Dan in Japan ダンイン ジャパン

daniel checking out the MASSIVE statue of toyotomi hideyoshi at osaka castle park - this guy was basically japan's napoleon

early morning in osaka's namba district - chuck caught this quiet moment before the usual crowds hit the famous zebra crossing

chuck grabbed this FLUFFY japanese cheesecake from rikuro ojisan in osaka's namba district - way better than the ones we tried in tokyo

ashley and chuck at houston airport, ready to kick off their EPIC japan adventure

chuck and ashley at houston airport, ready to kick off their japan adventure. united airlines terminal selfie before the LONG flight across the pacific.

chuck and ashley at houston airport, ready to kick off their EPIC japan adventure

first glimpse of japan at narita airport - nintendo characters welcoming us with that classic japanese kawaii style

first glimpse of japan at narita airport - nintendo welcoming us with mario at terminal 1. dan and christina's 14-hour flight just got a bit more fun.

spotted this MERS warning sign at narita airport - wild to see camel milk warnings in japan

sunset view of odaiba's futuristic skyline from the rainbow bridge walkway. chuck caught this while we were heading back from teamlab

welcome gifts at our shinjuku airbnb - the FANCY fruit box is peak japan

welcome gift at our shinjuku airbnb - FANCY japanese fruit that costs more than our dinner

first night in our shinjuku airbnb - way bigger than we expected for tokyo standards

night view from our shinjuku airbnb balcony with tokyo tower glowing purple in the distance. chuck's first attempt at capturing tokyo's MASSIVE scale.

first night in our shinjuku airbnb and dan's already fascinated by the high-tech bathroom controls. welcome to japan, where even the toilet rooms are next level

dan's first encounter with japanese nutrition labels - way more detailed than what we get back home

early morning view from our shinjuku airbnb - those mountains in the distance are the REAL mt fuji

early morning view from our shinjuku airbnb with mt. FUJI peeking through the haze behind the city skyline

early morning view from our shinjuku airbnb - those mountains in the distance are the REAL reason i set my alarm for sunrise

early morning view from our shinjuku airbnb - dan caught this mix of traditional homes and MASSIVE skyscrapers just as the sun was coming up

early morning view from our shinjuku airbnb with mt. fuji peeking through the haze behind the city skyline

early morning walk through shinjuku with christina revealed this VERY out-of-place homer simpson graffiti next to some kanji

early morning street art discovery in shinjuku - christina found this AMAZING combo of dj horny and vegan diet tags near our airbnb

early morning in shinjuku - spotted this tokyo symphony orchestra truck while wandering around. even their delivery vehicles look SUPER professional

chuck found this VERY interesting display at a shop in shinjuku. let's just say some things about japan can't be explained in a family-friendly blog.

chuck found the NSFW section at don quijote in shinjuku. japan really is something else

early morning konbini run in shinjuku - dan's mind was BLOWN by how cheap tabasco sauce is here compared to back home

ashley and chuck waiting in line at 8am outside a currency exchange spot in shinjuku - turns out EVERYONE needs yen first thing in the morning

daniel and ashley checking out the pachinko parlors and anime shops near shin-okubo station - this whole area is basically tokyo's KOREATOWN

dan snapped this at shin-okubo station when we realized our suica card plans needed a quick change - welcome cards it is

morning walk through shinjuku led to this classic example of anime-style street art, complete with a "no parking" sign slapped right in the middle

early morning walk through shinjuku revealed these STUNNING nandina bushes loaded with berries outside our airbnb

spotted this HILARIOUS "don't feed the pigeons" warning sign near don quixote in shinjuku. japan really knows how to make even their warning signs cute.

wandering the back streets of shinjuku, where the REAL tokyo reveals itself through tangled power lines and quiet neighborhoods

wandering through the back streets of shinjuku, where old tokyo meets new - those power lines are EVERYWHERE here

spotted this ornate manhole cover with a sakura design while wandering through shinjuku - japan takes their utility covers SERIOUSLY

christina caught this moody shot of the WILD godzilla head building in shinjuku on our first rainy morning in tokyo

dan stumbled across this WILD find in shinjuku - apparently scientology made it to japan too

daniel and christina waiting to cross one of shinjuku's MASSIVE zebra crossings on their first morning exploring tokyo

early morning at shinjuku station - this retro pixel art mural perfectly captures the vibe of tokyo's busiest transit hub

morning walk through shinjuku and spotted this MASSIVE 3d cat billboard that everyone talks about. the future is now.

morning rush in shinjuku - chuck caught this shot of the MASSIVE digital billboards while ashley navigated us through the busiest station in the world

christina caught this shot of the MASSIVE kit kat store in shinjuku - japan takes their kit kats to a whole other level

chuck and ashley taking a quick break at a japanese coffee shop in shinjuku. you can spot the traditional shunkaen coffee posters on the wall behind them.

taking a tea break at this cute cafe in shinjuku - check out this FANCY timer they use for steeping

fancy japanese pear dessert at a restaurant in shinjuku - way more elegant than the convenience store snacks we've been living on

christina found this FANCY parfait at a cafe in shinjuku - way more elegant than your average dessert spot back home

chuck and ashley found this EPIC parfait at a cafe in shinjuku - japanese desserts are on another level

fancy dessert stop in shinjuku - this pear-shaped mont blanc was ALMOST too pretty to eat

christina caught the iconic godzilla head looming over shinjuku's toho building, right next to a massive poster for the latest kaiju film

chuck and ashley checking out the sensory overload that is don quijote in shinjuku - these massive discount stores are open 24/7 and sell EVERYTHING

christina and ashley posing with the iconic golden duck mascot at don quijote in kabukicho. tax-free shopping = DANGER for our wallets

browsing the WILD beauty section at don quijote in shinjuku - these sake foot peels are apparently a thing here

dan and christina taking a quick selfie near the CHAOS of shinjuku station - those bedazzled sunglasses are pure tokyo energy

ashley exploring one of shinjuku's many side streets during our morning walk to find coffee. those kanji signs are EVERYWHERE.

christina found these sylvanian families toys at a shinjuku toy store - apparently they're HUGE in japan and have their own theme park here

christina and dan found their way to a game store in shinjuku, with mario making an unexpected photobomb under some MEGADOR promo banners

ashley showing off her haul from 4°c, a FANCY japanese jewelry chain in shinjuku. chuck says she deserves it

chuck wandered into a shinjuku electronics store looking for a wifi router - these prices in yen are WILD compared to back home

wandering through shinjuku when dan spotted this MASSIVE don quijote store - these discount shops are no joke in japan

chuck caught this iconic shinjuku corner on our way to check out the MASSIVE don quijote store - those zebra crossings are no joke

classic shinjuku street scene with those MASSIVE billboards and zebra crossings that tokyo does so well. chuck caught this during our first afternoon exploring the neighborhood.

