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I was Googling around to see what else I could check out and noticed a cluster of museums near the Ueno stop. I ended up at the Ueno Zoo, though it wasn’t really my thing. Most of the animals seemed sad, and the one panda I briefly saw looked like it just wanted some privacy. I didn’t stay long. Things improved when I stumbled across the Shitamachi High Calorie Festival. I left and came back later in the evening when there was live music. The bands played a lot of covers of A

I dropped off my bags at the Hilton and headed out to the Roppongi district. Naturally, I ended up in a massive mall—so, more shopping. One of the more unexpected finds was a German Christmas village tucked inside the food court. Not exactly what I expected in Tokyo, but that’s part of the fun. It also happened to be the 30th anniversary of the Evangelion  anime, and there was a museum exhibit dedicated to it on the 65th floor above the mall. The views alone were worth the tr

I found a capsule hotel in Shinjuku and decided to give it a try for one night, leaving my Hilton behind—temporarily. The perks were impressive. There was free alcohol from 5 p.m. to midnight, an artificial onsen, and massage chairs that were both excellent and  free. They also had complimentary water and soda available 24/7, which felt like a small but meaningful luxury. Best of all, it was walkable to the bars—win-win. The capsule itself was… fine. Cozy enough, and exactly

I went to Tokyo Disney because… honestly, why not? Who wouldn’t? It was an easy, short train ride from my hotel, which already put it ahead of the game. Tickets were around $65—a great price. According to the internet (always a trustworthy source), it’s actually cheaper to fly to Tokyo and visit this Disneyland than to go to Orlando. One thing that surprised me was the size. It felt smaller than Anaheim, and I had expected everything outside the U.S. to be bigger. Still, it w

I got up early again and headed to Harajuku. I wandered into a narrow alley packed with small shops, most of them still closed, but even shuttered it had character—part Hot Topic, part candy store, with pastel colors and sweet smells lingering in the air. I had gone to Harajuku expecting to see cosplayers everywhere, but I never did. Instead, I stumbled upon Meiji Shrine. The transition was striking: one moment city streets, the next a vast, peaceful forest. Towering trees su

I woke up with a sore ankle only to find that ibuprofen and ACE bandages were only in pharmacies. My first destination was Akihabara. I arrived a little too early—most of the shops don’t open until around 9 a.m.—so I spent some time wandering the electronics district as it slowly came to life. Even the pharmacies. Even with the shutters down, the area was impressive. One massive store felt like a vertical version of Fry’s Electronics, stretching eight stories high, while col

Travel Day Recap: Pure Chaos Edition Left SFO at 7:30 a.m., landed in Vancouver by 9:30, and spent my layover wandering an airport that somehow has an outdoor garden and a $50 all-you-can-eat lounge. Tempting… but dangerous. Then came the 10-hour flight. Silver lining: empty middle seat. Not-so-silver lining: Air Canada food. Blessing: unlimited alcohol. Curse: having to beg for refills. Total consumed: six tiny bottles. Zero regrets. Landed in Narita at 5:30 p.m. Customs? E

Tokyo’s railway system is one of the most convenient ways to explore the city, offering extensive coverage and frequent service. Most travelers use a rechargeable “IC card,” which can be topped up with cash or—if you have an iPhone—through an app. At the moment, there’s no Android app and you can’t recharge the card with a credit card. The IC card isn’t always the cheapest option, but it is usually the easiest. That said, visitors should be aware of a few quirks. Tokyo’s trai

I’ve had jobs in the past where I traveled to different states for months at a time, which helped me rack up plenty of hotel points. On top of that, I’ve opened a few credit cards and hit their sign-up bonuses, so I’ve managed to stash away a decent amount of rewards. With Tokyo in mind, I opened my Hilton and Wyndham apps to see what I could find. Wyndham? No options at all. Hilton, on the other hand, had one hotel—priced at 2.1 million points per night . Nothing like a remi

So the great thing about traveling solo is I can change plans on the fly. Current areas to visit: Akihabara Shibuya Shinjuku City Attractions: Go karting through Shibuya https://www.viator.com/tours/Tokyo/Official-Street-Go-Kart-in-Shibuya-Annex/d334-57331P11?pid=P00277846&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector&campaign=Tokyo-Shibuya-Go-Kart Tokyo Disney Wants: Visit Mt Fuji https://www.viator.com/tours/Tokyo/Mt-Fuji-and-Hakone-1-Day-Bus-Tour-return-by-Bulle

Hello! I’m a now middle-aged millennial getting ready for something I’ve somehow never done before: my first overseas international trip. I grew up on Nintendo and later PlayStation, spending countless hours on The Legend of Zelda , Final Fantasy , and eventually Fallout . I was also very much a Disney kid—Disneyland, musicals, the whole thing. Somewhere along the way I discovered anime like Sailor Moon  and Dragon Ball , and honestly… I never really left that phase. No regre

Traveling solo can be one of the most rewarding experiences a man can have. It offers the freedom to explore new places, meet new people, and discover oneself without the distractions of everyday life. However, embarking on a solo adventure can also come with its own set of challenges. In this blog post, we will explore essential tips for solo travel that will help you navigate your journey with confidence and ease. Embrace the Freedom of Solo Travel One of the most significa