Sharing a recap of what we did in Tokyo, the place we stayed and already trying ahead to going again.
Hello pals! How are you?? I hope you’re having a beautiful morning. I’ve a whole lot of content material to report immediately – Therapeutic Code re-launches on Monday! – and am going to catch an higher physique exercise and the therapeutic massage chair on the gymnasium.
Right this moment, I’m sharing the primary of my Japan posts!
Listed below are our Japan and Korea recap posts thus far:
Seoul recap, what we did and what we ate
Tokyo recap and why I like Japan (this publish)
Kyoto itinerary and ideas for journey to Japan
What we ate in Japan (and gf picks)
My Korean Head Spa expertise
Tokyo recap and why I like Japan
I’ve been avoiding scripting this publish as a result of the fact is that I’ve Japression.
Often I really feel a bit of down after coming dwelling from a visit, however that is subsequent degree. It usually hits me laborious that I can not stroll outdoors all day (it’s means too scorching right here and Tucson is certainly not walkable), discover new locations, spend uninterrupted time with the fam, eat unbelievable meals, and store all of the livelong day. As a substitute, I’m again to chores, feeding everybody, and cleansing up after feeding everybody lol.
This journey feels completely different as a result of Japan was in contrast to something I’ve ever skilled. The tradition, the lifestyle, the deep respect, kindness, care, and professionalism, the clear streets, the cleanest meals, the surroundings… it truthfully felt like one other planet.
One of many largest issues I seen was the degree of satisfaction folks soak up the whole lot they do. It didn’t matter if it was a restaurant server, Uber driver, resort receptionist, comfort retailer worker, or somebody serving to us on the practice station. Everybody appeared dedicated to doing their best possible, and it was inspiring to see. Individuals had been form and welcoming, the whole lot felt extremely secure, and I felt one of the best I’ve felt in a very very long time whereas we had been there.
I additionally seen how wholesome and well-groomed everybody appeared. You don’t actually see folks wandering round in pajamas screaming at one another lol. There’s simply this underlying sense of respect for your self and for the folks round you.
What shocked me most was how calm my nervous system felt all the time. Regardless that you’re surrounded by vivid lights, large buildings, and tons of individuals, it by no means feels chaotic. Every thing is so organized and orderly that your physique truly looks like it might chill out. I didn’t understand how a lot I wanted that feeling till I skilled it. Since we’ve been dwelling, I’ve been making an attempt actually laborious to convey items of that feeling again with me.
I discussed this in my Seoul recap, however Japan and Korea truthfully weren’t my first alternative for a trip. I knew it could be enjoyable, however I felt overwhelmed by the planning and wasn’t certain in the event that they’d be locations I’d ever need to go to once more. Now I really feel so naive as a result of I had no thought how particular these nations are. I already can’t wait to return.
Individuals hold asking if I most popular Korea or Japan, and I can’t select as a result of they’re so completely different whereas additionally complementing one another completely. In case you ever have the chance to go to that a part of the world, do each. I promise you’ll perceive the second you expertise it for your self.
And when you do each, I extremely advocate beginning in Seoul after which heading to Tokyo. It was the right combo. 🙂
Listed below are among the highlights of our journey:
We stayed in two areas of Ginza.
The primary a part of our journey was close to the Tsukiji Outer Market, the place the streets are lined with meals stalls, seafood distributors, and one of the best sushi of your life. (The well-known tuna auctions have moved to Toyosu Market, however Tsukiji continues to be completely price visiting for the meals scene!!)
After our Kyoto journey, we stayed in Ginza correct, which was a beautiful location full of luxurious shops (together with the multi-story Tiffany flagship), eating places, department shops, and limitless purchasing.
We booked the KOKO Resort for each stays (similar resort model, two completely different areas) utilizing our Amex Platinum advantages. I most popular the situation of the Tsukiji property as a result of it felt a bit of quieter and extra native, however the precise resort and facilities had been nicer on the Ginza location. (We stayed at one location for a couple of days earlier than our quick journey to Kyoto and the opposite one afterwards.)
One factor I beloved about Ginza is that it felt extremely clear, secure, and simple to navigate. We might stroll nearly all over the place and simply took an Uber when wanted.
Tokyo DisneySea
I at all times say we’re not “Disney folks,” although we go to the parks consistently and are about to go on Disney Cruise #8. We simply don’t have Disney decor in our home, however I feel we verify the entire different packing containers. 😉
After all we needed to go to a Disney property whereas we had been in Tokyo. They’ve two choices: Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. We selected DisneySea as a result of it has distinctive rides and lands that don’t exist within the U.S., and it’s typically thought of the higher park for older youngsters and adults.
(the children approve the entire photographs I publish and Liv requested me to place a coronary heart on her face for this one)
The rides had been unbelievable.
The animatronics, particular results, projection mapping, storytelling, and experience expertise far exceeded my expectations. Peter Pan is one in all my favourite rides and the Tokyo model utterly blew the U.S. model out of the water. It’s longer, extra immersive (3D), fantastically performed, and genuinely feels such as you’re flying.
We additionally beloved Journey to the Heart of the Earth, Rapunzel was beautiful (the lantern scene was the whole lot), and Sinbad ended up being one in all our shock favorites. It’s sort of like It’s a Small World, however with a banger theme tune and a few spectacular animatronics (just like the inexperienced big!).
The meals was additionally a lot enjoyable.
We utterly fell in love with muscat-flavored the whole lot whereas we had been in Japan, and these frozen muscat desserts had been a HUGE hit. I had two all through the day and P had three.