chuck checking his phone while waiting for our yakiniku to cook at this LEGIT spot in shinjuku. the smoke vent in the table is a next-level engineering feat

first korean bbq experience in shinjuku - chuck and ashley went all in on the banchan and kimchi

lunch break in shinjuku - chuck and ashley found this tiny yakiniku spot down an alley near golden gai. that garlic rice with wagyu hits DIFFERENT.

chuck's souvenir shopping success at kitashinju-ku - ashley's gonna LOVE this sparkly necklace from a local jewelry shop

quick selfie at our shinjuku airbnb before heading out to explore kitashinjuku. ashley's already mastered the tokyo apartment life hack of sunglasses-as-headband

day 3: dan caught this shot of the VERY japanese sight of everyone perfectly lined up on the right side of the escalator at gotokuji station

ashley posing with a giant maneki-neko (lucky cat) statue outside gotokuji station, where these iconic fortune-bringing cats originated

ashley posing with a giant maneki-neko (lucky cat) statue outside gotokuji station, where these iconic fortune-bringing cats originated

when jet lag hits hard at 3am, you end up at a japanese denny's in setagaya. turns out it's WAY better than the us version

when jet lag hits HARD and you need american breakfast at 2pm... spotted this denny's under the train tracks in setagaya and daniel couldn't resist

stumbled on this AMAZING zen temple while wandering through setagaya with daniel. those stone lanterns though.

stumbled on this STUNNING three-story pagoda while exploring setagaya's backstreets - way less crowded than the tourist spots we hit yesterday

chuck caught this MASSIVE komainu guardian at gotokuji temple in setagaya - these guys are supposed to keep evil spirits away from buddhist temples

stumbled upon this AMAZING three-story pagoda at gotokuji temple while exploring setagaya with ashley - turns out this is where the lucky cat statue originated

waiting in line at gotokuji temple in setagaya, where chuck managed to snap this pic of the entrance with its MASSIVE wooden beams and traditional kanji signage

chuck snapped this inside the STUNNING gotokuji temple - those gold lotus decorations are next level

peeking into the main hall at gotokuji temple, where christina spotted these AMAZING gold lotus decorations and traditional altar setup

checking out the intricate woodwork at gotokuji temple, where christina spotted these amazing architectural details in setagaya

stumbled on this EPIC three-tiered pagoda at gotokuji temple while wandering through setagaya. dan's first time seeing a legit buddhist temple up close.

spotted this sneaky maneki-neko carving hiding in the temple eaves at gotokuji, where the lucky cat legend supposedly started

stumbled on this AMAZING three-tiered pagoda at gotokuji temple while exploring setagaya with ashley. chuck's getting pretty good with that camera.

christina and dan with the lucky maneki-neko statue at gotokuji temple, where the beckoning cat legend began

christina found this lucky maneki-neko statue at gotokuji temple, the ORIGINAL birthplace of japan's famous beckoning cats

chuck found this AMAZING shrine packed with maneki-neko (lucky cats) surrounding a buddha statue in setagaya

christina found this ARMY of maneki-neko cats at gotokuji temple in setagaya, where the lucky beckoning cat legend began

hundreds of maneki-neko (lucky cats) line the shelves at gotokuji temple in setagaya, where the famous beckoning cat legend began

christina found the MOTHER LODE of maneki-neko cats at gotokuji temple in setagaya. these lucky cats aren't just cute - they're part of the temple's origin story

christina found this ARMY of maneki-neko cats at gotokuji temple in setagaya, where the lucky cat legend supposedly began

stumbled on this little shrine in setagaya with the CUTEST lineup of maneki-neko cats waving at us

chuck found this army of maneki-neko lucky cats at a shrine in setagaya. ashley says we NEED one for our kitchen back home.

stumbled on this WILD collection of maneki-neko cats at gotokuji temple in setagaya. dan's first time seeing so many lucky cats in one place.

stumbled across this EPIC temple lantern at gotokuji temple - chuck's getting pretty good with these artsy shots

chuck and ashley checking their phones outside gotokuji temple in setagaya, where the famous maneki-neko (lucky cat) supposedly originated

stumbled on this cool little temple building while wandering through setagaya. the white and green roof combo is PEAK japanese architecture.

stumbled across this memorial tablet at gotokuji temple in setagaya - chuck caught this quiet moment with fresh flowers left by visitors

stumbled on this zen rock garden at gotokuji temple while chuck and ashley were exploring setagaya's backstreets

stumbled into this STUNNING buddhist temple interior near setagaya station - the gold leaf ceiling is next level

stumbled on theodora ozaki's former home in setagaya - a PERFECT example of meiji era architecture with that dramatic karahafu roof

traditional wooden sign with kanji characters spotted at a temple garden in kyoto

ashley at the entrance to gotokuji temple, where the famous "lucky cat" (maneki-neko) supposedly originated

stumbled on this peaceful temple garden near gotokuji - the REAL birthplace of those lucky waving cats you see everywhere

ashley exploring the peaceful grounds of gotokuji temple, where the famous maneki-neko (lucky cat) originated

stumbled upon this ancient stone marker at gotokuji temple - chuck's getting REALLY into reading about buddhist history

stumbled on this PEACEFUL garden path near gotokuji temple in setagaya. chuck managed to catch it right when nobody else was around.

riding the tokyo metro during rush hour - everyone's glued to their phones in PEAK japanese commuter style

chuck caught the tokyo SKYTREE lit up in its evening colors on our first night exploring sumida. the scale of this thing is WILD.

christina posing with the MASSIVE totoro statue at the tokyo skytree, because you can't visit japan without meeting this fuzzy forest spirit

cool architectural detail at the tokyo skytree - these metallic birds against cloud patterns caught chuck's eye during our evening visit

ashley taking in the MASSIVE scale of tokyo from the skytree observation deck at night. the city lights stretch as far as you can see.

night view from the TOKYO SKYTREE showing sumida's dense urban landscape lit up like a circuit board. chuck's shot really shows how tokyo never sleeps.

night view from the TOKYO SKYTREE observation deck - chuck managed to catch tokyo's endless sea of lights stretching to the horizon

night view from the tokyo SKYTREE observation deck - chuck caught the sumida river looking like a glowing snake cutting through the city

ashley taking in the INSANE tokyo night view from the skytree observation deck. chuck wasn't kidding about tokyo being bright at night.

view from the TOKYO SKYTREE observation deck showing the sumida river cutting through the glowing cityscape at night. chuck managed to get this shot through the window without any reflections showing up.

