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

HAPPY NEW DECADE!

COMING UP

JAN - #JapanSeries Pilot: GINZA

FEB - #JapanSeries: SHIBUYA

MAR - #JapanSeries: HARAJUKU

APR - #JapanSeries: OSAKA

MAY - #JapanSeries Finale: HANEDA (Airport)

JUN - DUBAI

JUL - #IrelandSeries Pilot: DUBLIN

AUG - #IrelandSeries: GALWAY

SEP - #IrelandSeries: INIS MÓR

OCT - #IrelandSeries: CLIFFS OF MOHER

NOV - #IrelandSeries Finale: BLARNEY CASTLE AND GARDENS

DEC - Annual Christmas Poem 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thank You

Thank you for taking a new journey with me.

Thank you for riding the imaginary plane in my brain.

Thank you for seeing my thoughts.

Thank you for peeping through my mind's eye, even for just a moment.

I hope I sparked your own travel memories.

I hope you caught the travel bug.

I hope you have new places to see, or

I hope you have old places to make new memories.

Maybe we disagreed,

Maybe we saw eye-to-eye,

Maybe, just maybe, you saw something for the first time.

Regardless, this season, I want to say

THANK YOU.

- strictlyLeisure, (AK)

TEXAS | USA | USA Series

Texas holds the funniest memory: I got an allergic reaction pretty much as I stepped out of the airport! Every morning I was swollen and I did not know why! I still don't know why! Ladies and Gents, I am allergic to Texas, thank God for Benadryl! 

Regardless, Texas is a great taste of southern hospitality. From it's large portion sizes to its incredible barbecues, I didn't even notice my swollen face! Another state where food is its draw.  This is the state I fell in-love with corn bread. OMG. My mouth is watering just thinking about corn bread.

Don't forget to visit NASA in Houston if you ever head to Texas. Educational and worth adding to the bucket list.

Love always,

sL xxx