Japan: Shin-Urayasu Arcade

Taiko no tatsujin!!!

One of my favorite arcade games in Japan, it's essentially a rhythm music game except you get to wield drum sticks as big around as hot dogs and pound away on an oversized drum. It's a blast and the psychedelic animations that adorn the screen as you play just add to the experience. To be fair, Japanese arcades, often located near or on the top floor of multi-level shopping and entertainment centers, are pretty trippy on their own.

Japan: Ghibli Museum, Mitaka 日本語も

If you're a fan of animation then you've probably heard of Studio Ghibli, and if not, you should! Seriously, these guys are often referred to as "the Disney of Japan" and for very good reason! 

Stunningly detailed imagery drips from every frame, lush in all of their films and their iconic characters have become beloved icons the world around. Primarily focusing on a hand-drawn aesthetic, everything from the minutae of everyday life to resplendent scenes of mythological beings or nature are rendered and exaggerated with loving detail until every scene oozes with atmosphere and life.

Pretty legit stuff, guys.  

ギブリの映画を見ましたか？どちがすきな？

あたしの一番すきなは風の谷のナウシカともののけ姫です。

キキもかわいいですね？＾＾

トトロはとてもかわいいでもその映画ぜんぜん見ませんでした。

ほんとう！びっくりしたか？

友達たちの一緒に三鷹の森 ジブリ美術館を行きました。

すごい楽しかったよ！

So it was with great excitement that I agreed to go to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka with some of my friends. Tickets had to be purchased in advance through a kiosk in either Lawson or Family Mart, and they could sell out quickly if you didn't plan ahead! We found a date that worked best for everyone and set our calendars.

One of these things is not like the others… ^^; 

あらららら。。。いっぽんは違うな？「笑」

More photos below!

ここの下で写真がある！

San Francisco Japantown

From our hotel we were able to walk to Japantown easily as it's roughly a mile or so away. 

Having spent several years living in Japan I was really excited to explore the area! Check out my photos below.