daniel and christina checking out this WILD anime installation at the tokyo skytree. the neon-lit room was giving major cyberpunk vibes

checking out the jujutsu kaisen exhibit at tokyo skytree - chuck's inner anime nerd is LIVING right now

late night pizza run near our shinjuku airbnb - chuck and ashley needed a break from japanese food

late night shopping success at hirofu in shinjuku - ashley's new bag is LEGIT

early morning 7-eleven run in shinjuku - these fruit sandos are EVERYTHING

spotted this smoking room sign in shinjuku - wild how common these designated smoking spaces are here compared to back home

daniel checking out the entrance gate at gotokuji temple, where the famous 'lucky cat' maneki-neko supposedly originated

daniel checking out the entrance to gotokuji temple in setagaya, where the famous 'lucky cat' maneki-neko supposedly originated

old-school japanese signage at our kyoto airbnb - dan's attempt to decipher this with google translate was HILARIOUS

christina making friends with one of the many temple cats near gotokuji temple, where locals believe the famous 'maneki-neko' lucky cat originated

christina making friends with one of setagaya's many temple cats near gotokuji

christina caught this view inside gotokuji temple - check out that WILD golden altar setup with all the hanging decorations

early morning visit to gotokuji temple in setagaya - christina caught this AMAZING angle of the main altar's golden decorations through the wooden offering box slats

stumbled across this old bronze plaque with some WILD japanese calligraphy near our kyoto airbnb - dan's attempt to translate it with google lens was pretty hilarious

stumbled on this ancient stone monument during our morning walk through setagaya. christina's got a thing for finding these hidden historical spots.

early morning wandering through setagaya led christina to these HAUNTING jizo statues with their iconic red bibs. these buddhist guardians are everywhere in tokyo once you start looking.

stumbled across a school field trip near setagaya city hall - those yellow hats are EVERYWHERE in tokyo

spotted these MASSIVE koi during our morning walk near gotokuji temple. these fish are living their best life in setagaya.

morning stop at a local temple in setagaya where christina spotted these MASSIVE koi fish swimming in the pond

stumbled on this hidden gem near gotokuji temple - an old outdoor theater space that looks straight out of a kurosawa film

stumbled on this cool old outdoor theater near gotokuji temple - apparently they used to do kabuki performances here back in the day

daniel checking out the chozuya (purification fountain) at gotokuji temple, home of the ORIGINAL lucky cat statue

daniel performing the ritual cleansing at the chozuya fountain outside gotokuji temple, where we learned about the REAL origin of those lucky cat statues

early morning architecture hunting in shinjuku - this MASSIVE tower is part of the new tokyu kabukicho complex that opened in 2023

spotted these old-school etiquette instructions at gotokuji temple in setagaya. these illustrations showing proper bowing technique are PEAK japan.

chuck found a krispy kreme in shinjuku - proof that some american chains just hit DIFFERENT in japan

early morning wandering through shinjuku's entertainment district before the crowds hit. chuck caught this shot of the iconic kabukicho streets with their towering billboards and neon signs still quiet in the morning light.

stumbled across these old stone markers at gotokuji temple while exploring setagaya with christina. the bamboo fence is a PERFECT touch.

early morning wandering around gotokuji temple led christina to these ancient stone markers surrounded by traditional bamboo fencing

morning walk through setagaya led us to this peaceful corner with traditional bamboo fencing and kanji markers

had to document the FANCY toilet controls in our osaka airbnb. these things are no joke

breakfast haul from a shinjuku bakery - that chocolate danish was EVERYTHING

morning pastry run in shinjuku - chuck grabbed this AMAZING coconut cream bun from a tiny bakery near golden gai

morning walk through shinjuku's business district - those red lanes are bus-only during rush hour

found this peaceful garden path tucked away in shinjuku - such a QUIET escape from the busy streets

found this AMAZING rooftop garden at isetan department store in shinjuku. chuck snapped this while ashley was shopping - perfect spot to escape the tokyo crowds

ashley taking a breather in the peaceful terrace garden at isetan shinjuku, right in the MIDDLE of tokyo's busiest shopping district

ashley taking a quick break in the peaceful shinjuku gyoen gardens before diving back into the CHAOS of tokyo's busiest district

chuck found this FANCY perfume display at isetan shinjuku - those gold animal heads are way more extra than anything we've got at sephora back home

inside the MASSIVE surugaya store in shinjuku - dan's first encounter with just how intense anime culture gets in japan

waiting at one of shinjuku's MASSIVE crosswalks - chuck caught this while ashley checked out the tiffany store

chuck and ashley checking out one of shinjuku's MANY pet-focused buildings - this one's got everything from a cat cafe to a pet hotel

chuck caught this slice of shinjuku life - complete with lottery tickets, j-pop idols, and those ICONIC yellow guidance blocks on the sidewalk

morning walk through shinjuku's business district - these tiny kei trucks are EVERYWHERE in tokyo

chuck's first bowl of LEGIT tokyo ramen at rahmen classic in shinjuku. that soft-boiled egg was pure PERFECTION.

christina's first bowl of LEGIT tokyo ramen at rahmen eddie in shinjuku, with a refreshing hyoketsu lemon sour on the side

chuck's shot of the LEGENDARY rahmen eddie bowl in shinjuku - these noodles were so good we came back twice during our tokyo stay

dan found these FANCY hello kitty dolls dressed in traditional kimono at takashimaya department store in shibuya. christina's gonna flip when she sees these prices

chuck caught this quiet moment in shibuya before the famous crossing gets PACKED with its usual crowd

exploring the maze-like underpasses beneath shinjuku station - these spots under the tracks are packed with tiny bars and shops that come alive at night

ashley checking out the MASSIVE uniqlo store in shinjuku - this place is like five stories of shopping chaos

chuck's new GANZO wallet from shinjuku - these japanese leather goods are no joke

ashley taking a breather at this tiny shinjuku izakaya after a WILD day of exploring - those highballs hit different in japan

ashley diving into her first REAL xiaolongbao at a tiny dumpling spot in shinjuku. chuck swears these are better than Din Tai Fung

chuck's shot of these MASSIVE soy-braised eggs at a late dinner spot in shinjuku. ashley swears these were the best ajitsuke tamago she's had yet

chuck and ashley found this AMAZING szechuan-style chilled beef tendon at a tiny spot in shinjuku - way spicier than expected but totally worth it

late night shumai at a tiny dim sum spot in shinjuku - chuck and ashley's first taste of japanese-style chinese food

chuck and ashley trying different dango flavors while exploring shinjuku at night - strawberry for her, chocolate with sprinkles for him

chuck found these INTENSE claw machines in a shinjuku arcade - way more serious than the ones back home

chuck found this anime-themed claw machine in a shinjuku arcade - these things are EVERYWHERE in tokyo

chuck found this anime figure display case in a shinjuku arcade - looks like they're REALLY into one piece here

ashley getting way too into a rhythm game at one of shinjuku's MANY arcades. these places are no joke - multiple floors of pure gaming chaos

chuck caught this WILD sunrise over shinjuku from our airbnb rooftop - ashley brought up blankets and we just sat there taking it all in

early morning blanket vibes with ashley on our airbnb rooftop in shinjuku. tokyo's skyline doing the MOST with this sunrise.

