When asked what my favorite area in Japan is, Kyoto is usually my first response. This is surprising because, quite frankly, as a twenty-something, I was initially more interested in exploring the hot shopping areas of Tokyo than visiting temple after temple in Kyoto -- which is what I expected would be a large part…
One of the many reasons why I chose to travel to Japan in the spring was to see the "sakura" (cherry blossom) trees in bloom. I believe they're an asset that really define the beauty of the country. Growing up in Hawaii where seasons are practically nonexistent, I was lucky enough to experience cherry blossom…
When I think of Japan, one of the first images that pops into my head is Mt. Fuji, so it's no surprise that seeing that gorgeous, snow-capped symbol in person pretty much came hand-in-hand with my bucket list item of eating sushi in Japan. On Sunday, March 31, I departed Tokyo for Hakone, a region…
I'm a fourth generation Japanese American. In Japanese, this is known as "yonsei." Growing up in Hawaii, where many Japanese Americans reside, I was heavily influenced by the Japanese culture. To be more specific, I've enjoyed a wide array of Japanese food – like sushi, tempura and tonkatsu – as well as intermittently using some…
Photo courtesy: crayolamom. I don't have many regrets in my life. Most of the time, if an opportunity passes me by, I often think "it was meant to be." But in retrospect, one thing that wasn't meant to be was passing up opportunities to study abroad. As an undergraduate student at the University of Washington,…
Photo courtesy: whinendine Between classes and homework, I somehow manage to find time to watch TV. If I'm not watching Glee or the X-Factor, I'm watching the Travel Channel. And lately, I've been catching a lot of shows about Las Vegas... which made me reminiscent. I've been to Vegas about five times in my life…
Out of State • Out of Mind 