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 stunning morning. I’ve quite a lot of content material to report at this time – Therapeutic Code re-launches on Monday! – and am going to catch an higher physique exercise and the therapeutic massage chair on the health club.
At this time, I’m sharing the primary of my Japan posts!
Listed here are our Japan and Korea recap posts to date:
Seoul recap, what we did and what we ate
Tokyo recap and why I like Japan (this put up)
Kyoto itinerary and suggestions 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 penning this put up as a result of the fact is that I’ve Japression.
Often I really feel a bit of down after coming house 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 sizzling 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 an alternative, I’m again to chores, feeding everybody, and cleansing up after feeding everybody lol.
This journey feels totally different as a result of Japan was not like 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 greatest issues I observed was the degree of satisfaction folks absorb every part 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 prepare station. Everybody appeared dedicated to doing their very best, and it was inspiring to see. Folks had been form and welcoming, every part felt extremely secure, and I felt the very best I’ve felt in a very very long time whereas we had been there.
I additionally observed 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. Despite the fact that you’re surrounded by shiny lights, enormous buildings, and tons of individuals, it by no means feels chaotic. Every thing is so organized and orderly that your physique really seems like it could actually loosen up. I didn’t notice how a lot I wanted that feeling till I skilled it. Since we’ve been house, I’ve been making an attempt actually laborious to deliver items of that feeling again with me.
I discussed this in my Seoul recap, however Japan and Korea truthfully weren’t my first selection for a trip. I knew it might be enjoyable, however I felt overwhelmed by the planning and wasn’t positive 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 concept how particular these international locations are. I already can’t wait to return.
Folks preserve asking if I most popular Korea or Japan, and I can’t select as a result of they’re so totally different whereas additionally complementing one another completely. In the event 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 in the event you do each, I extremely suggest beginning in Seoul after which heading to Tokyo. It was the right combo. 🙂
Listed here 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 the very best sushi of your life. (The well-known tuna auctions have moved to Toyosu Market, however Tsukiji continues to be completely value visiting for the meals scene!!)
After our Kyoto journey, we stayed in Ginza correct, which was a stunning location crammed with luxurious shops (together with the multi-story Tiffany flagship), eating places, department shops, and limitless purchasing.
We booked the KOKO Lodge for each stays (similar resort model, two totally 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 number of days earlier than our quick journey to Kyoto and the opposite one afterwards.)
One factor I liked about Ginza is that it felt extremely clear, secure, and straightforward to navigate. We might stroll nearly in every single 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 continuously and are about to go on Disney Cruise #8. We simply don’t have Disney decor in our home, however I believe we examine all the different packing containers. 😉
After all we wished 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 usually thought-about the higher park for older children and adults.
(the children approve all the pictures I put up 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 know-how far exceeded my expectations. Peter Pan is one among my favourite rides and the Tokyo model fully blew the U.S. model out of the water. It’s longer, extra immersive (3D), fantastically accomplished, and genuinely feels such as you’re flying.
We additionally liked Journey to the Heart of the Earth, Rapunzel was attractive (the lantern scene was every part), and Sinbad ended up being one among our shock favorites. It’s form of like It’s a Small World, however with a banger theme track and a few spectacular animatronics (just like the inexperienced large!).
The meals was additionally a lot enjoyable.
We fully fell in love with muscat-flavored every part 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.
In addition they have distinctive popcorn flavors in every single 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 totally different flavors, so folks actually acquire popcorn buckets and stroll round making an attempt all of them.
It’s additionally value mentioning that every part 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 house.
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 well worth the flight proper there.
The one draw back is that lots of the experience reservation choices (known as DPA within the app) promote out rapidly. I used to be capable of buy a number of, however all the 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 evening we visited, and plenty of meals areas stopped serving round 7-8 p.m., so I positively suggest prioritizing rides early and planning dinner earlier than issues start shutting down.
teamLab Borderless
This was an absolute must-do.
Tokyo has a number of totally different teamLab experiences, and we selected Borderless. It’s an interactive digital artwork museum the place the reveals are continuously altering. You possibly can stroll by a room, come again quarter-hour later, and it seems fully totally different.
We spent hours wandering by the reveals, drawing sea creatures that got here to life on large screens,
(the Pilot did this superb turtle!)
getting misplaced within the gentle installations, and taking so many pictures and movies.
It’s a kind of experiences that’s laborious to clarify till you see it your self.
I positively suggest this in the event you’re touring with children, however the adults had been simply as entertained.
I’ve additionally heard superb issues about teamLab Planets in the event 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 likewise cheap. The smoothies had been the very 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 stated, Korea and Japan live sooner or later.
Driving the bullet prepare to Kyoto
I’d heard that in the event you’re already in Tokyo, it’s value taking the prepare 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 whole weblog put up of its personal as a result of it was actually magical.
We rode the Inexperienced Automobile (the equal of firstclass) on the way in which there, which was pretty 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 liked… I’d by no means actually been on a prepare 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 the event you love designer luggage, watches, jewellery, or equipment, Tokyo is heaven.
There are classic luxurious shops in every single place, and lots of the items are in nice situation and look model new.
In the event you’re available in the market for a Louis Vuitton bag, Gucci, Chanel, Rolex, or different luxurious items, I might completely store in Japan earlier than shopping for elsewhere.
Additionally, deliver your passport everytime you’re purchasing as a result of many shops provide immediate tax-free purchases for vacationers so that you don’t need to take care of it on the airport.
Shibuya Crossing
We needed to go to the well-known Shibuya Crossing.
Photos don’t actually do it justice as a result of it’s much less concerning the crossing itself and extra concerning the vitality of all the space. There are large video screens, limitless purchasing, eating places, lights, music, and 1000’s of individuals shifting by the intersection in each path.
It’s extremely busy, however nonetheless feels orderly. Folks wait patiently, cross after they’re speculated to, and no person 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 each day, even after his proprietor handed away. It’s one among Japan’s most beloved tales, and seeing the statue in particular person felt surprisingly emotional.
We took pictures, wandered the encircling streets, did some purchasing, and simply soaked all of it in. It’s touristy for a motive, and we liked it. If it’s your first journey to Tokyo, I believe it’s a kind of locations it’s a must to expertise a minimum of as soon as!
Seems that this put up didn’t assist my Japression in any respect, however I’ve a number of extra to go. I’ll be sharing all the superb meals we ate (together with GF choices), a Kyoto recap and suggestions for touring to Japan, and am pleased to reply any questions, too!!
(gown from RTR and my beloved Vejas <– go-to journey strolling sneakers)
So, inform me, pals: what’s in your trip dream listing? Something enjoyable deliberate that’s developing??
xo
Gina