6am sunrise from our shinjuku airbnb rooftop - you can spot the SKYTREE in the distance through that wild orange sky

quick breakfast stop at st. marc cafe in shinjuku - chuck and ashley discovered why japanese chain cafes are LEAGUES better than starbucks

spotted this sassy panda warning sign on the asakusa subway platform. japan really knows how to make even safety notices CUTE.

chuck spotted this baskin robbins sign near asakusa station - even the most familiar brands get a uniquely japanese twist here

christina caught this shot of the WILD asahi beer building with its famous golden flame (or is it a drop?) on our morning walk through taito

when jet lag hits HARD at 8am and you need something familiar... burger king in taito hits different than back home

early morning wandering through the covered shopping streets near sensō-ji with ashley and chuck leading the way. most shops still closed but the tourists are already out in FORCE

spotted this HILARIOUS kobe beef restaurant mascot near sensō-ji temple - the chef's hat really makes it

chuck spotted this quirky kobe beef restaurant mascot in taito - definitely not your typical steakhouse decor

ashley waiting in line at the PACKED mcdonald's in asakusa - turns out japanese mcdonalds has some menu items you can't get anywhere else

wandering through the grounds of senso-ji temple in asakusa, chuck spotted this historical marker with some SERIOUS japanese history vibes

stumbled across these peaceful buddha statues tucked away in a quiet corner of asakusa. chuck's getting pretty good at finding these hidden spots.

morning stop at the nisonbutsu statues near senso-ji temple - these twin buddhas have been watching over asakusa since the 1600s

early morning at the MASSIVE kaminarimon gate in asakusa. chuck got this shot while ashley checked out the giant waraji sandal nearby.

wandering through taito, dan spotted these twin buddha statues tucked away between apartment buildings - such a random find in the middle of the city

early morning at the ICONIC sensoji temple - chuck managed to catch the massive lanterns under the kaminarimon gate before the crowds got too wild

early morning at the MASSIVE hōzōmon gate in asakusa. dan got here right as it opened to beat the worst of the crowds.

christina caught this shot of the MASSIVE hōzōmon gate at sensō-ji on our first morning exploring asakusa. daniel was still trying to figure out which way to hold the map.

looking up at the ornate ceiling details at sensoji temple - chuck's got a good eye for architectural shots

early morning shot of the MASSIVE lantern at sensoji's kaminarimon gate - chuck managed to get this angle while daniel and christina were still sleeping in

morning walk through taito led christina to this traditional ossuarium at sensoji temple, complete with japanese banner and ornate wooden carvings

early morning crowd at sensoji temple - chuck managed to get this shot before the real tourist rush hit

early morning at the ICONIC five-story pagoda of sensoji temple. chuck managed to get this shot before the usual crowds showed up.

christina spotted this ADORABLE multilingual sign near sensoji temple warning tourists not to feed the local pigeons

daniel and christina checking out the MASSIVE straw sandal at sensoji's kaminarimon gate. apparently it's for good luck, but mostly it's just really cool to see in person.

morning wandering through the temples of taito led christina to this peaceful jizo statue, one of HUNDREDS watching over the neighborhood

early morning wandering through the gardens at sensoji temple led to this peaceful buddha statue tucked away among the greenery

dan caught this shot of the ICONIC five-story pagoda at sensoji on a moody october morning in asakusa

morning crowd at the ICONIC kaminarimon gate - christina caught this shot while daniel was trying to figure out which direction to sensoji temple

early morning visit to sensoji temple where christina caught this INTENSE shot of one of the nio guardian statues through the protective mesh. these guys don't mess around.

dan caught this MASSIVE chochin lantern at sensoji temple's kaminarimon gate - these things are WAY bigger in person than you'd expect

dan got up close with one of the MASSIVE red lanterns at sensō-ji temple - these things are way bigger than they look in photos

chuck got a LUCKY omikuji fortune at sensoji temple - looks like good things are coming our way

daniel caught christina checking out the MASSIVE five-story pagoda at sensoji, our first stop in asakusa

early morning at sensoji temple in asakusa - dan got this shot of the ICONIC five-story pagoda before the crowds got too wild

checking out the traditional omikuji fortune sticks at sensoji temple in asakusa. dan's getting number 54 - let's see if it's LUCKY

early morning stop at the ICONIC kaminarimon gate in asakusa - dan's first glimpse of those massive red lanterns you always see in tokyo photos

morning crowd at the MASSIVE kaminarimon gate entrance to sensoji temple. christina snapped this while we waited our turn to get photos under that iconic red lantern.

ashley lighting an incense stick at the sensoji temple's massive incense burner - the smoke is supposed to bring good health if you wave it over yourself

early morning at the MASSIVE kaminarimon gate of senso-ji temple - chuck caught this shot of local students on what looks like a field trip heading inside

morning stop at the ICONIC sensoji temple in asakusa - check out this massive incense burner with its stack of bronze bowls

early morning visit to sensoji temple in asakusa - the GOLD interior of the main hall is way more impressive than any photos can show

looking up at the INCREDIBLE ceiling art at sensoji temple - chuck managed to get this shot of the dragon painting surrounded by flying tennin figures

early morning crowd gathering at the ICONIC sensō-ji temple main hall - chuck caught this shot while ashley was reading up on the temple's history

early morning peek into the main hall at sensoji temple - chuck caught this shot while ashley was reading about the temple's history on her phone

christina found this cool memorial at sensoji temple with bronze pigeons perched on top - turns out it's for a famous japanese children's song

daniel at sensoji temple grounds, standing next to one of those MASSIVE red bollards they use to keep cars away from the temple steps

ashley taking a breather at the steps of sensoji temple, with the temple gardens and a bronze buddha statue in the background

morning zen at the taito buddha statue, where christina found this peaceful spot away from the tokyo bustle

found this hidden waterfall garden near sensō-ji temple while chuck was looking for a vending machine. totally worth getting lost in taito.

christina found this ornate temple lantern near senso-ji, one of the OLDEST buddhist temples in tokyo

chuck spotted these GORGEOUS koi swimming under a stone bridge near sensō-ji temple in asakusa. these fish are HUGE

found this peaceful waterfall garden tucked away near sensoji temple in asakusa. these little urban oases are EVERYWHERE in tokyo.

spotted these gorgeous koi swimming under an old stone bridge near sensoji temple. christina's getting pretty good at these zen garden shots.

ancient stone monument spotted by chuck near sensoji temple in asakusa - these things are WAY older than anything we have back home

stumbled across this ANCIENT stone lantern while wandering through taito - chuck's history nerd side was pretty stoked about this one

early morning wandering through the grounds of sensō-ji temple - chuck caught this peaceful buddha statue with fresh flowers at its base

christina found these little jizo statues with their red bibs tucked away at sensoji temple in asakusa. these guardian figures are EVERYWHERE in tokyo.

