Things I love about Japan

As the next trip nears I have found myself anticipating some of the small things that make Japan feel special. Here are a just a few of the things I’m looking forward to.

Boss Coffee

I have to admit I am a huge boss coffee fan. I even have a few merch jackets that I’ve collected over the years. Whenever I can find it here in North Carolina I always stock up. But having constant access to my favorite coffee is something I always look forward to. 

Tonkatsu 

As our name sake suggests, tonkatsu is one of our favorite foods in Japan. We cannot find it near us so Jacob has become very good at making it himself. It’s a little time consuming to make but well worth it. Having it easily accessible (and not having to clean up the kitchen afterwards) is always a treat. 

Melon Pan

Back in 2023 on our first trip I’m pretty sure I ate my weight in melon pan. I actually packed one to bring home so I could extend the trip a little longer. If you don’t know, it is a sweet soft bread with a crispy top that has a slight melon taste. It’s delicious and very hard for me to find back home. There are bakeries that make it in Japan and they are delicious but just a 7-11 melon pan is something I reminisce about constantly. 

Quiet mornings

Because of Jet lag I usually wake up very early. And most stores in Japan don’t open until late morning. So that leaves us with a lot of free time in the mornings. One of my favorite memories is the first morning on our first trip. We woke up super early and went to Meiji Jingu. It was incredibly quiet. None of the booths that sell omamori were open yet and the few people that were there with us were worshipers. 

Even though shops won’t be open there will always be cafe’s open. I am a huge coffee person and Japan has an amazing coffee culture. Grabbing a latte and a pastry and sitting with Jacob going over our plans for the day and watching as the city starts their day doesn’t sound like much but looking back those are the moments I get to slow down and appreciate where I am. 

Shopping

I love Japanese fashion. The classic shapes that are loose fitting but also somehow look feminine are just so stunning. And then the skincare and makeup….It’s so different from what is available near me. Fun colors, textures, finishes. I try not to buy anything I’m not 100% sure I will wear/use but it can be super difficult to not come home with an entire new makeup routine.

Now that I have a daughter, I get to shop for her as well. I have found the kids’ clothes are super cute and kid friendly. A lot of her staple items I picked up on our last trip. I have said before that I pack an empty suitcase for a reason.

また後で!

Katlyn