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SFO International Terminal

Feb 13 2026

I think these dudes are going to Japan.

Narita International Airport

Feb 13 2026

Definitely in Japan.

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel

Feb 14 2026

Dinner with my mom at the Tokyo Bay Sheraton’s buffet. \240All soup.

Pretty good sparking yuzu matcha though!

Maihama Coast Boardwalk

Feb 14 2026

Took a morning walk with my dad along the sea wall.

Love this giant piece of single bamboo growing out of the concrete coast

Toy Story Mania!

Feb 15 2026

I’ve waited all my life to get into Woody’s mouth.

New York Deli

Feb 15 2026

This sign felt like you.

Also, may we all love something and/or someone as much as this man loves Nick Wilde.

Sindbad's Storybook Voyage

Feb 15 2026

In what I am sure was meant to be the culturally sensitive rendition of Agrabah -

- is Sinbad’s Storybook Adventure: one of the marquis rides of the park.

I’m sure this map bodes well

I’m pretty sure I got every instance of Sinbad’s pet tiger?

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Feb 15 2026

Mom got cold after lunch, so she bought a cape.

Popcorn Wagon

Feb 15 2026

Waiting in line for some Roast Beef Popcorn. \240I wasn’t prepared for how much Tokyo Disneysea revolves around food. \240Each food stall offers just one or two options, but they’re unique, and that’s especially true of popcorn.

Flavors encountered so far:

Garlic Shrimp

Soy \240and Butter

Salted

Caramel

Chinese Pepper Spice (easy favorite)

Other fun foods:

Little Green Dumplings

5-chōme-24-941-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan

Feb 15 2026

Finally got to go out on my own, and went straight to Shinjuku to find some camera gear and film.

Found this little guy right outside of Shinjuku station

Box Camera was a bit of a hike from the station, but I was grateful for how it got me out into a more random corner of Shinjuku. \240

Down this somewhat intimidating set of stairs was a really cute shop that was just wall to wall film cameras and lenses. \240I could have spent hours here just peeking at what they had, but they closed in a half an hour so I had to hurry out.

I passed by Map Camera, which I only knew because someone told me it was a reliable eBay seller from Japan. \240They had five floors worth of cameras - the elevator opened up to sort of tiny showrooms. \240

Passed by an arcade with giant dittos, ninja cats and lots and lots of One Piece figurines in claw machines.

Found this coffee shop to be charming with its chandelier.

Went to get film at Yodobashi Camera, which turns out to occupy nearly three square blocks and five stories of building. \240

On my way to the film shop, passed by this pachinko place that I found striking.

Random restaurant - I love how they made that little bridge.

Went back to see one of the dittos, supine.

Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane

Feb 15 2026

Finally got to Omoide Yokocho - a tiny alley filled with tiny restaurants. \240Most were doing some form of yakitori and it all looked really good, but I was worried about making the last shuttle back and my feet were killing me from the day, so I grabbed food from a Family Mart instead.

1-chōme-1-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan

Feb 15 2026

Leeluu and Shayo cat bread

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel

Feb 15 2026

My feet and knees are killing me, but I feel great. \240I really needed to just wander and be in a very different place. \240My mind feels lighter, and I’m more energized/excited for the rest of this trip.

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel

Feb 15 2026

Lorelei driving the bus

Tokyo Station

Feb 15 2026

Sushi bento from the train bento shop!

Tokyo Station

Feb 16 2026

Is he wearing a hat or a toupee?

Feb 16 2026

Shinkansen style

Feb 16 2026

It’s freezing in Sakudaira!

Feb 16 2026

Almost you and your sister

Feb 16 2026

Feb 16 2026

I need to find out what Purple Fizz is. \240

They brought one over, and it smells so strongly of grape I can smell the syrup from 4 feet away

Feb 16 2026

So I’ve been trying to find a mascot to buy

and I finally found one at this resort.

