It has finally happened. The trip we have been taking about, dreaming about, preparing for is finally here and dare I say we do not know what to do with ourselves. From minor anxiety of many transactions to suddenly becoming very judgement of the security set up of hostels and spending lot of lots of time together: we have been learning lots and in total denial this is our life for the next year. 

Like with most well thought plans, this trip started with everything going wrong but don't worry, (like most things) it worked out in the end. 

We arrived at SeaTac bright eyed and bushy tailed at 5:30am my loving mother seeing us off to the airport. We hadn't been able to check in online and had to go to the dreaded line of 'checked bag travelers' to get out tickets, we were saved by a nice man who directed us to a secret line and were able to get out tickets lickety-split. Next boom bags get pulled off the security line for extra examining, then boom again flight delayed by 2 hours. Then BOOM another delay. 

Now I don't know about you but I have never had a flight get delayed twice and still end up in my desired location. Our San Fransisco layover had gone from 3 hours to just 27 mins. I was attempting to not stress but lucky Ryker had a better idea: to negate the issue. He called the airline and with a prince-like charm and somehow talked his way into us getting DIRECT flights. Thats right folks no layovers for these high class folks. 

With that lesson in mind: stay optimistic and be kind when asking for help—we took off toward the other side of the world.

Days in Tokyo!

Now on to the fun stuff! What have we been up too? Mainly eating and walking. Shocking to me we actually know a couple people in Tokyo so we've been getting our social time in too.

We stayed in two different areas of Tokyo. Shibuya (SE Tokyo) and Asakusa (NW Tokyo).

Social Hour: 

• Kento! and meet his very nice friends Taylor and Miho. We cannot go to Japan and not see Kento no matter how hard we try. Every time we come to Japan, Kento is also here: a fantastic and wonderful phenomenon we hope continues forever. We overlapped as the ASU Alumni Squad was making there way to Kyoto. Getting some lovely dinner at a neighborhood sushi joint where Ryker was dubbed the "Texas Ranger", Kento astounded with his duel ability to be Japanese, speak Japanese and still be a good old American. 
• Paul & Yuka & Ken! We met up in Jimbocho (the neighborhood of many many bookshops) and got curry at (Gavial) The Curry was delicious as expected, but unexpectedly Yuka and Paul took us to the Eitai-ji Temple and we got to learn about the hope and wishes of the Japanese New Year.
• Sayumi! Ryker and Sayumi were reunited at last. Seven years since we last saw each other at UW… wow (are we old now?). Funny enough, the udon spot Sayumi recommended was already on our saved list from our last trip to Tokyo in 2024, a place we somehow never got around to. Guess it was meant to be. We got to reminisce about college stories and all the shenanigans we got up to freshman year, all while slurping down delicious udon noodles.

Highlights include: 

• Yokohama! Fun fact: Yokohama is the 2nd largest city in Japan and is home to the largest chinatown in the world outside of China (and has the largest Chinese population in Japan). So you know what we did? Thats right folks - went to a Ramen Museum. This museum is deigned to look like a street from 1950's Japan with 9 different ramen shops in the basement. Fun Fact Two: Until the 1970's Ramen was known as "Chinese Noodle Soup" because the noodles came from China. We only made it though 3 bowls before our tummy's were bursting. (Meg's new fav is Tonkatsu with Miso). Ok... we also went to the Chinatown and it was beautiful the gates were fabulous and I think I could even recognize the occasional East or South wind Character (shoutout my mom's new Mahjong obsession). 
• Narita! Narita home to the second largest temple in Japan (Naritasan Shinshō-ji). The first being (Senso-ji temple in Asakusa). Hidden, well not really hidden, but in plain sight is a serine park fill with koi fish and cats, each on seeming to have its own little pillar to sit on. Narita is not a large town and the main 'old street' is called Omotesando St where there is a line up od delicates just waiting to be eaten. However, Narita is known for one thing in particular: eel or grilled eel called Unagi. One restaurant in particular had been around forever and claims to take the live eel, kill, gut, grill, and have ot ready to eat in under ten mins, its called Kawatoyo Narita. We lucked out and got to eat on the top floor on traditional tatami mats, but our eyes were bigger than out stomachs and we both ordered way too much food. 

Onsens! Fun Fact: an onsen must have natural heated spring water and is usually mineral rich while its sister is the sento a man-made neighborhood bathhouse with heated tap water. We went to one of each while in Tokyo. 

• Onsen Yumorinosato: This onsen was way out in Chōfu (about an hour by train from central Tokyo), tucked down an unsuspecting local street. Yumorinosato’s claim to fame is its mineral rich black water. I (Meg) couldn’t see more than about half an inch down, and climbing into what felt like a black pit of water was an experience. You truly can’t see where you’re stepping. I, for one, absolutely loved it. This black water cleansed my soul. There were nine baths of varying temperatures and a sauna. I personally love a sauna, cold plunge, hot bath, repeat scenario. It’s like my veins turn to mint and I get this wonderful calm, foggy feeling. And the women had their own outdoor area. Sometimes women are kept indoors because of peeping toms, but not here. Here, the women were free.
• Hinode yu Sento: Here, the women were not free to wander in the great outdoors, but honestly, that felt totally fair. This sento was located right in the middle of Asakusa and kept things simple. A hot bath, a really hot bath, and a tiny sauna. I walked out of there feeling cleaner than I think I ever have in my life. And the best part? Right out front, sweet potatoes. A barrel of perfect, succulent Japanese sweet potatoes. I’m talking creamy, almost mashed on the inside, with caramelized sweetness dripping down the skin. Truly divine. After the bath, Miles informed us that it’s customary to chug a nice glass of cold milk, so ding ding ding, the Meg Milk Fund has officially been cracked open.

• Kewpie Mayo Tour: All of Meg’s hopes and dreams came alive during the Kewpie Mayo Tour at their headquarters in Sengawa, Chōfu, Tokyo. The building where the tour took place houses around 1,400 Kewpie employees. We arrived and explored the Kewpie gift shop before being whisked away into a one-hour propaganda-style indoctrination featuring Kewpie tastings, a Kewpie history lesson, and a Kewpie factory tour.

  A few fun facts we learned during our re-education camp: Kewpie mayo is very healthy for you and packed with essential nutrients to build “good physiques.” The Kewpie Corporation has extensive safety protocols in place to ensure airtight quality control. And finally, in turn-of-the-century Japan, Kewpie mayo cost a staggering inflation-adjusted $12 USD for a small 100g bottle (at a time when a single egg cost about $4 USD).

  One final note: Kewpie mayo celebrated its 101st birthday this year!

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Food! 

Places We Went and Would Rec: 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mnV5XfbQKdZHN1nZ6 

Toast Appreciation: