Tag: travel

My Day in Shinjuku: Cinnamoroll, Shrines, K-pop, & City Vibes

By day 16 of our honeymoon in Japan, you might think the novelty of Tokyo would have started to wear off, but it hadn’t. Not even close! This ended up being one of the days of our trip that perfectly combined so many of the things that I love about Japan: ridiculously cute food, shrines tucked into the middle of the city, K-pop and Korean culture, street food, shopping, and wandering around Tokyo after dark to take in all the big city vibes and night life happening all around me.

Starting the Day at the Cinnamoroll Café

We started the day with an early lunch at the Cinnamoroll Cafe, which had been high on my list ever since we discovered it while planning our trip. I’m a huge fan of Sanrio and themed cafés in general, so naturally, eating food shaped like Cinnamoroll was something I absolutely needed to do while in Tokyo. And the café definitely delivered on the cute factor!

Tim ordered Japanese-style curry and rice, and I went with the omelette rice, both complete with an adorable little Cinnamoroll made out of rice. We also ordered a Cinnamoroll dessert afterward, because obviously.

The food was good and I’m very glad we came here. I even picked up some souvenirs in the gift shop on our way out! Including a pin featuring artwork of the omelette rice I ate.

If you plan to come here on your trip to Japan, I recommend lining up 20-30 minutes before it opens! They don’t take reservations, and it gets very busy! There is also a location in Osaka.

A Sunday Flea Market at Hanazono Shrine

After lunch, we headed to Hanazono Shrine. And, since we happened to visit on a Sunday, we were lucky and got to shop around at the flea market that is held on the shrine grounds once per week.

The flea market had all sorts of things to look through, including ceramics, figurines and other little vintage objects. I got a couple of vintage looking lucky cats to gift to friends as well as a cute fox figurine. But even without the market, Hanazono Shrine would have been worth visiting. I loved how peaceful and traditional it felt despite being right in the middle of one of Tokyo’s busiest neighborhoods.

K-Pop Heaven in Shin-Okubo

Next, it was time for somewhere I’d been particularly excited to explore: Shin-Okubo, Tokyo’s Koreatown.

As both a huge K-pop fan and someone who loves Korean food and culture, this was my kind of neighborhood. I visited multiple K-pop stores, wandered through the streets filled with Korean restaurants and K-beauty shops, and heard K-pop playing seemingly everywhere we went.

It was so much fun getting to indulge my K-pop obsession while in Japan. I loved browsing merch and albums and seeing which groups seemed particularly popular there. A lot of the shops sold bootleg/unofficial items, and I bought a huge unofficial Sana photobook that I really love. I love girl groups, and especially Twice, and shopping for both official and unofficial merch was a blast. Shin-Okubo in general felt really energetic and colorful and I loved exploring.

Of course, we also had to eat! One of our street-food stops was for cheesy tteokbokki: chewy rice cakes covered in spicy red sauce and smothered in melted cheese. Tim got a hotteok, which is basically a Korean street food pancake. Between the K-pop stores and Korean snacks, I could have happily spent much longer wandering around Shin-Okubo.

Small Plates, a Musical Surprise, & Shinjuku After Dark

Eventually we made our way back toward Shinjuku proper and decided on an izakaya for dinner, where Tim and I ordered a bunch of sushi and small plates to share. We absolutely love eating at izakayas. For those unaware, an izakaya is basically a bar or pub in Japan, where it is expected that you purchase a drink. Think of it like a table charge. They typically offer small plates as well.

I went straight for two of my favorite Japanese foods: salmon sashimi and takoyaki. Tim ordered Wagyu, okonomiyaki and tuna sashimi. One of my favorite parts about eating in Japan was being able to order several small dishes like this instead of committing to one huge entrée. It gave us an excuse to try a bunch of things at once. I love eating this way in general because it is so hard for me to choose just one thing. I am a huge foodie, especially when traveling, and I want to try EVERYTHING.

After dinner, we started walking back toward the general direction of our hotel, but we took our time exploring the city and popping into any store that happened to catch our eye.

Shinjuku at night really is an experience in itself. Giant neon signs cover the buildings, restaurants and bars occupy every available inch of space, and the streets are densely packed with people. Shinjuku feels like the quintessential “big city”, and at night it is truly beautiful, bustling, and wondrous. Below is one of my favorite pictures that I took during my whole 18 day honeymoon in Japan, and I really feel that it captures the overall vibe of Shinjuku perfectly.

One of our spontaneous stops that night ended up being particularly memorable. We popped into Tower Records and discovered that a J-pop group called .BPM happened to be performing! We stopped to watch for a while, and they were really good! It was such a cool, unplanned little travel moment that we never could have put on an itinerary. Their music and vibe would please any K-pop girl group fan, so definitely look them up if that’s your thing. These girls are very talented and clearly have some very dedicated fans!

And because we obviously hadn’t yet eaten enough adorable and delicious things that day, we finished the night by splitting a strawberry cheesecake crepe for dessert.

Looking back, this day was the perfect snapshot of why I love Tokyo so much. Within the span of just one day, we went from a Cinnamoroll-themed café to a traditional shrine and flea market, spent the afternoon surrounded by K-pop in Koreatown, ate sashimi and takoyaki at an izakaya, stumbled across a live J-pop performance, and finished the night eating a crepe beneath the neon lights of Shinjuku.

There wasn’t really one enormous bucket-list attraction anchoring the day. Instead, it was a collection of smaller experiences. And despite that, this was one of the days that ended up being the most memorable!

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September 14, 2026
Everything I Ate in NYC: Asian Food Edition

It would be very easy for me to plan an entire trip to New York City around food alone.

As someone who especially loves Korean and Japanese food, I was in heaven getting to spend so much of our weekend eating our way through Koreatown, with a little Chinatown dim sum and conveyor belt sushi thrown into the mix. We managed to fit a surprising number of delicious things into just three days, ranging from casual late-night noodles to a Michelin Guide-featured Korean restaurant.

Here’s everything I ate!

1. Kimchi Cream Udon at Mew Izakaya

After seeing a concert at Kings Theatre, my husband and I headed back to Koreatown in search of a late-night meal and ended up at Mew Izakaya. I ordered the kimchi cream udon, and it was exactly what I needed after a day that had been book-ended with a 6AM flight and a pop music concert. I needed carbs!

The noodles were thick and chewy, and coated in a rich and creamy kimchi sauce with just enough of a kick. It was hot, comforting, and incredibly satisfying. This was one of my favorite dishes of the entire weekend.

2. Okonomiyaki at Mew Izakaya

Tim went with the okonomiyaki, and naturally I had to steal some.

Okonomiyaki is a wonderfully comforting Japanese savory pancake that’s full of different flavors and textures and then covered in sauce. It’s usually made with batter and cabbage but sometimes it has noodles in it as well. Between his okonomiyaki and my giant bowl of creamy kimchi udon, Mew Izakaya turned out to be an excellent spontaneous post-concert dinner choice.