Feb 16 2026

Room is pretty great. \240First time in a hotel with tatami.

Ikenotaira Family Land

Feb 16 2026

There are too many cats here.

Feb 16 2026

We only have two beds here, so I get to sleep Japanese style.

Feb 16 2026

The kids found the resort’s mascot. \240You couldn’t pay me enough to hug that thing.

Feb 16 2026

Just a few of the abandoned theme park vibes - hoping to do more tomorrow.

Kind of wish I had a zoom lens for this! \240Maybe the film shot will go better

Same with this one! \240I guess I need to get closer

Love how the snow and the shutdown accentuate the age of these machines

Lake Shirakaba

Feb 16 2026

Took a walk around the lake. \240I’m mad that I didn’t think to get up earlier and get some sunrise shots; hopefully I’ll get a chance to do that tomorrow.

I’m sure a frozen lake in the mountains is a common sight for many, but the mirror placidity does something does something for my Californian heart.

The walk was lovely - I only slipped once, but it was a hard slip! \240My back muscles still hurt from trying to catch myself as I skidded around the sidewalk.

Shirakaba Resort Ikenotaira Lakeside Plaza

Feb 16 2026

They’re really getting a lot of mileage out of that mascot. \240Glad the translations are so direct.

Feb 16 2026

Baby food

Feb 16 2026

Found you

Shirakabako-Tateshina Teddy Bear Museum

Feb 17 2026

Well I made it to the Teddy Bear museum.

The Tateshina Teddy Bear Museum is the second in a line of local attractions. \240It’s specifically between the Shadow Glass Museum and a small art gallery.

Just the walkway up looked promising.

I started at the restroom, which had a bear fire extinguisher holder.

Helpfully, there was an ad for Bear Museum Line stickers in my stall.

I was not prepared.

On the walls of this entryway are cases full of bears from specific makers.

The centerpiece: a British navy vessel being seen off by a group of saluting sailor bears and the London populace.

Had to get a shot of their little salutes

There was a small station where some artistic bears are hanging out.

This bear is so small!

More small bears

Around the corner was the mission statement of the museum. \240Again, I was not prepared.

And then I turned the corner again.

On one side, a royal wedding.

On the other, a… I don’t even know.

Then this -

But it was really the next exhibit that told me this was going to be something special…

That is a bear UN, complete with a simultaneous translator’s room.

After climbing a set of stairs, the explanation:

After that, every exhibit was country specific, and was paired with an… interesting description of each country.

It starts with France…

… who we all know is still in mourning for Marie Antoinette??

Then Venice:

I feel like this little guy

Then Denmark - pretty sure these Danish bears are doing a Midsomar??

Then Switzerland:

Look at the non-bears.

Look at this loser

Then for some reason there was a Winnie the Pooh exhibit that was really definitive:

The royal wedding came back, this time from above:

Then more random bears - I wonder if this museum was started for the Nagano Olympics?

Love the J-pop group hair

Spain was actually pretty cool, loved that Park Güell makes an appearance:

Then we detour to Finland, aka The North Pole?

Then, on opposite walls, Kenya -

Glad to know Kenya is “very stable”

- and Egypt.

Saudi Arabia:

Who is that little guy in the corner?

China

Canada

And finally the US, aka where they put all the fat bears.

Did not expect the US one to have so much (relatively) to say about race??

After that, the museum opened up to a whole new level that was just chaos:

Finally, an assortment from the gift shop:

And then some adorable bear fixtures outside.

Overall, I found this to be a ridiculous and spiritual experience. \240Yes this is roadside tourist trap stuff, but I am genuinely impressed by the amount of work that must have gone into this, and because there’s an artistic bravery to have gone so hard on the concept of a teddy bear museum. \240I guess a museum like this speaks to my love of seriality, and of accumulation that somehow transmutes beyond simple addition.

