Maps of Our Lives

Much of what I write are complex emotions, stories or ideas that aren't easily translated into visuals, but in my professional work, I advocate for the power of visual management and I realize it's something I do in my personal life as well sometimes. 

The first really cool map I made was for my epic road trip to visit theme parks and ride roller coasters and knock some fun things off my Life List. I even pre-planned my social media posts by creating multiple maps showing the progression of our trip along the way. I thought it was a fun way to keep my friends aware of our status, and could be especially helpful for the people who don't always see my posts and may get confused as to why I'm in Canada one day and in New Jersey the next. 

My first trip to the land down under had been planned for a decade before I actually got to go. The wait was well worth it, as we visited all but two of the Australian states and many Australian tourists we talked with on our various excursions were impressed that we were seeing more of their country than they had. While I accomplished just about everything on my Life List for Australia on that whirlwind of a trip, I fell in love with Australia, and have wanted to go back. 

I had the opportunity to go back twice in the last year, once for personal travel which included Tasmania, a state I hadn't yet been in, and once for work, which I extended into a personal vacation - partially to return to Tasmania in pursuit of the elusive and lesser-known Southern Lights, taking advantage of the timing of my work trip taking place in the winter. Many of my Australian colleagues have never been to Tasmania, and I've been twice! I highly recommend it, and my actions show! And since I didn't get a great Aurora Australis, I plan to go back and try again in the next solar cycle!

I did another fun map for a European vacation I went on with my sister, nephew, and boyfriend. I am admittedly bad at geography, so I think the map was five times as much for me as it was for anyone else, but I think everyone appreciated the visualization a little bit. Since we were doing a Disney cruise as a large part of the trip, I made Mickey ears for all of us with this map on the back of one of the ears, so we had the visual with us at all times (at least on the cruise). 

There had been a lot going on in my life at that time, as I had already interviewed for jobs in Dallas and Panama City, Florida. Knowing I'd be leaving Connecticut one way or another very soon, my parents came to visit shortly before the Europe vacation (my first time in Europe). So I held off on telling the facebook world we were moving until we returned, and were a week away. Hilariously, I used a map for that post also, captioning it with, "We're doing a thing next week." 

My ex- bought me a cool woodcut map of America with bottle cap-sized holes to put beer caps in it, intending to represent the beers from the different regions of the country. It was cool in theory, but in practice, most of my favorite beers were from a the southwest, and I had very few beers from other parts of the country. 

Today, I saw a silly post of a guy who lives in the UK who mapped out the furthest in each direction he had been, creating a little square around his hometown - he has not traveled far beyond Europe. While I was a little sad that he shared how little he's gotten out of that Euro bubble, I did like the idea, and was curious what my map would look like.

While technically the International Date Line should be the boundary of how far one could go west, I considered the direction of my travel. Going to Asia and Australia, I've flown west, not east. Thus, there's a box east of the European countries I've visited and west of the Asian countries which I can say I have not been in, and of course, I haven't been to the poles so there's a section of north and south which I haven't crossed into. 

I mapped the locations where I've lived, including my birthplace (green) and my current home (red), and the places I've visited that are those furthest points in each direction. To the north, the farthest I've gone is Fairbanks, Alaska, which I've gone to twice now, once with family to explore my Dad's birthplace, and once to chase the aurora. Tasmania wins the medal for being as far south as I've been. Going east, it was a close call between Italy and Poland, but Krakow wins (for now).

Of course, I could hardly stop there. I mapped out many of my favorite places I visited, and it is interesting to see those, too. Sort of like those maps with pins in them, except again I have a clustering issue which I think may be represented better with this digital visual. I've been to Japan multiple times, including studying abroad in Hiroshima, and have been to China twice, once for martial arts and once for my MBA, but the furthest west from the US was when I studied kung fu with the warrior monks at the Shaolin Temple in Zhangzou, China - which never gets old in how cool it is to say that. 

I took it just a little bit further, and put dream clouds to represent where I want to go in the near future. Based on this, I can see that my desire to go to Santorini, Greece will push my boundary a little further east from Krakow, Poland, which I visited just this year. Additionally, my desire to go to Vietnam and Thailand will push my westward travel point further.  Denmark and obviously the destinations in the continental US won't have any effect on my boundaries. Parts of New Zealand extend further south than my current southern-most point in Tasmania, but my current tentative plans don't include going that far south. I will, someday, try to visit Antarctica, which of course, will be the ultimate southern border push. As far as going further north, I think I'm good - no need to go further north than Fairbanks, although I wouldn't mind returning in another decade to see the Northern Lights again! 

