Mr. Men & Little Miss Do Harajuku

Japan knows cute. Even when said cuteness doesn’t originate in Japan, this is a country that has a way of bringing everything adorable to the heart of Tokyo–often in the form of limited-run theme… Continue reading →

Stars & Sweets: Milky Way Cafe, Ikebukuro

As I mentioned in my last post about cat cafes, I returned to Tokyo this past summer for another round of research, which meant… more visits to my favorite Tokyo eateries and introductions… Continue reading →

Shigenobu Okuma: Founder of Waseda University

Sometimes it’s the small things that define an experience. That coffee shop you studied in, that little old lady you said hi to every morning… or maybe that statue that you’ve walked by… Continue reading →

Cat Cafe Time at Hapi Neko, Shibuya

I love cats. I recent acquired two adorable kittens (one Persian, one Himalayan), but since they are back in Berkeley while I am in Tokyo for the summer, I’ve been experiencing some definite… Continue reading →

Hello, Kitty: A Day at Sanrio Puroland

Hello Kitty and Twitter: two of my favorite things. The two combined in wonderful ways last year when I entered a giveaway sponsored by @TimeOutTokyo for two passes to Sanrio Puroland and actually won!… Continue reading →

Back in Tokyo!

Hello, faithful readers! I’m back in Tokyo for the summer, so expect to see some long-overdue posts in the near future! I’m residing in Azabu-juban this time around, so I’m looking forward to exploring… Continue reading →

Tokyo Cupcake Showdown: Mai’s vs. Bellas

Tokyo isn’t really a cupcake town–the fad never really materialized here the way it did in the US–but there are a few places where one can obtain these delicious little treats. Just for… Continue reading →

Warasse: The Aomori Nebuta Museum

The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is one of the most famous festivals in the Tōhoku region, if not all of Japan. What exactly is “nebuta,” you ask? Well, it’s a kind of lighted parade… Continue reading →

Wordless Wednesday #35: Instagramming Japanese Ads

http://instagram.com/p/b-D8nhqnvU/ Above: “My dates are only along the Tokyu [train] line.” http://instagram.com/p/ZH_wBzqnsk/ http://instagram.com/p/WtaxYGqnjI/ Above: Creepy ad targeting people who want to transfer jobs a to foreign-affiliated company http://instagram.com/p/WMVA5zqnli/ Above: Hey girl, is your… Continue reading →

Chuson-ji: Temple of the Fujiwara Clan

Last year, I made a brief stop in Iwate prefecture to visit the city of Hiraizumi, which was declared a World Heritage site in 2011 (the first World Heritage site in Tohoku). I… Continue reading →