to have a piece of King Cake too, which was a fun touch for the experience. King Cake is a long held New Orleans tradition.

    During our tour, we learned about the history and traditions of Mardi Gras. Many of the city’s famous parade floats are made and stored here, and we got to see those too. It was so cool to see a little bit of the process and the craftsmanship behind making the iconic Mardi Gras floats and props. I personally had a more enjoyable time here than at the WWII museum. And it felt more distinctly New Orleans, too.

    After killing some time and taking a quick nap in our hotel room, we went to Bourbon Street for dinner at a restaurant called Rex House. I had Cajun stuffed fish with crawfish cream sauce and a side of jambalaya, and Tim had the jambalaya entree with blackened chicken and smoked sausage. We also got bread pudding to go, which we enjoyed later that night at the hotel. Bread pudding is a dessert frequently enjoyed in NOLA, and it’s easy to see why. Make sure to get some at least once on your upcoming trip.

    Tim’s jambalaya from Rex House

    After dinner, we took some time to wander through Bourbon Street. It was St. Patrick’s Day, and it was cool to see all of the hustle and bustle and the excitement! There were hundreds of people walking around with drinks (it’s legal to have alcohol in public in certain areas of the city, including the French Quarter), street performers, and people throwing Mardi Gras beads from their balconies. It was such a vibe, so festive and lively, and I loved getting to take it all in. Someone threw alligator Mardi Gras beads at me, and I kept them as a memento! A fun souvenir from a uniquely New Orleans experience.

    Day 3: Swamp tour and one last night in the French Quarter

    This was our last full day in NOLA, and we made sure it was a good one. And, I will say, if there’s one excursion I’d recommend to nearly everyone visiting Louisiana, it’s a swamp tour. We spent the morning racing through the bayou on an airboat, and it was a hell of a good time.

    Our boat reached speeds of about 30 MPH. And despite the cooler weather, we still spotted a dozen or so alligators. Several of them swam right up to our boat! We got to throw marshmallows to them, which was definitely a highlight. How many people can say they’ve fed a marshmallow to an alligator in the Louisiana bayou?

    Our tour guide, I wish I could remember his name, was hilarious, knowledgeable, and clearly very passionate about the swamp and the local ecosystem. He also did a good job of using humor to put our group at ease at first, since a couple of us (myself included) had never been on a high speed air boat before. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it might be. I was nervous for the first minute but my fears quickly dissipated.

    Who knew alligators like marshmallows?

    For dinner, we treated ourselves to a nice meal at a restaurant in the French Quarter called Succotash. Usually, when my husband and I take a trip, we try to make a reservation for a nice sit-down restaurant with a touch of bougie vibes. This time, we went with Succotash, which also happened to be conveniently located just a couple minutes from our hotel.

    Succotash had a very nice atmosphere and very inventive dishes. The staff were extremely nice and it was fun chatting with the host. We started with an order of gochujang deviled eggs topped with fried shrimp before ordering our main dishes.

    For our mains, we decided to get seafood to keep the experience as New Orleans as possible. I got a dish called “Crab Menage a Trois”- fried softshell crabs with some lump crab and coconut crab curry. Tim got U10 Japanese scallops. This was easily one of the most memorable meals I had in New Orleans!

    Crab Menage a Trois

    To finish our final full day, we explored Armstrong Park, walked through the French Quarter once more, picked up a few souvenirs, and visited a local chocolate shop.

    And yes, Gary the hotel cat stopped by again.

    Gary walked in like she owned the place and napped for 2 hours on our bed!

    Day 4: Po Boys, pharmacy history, and Royal Street

    Before heading to the airport, we had one more afternoon ahead of us to squeeze in a few more New Orleans experiences.

    First, we said goodbye to Gary.

    Then, we got lunch at NOLA Po Boys. A po boy is a New Orleans staple sandwich. And while shrimp po boys are the classic choice, I was kind of over fried seafood by this point in the trip, so I opted for ham instead. It was good, despite the ham making me feel like it wasn’t a truly authentic po boy! Tim had a crawfish pie, which he enjoyed as well.

    After lunch, we visited the Historical Pharmacy Museum. It was really interesting to see all of the very old medicines and devices that we used to treat people with. And suffice to say, I’m very happy to be alive during a time where medical science has advanced far beyond what we were seeing at the museum. There was some pretty crazy stuff. This turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly interesting stops of the trip.