3. Conveyor Belt Sushi at Kaiten Zushi

We also managed to fit in conveyor belt sushi at Kaiten Zushi.

Conveyor belt sushi is such a fun experience. You get to choose a whole array of sushi and side dishes from a tablet and wait for it to travel to your table via conveyor belt. Instead of committing to one big entrée, you can keep trying different plates and get a lot more variety for a reasonable price than a traditional sushi restaurant.

This was a casual meal compared to some of the other restaurants we visited, but that’s okay! Sometimes you just need to sit down, watch sushi come by on a conveyor belt, and see how many plates mysteriously accumulate in front of you!

4. Spicy Octopus with Bori Risotto at Seoul Salon

One of our more elevated meals was at Seoul Salon, a Korean restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide.

I ordered the spicy octopus with bori risotto. Bori means barley in Korean. The dish paired tender, spicy octopus with a creamy barley risotto. I hadn’t eaten anything quite like it before, and I loved the combination of spicy octopus with creamy and comforting risotto.

It was flavorful, beautifully presented, and definitely one of the more unique things I ate all weekend.

5. Tteokgalbi Wagyu Sliders at Seoul Salon

Tim and I also shared the tteokgalbi sliders at Seoul Salon, made with wagyu beef, garlic mayo, and soft potato buns.

These were SO good. Tteokgalbi is traditionally made from ground, seasoned meat formed into patties, and turning it into a tiny wagyu slider was an awesome way to serve it. The beef, garlicky mayo, and fluffy bun worked very well together.

They were playful and approachable while still feeling special enough to fit the restaurant, and they ended up being one of my favorite things we ordered.

6. Korean Fried Chicken at Seoul Salon

Tim chose the Korean fried chicken as his main dish, which of course meant that I also got to try some!

It’s easy to see why Korean fried chicken has become so popular. When it’s done well, the crispy exterior and spicy chicken combination is hard to beat. Seoul Salon’s version fit right in with the rest of our meal and gave us something a little more familiar alongside dishes like my spicy octopus and the tteokgalbi sliders.

Between all three dishes, Seoul Salon was easily a standout of the weekend.

7. Black Sesame Ice Cream at Food Gallery 32

After dinner, we went back to our hotel for a couple of hours before somehow deciding that we needed dessert. We headed back into Koreatown and stopped at Food Gallery 32, where I tried black sesame ice cream for the first time.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it was surprisingly mild and easy to eat. The flavor was subtly nutty and with just enough sweetness, and I ended up enjoying it. It was one of those little things I probably wouldn’t have gone out of my way to order at home, which is exactly why I love trying things like this while traveling.

8. Dim Sum at Jing Fong

We saved Chinatown for our final day in New York and started the morning with an early dim sum lunch at Jing Fong.

The food was delicious, but I also love the experience of eating there. Servers periodically wheeled carts loaded with freshly prepared dim sum through the dining room, stopping at the tables so you could see what was available and choose whatever looked good.

We ended up with an assortment spread across the table, making it a perfect meal for sharing and trying different things. I had been here before, and I was eager to introduce this place to my husband, who loves dumplings and pork buns and basically all things dim sum.

It was also a great way to end the food portion of our trip before spending our last few hours exploring the city.

Basically, I Ate Very Well!

If there’s one thing this weekend confirmed, it’s that I could very happily spend an entire NYC trip bouncing between Koreatown and Chinatown to eat everything in sight.

I loved that we got a little bit of everything: comforting creamy kimchi udon after a concert, casual conveyor belt sushi, an elevated Korean dinner at Seoul Salon, a new-to-me dessert in the form of black sesame ice cream, and a table full of dim sum in Chinatown.

As much as I love sightseeing when I travel, food is such a huge part of how I experience a destination. Some of my strongest memories from trips are tied to specific restaurants or dishes, and I already know that several of these will be things I think about when I remember this trip.

And considering how many restaurants in Koreatown and Chinatown we didn’t even get to try, I clearly have an excuse to go back.

September 6, 2026
3 Days in NYC: Koreatown, BINI, & Incredible Food

I will apparently travel to another city for a concert at the slightest provocation. This time, the culprit was BINI. After discovering the 8-member Filipino girl group from videos of their Coachella performance earlier this year, I quickly became a fan. So, when I had the chance to see them at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, that was more than enough justification for me and Tim to turn it into a full 3 days in New York City. And, sure enough, the concert quickly became 3 days of spending time in Koreatown, eating at Michelin-recognized restaurants, Japanese book and toy stores, dim sum, tourist attractions, and a cable car ride over the East River.

We stayed at the Virgin Hotel with an incredible view of the Empire State Building, and we managed to pack a ton into 3 days! Here’s how I spent my weekend in NYC.

Day One: Koreatown, Our First Michelin Star Restaurant, & BINI

After arriving in New York, our first stop was the Virgin Hotel to drop off our luggage. From there, we immediately headed to one of the places I was most excited to visit: Koreatown.

First, we got lunch at an all-you-can-eat conveyor belt sushi restaurant called Kaiten Zushi. I love conveyor belt sushi restaurants. No notes!

As a huge K-pop fan and lover of Korean food and culture, I could happily spend hours exploring K-town’s shops, and that’s basically what I did! We checked out K-Popsy, K-Pop Nara, and Ellicor, but Koryo Books was probably my favorite of the bunch. I absolutely love being surrounded by shelves of albums and K-pop merchandise among tons of fellow K-pop enthusiasts. There is only one K-pop store in Pittsburgh (the city I live in), and I don’t make it out there too often, so places like this make me feel like a little kid at Christmas time. After wandering around the shops, we went to Grace Street Coffee & Desserts and shared an iced strawberry matcha while we rested for a bit at one of their tables.

Then, we were able to check into our room at the Virgin Hotel, where we discovered one of my favorite features of our stay: our view! My husband and I have a travel card that occasionally upgrades our hotel room as a perk, and we had been upgraded to a “Sky Chamber” room with a full view of the Empire State Building. Our view out the window was so awesome that even just hanging out in our room managed to be exciting, especially at night.

Before heading to dinner, we carved out a little time to check out St. Patrick’s Cathedral. And suffice to say, this was a very welcome and very drastic change of scenery from the last few hours of shopping in Koreatown. The cathedral is very impressive in person, and so beautiful, especially when you consider its location right in the middle of Manhattan.

That evening, we had a reservation at Estela, our first-ever Michelin-starred restaurant. We shared five small dishes, which was a great way to experience their menu. My favorites were the ricotta dumplings and the fried arroz negro with squid, although everything was very good. We had scallop and lobster dishes that we both liked, and I tried beef tartare for the first time ever, and quite enjoyed it! The restaurant was creative and elevated without feeling too fussy.