Makai, Toji, Abbiocco: My Favorite Places to Travel To

One of the hardest things about 2020 was the inability and reluctance to travel - obviously, some travel was technically possible but it would be far more difficult than normal and risky, of course. Before the COVID crisis really escalated, we were fortunate enough to take a 16-day cruise through the Panama Canal, which also brought us to a beautiful island in the Bahamas, Columbia, and multiple destinations in Mexico. And while that was a lengthy and extravagant vacation, it seems so long ago, even though it has been less than a year. We moved to San Diego shortly after, and would have loved to hit up Sea World and Disneyland, but both have been closed since we got here. The San Diego Zoo opened for a bit, and we got memberships and have visited often, but it is now closed again. The biggest disappointment was that the Tokyo Olympics were postponed, which we had tickets to and had been looking forward to for years! Hopefully, we'll be able to go this year if the games are not cancelled altogether.

While I think about 2021, I knew January 1st wouldn't mean COVID disappears and politics are perfect and racism no longer exists or anything like that. But I do see in 2021 a hope for healing - healing for our country, the start of the end of the pandemic, the ability to gather again and hug one another, healing to be had at funeral services postponed from last year, and maybe even better understanding and practices around race issues. Indeed, one can hope, right? And the thing that I look forward to most is to be able to travel without extraneous precaution or guilt. And though that is still in the future right now, I've been thinking about the reasons I like to travel and the places I've loved and want to visit again.

I've yet to visit South America in earnest (having just merely touched down in Columbia on our cruise) or Africa. In addition, there are many more places in Europe and Asia I'd like to visit, not to mention other places here in America. But I have visited three countries in Europe, two countries in Asia, multiple cities in Australia, and many states and landmarks in America. From these travels, there are three places I've felt absolutely, indulgently, at a peaceful perfection. I call these my "Happy Places" but they are so much more than that. They are places that calm, heal and inspire me. In the spirit of, "Eat, Pray, Love" I present a slightly lengthier version: "Makai, Toji, Abbiocco." These are words in the native languages of my three places.

Makai: Oahu

I may very well be taking this Hawaiian word way out of context, but I love the sentiment. It is common in Hawaii to give directions that mean towards the mountains (mauka) and towards the ocean (makai). My happiest place on Earth is at a specific restaurant on Waikiki called House Without a Key (which I often forget the name of, and call it Room without a Door instead). I discovered it the second time I went to Hawaii - the first time I went with my sister, nephew and Mom, and we stayed in Waikiki but on the other side of the beach. The second time I went was with Jaiman and his family for his grandmother's 80th birthday, and that was when I discovered this beautiful restraurant. There are a number of elements that make it perfect for me. For one, they have live traditional Hawaiian music performed nightly with hula dancers, which just puts me in a sort of zen trance. Another selling point is the fabulous cocktails - the Mai Tai is to Mai Die for! There is usually plenty of seating, and just enough lighting to see the people you're with but not so much that it drowns out the serene landscape as the sun sets. By far, the best part of it, though, is the location - it is settled right on the beach, with captivating views of Diamond Head and the whole Waikiki landscape, and of course, the beautiful big blue ocean. But, it is just slightly elevated so as not to be sandy - those of you who know me well know that I have a very strong aversion of sand and sandy feet. My love of the ocean is almost perfectly matched by my absolute hate of dirt and sand. Having lived in Panama City Beach, Florida for over a year, I got better about sand, especially because the sand there was much thinner and cleaner, so it put me more at ease. Now that we live in San Diego, I hope to go to the beach frequently, although it certainly won't be as often as when we lived in Florida because it's quite a hassle. Due to COVID precautions and shut-downs, we've only gone once, for my birthday, so far, but hopefully that will change in 2021. 

Anyways, I would love to return to Hawaii and explore more of the islands - I hear Maui is very nice and would like to visit that island. However, I think I'll still want to return to Waikiki and visit House Without a Key. I think it's so captivating because it indulges all my senses - the smell of the ocean breeze, the taste of the Mai Tai, the sound of the Hawaiian music, the breathtaking sights of the water, beach, mountains and dancers, and the feel of stable concrete under my feet (instead of sand). One of the things I loved about my last visit to Oahu was driving around the island, listening to Hawaiian radio and taking in the various sights, and then winding up at House Without a Key at the end of the day, as if that was my home base. A Hawaiian phrase I love is "Nānā i ke kumu" which means "Look to your Sense of Place and sources of spirit, and you find your truth." That is what House Without a Key is for me. Click here to watch the video recap of our trip to Oahu when I found this little piece of heaven on earth.

Toji: Miyajima

My Host Family, the Mitsuis

I studied abroad in Hiroshima during college, and my Host Mom gave me one of the most memorable and liberating experiences of my life, bringing me (unbeknownst to me) to an Onsen, or Japanese hot spring bathing house. The waters of the Onsen are considered healing and promote beauty and wellness. As long as I can remember, I've always loved taking baths, perhaps even more than I love swimming in the ocean, so the Onsen is a little like the ultimate bath. However, there are some things about the Onsen that are a bit foreign to Americans, especially a young, naïve, white, well-endowed American woman. For one, no bathing suits or coverings are permitted in the Onsen. In fact, the tiny towels (hardly larger than a hand towel) must be kept 15 feet or so away from the bath. 

The Onsen

So, if you're not comfortable with nudity and with being completely exposed, you may be a bit challenged in the Onsen. To be sure, male and female areas are separate, so you're only naked among your own gender. However, Japanese women's bodies are quite different than, well, than mine. And it is not considered rude to stare like it would be in America. So my boobs, free of a bra and all other coverings, attracted unabashed eyes everywhere I went. 

For added drama, my American classmate who was with me had a giant tiger tattoo over her stomach, which attracted not only stares but dirty looks, as tattoos are quite taboo in Japan. What's more, there is an element of racism, or at least a belief that Americans are "dirty," thus many Japanese women would exit the baths when they saw us coming, whether it was because we were white or because of the tattoo, we would never know. Anyways, it was a little like baptism by fire, I quickly had to become comfortable with my nudity in order to enjoy myself. 

Sakino outside the Onsen

Ultimately, I really did enjoy the hot, fresh water, the serenity of the surroundings, and the social aspect with my classmate our Host Moms. We even sort of met up with the guys in our group on the rooftop, separated by a fence but able to talk to each other when we ended up there at the same time. Ever since that first experience, I have been quite comfortable with my nudity, whether it's at a doctor, with a massage therapist, in a tanning bed, or, of course, in an Onsen. We were able to somewhat replicate the Onsen experience in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, when we stayed at a hot springs hotel there. Most of the hot spring baths were public, mixed-gender and required swim suits or coverings. But, you could rent a private hot spring bath overlooking the river, and obviously wear whatever you want in there. However, the whole experience just wasn't quite as tranquil as the Onsen in Japan. 

Another place we visited while I studied there was the island of Miyajima, a ferry ride away from Hiroshima, where the deer will walk right up to you and try to steal your food or rifle through your bag. Supposedly, there are equally friendly monkeys in the mountains there, but in two journeys up and down the mountain, I have yet to come across them, and I've heard the same from other travelers. 

When Jaiman and I went to Japan for his first time, I insisted we make the trip to Miyajima and stay on the island for a few days. When we arrived, we were exhausted from travel and I had totally forgotten all about the amazing room I had booked. We stayed at the Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto, and the room I had booked was a traditional Japanese-style apartment with a private Onsen bathtub on the patio. "Toji" is the word for Onsen therapy, and that was exactly what I did for as much time as I could while in Miyajima. My body's clock was off the whole trip, so I'd wake up around 3 am full of energy and unable to sleep one more second, so I'd get up from the futon and soak in the Onsen for hours until Jaiman got up. We also enjoyed the meals there, as well as the Buddhist temples and Shinto Shrine, and of course, the deer and the natural beauty of the little island. Thus, Miyajima is my second happy place on Earth. Read more about Miyajima here.

There are also a ton of other amazing things to do in Japan. If you're interested, read my Japan Guide here.

Abbiocco: Venice

Because I've been so interested in Asia and focused so much of my travel thus far to Japan and China, I've only been to Europe once so far, visiting Italy, France and Spain. I am sure there is so much more to enjoy in Europe, but from my limited experience thus far, Venice was absolutely and by far my favorite city. The fact that it sits on water and a series of canals probably has a lot to do with it - I love all things water, from baths and hot springs to boats and the ocean, and canals and rivers are certainly part of that. But when I think about Venice, it's not just the beautiful landscape and bajillion winding corridors and bridges that I long for. I don't have much of a sweet tooth, so it wasn't the gelato, although that was delicious. And it wasn't necessarily the food itself, although it was all amazing, and perfectly paired with the abundant amounts of wine we had. What I love about it is the feeling of eating in this vibrant yet serene place. So the word I chose, abbiocco, is Italian for "the drowsiness that follows eating a big meal."

Honorable Mentions

Uluru - Perhaps the only place I absolutely loved that wasn't associated with water; in fact, it may be the perfect antithesis to water. There are a number of activities to do in and around the resort complex and the giant Ayer's Rock, Uluru, but I most enjoyed the view of the rock from our room. Read more here.

Niagara Falls - There are so many activities to do at Niagara Falls, not to mention the amazing ice wineries just a half hour north in Niagara-on-the-Lake, but my favorite memory of Niagara was having the amazing view of the falls from the comfort of our bed in our hotel room at the Sheraton on the Falls. 

Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas - The Fountain View rooms with balconies at the Cosmo afford amazing views, and many have nice bath tubs. We also love Secret Pizza and the many other delicious offerings at the Cosmo. During COVID lockdown, with so much closed, we went to the Cosmo twice, once for a small wedding, and once just to chill in luxury - we literally don't have to leave the hotel because it has just about everything we need to enjoy ourselves (and just a short walk away from our favorite Vegas drinks). 

Taku Glacier Lodge in Alaska - This was an excursion I did all on my own when my family did an Alaskan cruise. There are a lot of really wonderful and exciting things to do and see in Alaska, but this is one of the more unique experiences that I would do again in a heart beat. The excursion from Juneau included a round-trip ride on a seaplane to this remote little area overlooking a glacier and serving up a fishbake in a cozy little wilderness lodge. I don't usually enjoy eating fish, but I had to try it. I also enjoyed walking around the grounds, where a guide identified bear droppings - the possibility of running into a bear on the trail was a little exhilarating. Click here to watch my video recap.

 

 

A cabin in Show Low for Christmas - Throughout my travels, I have often found that I've gotten lucky with things that one cannot plan or pay for, like weather and wildlife. My family rented a cabin on AirBNB for Christmas one year up in Show Low, Arizona. The weather forecast did not show snow, but we were hoping. The weather leading up to Christmas Eve was cool but refreshing, and we took lots of walks and enjoyed time by the fire. Then about 4 pm on Christmas Eve, it started snowing, and it wasn't much by the time it got too dark to see. But on Christmas morning, about 4 inches had accumulated, and kids and adults alike spent hours playing in it, something we didn't get to do much living in Tucson and Phoenix at the time. The company and the lucky weather, paired with the beautiful cabin we rented, made it just about as perfect as a Christmas could possibly be.

So there you are, my happy places, my Makai, Toji, Abbiocco. 

May this year allow us to once again travel, and may we never take travel for granted!

Japan Guide: Key Phrases

A few key phrases are helpful to learn and have in your back pocket. While you may not have the time or discipline to go through a full Japanese course, I would recommend you learn these phrases (and there are plenty of online resources you can use to hear the correct pronunciations and practice with).

Excuse me / Sorry

"Sumimasen"
You'll tend to use this phrase a lot, so practice it! Use it to get by in a crowd, if you bump into someone accidentally, or if you need help. Generally, you'll use this phrase before anything else on this list. Just assume you'll start with it.  

Thank you

"Arigatō gozaimas"

There are a number of ways to say thank you depending on the formality, situation, etc., but for beginners, I could stick with this one. Do NOT refer to that Mr. Roboto song for etiquette, trust me on this one.

Where is this?

"Ko-re wa doko des ka?"

It is sometimes useful to point to what you're looking for (on your phone or a map, etc) and ask where it is.
 
Ko-re means "this," and "doko" is the all-important word for "where," the wa and des ka are just formalities for this form, but good to include if you can remember.