    After that, we went to The Legendairy Milkshake Bar. There, we shared a bananas foster milkshake topped with a torched banana. It was very over the top and very Instagrammable, as you can see.

    Finally, we spent our last couple hours wandering down Royal St, browsing art galleries, gift shops, and watching street performers. The vibes on Royal St are absolutely immaculate and I do recommend checking it out on your upcoming trip. It’s artsy and luxurious and a lot of fun to explore.

    Final Thoughts

    Our trip to New Orleans was wonderful. And although we were only there for a few days, we packed in a lot of attractions, museums, and experiences. I expected great food, great history, and great culture, and that’s exactly what I got. It definitely has a very rich culture. And, as a foodie traveler, I loved the cuisine. No one does macaroni and cheese like New Orleans!

    Four days felt long enough to get a perfect introduction to the city, and I left feeling like I had barely scratched the surface.

    I’m glad I got to cross New Orleans off my bucket list, and if you’re planning your own trip there, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to meet a hotel cat named Gary, too.

  • My Experience Dining at the Cinnamoroll Cafe in Tokyo

    My Experience Dining at the Cinnamoroll Cafe in Tokyo

    As anyone who knows me personally could tell you, I am a lifelong enjoyer of all things cute and “kawaii”, and Sanrio characters are no exception. Visiting the Cinnamoroll Cafe was a highlight of my trip to Japan last fall. Going into it, I knew the food would not be life-changing, but I knew that everything would be adorable. And boy, did it deliver on that front. The cafe was everything I hoped it would be.

    A bucket list stop for Sanrio fans

    As soon as we arrived, it was obvious that this cafe was designed with love, care, and attention to detail

    We visited the cafe on our second-to-last day in Japan. By that point in our trip, we had already experienced so much of what Japan has to offer: temples, shrines, theme parks, city skylines, shopping districts, and countless amazing meals. Even still, I was incredibly excited to come here. The Cinnamoroll Cafe doesn’t take reservations. We lined up nice and early so we didn’t have to wait very long, and we were seated almost immediately. I suggest lining up 20 or 30 minutes before it opens.

    Part of the fun of visiting Japan as a pop culture nerd and/or lover of kawaii characters is Japan’s commitment to the bit. Everyday experiences can be completely themed around widely beloved and absolutely adorable characters. And while character dining experiences exist in the United States, they are nothing like what you can find in Japan. And I say this as someone who spent a year in Orlando and visited Disney World many, many times! Japan just takes character dining to another level.

    Aesthetically speaking, the cafe did not disappoint. Everywhere you looked, there were cute Cinnamoroll details incorporated into the decor. Even the bathrooms were adorable and full of Cinnamoroll! It was an immersive experience, and it felt like stepping into a kawaii wonderland. Many of our fellow patrons were dressed for the occasion, with Cinnamoroll themed outfits, which added to the feeling that we were somewhere special, whimsical, and somewhere you could leave your worries and your adult responsibilities at the door.

    This was a cheesecake flavored milk. I really enjoyed it! ❤

    The food

    For lunch, Tim ordered Japanese curry and rice. I got the omelette rice. The food was good! And although Tim found it a little unsettling that his curry was bright blue, I thought it was a nice touch. We weren’t there to eat gourmet, we were there to smile! And the way these adorable meals were presented to us, with Cinnamoroll shaped rice for both, had me smiling and giddy with excitement the whole time we were there. The real star of the experience is the atmosphere itself. The food was tasty and enjoyable enough, and the presentation made it as memorable as any fancy omakase. We did hear the microwave beeping in the kitchen somewhat constantly, but we were able to find the humor in that. We knew going into this experience that we weren’t getting a Michelin star meal!

    Tim’s Japanese curry on top, and my omelette rice on the bottom. The curry featured chicken and potatoes, and my omelette rice had greens, cubes of ham, and peas.

    The joy of being a fan

    One of my favorite things about Japan is how it openly embraces fandom. Whether it’s Pokemon, Nintendo, anime, Studio Ghibli, or Sanrio, the culture feels so accepting of the idea of being a fan. It’s okay to enjoy “childish” things, and being loud and proud about your fandom(s) is welcomed with open arms. The Cinnamoroll Cafe embodies that spirit.