Then, it was time for the main event!

The entire reason this weekend happened in the first place was BINI. I went down the BINI rabbit hole after discovering them earlier this year and have become a very big fan! They have great music, choreography, visuals, and they definitely have K-pop vibes!

The concert was at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, which is an absolutely beautiful venue in its own right, and it was easily the highlight of the trip for me. The girls were amazing live and they were clearly having so much fun performing. After the concert ended, I decided that I couldn’t leave empty-handed, so I picked up a t-shirt and photocard set at the merch table. Thank you for a wonderful show, BINI.

After taking a train back to the general area of our hotel, we realized that we were starving, and decided to get some food at a Japanese izakaya called Mew. I ordered the kimchi cream udon noodles, which were SO good and the perfect comfort food to end the night, and Tim got an okonomiyaki.

After we finished eating, it was finally time to get some sleep. We had been awake for 20 hours and sleep was calling our names.

Day Two: Midtown, RiseNY, & Even More Incredible Food

Our second day was largely dedicated to Midtown sightseeing and shopping. We visited several iconic stores right in the heart of Manhattan: American Girl, Nintendo, FAO Schwarz, and the M&M store before heading somewhere considerably more niche: The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine.

I enjoy tinned fish and eat it pretty often at home, so I knew I wanted to check this place out as soon as I found out about it. And while it’s definitely overpriced and tourist-trappy, I appreciated it for what it was. It has a fun carnival aesthetic and lots of different souvenir tins to choose from. I ended up buying four tins, including one featuring my birth year and one featuring, for some reason, the state of Maine (where I am from). I also got spicy smoked sardines and sardines packed with lemon. It feels wrong to actually open and eat these beautiful tins, but maybe I will after I feel that I’ve enjoyed them as souvenirs for long enough!

One of our biggest activities of the day was RiseNY. The experience begins with a video about the history of New York while you’re sitting inside a simulated NYC subway car. From there, you walk through a series of exhibits exploring different aspects of the city’s culture and history. There were some really cool pop culture pieces on display, including dresses worn by Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan!

The best part of this experience comes at the end. RiseNY concludes with a flying theater ride that is immediately reminiscent of Soarin’ at EPCOT. You’re lifted into the air in front of a huge screen and “fly” over New York City, complete with movement and effects. As a theme park lover, I knew that this ride would be my favorite part of the experience, and it absolutely was!

I think RiseNY is an especially good experience to add to a first-time NYC itinerary. It breaks up the shopping and restaurants and traditional sightseeing while also being educational. You’ll learn a lot about New York City and have fun while doing so. And the ride at the end is genuinely fun and makes this experience quite unique.

From there, we headed to Kinokuniya Books, a Japanese bookstore where I proceeded to spend considerably more money than I had anticipated.

This store has two floors filled with books, manga, puzzles, Studio Ghibli merchandise, stationery, and more. And, as anyone who knows me can tell you, I cannot resist cute stationery or Studio Ghibli. I would even go as far as to say that this was my favorite store we visited during the entire trip. I got birthday cards to send to my friends, a coffee table book about Studio Ghibli heroines, a couple of cute notebooks and a cute pen, and a couple other things. And after we left, Tim ran back in to get me something for Christmas that he’s keeping a secret, which I am very excited about!

And then, because I apparently couldn’t stay away, we went back to Koreatown for dinner.

Dinner that night was at Seoul Salon, a Korean restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide, and this ended up being a standout meal. I got spicy octopus with a creamy risotto. Tim got the Korean fried chicken, and we shared the tteokgalbi sliders, which featured wagyu steak, garlic mayo, and a potato bun.

The sliders were such a fun dish, Tim’s chicken was delightfully crispy and spicy, and my spicy octopus and risotto was easily one of my favorite meals in recent memory. This dinner really reinforced how much I love Korean food. I cannot recommend Seoul Salon enough.

After dinner, we went back to the hotel and spent a couple of hours relaxing and looking out the window from our bed. But eventually, dessert called! We headed to Food Gallery 32 (yes, in Koreatown) and tried black sesame ice cream for the first time. It was surprisingly mild in flavor and quite palatable! We also shared an Oreo churro. Food Gallery 32 has many vendors, and I bought a Blackpink keychain from a lady on the second floor. This was a fun little outing!

Day Three: Chinatown, Roosevelt Island, and an Iced Latte

On our final morning, we checked out of our hotel and headed to Chinatown. There, we had an early lunch at Jing Fong. Jing Fong is a popular dim sum restaurant where the servers periodically come through the dining room pushing carts loaded with freshly prepared dishes. You can look at what’s available and choose whatever catches your eye! It’s a lot of fun to eat dim sum this way because you don’t know exactly what you’ll end up trying when you sit down. I had been here before in 2022, so I knew I wanted to bring Tim here. He loves dumplings and pork buns!

After lunch, we wandered around Chinatown for a while and spent some time exploring the Elizabeth Center, a small shopping mall filled with various little stores.

Our next destination was Roosevelt Island, but getting there was arguably more exciting than what we actually did once we arrived. Instead of taking the subway, we rode the Roosevelt Island Tramway.

The tram is part of New York’s public transportation system. But rather than traveling underground, you’re suspended above the city in a cable car! And as you go higher, you get an amazing aerial view of Manhattan and the East River.

We didn’t have an elaborate Roosevelt Island itinerary once we got there. We mostly enjoyed the waterfront and wandered around a bit before heading back. The tram ride itself made it worthwhile! Seeing the city from above was a very cool experience and it was something very different from the rest of our weekend.

Back in Manhattan, we stopped at Say Coffee, where I ordered a creme brulee iced latte and Tim got a strawberry smoothie. This was nice, because the cafe was quiet and peaceful, and a much needed slice of calm during an otherwise crowded and slightly overstimulating day! Plus, my creme brulee iced latte was super good. One of the best iced lattes I’ve had in quite a while, easily.

With our flight home approaching, we spent the last part of the afternoon sitting and people-watching in Greeley Square Park.

Three Days Well Spent

There are approximately one million different ways to spend a few days in NYC, and I am very happy with the version we chose. We had both been to NYC before, so we chose things to do that specifically appealed to us and our interests, rather than feeling like we needed to rush to see every iconic landmark.

As someone who loves Korean and Japanese food and culture, I felt very much in my element. I loved getting to spend so much time in Koreatown, eating great food and shopping for K-pop merch. And eating at a Japanese izakaya and shopping at the Japanese bookstore were clear highlights as well.

Of course, seeing BINI was the biggest highlight, and the impetus for the trip in the first place. And I also have to give RiseNY a special mention for being such a fun and unique experience that ends with a ride!

We came to see BINI. We left with four tins of sardines, a concerning amount of stuff from Kinokuniya Books, several excellent meals, and another fun New York weekend in the books! I would call that a successful trip.

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September 1, 2026
I Spent A Year Living In Orlando. These Were My Top 10 Favorite Things To Do.

I lived in Orlando for a year, spanning from June of 2023 until June of 2024. I had just moved there all the way from central Maine to live with my boyfriend, who I had met online and maintained a long distance relationship with for almost a year before we finally closed the gap (He’s my husband now, by the way!). Before he switched to working for a fully remote company, he was based out of Orlando. It was a whirlwind year of theme park days, excellent food, palm trees, and sunshine. Relocating to Pittsburgh, where we bought our house and are currently living, was quite an adjustment! Here were my ten favorite things to do during my year in sunny Orlando, Florida! Not everything on this list is a major tourist attraction. I’ve also included some of my favorite local spots.

1. Spending the Day at EPCOT

EPCOT is my favorite Disney park, hands down. Part of that is because Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is easily my favorite Disney ride, and my second favorite ride of all time. It also has a special place in my heart for a different reason: the Cosmic Rewind loading area is where Tim proposed to me on our last trip to Disney before moving to Pittsburgh. I’ll always associate this ride with that moment.

But I also love EPCOT because rather than feeling like I had to rush between attractions to do everything the park has to offer, I found my own little routine and my own things that I liked to do every time I visited.

I always loved walking around the Mitsukoshi Japanese department store in the Japan pavilion. This was before I had been able to visit Japan and getting to do so felt like a far away dream, so I really loved this little slice of Japan. I always took my time browsing all of the Pokemon, Sanrio, Rilakkuma, and anime merchandise. Then there’s the Mexico pavilion, where chips, guac, and a margarita before riding on the Gran Fiesta Tour made for a perfect evening.

I also loved all of the rotating seasonal festivals and food and drink booths. Throw in a ride on Soarin’, a walk around the World Showcase, and a stop for dinner somewhere along the way, and you’ve got yourself a perfect theme park day. EPCOT is especially great for childless couples. It has a big focus on food and drink and cultural appreciation.

2. Soaking Up the Vibes at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is the most beautiful theme park in Orlando. It has gorgeous landscaping, greenery, animals, music, and incredible attention to detail. The vibes are immaculate, and simply being there is enjoyable.

It also happens to have two of my favorite Disney attractions: Expedition Everest and Avatar Flight of Passage. Expedition Everest is one of those coasters that Tim and I would occasionally ride over and over again, utilizing the single rider line so that we could get as many rides in as possible, although we couldn’t sit together using this method. Avatar Flight of Passage, on the other hand, is one of the most immersive and impressively modern theme park attractions I’ve ever ridden.

I loved taking it slow at Animal Kingdom. I liked wandering through the animal trails, popping into the shops, catching a show, and stopping into the Nomad Lounge for some of the most excellent food and drink that the park has to offer. Animal Kingdom isn’t a park that I ever felt like I had to “conquer.” I just liked spending time there.

3. Going to Another Broken Egg Cafe for Brunch

My favorite Orlando-area brunch spot was Another Broken Egg Cafe. I am forever grateful to the coworker who introduced it to me.

My usual favorites were the eggs benedict, the city grits (cheese grits topped with bacon, tomato, and green onion), and the Bourbon Street pancakes, which were layered with banana, pecans, a delicious rum butter sauce, and whipped cream.

This restaurant serves the kind of breakfast where you probably won’t need lunch afterward. Everything is southern-style, rich, hearty, and delicious. Tim and I ate here for weekend brunches over a dozen times, easily. I will forever be thinking about those Bourbon Street pancakes!

4. Getting Boba at Krave Tea or Shen Tea

There was never a shortage of boba in Orlando, but two places in particular became instant favorites of mine: Krave Tea and Shen Tea.

At Krave, it was all about the black sugar boba for me. To this day, I’ve never had boba that has been able to top it. It’s made with fresh milk and their house-made black sugar boba. The boba itself sweet, caramel-y, and perfectly chewy. Their other offerings are great, too. I’ve never had something from here that I disliked. At Krave Tea, you’re getting a perfectly and lovingly crafted drink.

Shen Tea, meanwhile, gets its flowers for being the most adorable boba shop I’ve ever set foot in. The interior is so kawaii, with pink walls and stuffed animals everywhere you look. The drinks are good, too! I really enjoy their taro milk tea.

5. Eating and Grocery Shopping at Lotte Plaza Market

Going to Lotte Plaza Market was a legitimate activity for me when I was living in Orlando. It’s a HUGE Asian supermarket with an attached Asian food court. The food court has around 5-7 different vendors, and has a particular emphasis on Korean dishes. You can get tteokbokki, ramyeon, bibimbap (the best bibimbap my husband has ever had!), and my favorite: the spicy beef and kimchi bowl. Our meals usually came with an array of small Korean appetizers. Other vendors offer pastries, boba, ramen, pho, and more.

Shopping for Asian groceries after eating authentic Korean food was always a lot of fun. Coming from someone who had seldom left small-town Maine before meeting my husband, I can say that there is nothing comparable to this market where I grew up. Huge multicultural markets like this are so exciting to me, partially because I never really got to experience anything like them, save for a couple of visits to Boston and New York City.

6. Riding Velocicoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure

I’ve ridden over 40 unique roller coasters, and Jurassic World Velocicoaster remains my favorite roller coaster of all time. That should tell you how much I love this ride!

Mustering up the courage to get on it was quite an endeavor for me. It was probably our 5th or 6th trip to Islands of Adventure that I finally did it. I remember the exact moment that the train was cleared to leave the loading area, and knowing that it was officially too late to back out. My vice grip was unmatched and my heart was beating out of my chest. This was early in my roller coaster journey!

I very quickly realized that while Velocicoaster was the most thrilling ride I had ever been on, it was also the most fun! The launches, inversions, airtime, and speed are just incredible.

Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Islands of Adventure. Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure is another fantastic coaster, and despite not being a Harry Potter fan, I loved wandering around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And I can’t talk about Universal without mentioning Butterbeer. This drink is pure joy and deliciousness.

If you’re a roller coaster person, don’t skip it. And get a Butterbeer while you’re at it.

7. Visiting the American Girl Store

This one is admittedly very specific to my interests, but as a lover of all things American Girl and the owner of around a dozen American Girl dolls, I loved having this store nearby.

Even as an adult collector, it’s so nostalgic to walk around in an actual American Girl store and see all of the dolls and elaborate displays in person. It’s also really cool getting to meet and chat with other adult collectors. I remember one of the cashiers telling me that she has over 70 dolls!

It’s also one of those places that serve as a reminder that there is a lot to do around the city for people with niche interests. It’s not all theme parks and major tourist attractions. Sometimes it’s tiny doll furniture, too!

8. Getting Sushi at Sakari Sushi in Winter Park

When you live somewhere for a while, it’s inevitable that you develop a handful of restaurants that become your places, and Sakari Sushi quickly became just that for me and my husband. They have a bit of an upscale vibe, creative and delicious sushi, and excellent house-made kimchi. It was a go-to place for date night!

9. Getting Indian Food at Tamarind in Winter Park

This was another restaurant that Tim and I frequented. As lovers of Indian cuisine, this place always hit the spot. The staff are very kind and the food was always great. One night our server suggested we try the gobi manchurian, and we quickly realized that it’s one of our favorite things ever and we get it almost every time we go out for Indian food to this day!

This is another place that probably wouldn’t make a standard “top 10” list, but that’s part of why I’m including it. Some of my favorite memories from Orlando are the big attractions and the roller coasters, but just as many are the places that I found myself returning to again and again.

Thank you for all of the wonderful dinners, Tamarind.

10. Riding Basically Everything at SeaWorld Orlando (But Especially Mako)

SeaWorld Orlando is another must for roller coaster fans because the park honestly has quite an impressive lineup. Among all of the coasters this park has to offer, my absolute favorite is Mako. Honorable mentions are Ice Breaker, Kraken, and Pipeline.

Mako is a huge hypercoaster built around speed, airtime, and massive drops, with no inversions. The first drop is around 200 feet, making it among the tallest roller coasters in Florida. The best part is the feeling of being completely lifted out of your seat as you fly over the hills. It’s thrilling without being rough or too complicated. It’s just a lot of fun!

SeaWorld isn’t as impressive or as elaborately themed as Disney or Universal, but it earned its spot on this list for having one of my favorite roller coasters of all time. Mako alone makes this park worth visiting at least once.

Why Orlando Will Always be Special to Me

I don’t know that I’d ever live in Orlando again, but I’m really glad that I did. For one year, some of the places that millions of people save up all year to visit became a part of my every day life, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling a little nostalgic for that.

When I look back, I think about Disney World of course, but I also think about the smaller things. I think about going out for boba or sushi, or exploring Lotte Market and coming home with a bag full of new Asian snacks to try. I hope that this blog taught you about some lesser known gems that Orlando has to offer. Living here allowed me to experience this city in a way I never could have as a tourist.

This is my love letter to Orlando- the city that gave me a year of theme parks, good food, new experiences, and some of my favorite memories.

August 18, 2026
Chocolate, Coasters, and Caves: A Sweet Weekend in Hershey, PA

You don’t always need to hop on a plane or plan a huge vacation to have a getaway that feels like a real adventure, and that’s exactly what I did last weekend. Hershey and Harrisburg are only about 4 hours away from Pittsburgh by car, making it the perfect distance for a quick Pennsylvania road trip, and we managed to pack a lot into just 3 days!

Between making our own chocolate bars, riding 7 new roller coasters, escaping the summer heat underground, eating some amazing food, and making a quick stop in Harrisburg, our weekend ended up being about a lot more than just chocolate.

Day 1- Arriving in Hershey and Making Our Own Chocolate Bars

Our weekend started with about 4 hours on the road from Pittsburgh. And because no road trip is complete without at least one slightly questionable highway meal, our dinner was at a truck stop Arby’s along the way. Side note- does anyone else genuinely love stopping at rest stops in the middle of a road trip? I always look forward to stretching my legs, browsing cheesy souvenirs, and getting some questionable fast food. It’s part of the experience!

We arrived in Hershey at about 8PM, but we still had one very important stop to make before checking into our hotel for the night: Hershey’s Chocolate World!

The main event was definitely the Create Your Own Chocolate Bar experience. While donning a hairnet and apron, you get to choose your chocolate and fillings and then watch your personalized chocolate bar make its way through the production process. For mine, I chose milk chocolate with pretzels, vanilla chips, and cookie bits. Tim went with dark chocolate with butterscotch chips and cookie bits. My favorite part of this experience came at the end, when I got to design the outer packaging for my chocolate bar! This turned it into such a cute souvenir. It’s very cool to have a chocolate bar that you essentially designed from the inside out!

Another fun highlight was the free indoor dark ride. It walks you through how Hershey’s chocolate is made, from harvesting cocoa beans, to the factory, all the way to the finished product. There’s a lot to look at. It’s very well done. And although it’s clearly geared toward families, we enjoyed it a lot. And there is someone handing out free Hershey’s chocolate at the end!

We did some souvenir shopping, stopped at the bakery for a cinnamon chip scone, and finally headed to the hotel to unwind a bit and get some sleep. We had roller coasters waiting for us in the morning, after all! We had a great couple of hours at Hershey’s Chocolate World. If we hadn’t arrived so late, I would have wanted to do the trolley tour of Hershey that they offer, and maybe the Stuff Your Cup experience, where you choose your toppings and watch as someone makes a giant Reese’s Cup for you with fresh peanut butter filling. There are a lot of activities here that are especially great for families.

Day 2- Seven New Roller Coasters at Hersheypark

Our second day was dedicated almost entirely to Hersheypark. It was HOT, but as someone who was once a Disney World annual passholder and is no stranger to spending the day at a theme park in extreme heat, I was up for the challenge. We made the most of it and covered a lot of ground at the park. It’s impressively big, with tons of rides and attractions.

Some of you may know that I am becoming more and more of a coaster enthusiast. Before this trip, I had ridden on over 30 unique coasters across several theme parks, and I have a page in one of my scrapbooks dedicated to keeping track of them all. And I am happy to say that I got to add 7 new coaster credits to my list at Hersheypark! I rode Wildcat’s Revenge, Jolly Rancher Remix, Comet, Stormrunner, SooperDooperLooper, Laff Trakk, and Lightning Racer.

Of all of the roller coasters I got to experience at the park, my favorite one was Wildcat’s Revenge. It was smooth, fast, intense, and it had perfect pacing. It immediately became clear to me why it is such a favorite among coaster enthusiasts. Stormrunner was also fun, and it had a couple of elements that I wasn’t expecting, like a launch that is considerably faster than Velocicoaster at Universal Studios Orlando. That ride was very intense but it was over so quickly that I barely had time to process what was happening. Jolly Rancher Remix was intense in its own way, with a backwards portion that holds you at a very steep angle for what feels like forever before dropping you at a relatively high speed.

Unfortunately, Candymonium will have to wait until next time. By later in the day, the combination of the heat, exertion, and many roller coaster rides started to catch up with me. I felt a headache coming on and I knew I had reached my limit. Especially on such a hot summer day spent at a theme park, it’s very important to listen to your body and know your limits!

We left the park and headed to dinner at Reunion Cocktails + Provisions. It was a very welcome change of pace after spending the day in the sun. The restaurant had a bit of an upscale and relaxed atmosphere, and the staff were very kind. We started by sharing the crispy tuna rice, which was excellent. For our mains, Tim ordered a Wagyu meatloaf and I had vodka pasta with chicken.