Shadow-cut picture, glass, music box museum of the world

Feb 17 2026

Since it was next door, I visited the shadow glass museum. \240The art was lovely - backlit shadowbox art - but they didn’t let me take pics of anything.

I did snap a few shots of the gift shop though, which had a random assortment of glass figures.

The little worms kill me

Feb 17 2026

In the resort wear

Feb 17 2026

A little annoyed by my family right now.

We’re at a resort with an onsen, and one that supposedly has a mixed gender bath. \240But when we got to the dressing rooms, we couldn’t find an entrance to the mixed gender bath, and Ted “wasn’t feeling it,” so everyone bailed. \240I think I get a bit annoyed at that fearful reaction, and at an unwillingness to make mistakes or push out of one’s comfort zone when traveling. \240It annoys me to travel with people who are willing to miss out on a cultural event or a chance to be like the people they’re spending their vacation with just because they would rather not encounter something new.

I guess this rant starts with my parents, who have spent the entire time at this resort basically in the room and on their phones. \240I know I shouldn’t be upset because they’re tired from the travel and are spending it in a way they prefer, but it still does bother me.

Or maybe I’m just tired and cranky.

Feb 18 2026

Wish I was a bit more awake on the bus ride to the station - only got this one shot.

Feb 18 2026

Why does it say “Apple” in the bottom left corner? \240Is the bear just discovering what an apple is? \240Is that not an apple on his head? \240WHAT IS ON HIS HEAD?

Feb 18 2026

Saw this beautiful shadow at the Shinkansen station. \240I love the way Japanese stations find little ways to make travel a little more delightful.

983-1 Nishisawada, Numazu, Shizuoka 410-0007, Japan

Feb 18 2026

Obligatory Mt Fuji shot - on the way to Kyoto.

Feb 18 2026

On the way to the hotel, I loved the light on this walkway.

Niku no Shou Yuyu-an

Feb 18 2026

Kyo ha Matcha de Kimeru

Feb 18 2026

First of many hojichas in Kyoto!

We drank this delicious hojicha down in a gold basement with tatami mat on the corners.

That said, it was basically all Westerners and a Chinese family down here. \240Probably not a time when locals drink matcha…

The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike, Iwakura Hataedachō, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-0015, Japan

Feb 18 2026

Off to explore Kyoto by myself!

Nishiki Market

Feb 18 2026

From my random wanderings today:

A Happy Pancake Kyoto

Feb 19 2026

We had lunch at A Happy Pancake: a tiny restaurant on the second floor with fluffy pancakes. \240I had hojicha tiramisu pancakes - they were pretty good!

B-SIDE LABEL Kyoto Store

Feb 19 2026

Briefly stopped by a sticker store - my favorite Pokemon were there!

and the tiniest basket

Onitsuka Tiger Kyoto

Feb 19 2026

We went to Onizuka Tiger - we all got shoes, except for Lorelei.

Onitsuka Tiger Kyoto

Feb 19 2026

Found you

Nintendo KYOTO

Feb 19 2026

Went to the Nintendo Store with Elias, Shelley and Ted. \240It was a lot of fun - a little smaller than the SF one, but with unique gear. \240I only got a plushie and a few of the controller fidgets from the gacha machine, which you can only get in Japan.

Got this Animal Crossing plush for your sister

I definitely felt like a little kid here - it’s a fun feeling.

凛-RIN KYOTO- 宇治抹茶カフェ

Feb 19 2026

Found a sliver of a matcha place, Rin Kyoto. \240Pretty great!

Pokémon Center Kyoto

Feb 19 2026

Stopped by the Pokemon Center in Kyoto. \240It was maybe 80% white adults, buying hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of stuff. \240Outside the store, people were opening card packs and trading cards between them.

Beautiful

Sad I couldn’t buy this Ditto stress ball

Love that this baby Charmander is hugging a plush of his evolved form

Cop Pikachu yay

The full set! \240You never see a Haunter plush.

So many Pokemon.