Japan has opened up! And Tokyo will forever be one of the most amazing places you can go in your lifetime. But if you find yourself to be in a bit more of an adventurous mood and are desiring to go beyond the bounds of the main Tokyo railways, you might find one of these amazing side trips from this awesome city to be worth your while during your next trip to Japan.
You’ve likely heard of Harajuku through songs or perhaps via a grape vine of travelers who have been to Tokyo (東京). Or maybe you’ve heard of the “Harajuku Girls” in a fashion magazine somewhere. But none of that really elaborates on just what Harajuku is, what you can do there or what you should make SURE to do there on your epic trip to Japan. So allow me to divulge all you need to know for your day in this fashion forward mecca of the Tokyo Metropolis. 😉
Today I wanted to share with you a bit about one of my favorite places in Japan. And also some parts of an experience I had there about… oh wow, eight years ago! Why? Just because it’s such a good memory! AND because if you get the chance to go to Tokyo, you have to stop by this gem!
If you ever visit Japan, you’ll often see prints and recreations of old Ukiyo-e, such as “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”, or “Kanagawa-oki Nami Ura” (神奈川沖浪裏), that were originally made via Mokuhanga. But it’s possible to get an even more enriching experience when it comes to Ukiyo-e instead of just buying a modern print reproduction of one. That’s what I want to tell you about today in recounting a super unique experience I had while in Japan – and one that you can have too!
Now, I don’t know about you, but I love to travel to Japan (duh)! And while I’m there, I’m always up for trying out new foods. However, that doesn’t mean I can afford fancy dine outs for every meal and sometimes, I just need a restaurant where I can sit back in a cushy seat and take a load off while I order something I know I’ll like. So here are my solutions: 14 (+2 bonus) restaurants worth stopping by in Japan if you’re in the mood to eat out, but maybe not looking to have your wallet emptied.
For the month of January 2021, the featured artist of the month is Marie Kondo! Born in Tokyo, Japan, Marie Kondo is a professional organizing consultant, sometimes known as “KonMari”. With 4 books under her belt, with most translated into 30+ languages, Marie specializes in turning places of clutter into tidy spaces. Her most popular book is titled “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”.
Shinzou wo Sasageyo, Minna-san! I’ve been in a bit of a revitalized good mood primarily due to rewatching episodes of the anime 進撃の巨人 (“Shingeki no Kyojin”), so I thought I’d relate an experience I had while living in Tokyo in 2015 called “Attack on Wall Tokyo” as well as another one I had during a trip to Sapporo in 2016 called “Attack on Wall Sapporo”.
This is surprisingly, another one of those “I can’t believe I haven’t written about this sooner” posts. But then again, when you’re in Japan, there’s next to no time, zilch, to really document it other than via photos. As such, 4 years later, let’s talk about concerts in Japan, and specifically, my first concert in Japan.
Recently I appeared as a guest writer on the Japan Living and Lifestyle blog run by the lovely Urano family. What did I write on? Well of course, one of my favorite places on earth: Ikebukuro (池袋)! More specifically though, I discussed some of my favorite places to get great sweets and treats in and around the Sunshine Street and City areas. So in addition to that article, today, I’m sharing here a little more on my favorite place in Ikebukuro for sweet things: Milky Way!
Throughout my time living in Japan, I tried to do things that I had never done before. My first Kabuki experience though, was a no joke, INTENSE experience steeped in rich Japanese history and culture.