HANEDA (Airport) | JAPAN | Japan Series Finale

What is a finale without a great ending?

In the words of Albus Dumbledore, or J.K. Rowling, I open at the close.

Why not end with one of the entry points to this beautiful country. Haneda Airport is one of the most picturesque airports when you're in transit. There are so many lovely tourist stores to pick-up last minute souvenirs and gifts for friends and family. If you don't want to shop then there are many artworks for you to breeze through while you wait for your gate to open or your flight to be announced.

It's also accessible by train, which is great when you're going to and from the airport. I enjoyed my last few moments here and had a blast soaking-in the Japanese culture that I fell in love with. I am constantly planning a trip back to see other places I was not able to see. Still on my list:

• Osaka - properly
• Kyoto
• Hiroshima

I'll keep you posted,

sL xxx

OSAKA | JAPAN | Japan Series

I will have to disappoint you in this blog.

I will be honest and say that I spent most of my day in line to take a tour of the Hogwarts Castle and redeem myself on the internal ride - I passed out in Orlando. In saying that, I love the Wizarding World, so I wasn't actually mad about it hahaha!

Universal Studios is not the highlight of Osaka, but it is unique in its own way. Much like Ginza is nostalgic, Universal is for the family. Lots of Minions, Snoppy Dogs and other cartoon-esque feels. If you're looking for some family fun while you're in Japan, Universal is definitely the place to go.

I didn't go to Disneyland, Japan but I'm sure it's much like Orlando or Los Angeles where either theme park is fun for everyone. Lines are long, but patience is key.

Until next time,

sL xxx

HARAJUKU | JAPAN | Japan Series

Disclaimer: When I visited the Harajuku Culture was not "in season" in terms of practice. This will be more about their New Year rituals.

Yogi Park is one of the largest parks that showcases natural beauty and spiritual traditions. We stumbled through the park as we went looking for other iconic places. It was a great stumble, even though we didn't know the language, the park had incredible spots to show tourists how to they practice their culture to welcome the new year. Visits to the shrines, drinking from sacred fountains and iconic street foods.

Yogi Park is another chilled place to relax and observe the history where past, present and future collide. In the spring time it also hosts the beautiful cherry blossoms that all tourism packets display. I highly recommend it regardless of the season.

Until next time,

sL xxx

SHIBUYA | JAPAN | Japan Series

HAPPY BIRTHDAY striclyLeisure!!!

What better way to celebrate than with one of the better known places in Japan! Unfortunately I only had a video of the crossing, but this snapshot is the entrance to the fashion centre os Shibuya.

If there's one thing you need to know about the Japanese population it is that they're not only polite, they are very fashion forward. Every store in Shibuya was a boutique with it's own unique style. If there was any place you wanted to get a wardrobe update, it's Shibuya.

I loved just walking around this city. The hustle and bustle brought an energy that I felt from my head to my toes. It was a great city to just see and be.

Shibuya is not only highly recommended by Lonely Planet, TripAdviser and Google, it's highly recommended by every person who has visited. It is a fun little place to site-see and shop.

Until next time,

sL xxx

GINZA | JAPAN | Japan Series Pilot

Hello Kitty is an icon and is a fitting image to start this series, nay the year, alas the decade! 

Whenever we think of Japan we think of iconic cartoon-anime-like images. There's a hint of nostalgia as we're often transported to a time in our childhood where these icons were once our companions. This is what Sanrioworld, Ginza was like for my mother. 

Hello Kitty was too expensive for my mum and her family growing up, so when she and I visited Sanrioworld she was excited to be able to buy her inner child something she did not have growing up. Unfortunately, Hello Kitty is still as iconic, if not more, so she was only able to buy herself a keychain. She sacrificed the big stuffed toys, cute hair-clip accessories and the notepads that she so dearly wanted when she was younger. Instead, she thought of others, children that she loved back home, my nieces and nephews. She said, "Let's buy this for them." And we did.

For me, Ginza was my mother's nostalgia and generosity.

As we start a new year, I urge you to continue the same spirit of giving that we carry at the end of each year. Think of others this decade and I promise, it will make the world just a little less difficult. 

Love always,

sL xxx

TOKYO | JAP

Japan is the first Asian country that I've been to that isn't the Philippines. This is a big deal because as a family, we generally just stay in the Philippines when we visit. After negotiating with our parents, my siblings and I decided thatt we wanted to add Japan to our family trip back to the Philippines.

Let me tell you, Japan did not fall short.

While we were there we mainly stayed and roamed around Tokyo. As I blog throughout the year, I'll share more places with you. The image above is a taster of what's to come.

All I wanted to share for this month's blog is how polite every single Japanese person was when we visited. Everyone was super nice and super respectful that I didn't want to be rude myself. When my family got sick momentarily on our trip and I had to play nurse, the lady at the chemist near us was so lovely and so accommodating that I felt like I was at home and was cared for even though I was using Google Translate to communicate.

As a whole, Tokyo is your typical city with its hustling and bustling. There buildings are chic and futuristic and their boutiques are to die for. One tip I do have is when you're in Japan you gotta slay your outfit game. Girl, jeans and a t-shirt or even a sensible coat is not enough in a high fashion city. Find a pretty, yet warm, coat for the winter or a more than pretty dress for the summer, 'cause these ladies and gents are oozing with style.

Until next month,

sL xxx