    Nobody was too cool to be here. Nobody here was aloof or detached. All of us were there to take photos, admire the decorations, and eat some cute food. It was so refreshing!

    Final thoughts

    I think the Cinnamoroll Cafe is worth a visit if you’re a Sanrio fan, a lover of cute things, or someone who is interested in themed dining experiences. The food was serviceable, the atmosphere was on point, and it turned out to be a uniquely Japanese experience that I am so glad I had the opportunity to indulge in. Even my husband, who is much less interested in cute characters and these kinds of themed experiences, found our lunch at the cafe to be a fun time. And he pointed out how well executed the concept was!

    Be sure to check out the gift shop if you come here! I was able to pick up a pin with artwork of the omelette rice I got. It’s a very nice little memento to remember the experience by!

    Thank you for reading, and be sure to let me know in the comments if this post made you want to visit the Cinnamoroll Cafe! And if you can’t fit this stop into your Tokyo itinerary, not to worry, as there is another location in Osaka as well!

  • My Experience Staying at a Traditional Japanese Ryokan

    My Experience Staying at a Traditional Japanese Ryokan

    One of the experiences I was most excited for during my honeymoon in Japan was staying at a traditional ryokan. After spending a week exploring bustling cities, major tourist attractions, and crowded train stations, I was ready for something quieter and more traditional. And, for one night in Nara, that came in the form of Mikasa Ryokan.

    Arriving in Nara

    My husband, Tim, posing with one of Nara’s 1400 free roaming deer

    Our day began at Nara Park, one of Japan’s most famous destinations and home to over 1,400 free-roaming deer. I plan on writing a separate blog post about Nara Park and our experience of getting to see the deer, so I won’t get too into it here, but it was a wonderful time. As a lover of woodland creatures, and especially deer, I had been looking forward to this day for months and months, and it did not disappoint. And of course, I purchased many deer related souvenirs to bring home. After spending the morning and much of the afternoon exploring the temples and taking in the view of hundreds of deer walking around the park, it was time to take our shuttle up into the hills to our ryokan. During our bus ride, we were treated with even more deer sightings as we drove through the woods.

    The contrast was immediately noticeable, as the busy and touristy areas of Nara gave way to a much more tranquil atmosphere. It quickly became clear that the purpose of staying at a ryokan isn’t just to crash somewhere for the night, but to slow down and soak in the experience.

    A different kind of hotel

    For those unfamiliar, ryokans are traditional Japanese inns. They offer a completely different experience than you would find at a standard hotel. At Mikasa ryokan, our room featured tatami mat flooring and traditional Japanese design elements. We were provided with yukatas, which are traditional Japanese robes that are meant to be worn casually around the property, which added to the feeling of a traditional Japanese experience and a relaxing, slow pace. And, our room was stocked with free rice crackers and other salty snacks as well as several free alcoholic beverages!

    One of the highlights of our stay was that we booked a room with a private bath. Most ryokans have public baths, but not all of them have private ones. If you would like to book a stay at a ryokan with access to a private bath, be prepared to pay extra for it. For my husband and I, it was worth it. It meant that we didn’t have to go to the public baths, which we weren’t comfortable doing this trip. Also worth mentioning is that many public baths do not allow people with tattoos to use them.

    Our private bath at Mikasa, featuring some floating LED candles I got on Amazon for a little extra romantic flair

    An incredible multi-course dinner

    Our dinner at Mikasa was easily the most memorable part of the experience. We were served in a private dining room, and the meal lasted almost two hours. Multiple courses were served to us throughout the meal, which made this dinner feel like a premium and luxurious experience, as well as a traditional one.

    Our meal included appetizers, hot pot, sushi, pickled vegetables, yakiniku, rice, soup, and dessert. And everything was very beautifully presented. The highlight for both me and my husband was the hot pot. It was truly delicious.

    Sitting down for such an elaborate dinner, donned in our yukatas, felt so special.

    After dinner, we spent the night relaxing in our room, imbibing with the free beer, and reflecting on our experience thus far. I will say, if you’re used to Western style beds and hotels, the futons directly on the floor take a little bit of getting used to, but they were more comfortable than they look, and we were able to get a pretty decent night’s sleep. If the sleeping arrangements are the only thing giving you pause in your decision whether or not to stay at a ryokan, I would suggest not letting that stop you. Especially if it’s for just one night, like it was for us.