After dinner, I went back to the hotel to take a much needed shower and rest for the evening, while Tim went back to Hersheypark for a couple more hours to squeeze in a few more rides! And when he came back, he brought a cheesecake from Hershey’s Chocolate World. We shared the cheesecake in the hotel room before bed, and it was the perfect way to end the night.

Day 3- Going Underground at Indian Echo Caverns and Visiting the Pennsylvania State Capitol

Before heading home, we knew we wanted to see the Indian Echo Caverns in nearby Hummelstown. And, unsurprisingly, it ended up being one of my favorite parts of our trip! After spending the previous day walking around in the summer heat, stepping into a cave that stays around 52 degrees year round felt amazing.

We joined a guided tour that took us down into the caverns and through the narrow passageways. We got to see stalactites and lots of impressive formations. Our tour guide was great and made both the historical and geological aspects of the caverns genuinely interesting.

My favorite part of the cave, by far, was the crystal-clear lake. It was so beautiful, and almost other-worldly!

After our tour of the caves, we got to enjoy the petting zoo before perusing the gift shop. It was fun to pet the goats and see the peacocks! If you’re visiting Hershey and have a little extra time, I definitely recommend adding the Indian Echo Caverns to your itinerary. It was the perfect Sunday activity because it was fun and interesting without requiring another exhausting full day of walking around in the sun. And how often do you get to explore a cave? It makes for a fun little adventure!

After the caverns, we were ready for lunch and decided to try Swatara, a Nepalese restaurant in the Harrisburg area. We both love Indian food, but neither of us had ever been to a specifically Nepalese restaurant. And as lovers of new cultural experiences and new foods, we were excited to try something different. And most importantly, we got to try momo! Momo are Nepalese dumplings that can be filled with either meat or veggies and can be prepared in a variety of ways.

We ordered the chili vegetable momo, which came coated in a flavorful chili sauce and topped with peppers and onions. The flavor profile was not unlike gobi manchurian, if you’re familiar with Indian cuisine. I love pretty much any food that falls under the “dumpling” umbrella, and these were super delightful! I will definitely get them again the next time the opportunity arises.

We also ordered an omelet, as well as the chicken thali, which allowed us to try several different flavors in one meal. Sitting down for our first Nepalese meal was honestly a highlight of the trip for me.

After lunch, we headed into Harrisburg for our final stop of the trip: the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

I knew the Capitol was going to be beautiful, but I was still very impressed by how elaborate it was in person. It’s stunning and ornate, and there are so many gorgeous details to take in. The building itself is enormous, with an architectural style that feels very European. Even from the outside, there are sculptures and other details everywhere you look. It’s easy to see why this is considered to be among the most beautiful state capitol buildings in the country.

Final Thoughts on our Hershey Weekend

I went into this trip thinking mostly about roller coasters and chocolate, but it ended up being so much more. We managed to squeeze a lot of variety into one weekend! In just 3 days, I made my own candy bar, learned how chocolate is made, rode lots of roller coasters (old and new!), tried a new cultural cuisine, explored a cave, pet a goat, and visited one of the most beautiful capitol buildings in the country. And, naturally, we ate a lot of chocolate along the way!

Hershey was an easy weekend getaway from Pittsburgh and it had so much to offer. If you live somewhere much farther away and can’t reasonably come to Hershey for a weekend trip without booking a flight, I would implore you to see what road trips you can take that are just a few hours from where you live. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

As for Hersheypark, I left with some unfinished business. I guess I’ll have to come back one day.

I still need to ride Candymonium.

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August 11, 2026
Shibuya vs. Akihabara vs. Ikebukuro: Which Tokyo Neighborhood Best Suits Your Interests?

One thing that surprised me about Tokyo was how distinct each of its neighborhoods feel from one another. Each one has its own character and personality. They feel less like neighborhoods and more like several different, smaller cities that make up the vast and seemingly unending Tokyo . It is one of the biggest cities in the world, and you would need months, if not years, to see all that it has to offer. However, you’re probably only visiting Japan for between 1 and 3 weeks, and need to decide which areas to prioritize! That’s what I’m going to try to help you out with today. I’ve chosen 3 Tokyo neighborhoods that I hold very close to my heart to write about: the modern and bustling Shibuya, the fandom and hobbyist paradise of Akihabara, and the frequently underrated Ikebukuro.

Shibuya: For First-Time Visitors and Big-City Vibes

If someone asked me where they should start exploring Tokyo, I would almost always say Shibuya. It has so many of the sights that people picture when they imagine Japan for the first time. Walking across Shibuya Scramble crossing, the busiest crosswalk in the world, was one of those experiences that you always hear about. And it does live up to the hype! It’s awe inspiring, if not a bit overwhelming, to see the sheer number of people who cross during each walk cycle. It is said that 1,000 to 2,500 people cross every two minutes. It is one of my stand-out memories from my time exploring Tokyo.

Another highlight from our trip was right in Shibuya as well: the Shibuya Sky observation deck! It offers a 360 degree view of the city from one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo. Keep in mind that tickets for this attraction need to be purchased in advance. I recommend going at night or during sunset, if possible, but those tickets sell out extremely quickly. We went during the day, and we were fortunate that it was a clear day. Looking out over one of the largest cities in the world really puts Tokyo into perspective!

Shibuya also ended up being one of my favorite places to shop. A highlight for me was getting a huge K-pop haul at Mandarake, a secondhand hobby store! But there are so many towering malls and places to eat, shop, and explore. Shibuya is an absolute marvel! If you love big, bustling city vibes, it absolutely cannot be missed!

Akihabara: Heaven for Anime, Gaming, and Collecting

Often referred to as Akihabara Electric Town, Akihabara is widely considered to be the heart of Otaku culture in Japan. The streets are densely packed with shops dedicated to anime, manga, video games, fandom, and general pop culture. There are also a lot of arcades! My husband and I were able to win a few things from UFO catchers at an arcade that we decided to wander into on a whim. In many ways, Akihabara feels like stepping into a gamer or anime lover’s paradise. Between the arcades, hobby shops, capsule toy machines, trading cards, figures, and anime, it feels impossible to see everything in one visit.

I enjoy anime and video games, and I have lots of friends who are VERY into these hobbies, so I can easily say that Akihabara is a must-visit for your Japan trip if you are a gamer or an Otaku. My pop culture tendencies lean more heavily toward kawaii characters, K-pop, Studio Ghibli, and dolls, and they were all represented in Akihabara as well, although to a lesser extent than currently popular anime, Nintendo, and so on. I did get a Hatsune Miku figurine and a Japanese copy of the first Death Note manga volume! I also got some great souvenirs for my friends based on their specific anime and video game interests. Also, if you are on a limited budget, there is no shortage of secondhand shops selling merch and collectibles. If anime and gaming are a big reason for your visit to Japan, I would say that it deserves a spot near the very top of your itinerary. It is vibrant, fun, and well… electric!