Do you have this?

"Ko-re wa arimas ka?"
Use this if you're looking for something specific in a store, and you have a picture on your phone, for example. 

Where is the bathroom / toilet?

"Toire wa doko des ka?"

Check please!

"O kaikei onegaishimas"
If the server doesn't give you the bill with your food, you may have to ask for it. Make sure to start with excuse me. 

Do you have an English menu?

"Eigo no menyū wa arimas ka?"

You can remember how to say English by thinking of Eggo waffles, "Eigo." Menu is basically menu.

Good morning

"Ohayō gozaimas"

Think of the state of Ohio.

Good afternoon

"Kon'nichiwa"

Usually you'll use this phrase as a greeting even starting around 11 am, and until it gets dark.

Good evening

"Konbanwa"

It is okay / good / fine

"Ii des."

Pronounce like "eee"

Yes  /   No

"Hai"   /  "īe" 

Pronounce like "Hi" and "eee-ya"

I don't understand / I don't know

"Wakarimasen"

I understand / I know

"Wakarimas"

Water, please

"O mizu o kudasai"






 

Katakanized Words

You'll notice a number of words are similar to their English translations, except perhaps with more / longer syllables. This is called Katakanization. For a few examples, beer is "bī-ru," cake is "kēki," orange juice is "orenji-jūs," cookie is "kukkī." These words are helpful to recall, however, don't assume that other words can just be exteneded to make Japanese words, you may get funny looks if you try to make up Japanese words.

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Things to Do (Japan Bucket List)

Things To Do

There are probably ten thousand things to recommend to do in Japan, and so it largely will depend on your preferences and interests. However, there are a few things I think nobody should miss: cheering at a Japanese baseball game, partaking at a Shinto Shrine, and shopping at a large electronics store. 


Japanese Baseball Games - I recommend Japanese baseball games to anyone going to Japan, because they are rowdy like college football games in America, but in a distinctly organized way. While your team is at bat, the crowd around you will be cheering a handful of cheers, including the word "Katabuse" which means "kick butt." Each team has a different version of the 7th inning stretch that is unique and fun - my favorite was the Hiroshima Carp that wave around somewhat phallic balloons while singing a song, and then everyone simultaneously releases the balloon and they go flying up into the air until the air is exhausted, and then fall onto the field where they are rapidly cleaned up. You'll find some American fast food places like KFC or McDonald's at the stadiums, but nothing is better in my book than yakitori (meat on a stick) and beer served by the passing "Ghostbusters" - the adorable young women running around the stands with kegs on their backs, pouring various brands of beer fresh on the spot. Here's a great article that says so much more eloquently why baseball games in Japan are a must-see: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/travel/05journeys.html 

Shinto Shrine - If you're traveling anywhere in Japan, you won't be hard pressed to find a Shinto Shrine. Small shrines are tucked into alleyways throughout neighborhoods, although they may have limited hours. Larger shrines are found at just about every major tourist area, like Ueno Park or Miyajima. Buddhist temples are also prevalent throughout Japan, and both shrines and temples are absolutely beautiful and spiritual places to visit. Japanese people don't think of religion the same way we Westerners do - that is, they may worship at a shrine but not consider themselves religious. Religion is more like Christianity or Judaism; Shinto, to them, is just a way of life. Thus, even if you're a Christian or Jew, or any other religious follower, you're still welcome to worship or partake in the Shinto Shrine. Typically, there is a place to wash your hands and face as you approach the shrine. Then you can approach the shrine quietly and respectfully. A good guide to visiting shrines is here: https://www.wikihow.com/Worship-at-a-Shinto-Shrine

Electronics Store - Japan has a rich heritage of history and tradition, but in today's global landscape, the country can't be discussed without noting their amazing technology. Thus, I recommend visitors to Japan make sure to shop at an electronics store. Even if you don't end up buying anything, it can be quite an experience to peruse the various floors (the best electronics stores usually span several stories high and even a few stories below ground) and signage. In Hiroshima, the stores were called Deo Deo, which I loved, because of the phrasing that means "at Deo Deo," which is "Deo Deo de…" The one near our hotel in Akihabara was called Yodobashi. One thing to note, for any shopping experience, is that if you are buying more than one item in a store, sometimes you will be asked if you want to separate the bill or not (i.e. do you want each item to be a separate charge), so be aware that this may be asked.

Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea are also very popular spots for visitors to Japan. The food there actually tries to pull from different regions, so you'll actually be a bit hard pressed to find real Japanese food. However, much like their ice cream and soda, they have lots of flavors of popcorn, which is kind of fun. Disney is very English friendly, they'll even give you headsets or devices for the shows so you can hear or see the translations. For whatever reason, Disney celebrates Easter like crazy in Japan, with parades and theming throughout the park. It's quite wild. And while I think the Japanese culture in general epitomizes customer service, you'll see Disney cast members are cheerily over the top with their double hand waves that you can't miss!

Onsens / Public Hot Spring Baths are a major highlight in Japan. Many hotels will have them for their guests, including the second capsule hotel I stayed at! Generally, onsen are separated by gender and are used completely in the nude. You may get a small towel, but the towel is to be left several feet from the bath. It is customary to shower before entering an onsen. As a tourist, you may get looks or you may experience a people leaving the baths as you enter them. A little planning goes a long way here, it's good to check if your hotel has onsen, or if you're going to go to public one, if there is a coed area to mingle with your party in bathing suits, etc. Tattoos are taboo, so if you have tattoos, you may want to find specific onsens that are tattoo-friendly.

There are also plenty of experiences you'll have naturally or without necessary planning, like visiting convenience stores or riding the trains. There are also lots of experiences that aren't for everyone, or require a visit during a specific time of the year. I've tried to capture all of the potential experiences people may want to consider when thinking about what to do in Japan here. Please feel free to leave others in the comments, I'd love to hear what you think is a must-do in Japan! 

Japan Bucket List

• Attend a Japanese Baseball Game
  

  

  Cheddar Hedgehog and Owl Cafe

• Bathe in a Hot Spring (Onsen)
• Worship / Pay Respects at Shinto Shrine
• Shop at a Large Electronics Store
• Ride the rides at Tokyo Disneyland
• Watch a Sumo Tournament
• Sleep in a Capsule Hotel
• Ride the commuter trains during rush hour
• Ride a Bullet Train (Shinkansen)
• Visit Peace Park Museum in Hiroshima
• Feed the deer in Miyajima
• Buy beer from a vending machine
• Try at least three flavors of Japanese Kit Kat
• Pop open a bottle of Ramune
• Eat yakitori (meat on a stick) from a street vendor

Yakitori under Cherry Blossoms

• Picnic under the Cherry Blossoms (spring time)
• Eat a fugu (blowfish that's poisonous if prepared incorrectly)
• Play at an arcade

  

  Looking at the Capsule Toys

• Try using the washlets (the remote-controlled bidets in the toilets)
• Visit a Cat Café or similar (Owl Café, Hedgehog Café, etc)
• Tour a car factory (Mazda, Toyota, Honda, etc)
• Attend a tea ceremony
• Eat at Kirby Café (reservations required, near Tokyo Sky Tree)
• Walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Buy a capsule toy
  

 

Honorable Mentions

Find the old Nintendo Headquarters - There's not much to do other than take a picture outside of the sign, but for the uber game nerd, this is a fun little adventure to undertake in Kyoto. The current headquarters is also in Kyoto, and there's equally just as much to do (namely, nothing other than taking a picture) there as well.

Robot Restaurant - I was blinded (read, tricked) by the name of this tourist trap. It is neither a restaurant by definition, nor does it have robots. Rather, it is a show that serves some semblance of food, and it features people dressed like robots and some parade-like vehicles on RC car fixtures. The best way to describe it is like an Anime version of Medieval Times. And yes, you absolutely need to get the glowy drink to enjoy the show. 

Take the Skyway to the top of Miyajima - I'm told there are monkeys on the mountain on Miyajima, but two visits have yielded zero monkey sitings. Still, the view from the top is spectacular. I would not, however, recommend climbing up or down (we did the latter), as it is much higher than it seems and I was sore for literally days to the point of canceling plans because I couldn't walk. So yeah, take the Skyway.  

Visit a Kit Kat Chocolatory - These are storefronts in malls that have super fancy Kit Kats. It's worth a stop if you're in the area of one. 