    A traditional Japanese breakfast

    The next morning, we were treated to another multi-course meal. As someone who does not typically eat a large breakfast, I was not able to eat more than half of this meal. It was a lot! Meals are very clearly a big part of the experience of staying at a ryokan. Our breakfast courses included grilled fish, tofu, fruit, rice, and more.

    Is staying at a ryokan worth it?

    I would say that a night or two at a ryokan is worth it if you are interested in having a more traditional Japanese experience. It may not be for everyone, especially those who are drawn to visiting Japan for their modern cities and amenities. For us, a night at a ryokan was a very special experience. We may not do something like this for every trip, but for our honeymoon, it was special and peaceful and wonderful. The main drawback for me was the sleeping arrangements, which I feel very guilty saying because I understand that the futons are traditional and part of Japan’s rich cultural history. With that being said, it wasn’t a HUGE deal, and I was still able to get a reasonable amount of sleep. I just felt like mentioning it because this experience may not be for everyone!

    A beautiful view from the Mikasa ryokan

    In the midst of a packed Japan itinerary, a night at a ryokan will allow you to slow down and reflect on the wonderful experience of traveling and visiting such an amazing country. Let me know if this blog post made you consider staying at one during your upcoming trip!

  • 4 Must-visit Places in Japan for K-pop fans

    4 Must-visit Places in Japan for K-pop fans

    As a longtime K-pop fan, visiting South Korea is high on my bucket list. In fact, I am planning a trip there for early next year! However, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of K-pop culture and merchandise I came across while visiting Japan. While Japan tends to be known for their anime/video game/otaku culture, K-pop is very popular there as well. Between K-pop stores, Korean restaurants, secondhand shops featuring inexpensive used K-pop albums and more, Japan (and especially Tokyo) turned out to be a fantastic destination for K-pop fans! Here are some of my favorite places in Japan for K-pop lovers.

    1. Shin-Okubo: Tokyo’s Koreatown

    If you only have time for one K-pop related excursion in Tokyo, make it Shin-Okubo.

    Idol Park in Shin-Okubo

    Shin-Okubo felt like stepping into a little paradise for lovers of K-pop and Korean food and culture. As soon as I arrived, I could hear K-pop music playing loudly in the streets. I could smell Korean street food. Idols were plastered on billboards and on store fronts. Korean beauty and skincare shops were everywhere you look. I had a great time just wandering around and taking it all in. I got some spicy toppokki with cheese and my husband, Tim, had a savory pancake from a street food vendor.

    Toppokki! While not directly K-pop related, the food in Shin-Okubo is a highlight of the experience. You could easily eat your way through the neighborhood between all of the Korean street foods and cafes.

    In Shin-Okubo, there are several shops, such as Idol Park, selling both official and unofficial merchandise. If you are opposed to unofficial merchandise, do be wary as it is quite prevalent! There are shops selling unofficial DVDs, socks, posters, photobooks, and more. While in one of the shops, I picked up an unofficial Sana photobook.

    Lots of K-Pop Demon Hunters merch when I visited!

    For K-pop fans, Shin-Okubo is one of the most exciting places to visit in Tokyo. One of the things that makes it so appealing is how condensed everything is. You can hop from one K-pop shop to the next, grab a Korean corn dog, and be just a minute or two away from your next stop. The atmosphere is energetic and lively, and easily explored on foot.

    2. Tower Records

    K-pop fans (and honestly, music fans in general) visiting Japan should make time to check out Tower Records.

    I visited multiple Tower Records locations during my trip and was very impressed by the amount of space dedicated to K-pop.

    Even if you don’t purchase anything, Tower Records is worth visiting if only to see the scale of Japan’s retail music scene. Tower Records has a tremendous amount of music, both CDs and vinyl records, to look through. As a Swiftie, I was very tempted to get Japanese editions of a couple of her albums! And as far as K-pop goes, you will not be disappointed by their selection.

    YMMV, but one of the Tower Records locations I visited even had Twice gachapon machines! I pulled Sana and Dahyun racecar toys ❤

    One thing to keep in mind when visiting Tower Records, however, is the fact that new releases are not any cheaper than if you were purchasing them from online back home. Expect to pay roughly $30 USD for a new album. This is what I paid for a couple of albums, and I even went when the yen wasn’t doing fabulous (fall 2025).