Ikebukuro: An Underrated Tokyo Neighborhood

Not unlike Akihabara, Ikebukuro is a big pop culture hub in Tokyo. However, before my trip, I hadn’t heard Ikebukuro mentioned even a fraction as often as I’d heard about Akihabara. After visiting, I’m not quite sure why. For me, it felt like the best of both worlds. It had plenty of anime stores and character merchandise, but it also felt a bit less chaotic. Sunshine City alone can easily fill an afternoon. And because of where my own interests land, I would actually say that I may have had a better time at the Sunshine City Mall than I did exploring the shops in Akihabara.

Sunshine City had more things that appealed to me personally than Akihabara did. I shopped for Nommis and other plush pendants, popped into the Sanrio store, and visited the biggest Pokemon Center that I have ever seen by a very wide margin. There were themed cafes, a Miffy store, and no shortage of all kinds of other adorable character merchandise. I really love large indoor malls, and Sunshine City was among my favorites that I got to explore while in Japan!

The vibe of Ikebukuro isn’t quite as energetic or flashy as Akihabara. It seems to cater to a slightly different demographic. In Ikebukuro, you can slow down and take it all in. The vibe is more leisurely, polished, and maybe even a bit more upscale given the amount of nice department stores and licensed character stores (Pokemon Center, Miffy, Sanrio). It is not quite as unique as Akihabara, and it is definitely a bit more commercial, but it offers a broader mix of shops, dining, and experiences.

So, Which One Should You Visit?

The good news is that you really can’t go wrong with any of these 3 wonderful neighborhoods! If it’s your first trip to Tokyo, I’d probably prioritize Shibuya just for how iconic and high energy it is. It’s packed with sights and experiences that remind you that you’ve arrived in one of the world’s greatest and largest cities.

If you’re a gamer, collector, or hobbyist, and you intend to arrive in Japan with a half-empty suitcase to fill up with figures, manga, and collectibles, I wouldn’t miss out on Akihabara. Do your research though, because Ikebukuro offers some stiff competition to Akihabara when it comes to shopping and pop culture. It may even have more shops and experiences that align with your interests than Akihabara. Between these two neighborhoods, I would say that which one you visit is entirely dependent upon your individual goals and interests. They are similar in some ways but they are also delightfully different.

Wherever in Tokyo you find yourself on your visit to Japan, I promise it will be a trip to remember.

July 31, 2026
Why Fushimi Inari Taisha Is One Of My Favorite Places In Japan

Of all the incredible places I’ve been lucky enough to visit in Japan, Fushimi Inari remains one of my favorite memories. Like many travelers, I had seen photos of the thousands of bright red torii gates and heard how beautiful, vast, and majestic it is, but experiencing it in person was something else entirely. I will remember it for the rest of my life. As such, it just wouldn’t feel right to have a travel blog without dedicating a page to Fushimi Inari!

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of the Shinto god, Inari. It’s located in southern Kyoto, Japan, and it is famous for its thousands upon thousands of torii gates that line the many trails that lead to the top of Mount Inari. It is a popular tourist destination, so the lower paths get very crowded in the afternoon. Many people don’t hike all the way to the top- an endeavor that can take around 3 hours.

What made our visit to the shrine especially memorable was the somewhat unusual and lesser-known-to-tourists way that we entered. Before our trip, my husband Tim found an alternate trail online that leads into the shrine from the side instead of through the main entrance. We took a taxi to the beginning of the trail and entered into the shrine that way! Doing this allowed us to reach a higher point on the mountain than many people are willing or able to walk to, and we were completely alone on that first trail! It was our third full day in Japan, and the experience of wandering through the quiet and peaceful forest felt like exploring a hidden gem. We got to really take our time and we ended up with some beautiful pictures of just the two of us under some of the bright red torii gates.

When we got to the main trail, we started working our way down. And the further we walked, the more I came to realize that Fushimi Inari is so much more than the iconic tunnel of gates spread across the mountainside that it is so well known for. There are also smaller shrines, fox statues, koi fish ponds, cats, stone lanterns, and beautiful views of Kyoto. Everywhere I looked, there was something new to admire. Some of my favorite moments were the little surprises along the way. A bright red bridge, tiny torii gates, a friendly black and white cat we saw wandering through one of the shrine paths, and a very nice lady who was selling good luck charms. I bought one, and she blessed it with a flame.

If I have one piece of advice for anyone visiting Fushimi Inari, it’s this: don’t just walk through the first section, take a few photos, and leave. Keep exploring. Whether you start at the main entrance and hike up the mountain, or utilize some of the lesser known walking trails to access the shrine like we did, it’s worth it to see as much of the shrine as you are able. Don’t push yourself too hard, or make yourself so tired that you are unable to enjoy yourself, but try to see everything that you can within your ability. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen anything like it. The atmosphere, all the big and small details, the sheer amount of culture and history to soak in make Fushimi Inari truly beautiful. It feels so magical.

Fushimi Inari is one of the first places I think about when I start daydreaming about Japan (which is quite often!). I can’t wait to go back one day. It has a piece of my heart forever.

July 4, 2026
10 Tips For Your First Trip To Japan

Planning my first trip to Japan was as exciting as it was overwhelming. There is so much to see and do, and it’s easy to worry about everything that could go wrong, or like you have to cram as much as you possibly can into a single itinerary.

After spending 18 days traveling through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, and Nara, I came home with a few lessons that I wish I’d known before I left. If you’re planning your first visit to Japan, here are my biggest tips.

1. Plan A Rest Day If You’re Visiting For Two Weeks Or Longer

If you’re walking 20,000+ steps per day, navigating busy train stations, traveling between cities, and constantly taking in new sights, it catches up to you. Traveling and sight seeing is truly amazing, but it is also very exhausting.

About halfway through our trip, I kind of hit a wall. For a couple days, I was extremely tired and burnt out. We didn’t plan a slower itinerary or a rest day around the middle of our trip; instead, we visited three theme parks almost back to back: Nagashima Spa Land in Nagoya, Ghibli Park in Nagoya, and Tokyo DisneySea. While I still had a great time, I felt like I wasn’t able to enjoy some of the attractions quite as much as I would have liked, particularly the large and sprawling Ghibli Park. At the end of our visit to Ghibli Park, it was time to walk over to the area of the park to see the Whisper of the Heart attractions, including a replica of the antique shop that is a focal point of the film. Whisper of the Heart is my favorite movie, and instead of being as excited as a little kid on Christmas Eve, I considered skipping the trek to that area! Thankfully, my husband talked some sense into me and we went. I am so glad because I had an amazing time exploring that antique shop. I even got a little emotional at times because Whisper of the Heart has meant a lot to me over the years!