Visit a Pokemon Center - For the gamer / nerd, a visit to one of the many Pokemon Centers is a fun treat. Get your Pokemon socks, chopsticks, and cards here. If you play Pokemon Go, make sure to have open Gift spots and spin the stops here to get fun Gifts to send to your friends. 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Eating Out

Eating Out

Lots of restaurants will advertise if they have an English menu, and they'll offer it to you if they have one if they recognize you look foreign. If they don't, there's almost always lots of pictures, and you can just point.

No tipping, and taxes are usually included. Both of these are big bonuses in my book, I like that these are the customs in Japan and wish that the US would adopt these practices.

Sometimes hosts will ask you if you want to sit in smoking or non-smoking sections of the restaurant.

If servers don't come to your table and you need to place your order, get more drink or pay your bill, it's normal to call them over. Use the phrase, "Sumimasen," which means excuse me, and they'll come right over.

Most restaurants are very specialized in a certain kind of food. For example, tatsu (fried) places will have mostly tatsu, and not sushi or ramen. If you want good ramen, you need to go to a ramen place. For a truly Japanese dish, I recommend

Partially eaten okonomiyaki

okonomiyaki, if you can find it. They refer to it as a savory pancake, but it's so much more than a pancake, with noodles and cabbage inside, and the delicious and distinctive okonomiyaki sauce they smother it in (along with mayonnaise).

My favorite dish, however, is yakiniku, and also a little bit difficult to find. I used to eat it at school when I studied at Hiroshima Shudo University, and it appealed to my limited palate because it is very simply beef and rice, but whatever magic they sauce it with, it's delicious. I found it also at a restaurant in Miyajima.

A suitable and quite delightful proxy can be more easily located at, of all places, a uniquely Japanese burger franchise called MOS Burger, home of the yakiniku burger. Speaking of burgers, I also recommend eating McDonald's in Japan just once, if you have the chance, so you can experience that.

One note about sushi: when you go to sushi in America, much of the fish is cooked and has fun names like California roll or Dynamite roll. Most of the sushi in Japan, in our experience, is raw. Some may be broiled or seared but may not be fully cooked. I'd advise to keep you mind open, if you're going to try raw fish, what better place to do it than in Japan where they really know what they're doing?

As far as ice cream, sodas and desserts, there are lots of unique flavors that Westerners aren't generally used to, like bean curd. Fish-shaped Taiyaki is a delicious treat you can get at street vendors, especially if you can find chocolate filled ones. Teas and waters, too, especially in the vending machines
or convenience stores, have some wild flavors. My favorite was the orange flavored water, and Jaiman really enjoyed the apple flavored tea as well as the melon soda. 

 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
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Japan Guide: Training It - The Best Way to Get Around Tokyo and elsewhere

You may be used to grabbing an Uber or a Taxi to leave the airport in the US and in other countries, but I would recommend against it in Japan, especially in Tokyo. The trains are much more affordable, and are quite convenient, quick and easy to navigate once you get the hang of it. For a comparison, to get to our hotel in the Akihabara district of Tokyo from the airport, a taxi or Uber would have cost about $80 USD, while the train tickets were about $4 USD per person. Additionally, trains are a great way to get around Tokyo, including going to Disneyland Tokyo. You can also take the bullet trains, or shinkansen, to other parts of Japan for a bit cheaper than an airplane ticket, and I mean, they are COOL so you really should use them if you're traveling to other parts of the main island. But, the train system can be a bit daunting for first timers, so here are some tips for figuring out your passage on the trains. Also, don't hesitate to ask for help at the ticket counter, generally they are very helpful and, while they may not be great at English, they will do what they can to get you the correct tickets and get you on your way.

If you're going to be taking the trains to multiple places on a particular day, you may want to buy all day passes (which are about $7 USD). This also takes out the complication of figuring out which one-way tickets you need to buy, but will be more expensive than two one-way tickets typically.

To buy one-way train tickets, you have to know what the fare is because it doesn't tell you the route at the ticket booth. Some stations will have the map in Romanji (Roman letters so English speakers can read them), but not all. If you can find the stop you want to go to on the map, it will say what the fare is, like 220 yen (which is about $2). Then you go to the ticket machine and get a ticket for 220. You have to get the tickets one by one typically.