since chuck was behind the camera, ashley must be checking out this AMAZING bronze kannon statue at senso-ji temple in asakusa

early morning wandering through senso-ji temple grounds - chuck caught this shot of a traditional japanese pagoda with a construction crane photobombing in the background

chuck and daniel passing by the MASSIVE doors at sensoji temple in asakusa. those guardian lions mean business.

chuck caught this PERFECT shot of the sensoji temple's five-story pagoda with tokyo skytree lurking in the background. old meets new in the most tokyo way possible.

stumbled across this statue of matsuo basho at sensoji temple - chuck's getting REALLY into japanese poetry now

stumbled across this peaceful corner at the tomb of toda mosui while wandering through taito. chuck managed to catch the stone path leading up before ashley dragged us all to sensoji temple.

stumbled on this old memorial stone near senso-ji with some INTENSE kanji carved into it. chuck's getting really into photographing these historical markers

stumbled across this old memorial near senso-ji temple - chuck's got a thing for finding these hidden spots in asakusa

chuck found these old stone monuments near senso-ji temple in asakusa. turns out they're from the EDO period when this was still just a small fishing village

stumbled across this old stone monument near senso-ji temple - chuck's getting REALLY into photographing random historical markers

chuck grabbed this EPIC cream puff near sensoji temple in asakusa - way better than anything we've had back home

chuck grabbed this PERFECT menchikatsu from a tiny shop near sensoji temple. the crispy panko crust was still hot from the fryer.

stumbled across the CUTEST sight in ginza - a line of kindergarteners in matching hats doing their daily walk through the city. chuck caught this near the old concourse while ashley was shopping.

morning bike ride along the willow-lined path near hibiya park. christina caught this quiet moment in chiyoda before the crowds hit.

morning bike ride along the moat near hibiya, where chuck discovered that tokyo is SERIOUSLY bike-friendly

morning walk along the outer moat of the imperial palace, where weeping willows line the path and locals bike their way to work

moat reflections at the imperial palace on a cloudy morning in tokyo. these stone walls have seen some SERIOUS history.

historical marker near the imperial palace explaining the former edo castle site - chuck managed to catch a yellow tokyo taxi photobombing in the background

peaceful morning wandering through the outer gardens of the imperial palace, where the pine trees are PERFECTLY manicured in true japanese style

overcast morning at the imperial palace, where this MASSIVE samurai statue guards the entrance near marunouchi

this epic samurai statue near the imperial palace gives off major boss battle vibes on this cloudy morning in chiyoda

chuck caught this moody shot of the nijubashi bridge at the imperial palace on a cloudy morning. those stone walls have been standing since the EDO period

daniel and christina joining the crowd heading towards the IMPERIAL PALACE on a cloudy morning in chiyoda. typical tourist traffic for a wednesday.

the contrast between old and new tokyo hits different from the imperial palace grounds - chuck caught this view of the marunouchi skyline while we explored the outer gardens

checking out the MASSIVE imperial palace grounds near nijubashi bridge - chuck got this shot while ashley was reading up on the edo period history

quick stop at one of the imperial palace gates on our way to explore chiyoda. those ornate lamp posts are WAY cooler than i expected.

early morning at the imperial palace's main gate - daniel got this shot while christina was reading about the edo period fortifications

morning walk around the imperial palace grounds - the nijubashi bridge looks even COOLER in person than in photos

morning walk through the outer gardens of the imperial palace - chuck caught this quiet moment where modern tokyo towers over the carefully maintained pine trees

christina checking out the menu at a sushi spot near ginza - these nigiri options are WAY more creative than what we get back home

waiting in line at age.3 in ginza, one of tokyo's MOST hyped coffee spots. chuck snapped this while we queued for their famous pour-over

lunch break in ginza - chuck grabbed this AMAZING teriyaki burger from a tiny shop near the station. way better than any fast food back home.

quick lunch break in ginza - chuck grabbed this AMAZING tamago sando from a convenience store near the station

chuck grabbed this chocolate taiyaki near ginza - way better than the fish-shaped ice cream we had back home

ashley diving into what looks like a melonpan near ginza - these sweet japanese bread rolls are NO JOKE good

christina's first taste of a proper japanese egg salad sandwich from a konbini near ginza. these things are LIFE-CHANGING.

quick snack break in chūō - this cheese danish from a local bakery was LEGIT melty

lunch break discovery: chuck found this AMAZING blueberry cream cheese danish at a tiny bakery in chūō

chuck's first encounter with a PROPER beignet at cafe du monde in chūō - way more powdered sugar than the knockoffs back home

chuck's first encounter with a LEGENDARY japanese milk bread sandwich in chūō. this is what pure joy looks like.

daniel demolishing a fresh tamagoyaki sandwich from lawson in chūō. these convenience store egg sandwiches are NO JOKE.

christina dragged dan into URBAN RESEARCH DOORS at kichijoji parco - turns out japanese minimalist fashion hits different

shopping for winter layers at a boutique near kichijoji station - these japanese sweaters are WAY nicer than anything we can get back home

stumbled on this AMAZING vintage shop called goofy's near kichijoji station. dan couldn't resist checking out their american-style used clothing collection.

christina taking a quick break on the stone path while exploring inokashira park, one of tokyo's most CHILL green spaces

stumbled on this peaceful trail in inokashira park while exploring musashino. way less crowded than the tourist spots we've seen so far.

peaceful afternoon walk around inokashira pond, just a few blocks from the GHIBLI museum. the weeping willows and stone path give it this perfect moody vibe.

quick stop at inokashira pond before hitting up the GHIBLI museum. dan's shot of the wooden boardwalk gives off major totoro vibes

spotted these ADORABLE swan boats at inokashira pond near the ghibli museum. christina snapped this while we were walking around the park on a cloudy afternoon.

took a break from the ghibli museum to paddle around inokashira pond in these RIDICULOUS swan boats. classic japan moment.

found these retro swan boats at inokashira pond - way more chill than the crazy crowds at the ghibli museum nearby

stumbled on this cool musical monument near the ghibli museum in mitaka. christina caught daniel checking out the sheet music for a famous japanese folk song.

quick detour to inokashira park before hitting up the GHIBLI museum - christina spotted these wooden walkways that look straight out of a miyazaki film

stumbled on this GORGEOUS shrine near the ghibli museum in mitaka. the rain made everything feel extra moody

stumbled on this gorgeous shrine near the ghibli museum in mitaka. christina caught this shot while daniel checked out the incense burner.

spotted this fierce komainu guardian near the ghibli museum in mitaka. these stone lion-dogs are EVERYWHERE at japanese shrines.

stumbled on this cool temple entrance near the ghibli museum in mitaka. those triangular crests are EVERYWHERE here.