Additionally they have distinctive popcorn flavors all over the place. Once we visited, the choices included milk chocolate, soy sauce and butter, scallop and garlic (which was DELICIOUS),
caramel, and salted popcorn. Every stand has completely different flavors, so folks actually gather popcorn buckets and stroll round making an attempt all of them.
It’s additionally price mentioning that the whole lot was dramatically cheaper than the U.S. parks. An enormous hen leg was round 800 yen (about $5 USD), in comparison with $15 – 20 at dwelling.
Our park tickets and even the paid experience reservations had been a fraction of what we’d usually spend within the States. I inform ya, that’s definitely worth the flight proper there.
The one draw back is that lots of the experience reservation choices (referred to as DPA within the app) promote out shortly. I used to be capable of buy a couple of, however the entire free reservation choices had been gone shortly after we entered the park. Frozen and Indiana Jones had been additionally closed throughout our go to, which was a bummer.
The park closed at 9 p.m. the night time we visited, and plenty of meals areas stopped serving round 7-8 p.m., so I undoubtedly advocate prioritizing rides early and planning dinner earlier than issues start shutting down.
teamLab Borderless
This was an absolute must-do.
Tokyo has a couple of completely different teamLab experiences, and we selected Borderless. It’s an interactive digital artwork museum the place the reveals are consistently altering. You may stroll by means of a room, come again quarter-hour later, and it seems to be utterly completely different.
We spent hours wandering by means of the reveals, drawing sea creatures that got here to life on big screens,
(the Pilot did this wonderful turtle!)
getting misplaced within the mild installations, and taking so many photographs and movies.
It’s a type of experiences that’s laborious to elucidate till you see it your self.
I undoubtedly advocate this when you’re touring with youngsters, however the adults had been simply as entertained.
I’ve additionally heard wonderful issues about teamLab Planets when you’re making an attempt to decide on a location to go to!
A number of 7-Eleven and Lawson stops
7-Eleven lives as much as the TikTok and Instagram hype.
Each morning I grabbed one thing from the well-known drink case. C1000 was my favourite and I miss it a lot.
We additionally stocked up on muscat treats, smoothies, onigiri, and so many tasty snacks. It turned our breakfast cease, snack cease, and post-dinner dessert cease.
It’s humorous as a result of there are precisely zero issues I need to eat at 7-Eleven within the U.S., however there have been dozens of issues I regarded ahead to consuming at comfort shops (konbini) in Japan.
They’ve fruit sandwiches, egg sandwiches, onigiri, coffees, glowing drinks, smoothies, and desserts which are tremendous scrumptious and in addition cheap. The smoothies had been one of the best!! The container is simply frozen fruit and after you pay, you scan the bar code on the machine, put the cup inside, and it provides liquid and blends it on the spot. Like I mentioned, Korea and Japan live sooner or later.
Driving the bullet practice to Kyoto
I’d heard that when you’re already in Tokyo, it’s price taking the practice to Kyoto or Osaka to expertise a unique facet of Japan.
I didn’t need to journey all the way in which the world over and miss it, so we added Kyoto to our itinerary and I’m so glad we did.
Kyoto deserves and is getting a complete weblog publish of its personal as a result of it was actually magical.
We rode the Inexperienced Automobile (the equal of top notch) on the way in which there, which was beautiful and cozy. On the way in which again we rode common reserved seats, and TBH, it wasn’t an enormous distinction (and the common reserved seats had been about $120 much less for the 4 of us).
The trains are clear, quiet, environment friendly, and ridiculously punctual. Watching the countryside fly by whereas consuming snacks from the station was a singular reminiscence that I beloved… I’d by no means actually been on a practice earlier than (moreover Polar Specific!) and it was such a cool expertise. Method much less trouble than flying and felt simply as fast!
Classic luxurious purchasing
In case you love designer baggage, watches, jewellery, or equipment, Tokyo is heaven.
There are classic luxurious shops all over the place, and lots of the items are in nice situation and look model new.
In case you’re out there for a Louis Vuitton bag, Gucci, Chanel, Rolex, or different luxurious items, I’d completely store in Japan earlier than shopping for elsewhere.
Additionally, convey your passport everytime you’re purchasing as a result of many shops provide on the spot tax-free purchases for vacationers so that you don’t should cope with it on the airport.
Shibuya Crossing
We needed to go to the well-known Shibuya Crossing.
Footage don’t actually do it justice as a result of it’s much less concerning the crossing itself and extra concerning the power of all the space. There are big video screens, limitless purchasing, eating places, lights, music, and hundreds of individuals shifting by means of the intersection in each route.
It’s extremely busy, however nonetheless feels orderly. Individuals wait patiently, cross once they’re purported to, and no one is bumping or pushing into one another.
Outdoors the station is the well-known Hachikō statue, honoring the loyal canine who continued ready for his proprietor on the station day-after-day, even after his proprietor handed away. It’s one in all Japan’s most beloved tales, and seeing the statue in particular person felt surprisingly emotional.
We took photographs, wandered the encompassing streets, did some purchasing, and simply soaked all of it in. It’s touristy for a purpose, and we beloved it. If it’s your first journey to Tokyo, I feel it’s a type of locations you must expertise at the very least as soon as!
Seems that this publish didn’t assist my Japression in any respect, however I’ve a couple of extra to go. I’ll be sharing the entire wonderful meals we ate (together with GF choices), a Kyoto recap and ideas for touring to Japan, and am glad to reply any questions, too!!
(costume from RTR and my beloved Vejas <– go-to journey strolling footwear)
So, inform me, pals: what’s in your trip dream record? Something enjoyable deliberate that’s arising??
xo
Gina