Once everyone has their tickets, you stick the ticket into the gate and take it on the other side, and that's what lets you through. You'll know right away if you went through the wrong gates, like if you tried to go to bullet train, because the gate will stop you and sound a buzzer of sorts. When you are at your final stop, you'll exit by sticking your ticket into the gate again. If you had one-way tickets, the machine won't return the ticket once it's been used completely. If you had all-day tickets, the machine will return the ticket to you to use again.

The trains run pretty frequently, so if you "miss" one, the next one will come in a few minutes typically. The bullet trains run about every 15 - 20 minutes. Most of the trains also show the stop name in Romanji as well as the Japanese writing. But it's good to know the Kanji for where you're going, just in case. We like the JR lines best (they all start with J).

The morning rush can be a little nuts on the trains. On popular routes, be prepared to stand the whole way and have to cram in with business men and women on their way to work. You'll see people running up and down the stairs and escalators, so it's important to stay to the left on escalators to make room for people who want to pass you.

The shinkansen, or bullet trains, work very much the same, but are much more expensive for obvious reasons. They are also much more comfortable and are better suited to accommodate luggage. I believe most if not all have bathrooms, and some even have vending machines on the trains. If you plan to ride the shinkansen, or bullet train, I would recommend you look into the JR Pass for Visitors before you go, you can get a really good deal and save hundreds of dollars, but you have to buy it before you get to Japan. In Kyoto, there aren't really trains everywhere like there is in Tokyo. The buses are pretty good, but I got a little lost. Read my post about our adventure in Kyoto to get a feel for the bus system there. 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases

Japan Guide: Where to Stay

Where to Stay - Tokyo

Capsule Hotels are great - read more about my experiences here:

Capsule Hotel - Brilliant or Terrifying?

Capsule Hotel: Bather Tested, Claustrophobic Approved!

Of major importance is to note that most capsule hotels are only for men, so if you are a woman or will be traveling with women, make sure to find accommodations that allow women. A lot of people have a visceral reaction to the idea of capsule hotels, but I would challenge you to at least try it for a night as part of your Japanese experience - you will likely be pleasantly surprised!

Whether or not you stay in a capsule hotel or a traditional hotel, location is also key in Japan. I would also recommend staying fairly close to the train stations, especially those for the JR line. You'll know they are JR line stations if you look for public transit directions on google and they have a line that starts with "J", like "JK" for example. This will allow you to easily access the rest of Tokyo easily, and you won't have to drag your bags too far to get to your hotel.

The Akihabara District is popular with gamers and fans of nerdy things like Anime, Pokemon, etc. We really liked our hotel here, the Remm Akihabara hotel. It was right next to the station, near food and a convenience store, and easy to find.

The Shibuya District is the high fashion district, with artists on the streets just about every night, trying to be discovered, and infamous for its "Shibuya Scramble" - one of the busier pedestrian crossings you'll see.

Shinjuku is another vibrant area with lots of shopping and food.

I would just recommend that wherever you are looking, look for pictures to make sure you're comfortable with what you're getting. Rooms are very small typically. I prefer to use Travelocity to book hotels, it has treated me well. I don't care for hotel breakfasts here (usually fish or unappetizing sausages and seaweed wraps or whatever). We like picking up breakfast (and sometimes dessert or nightcaps) at local Family Marts or 7 Elevens, they're virtually everywhere and a lot of the food is labeled in English. Look for unique Kit Kat flavors there, too! There are also McDonald's and Burger Kings around, so breakfast is pretty easy.

Where to Stay - elsewhere

I want to put in a plug for one of the most amazing experiences we had in Japan that most people aren't really aware of. We stayed on the island of Miyajima,

just off the shore of Hiroshima. You'll take a ferry from Hiroshima to get there, and will immediately be greeted by the deer who often walk into the ferry station to look for snacks in newcomers' bags. We had booked a pretty neat room at Miyajima Grand Arimoto, and our room included a private onsen (hot spring bath). The food was incredible in Miyajima, and while it had some touristy parts of it, it felt like it catered to Japanese tourists rather than tourists from outside the country. Miyajima is one of my happiest places on this Earth, and I hope more people will get to experience its magic and beauty. Read more about my Miyajima experience here. 

More Japan Guide

Getting There / What To Bring 
Training It - The Best Way to Get Around in Japan (Trains) 
Where to Stay
Eating Out
Things To Do 
Key Phrases