    Another thing that I would like to note about Tower Records is that it can be a great place to buy any Japanese music releases from your favorite idol groups. Twice, for example, has an extensive Japanese catalog, as well as their Japanese subunit MiSaMo. In my experience, it is more of a challenge, often requiring third party shipping services, to acquire these Japanese releases from back home in the States. For some reason, Japanese releases are not as easily accessible for international online purchasing as Korean music releases. So, while you’re in Japan, it could be wise to stock up on some Japanese music releases while you have the opportunity!

    As a fun aside, while visiting a Tower Records in Shinjuku, my husband and I stumbled across a J-pop girl group concert inside the store! The group was called .BPM and they were fantastic! I think any K-pop fan would appreciate this group, even though they are J-pop instead of K-pop. It was a fun little surprise to get to see this show!

    3. Mandarake and other secondhand hobby stores

    There was no shortage of preowned Twice goods at many of these shops!

    Many people associate Mandarake with anime goods and collectibles, but K-pop fans shouldn’t overlook these stores! While exploring Shibuya, I stopped into Mandarake and left with a huge K-pop haul. It was one of the most rewarding stops on my trip as far as K-pop collecting is concerned. And you truly cannot beat the prices at secondhand hobby stores. I was paying 300, 400 yen for some of these albums! The main drawback being, of course, the lack of photocards and other inclusions. Not to worry, though, because these stores often have photocard singles by the hundreds, if not thousands, to rifle through! I actually got a small binder to store the PCs and other K-pop paper goods I got in the hobby stores I visited.

    Can you tell I’m a ONCE?

    You cannot beat the prices at Mandarake and similar stores. As someone who lives in the United States, I am quite certain that there is nothing like it, price OR selection wise, anywhere at all in the US. Other than Mandarake, be sure to visit Book-Off stores, K-Books in Ikebukuro, and Surugaya in Akihabara.

    4. Korean Restaurants

    For many K-pop fans, our love of Korean music can easily lead to an appreciation of Korean food and culture in general.

    Have you ever been curious to try the Korean foods that you often hear your favorite idols mention? Kimbap, ramyeon, Korean BBQ, Korean fried chicken and more are generally quite easy to find in Japan’s larger cities! I would suggest using Apple or Google maps and finding a sit-down Korean restaurant to eat at.

    During one of our nights in Kyoto, my husband and I ate at a Korean restaurant and bar called Kokkio, located in the Porta dining hall. There, we ate house-made fresh kimchi, spicy fried chicken, shellfish, and cheese dakgalbi, which was the highlight of that dinner for me. Cheese dakgalbi is a dish featuring pieces of chicken marinated in a spicy and somewhat sweet gochujang-based sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese. This is one Korean dish that I had not yet been able to try until I got to Japan, as it has not been available at any of the Korean restaurants I’ve visited in the States. It’s very comforting and delicious, and I recommend it to anyone who loves cheese and a little spice!

    My husband and I still talk about the kimchi we ate at Kokkio!

    Final Thoughts

    Before visiting Japan, I knew that there would be some K-pop and general Korean culture to immerse myself in, but I didn’t anticipate just how much K-pop I would casually encounter throughout the trip. In one train station, there was an enormous billboard of Sana from Twice promoting for one of her brand deals. It wasn’t uncommon to see pictures of famous idols modeling makeup products at department stores. While wandering around Tokyo, I saw many billboards showcasing Blackpink’s Asahi Super Dry promotion.

    It is so cool to see K-pop’s influence on Japanese pop culture, even when you’re not actively seeking it out. Idols are frequently used in advertising campaigns across Japan, and it’s a fun surprise to randomly see an idol or a group that you’re a fan of while you’re out and about during your trip to Japan.

    Between Shin-Okubo, Tower Records, Mandarake, Book-Off, and all of the wonderful Korean foods I got to indulge in, Japan turned out to be a great destination for a K-pop fan. Of course, K-pop was far from the main event in my trip, and if you are looking to take some kind of K-pop related pilgrimage, your best bet would be to visit South Korea. However, my little K-pop side quests in Japan were so much fun and so memorable. If you are a K-pop fan visiting Japan, you do not want to miss out on some of these shops and experiences.

    Thank you for reading, and be sure to keep an eye out for more Japan travel content!