Point being, the exhaustion of a packed itinerary is no joke! Plan a rest day or a couple of slow paced days in the middle of your itinerary so that you can recharge. Your body will thank you. It’s better to have one slow day, or one day with not much planned, than to spend 3 days not enjoying yourself to the fullest. Give yourself permission to slow down so you can enjoy the rest of your vacation.

2. Use Google Translate’s Camera Feature

Google translate was probably the most useful app on my phone during my trip to Japan, largely due to the camera feature.

The camera feature in Google Translate allows you to point your phone at menus, signs, museum information, product labels, and more. It will display the translation over the Japanese text. I used it constantly throughout our trip. It came especially in handy when I needed to purchase ibuprofen for a headache. The drug store I went to had hundreds upon hundreds of products, and, obviously, none of the labels were written in English. It was also quite useful while leafing through restaurant menus. Use the technology you have at your fingertips to make your trip as smooth and seamless as possible!

3. You Only Really Need To Know A Few Basic Japanese Phrases

Before our trip, I was worried that the language barrier would make traveling difficult. I even purchased a deck of flash cards containing a bunch of common Japanese words, phrases, and questions. I have also had several friends ask me how I was able to spend so long in Japan without knowing the language. This seems to be a common point of stress and worry among travelers, and I can see why!

In reality, learning just a handful of phrases went a long way. The ones I used the most often were:

-Hello (Konnichiwa)

-Thank you (Arigato gozaimasu)

-Excuse me (Sumimassen)

-Please (Onegaishimasu)

The most interactions you’ll have as a tourist are with cashiers, restaurant staff, hotel employees, and transportation workers. I rarely had to say much more than these few phrases. When I did, I spoke into Google Translate and showed whomever I was speaking to the Japanese translation on my phone screen. Everyone I spoke to was very patient and kind. Don’t let a language barrier keep you from visiting Japan!

4. Spend More Time In Fewer Places

This is actually my husband Tim’s best piece of Japan travel advice.

While planning a trip to Japan, it’s tempting to try to squeeze in as many cities as possible. But instead of asking yourself, “How many cities can I visit?” ask, “How much can I experience?”

Tokyo is a perfect example. We spent 9 of our 18 days there, and we didn’t even scratch the surface. Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world, and you should treat each of its many neighborhoods as separate cities. There is so much to see in Tokyo that you could live there for YEARS and still have so much to see and experience. You don’t have to take every possible day trip from Tokyo just to check more cities off your list. If you take this approach, you will spend a sizable portion of your vacation on a train or bus! Cut some of the day trips, and explore some of Tokyo’s many, many neighborhoods. We visited Shibuya, Shinjuku, Toyousu, Shiodome, Ikebukuro, Akihabara, Odaiba, Ginza, and more. Each neighborhood has its own personality and could easily fill a whole day.

Quality beats quantity every time. On your first trip to Japan, make sure you don’t neglect one of the most impressive and awe inspiring cities in the world. Take your time in Tokyo.

5. Let Google Maps Handle Public Transportation

Japan’s train system has a reputation for being intimidating, but Google Maps made it surprisingly manageable.

The app doesn’t just tell you which train to take. It tells you which platform to go to, when the train leaves, where to transfer, and how long each part of your journey will take. We relied on it every single day!

If you have Google Maps and a reliable data plan, navigating Japan becomes a lot less complicated than many first-timers expect. We did make an error or two in our travels, but we were able to course correct fairly easily and without losing too much time. I can’t imagine taking the trip we did without it.

6. Star Places On Google Maps Before You Go

This is another tip I learned from Tim, and it completely changed how we explored.

Before the trip, we starred attractions, shops, restaurants, and other areas of interest to us. That way, whenever we found ourselves with extra time, we could simply open Google Maps and see what was close by!

Some of our favorite discoveries happened because of this approach. Instead of strictly following a rigid itinerary or, conversely, wandering around aimlessly, we were able to wander while knowing there was always something interesting nearby.

7. Make Time For Your Own Interests

Your itinerary doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s! Tokyo is enormous, and there is truly something for almost every hobby imaginable.

As a huge K-pop fan, I loved exploring Shin-Okubo, Tokyo’s Koreatown. I browsed K-pop stores and hunted for albums, photocards, and niche merchandise. (Read more about my K-pop adventures in Japan here!) I also stumbled across stores dedicated to everything from ball-jointed dolls to Lolita fashion to tabletop miniature painting. I visited themed cafes, Ghibli stores, and niche museums. Some of my favorite memories came from the things I did that wouldn’t be on a typical “Top 10 Things to do in Tokyo” list. I recommend opening Google and seeing what’s out there for your hobby or interest!

8. Leave (Or Make) Room For Souvenirs

If this is your first trip to Japan, there’s a good chance you’ll come home with a lot more souvenirs than you anticipated.

Many people visiting Japan purchase stationery, anime merch, snacks, clothing, beauty products, kitchen items, and more. In my case, I bought souvenirs for just about every city, attraction, and Tokyo neighborhood that I went to. I also bought gifts for friends and family, as well as a comically large amount of K-pop merchandise! I knew I had run out of luggage space less than a week into the trip.

An easy solution for me was to buy a huge duffel bag to check on the flight home. I stuffed it full of all of my souvenirs and other purchases. Stores like Don Quijote make this easy. I was relieved to have the extra room when it was time to pack!

9. Bring A Portable Phone Charger

Your phone will be working harder while you’re in Japan than when you’re at home. You’ll be using data and GPS throughout the day, translating signs and menus, taking hundreds of photos, filming videos, looking up train routes, and more.

A portable power bank will give you peace of mind and will mean that you never have to worry about your battery running out halfway through the day.

10. Take More Photos Than You Think You Need, And Then Take Even More Photos

This may sound obvious to some, but it needs to be said. Some people don’t think to take a lot of pictures, or are just not inclined to, but it is so important to thoroughly document your trip. I took over a thousand photos and I regret nothing.

Take photos of the major attractions, but also take photos of your meals, the view from your hotel window, a funny souvenir, a cute looking cafe you happen to walk by. Just take the damn photo. These smaller moments can be just as meaningful as the famous landmarks.

When I got home, I chose a couple hundred of my favorite picture and had them made into a photo book that I can look back on forever. I framed a few and have them displayed in the living room. Years from now, you’ll be grateful that you took the extra picture. Looking back through them might bring back memories that you would otherwise have forgotten!

Final Thoughts

Japan was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

If I had to sum up my one biggest piece of advice, it would be: don’t try to see everything. Explore neighborhoods instead of racing between cities. Follow your own interests. Make sure to leave some wiggle room and flexibility for unexpected discoveries.

I hope you find these tips helpful as you prepare for your own trip to Japan. It’s really not as intimidating as you may be thinking. Don’t forget to look up from your itinerary once in a while!

June 30, 2026
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.

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June 10, 2026
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.

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June 5, 2026