JAPAN 2018

I just came back from my Japan trip and I don’t even know where to begin because I had the most incredible time of my life! Japan has always been on my bucket list of places to travel to, but I had no idea that I would fall in love with it as much as I did. I travel frequently and there are definitely moments where I thought my time at a place was sufficient and it was time for me to return home. I think this was the first time when I had the opposite feeling and I honestly didn’t want to leave at all. Tokyo is a place that I know I want to return to, but my visit also made me excited to add Kyoto and Osaka on my bucket list as well.

As usual, I vlogged my trip and love the idea of making a video out my experience because it’s a great way to relive those memories. You can view it below and be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel here.

I went during Cherry Blossom season even though this year, the blossoms bloomed earlier than expected. I am still grateful to have witness what was left of the cherry blossoms because they truly are a magical sight. Here are some of the highlights that I would recommend:

• Robot Restaurant: I always book my tours and attractions through Tripadvisor and the Robot Restaurant came highly recommended by past travelers. I also saw videos of the show on Instagram, so I knew I had to add it to my trip. I went to see this the first night I arrived and I must say it was the weirdest, but coolest experience ever! To explain the show would be a bit difficult because you honestly had to be there. Basically, there were three parts of the show and each section had a different act/ performance. There were giant robots/ machines and performers who danced and sang on them. You would only be able to see this in Japan! I honestly had no idea what was going on, but it was a performance that I would never forget. You can also see clips of it from my youtube video or from the highlights on my Instagram stories!
• Cherry Blossoms Tour: If you go to Tokyo during Cherry Blossoms season, then this is a must do! I would plan in advanced as the season usually starts first week of April. It’s one thing to see photos of them, but it’s another when you actually see them in person. It’s absolutely beautiful to be in a garden and see it be full of cherry blossoms. As I mentioned, I didn’t get the full experience and wished I was able to see the parks and garden be full of cherry blossoms, but I am still happy to have seen a glimpse of it.
• Mount Fuji: Another insane tour I took was a day trip to Mount Fuji and Mount Komagate and this is a great option for those who love nature, scenery and want a full experience of the mountains. I always like to take a day trip aside from the city I’m visiting because I like to see a different side of Japan aside from Tokyo. I went on a very windy and cold day, but on a positive side, the weather as in our favor since we were actually able to see Mount Fuji. My tour guide said that it’s actually a 50/50 chance because it’s often foggy. The view going toward Mount Fuji was absolutely breathtaking and it’s crazy to think that people actually hike it! We also made a stop at Mount Komagate and the view from above was just as lovely. Again, you can see this all in my youtube vlog!
• Japan Food Tour: If you know me, you know I love food! And there’s nothing better than taking a food tour in a foreign country. Japanese food is my favorite food of all time, so I was basically in heaven. I was able to experience different Japanese cuisine, but my favorite definitely had to be sushi. I was blown away by how much sushi we actually had because it was practically a dinner meal, but I had no complaints and left fully satisfied.

Other than those attractions, I wanted to talk about the different neighborhoods of Tokyo. I know for a fact that if you visit, you would experience Shinjuku since it’s the most popular and busiest station. I must admit that I was pretty overwhelmed by how many people travel through this place because the traffic beats New York without a doubt. It’s a great place to shop and eat and I would describe it as the Times Square of NYC. Another neighborhood that I think Tokyo is known for is Harajuku. I knew I wanted to visit because I saw many photos of people eating cotton candy here and I knew I had to snap a photo with it. It’s also pretty funky with great stores and eats as well.

I also visited Asakusa and it gave more of a traditional setting to Japan. You can find shrines and temples here and it reminded me of the Big Buddah in Hong Kong. There are many opportunities to shop for souvenirs here and it gets pretty crowded with tourists, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time. Two other great neighborhoods that are worth visiting are Shibuya and Roppongi. They are great for nightlife and overall social gatherings. My food tour was actually in Shibuya and I had one of my favorite meals at Jomon with Samantha Mariko at Roppongi.

I can go on and on about my experience at Japan, but I think my vlog speaks for itself. I am having travel withdrawals already and it’s only been a few days since I’ve returned. This trip also made me realize how much I love traveling and I think this is the year that I will dedicate to more destinations! Let me know if you’ve ever been to Japan and what your next travel destination is 🙂