close-up of traditional kanji signage at what looks like a temple entrance - these gold characters against dark wood are CLASSIC japanese temple aesthetics

architectural details at the sensoji temple showing off those CLASSIC vermillion-colored beams and traditional lanterns

quick stop at the inokashira benzaiten shrine near the ghibli museum - christina got some great shots of the traditional architecture

cool architectural detail at inokashira pond - christina found this stone dragon water spout thing near the ghibli museum

got this WILD omikuji (fortune paper) at sensoji temple - had to get christina to translate the kanji for me since it was all in japanese

dan's fortune from the temple - hoping it doesn't say "moderate luck" like christina's did

christina caught this totoro-topped sign on our walk to the GHIBLI museum - worth every minute of the complicated ticket booking process

stumbled on this gluten-free sandwich spot near the ghibli museum in mitaka - christina was STOKED to find celiac-friendly food in japan

christina caught this MASSIVE totoro peeking through the window at the ghibli museum in mitaka. definitely worth the advance ticket booking hassle.

daniel and christina made it to the MUST-SEE ghibli museum in mitaka. christina's been watching totoro since she was a kid for this moment

christina caught this shot of the ICONIC ghibli museum exterior with its whimsical miyazaki-inspired color blocks and ivy-covered walls in mitaka

spotted this cute city emblem near the ghibli museum in mitaka - love how they incorporated poki, their mascot character

rush hour reality check at kichijoji station - this is what dan meant when he said tokyo trains are PACKED

rush hour at kichijoji station - this is what dan meant when he said tokyo trains are PACKED

studying up on how to use our japan rail passes at shibuya station - these things are NO JOKE with all their rules and train types

spotted this adorable tanuki mascot in shinjuku station - japan REALLY knows how to make even their warning signs cute

late dinner at this tiny izakaya in shibuya - chuck's first time trying REAL japanese potato salad and he's now obsessed

late dinner in shibuya - chuck's first taste of REAL japanese chicken katsu. ashley says the french fries were an unexpected but welcome addition.

late dinner at this AMAZING burger spot in shibuya after ashley insisted we try japanese-style american food. turns out she was onto something.

early morning selfie from daniel as we navigate the maze-like streets of shinjuku, trying to find our way to the metro station

early morning rush at tokyo station, catching the NOZOMI bullet train to osaka. chuck snapped this while we figured out which platform to use.

daniel checking out the SLEEK shinkansen at tokyo station before heading to kyoto. these trains are no joke - way smoother than anything back home.

early morning shinkansen from tokyo looking SUSPICIOUSLY empty - chuck managed to snap this right before the morning rush packed it full

chuck flips through a japanese food magazine on the train to chiyoda, featuring onigiri and what looks like the BEST bacon and eggs ever

chuck caught this motion-blurred shot of the yamanote line train passing through chiyoda during morning rush hour. tokyo's rail system is INTENSE.

quick shot from the train window crossing the tama river - chuck caught this view of the iconic blue bridge while heading into tokyo from haneda airport

quick glimpse of yokohama's residential hills from the train window on our way to tokyo. chuck snapped this while passing through the REAL japan, away from the tourist spots.

quick glimpse from the shinkansen window passing through samukawa - those elevated highways are EVERYWHERE in japan

quick glimpse of the tanzawa mountains from the SHINKANSEN as we zoom between tokyo and osaka at 200mph

quick snap from the SHINKANSEN as we zoomed past samukawa on our way to kyoto. chuck caught this view of the mekujiri river and mountains while ashley napped.

quick view from our shinkansen stop in hiratsuka - those mountains in the background are part of the tanzawa mountain range, which looks EPIC with those clouds rolling in

quick glimpse of mount oyama from the shinkansen window while zooming between tokyo and kyoto. those power lines are EVERYWHERE in japan.

quick snap from the shinkansen window passing through hiratsuka - those apartment blocks against the mountains are peak japanese suburban vibes

quick glimpse of the lush hakone mountains from the bullet train window as we zoomed past odawara

quick glimpse of yugawara's hillside neighborhoods from the SHINKANSEN as we zoomed between tokyo and kyoto

quick glimpse of mount FUJI peeking through the clouds during our shinkansen ride to kyoto. classic japan - even the power lines look organized.

quick snap from the bullet train passing through fuji - mt. FUJI playing peek-a-boo behind the power lines

quick glimpse of mt. FUJI from the bullet train window as we zoomed between tokyo and osaka. daniel got way too excited about this shot.

quick glimpse of mt. FUJI from the bullet train window as we zoomed between tokyo and osaka. daniel got way too excited about those massive power towers.

quick snap of mount FUJI from the shinkansen window while zooming between tokyo and osaka. chuck managed to catch it through the blur of speed.

shot from the shinkansen window as we zoomed past nagaizumi - got lucky with this clear view of mt. fuji looming over the rice fields

quick shot of mt. FUJI from the shinkansen window as we zoomed between tokyo and osaka. christina managed to catch it between the clouds.

quick snap from the bullet train between tokyo and osaka - mt. FUJI showing off in perfect weather

quick shot from the bullet train window passing through nagaizumi - mt. FUJI showing off with that perfect cone shape while a giant bowling pin watches from a rooftop

quick snap by christina from the shinkansen window as we zoomed past fuji city - that utility pole REALLY wanted to be in the photo

quick shot from the shinkansen crossing the fujikawa river - those white bridges against mt. fuji in the background are PEAK japan

quick snap from the shinkansen window passing through fuji - love how these residential neighborhoods blend modern solar panels with traditional japanese architecture

quick glimpse of everyday life in fuji from the shinkansen window - those altocumulus clouds though

quick snap from the SHINKANSEN as we zoomed through shizuoka - those traditional roofs against the mountains are peak japan vibes

quick snap from the shinkansen window passing through ogaki - those GOLDEN rice fields though

spotted this quirky tanuki decoration near cogo tennoji while christina was trying to find our way to the osaka airbnb

ashley and christina exploring the streets near teradacho station - the WALL of parked bikes is so osaka

chuck found this ramen ticket machine near teradacho station - way more buttons than we expected for ordering noodles

quick lunch near teradacho station - mentaiko (spicy cod roe) over rice with nori might be my new FAVORITE comfort food

chuck's first bowl of REAL tonkotsu ramen in osaka - way better than anything we've had back home

lunch stop near teradacho station for some LEGIT pan-fried gyoza that put our usual takeout spot to shame

lunch near teradacho station - the SIMPLEST bowl of rice with mentaiko and nori hits different when you're in japan

spotted the tempozan ferris wheel while walking around the osaka harbor area. christina's got a thing for finding these massive wheels everywhere we go.

stumbled across this WILD street art near the osaka aquarium - dan's getting pretty good at spotting these random gems around the city

spotted this WILD street art near osaka's waterfront - those giant climbing figures are apparently a nod to the city's famous billiken statue

moody afternoon shot of the MASSIVE tempozan ferris wheel towering over osaka's port area. dan's getting pretty good with these dramatic angles.

chuck got this shot of the MASSIVE tempozan ferris wheel while we explored the osaka bay area. ashley wanted to ride it but the weather wasn't cooperating

christina caught this shot of the MASSIVE whale sculpture diving through the osaka aquarium entrance - those solar panel umbrellas out front are pretty wild

the MASSIVE osaka aquarium kaiyukan on a moody afternoon - way more impressive than any aquarium back home

even the trash cans near osaka aquarium are designed to look like penguins. daniel and ashley walking ahead while checking out the kaiyukan area.

inside the EPIC underwater tunnel at osaka aquarium kaiyukan. chuck snapped this while ashley, dan, and christina were mesmerized by the fish swimming overhead

daniel and christina checking out the MASSIVE tank at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - this place is way bigger than we expected

chuck caught these tropical fish at the kaiyukan aquarium - way BIGGER than any aquarium we've got back home

view from our room of osaka's busy port - chuck caught this while we were checking out the massive cargo ships coming and going

exploring the artificial cave system at osaka's tennoji zoo - chuck caught this shot of the line forming to enter the COOL underground exhibits

spotted this sleek river otter doing its thing at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these little dudes are WAY more agile than i expected

spotted this STUNNING mandarin duck at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. these little guys are native to japan but super rare to see in the wild now.

spotted this stunning mandarin duck at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way more colorful than the ones back home

checking out the tufted puffins at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these little guys are WAY more punk rock than i expected

checking out the tufted puffins at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these little guys look like they're wearing tuxedos to a fancy dinner

checking out this tufted puffin at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these little guys are WAY cuter in person than in photos

watching the sea lion show at osaka aquarium kaiyukan with daniel and christina. this little performer was SUPER into their fish bucket.

spotted this weird little tanuki at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way more interesting than the fish tbh

checking out the MASSIVE arapaima at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these prehistoric-looking fish are no joke

spotted this sleepy tanuki at the osaka aquarium - way CUTER than i expected from all the statues we've been seeing

massive arapaima showing off at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. these prehistoric-looking fish are HUGE in person.

spotted this MASSIVE japanese giant salamander at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. these prehistoric-looking creatures are native to japan and can grow up to 5 feet long

spotted this MASSIVE arowana at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. these things are no joke - apparently they're called "dragon fish" in japan.

checking out the penguins at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these little guys were WAY more active than we expected

caught feeding time at the osaka aquarium's penguin exhibit - way cooler than we expected

checking out the emperor penguins at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these guys are MASSIVE in person

spotted this gentoo penguin doing its thing at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. way more active than the ones we saw at the zoo back home.

checking out the emperor penguins at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. christina got way too excited about these guys waddling around their icy habitat.

checking out the emperor penguins at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. christina got way too excited about these waddling dudes.

ashley and christina watching a MASSIVE whale shark glide by at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan

chuck caught this cool shot of the kelp forest and ray at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan, where the tanks are MASSIVE

massive whale shark gliding past the viewing window at osaka aquarium kaiyukan. dan managed to catch this ABSOLUTE UNIT right as it cruised by.

this absolute unit of a seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan doing its best submarine impression

massive whale shark cruising by at the kaiyukan aquarium - way BIGGER than we expected

ashley checking out the MASSIVE japanese spider crab at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these things are no joke

spotted this WILD garden eel at the osaka aquarium - they pop up from the sand like little periscopes

spotted these WEIRD garden eels at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. they pop up from the sand like periscopes and duck back down when spooked.

spotted this WILD garden eel at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. these little guys are basically living noodles that pop out of the sand.

checking out the MASSIVE japanese spider crabs at osaka aquarium kaiyukan. daniel and christina got way too excited about these nightmare-fuel crustaceans

spotted these BRIGHT red shrimp at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way cooler than the ones in our local fish store

spotted these WILD red shrimp at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way more interesting than the usual tourist photos of whale sharks

spotted this GORGEOUS moorish idol at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way bigger than i expected these to be in real life

this curious ocean sunfish at osaka aquarium kaiyukan got RIGHT up to the glass to check us out

spotted these MASSIVE japanese spider crabs at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. these things are no joke - their leg span can reach up to 12 feet

spotted these MASSIVE japanese spider crabs at the osaka aquarium - their legs can grow longer than i am tall

spotted these MASSIVE japanese spider crabs at the osaka aquarium. they're basically underwater tanks with legs.

mesmerizing jellyfish at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these MASSIVE japanese sea nettles were christina's favorite part of the exhibits

spotted this WILD jellyfish at the osaka aquarium - way more impressive than the ones back home

mesmerizing jellyfish display at the kaiyukan aquarium - these moon jellies are HYPNOTIC against the deep blue background

mesmerizing moon jellyfish display at the osaka kaiyukan aquarium - these translucent creatures are WAY cooler in person than i expected

christina caught this mesmerizing display at the kaiyukan aquarium - who knew jellyfish could look this ETHEREAL against the dark water

mesmerizing moon jellyfish display at osaka aquarium kaiyukan. christina caught this shot of their ethereal dance against the dark water.

mesmerizing jellyfish display at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - chuck managed to catch these moon jellies in perfect lighting

spotted this weird pufferfish at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - it looks like it's having a rough day

spotted this absolute unit of a seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. christina caught it mid-swim through the massive pacific ocean tank.

spotted this MASSIVE seal swimming overhead at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way cooler than any aquarium back home

took a break from the osaka heat to check out these little dudes at the kaiyukan aquarium

spotted this curious seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way bigger than any aquarium we have back home

spotted this absolute unit of a seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan. christina's photo perfectly caught its "i'm judging you" face

spotted seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan, way bigger than we expected these guys to be in person

spotted this chill seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan, one of the BIGGEST aquariums in the world

spotted this chill seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan, one of the BIGGEST aquariums in the world

spotted this curious seal at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way bigger than we expected for an indoor aquarium

checking out these rockhopper penguins at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way cooler than we expected for an aquarium in the middle of the city

checking out the rockhopper penguins at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these little dudes with their WILD yellow eyebrows are way cooler than expected

checking out this STUNNING parrotfish at osaka aquarium kaiyukan - way bigger than the ones we saw snorkeling in hawaii last year

checking out this MASSIVE parrotfish at the osaka aquarium kaiyukan - these guys are crucial for keeping coral reefs healthy

spotted this cute icoca mascot at the train station fare adjustment machine. these japanese transit cards make getting around SO much easier than paper tickets.

inside the MASSIVE pokemon center in osaka, where dan spent way too much time picking out gifts for his nieces and nephews

chuck waiting in line at the pokemon center osaka - ashley's gonna KILL him when she sees how much he spent on cards

exploring the underground shopping maze at umeda station - these massive japanese malls under train stations are WILD

chuck spotted this WILD pokemon display at the osaka pokemon center in umeda. definitely beats the tiny selection at target back home

dan dragged christina to yet another manga shop in osaka - this one's got some SERIOUS one piece vibes going on with those flags and wall art

chuck spotted this ONE PIECE store display while exploring the massive umeda station shopping complex. looks like we found where daniel needs to stock up on manga merch.

chuck found this MASSIVE pixel art mario at the nintendo store in osaka. perfect spot for gaming nerds like us.

checking out the MASSIVE 8-bit mario art at the nintendo store in osaka

chuck found this AMAZING carbonara at a tiny italian spot in osaka - who knew japan did italian this well

late night four-cheese pizza at this random spot in osaka - sometimes you just need a break from japanese food

waking up to our first morning in the traditional japanese house in osaka. those gold fusuma doors are EVERYTHING.

early morning view from the futon in our traditional osaka house. the kakemono scroll and shoji screens hit different when you're actually waking up to them.

interesting mix of east meets west decor at our osaka airbnb - check out that tiny koi painting next to the random cherub

beautiful japanese artwork hanging in our osaka rental - christina found this delicate painting of a koi fish among maple leaves in the traditional house we're staying at

spotted this ADORABLE tourism poster near teradacho station - japan's mascot game is seriously next level

christina found this business-suited hello kitty at the osaka familymart near our teradacho airbnb - japan REALLY loves their mascots

morning rush hour on osaka's subway - everyone's in their own phone bubble just like back home

spotted these cute tanuki-themed train handles on our morning ride through osaka. these little details make japan's public transit NEXT LEVEL

riding the osaka metro - check out these CLASSIC japanese train seat patterns and floor designs

spotted this ADORABLE deer-themed subway car in osaka. the attention to detail in japanese public transit is next level

early morning shot of the WILD architecture at namba parks mall in osaka. chuck managed to capture that weird rock wall thing jutting out of the building.

christina caught this MASSIVE red octopus sign in osaka's dotonbori district - these wild 3d signs are everywhere here

daniel checking out the iconic zebra crossing leading into namba's entertainment district - those billboards are EVERYWHERE in this part of osaka

early morning in osaka's namba district - christina checking out the iconic zebra crossing while dan snaps pics of the WILD mix of signage and storefronts

early morning in osaka's namba district - chuck caught this quiet moment before the usual crowds hit the famous zebra crossing

morning walk through namba district - wild seeing jim beam ads with japanese celebrities plastered all over the place

christina caught the morning rush at rikuro ojisan, where locals and tourists line up for those FAMOUS wobbly cheesecakes in osaka's namba district

christina and dan waiting in line at the FAMOUS rikuro ojisan cheesecake shop in osaka's namba district - this fluffy japanese cheesecake has been around for 40 years and yes, it was worth the wait

behind the scenes at rikuro ojisan's famous cheesecake shop in osaka - these fluffy japanese cheesecakes are LEGENDARY in the namba district

watching a baker prep fresh japanese cheesecakes at rikuro ojisan in osaka's namba district - these things are LEGENDARY

christina found this ADORABLE halloween-themed cheese cake near namba station - even japan gets into the spooky season

chuck grabbed this FLUFFY japanese cheesecake from rikuro ojisan in osaka's namba district - way better than the ones we tried in tokyo

ashley showing off her first-ever japanese cheesecake from rikuro ojisan in osaka's namba district

chuck's close-up of a half-eaten japanese cheesecake from osaka's famous namba district - way FLUFFIER than anything back home

the MASSIVE mechanical crab that's become dotonbori's most iconic landmark - christina caught this shot while we wandered through osaka's food paradise

christina and dan checking out the famous giant crab in dotonbori - this mechanical marvel moves and steams every few minutes

morning crowds starting to build in osaka's dotonbori district - the MASSIVE billboards and neon signs are exactly what we pictured japan would be like

morning light hits the dotonbori canal just right - chuck caught this quiet moment before the crowds descended on osaka's most FAMOUS food street

morning wandering through dotonbori - christina caught this shot of the iconic yellow ferris wheel against the wild urban canvas of osaka's entertainment district

morning walk through dotonbori with dan behind the camera - this giant yellow crane with the kuidaore taro mascot is basically osaka's eiffel tower

morning wandering through osaka's shinsaibashi-suji, where chuck caught this shot of the iconic shopping arcade entrance with that MASSIVE david bowie-inspired billboard looming above

morning walk along the dotonbori canal - dan caught the iconic glico running man sign that's been here since 1935

morning walk along the dotonbori canal - this spot in osaka is WILD at night but has a totally different vibe before the crowds show up

morning walk along the dotonbori canal - chuck caught this iconic osaka view near the ebisu bridge where all the massive billboards meet the water

early morning walk along the dotonbori canal - chuck caught this iconic osaka view before the crowds hit

spotted this EXTREMELY pink cafe while wandering through dotonbori with daniel - had to grab a pic of peak osaka kawaii culture

inside the WILD dotonbori shopping arcade - these multi-level snack shops are no joke. christina's already spent way too much on kit kats

christina caught this iconic shot of the MASSIVE kani doraku crab sign in dotonbori - osaka's famous food district where giant 3d signs compete for attention

daniel and christina exploring the sensory overload of dotonbori, osaka's famous entertainment district

chuck checking out the endless shopping arcade in dotonbori - these covered shopping streets are EVERYWHERE in osaka

mid-morning crowds starting to build in osaka's famous dotonbori shopping arcade - this covered walkway stretches for what feels like MILES

morning shopping run through the PACKED shoutengai in osaka's dotonbori district - these covered shopping arcades are everywhere and they're basically weather-proof malls

morning shopping run in dotonbori's covered arcade - these streets are PACKED with everything from drugstores to designer shops

chuck scored this SICK evangelion sukajan jacket at don quijote in dotonbori - ¥68200 might seem steep but these things are LEGIT

checking out the ENDLESS wall of gacha machines in dotonbori - these things are everywhere in osaka

found this WILD listerine gacha machine in dotonbori. japan really will make anything into a collectible

stumbled into this WILD gashapon paradise near dotonbori - endless rows of capsule machines with everything from anime figures to miniature food

christina found this tiny businessman figure at don quijote in osaka - these gachapon toys are EVERYWHERE here

chuck found this wall of manga and anime posters at some shop in dotonbori - ashley says he spent WAY too long looking at the jojo's bizarre adventure stuff

dan dragged christina to the MASSIVE pokemon center in osaka's dotonbori district. turns out they're both secret pokemon nerds

christina dragged dan to the pokemon cafe in osaka's dotonbori district. turns out he was just as into it as she was

dan dragged christina to the pokemon center in osaka's dotonbori district. turns out japan takes their pokemon SERIOUSLY

checking out the pokemon cafe in osaka's dotonbori district. dan's inner 90s kid is LIVING for this pikachu display

stumbled on this pokemon display near dotonbori - dan couldn't resist stopping to check out the MASSIVE pikachu

stumbled into this MONSTER HUNTER shop near dotonbori - daniel's inner gamer nerd was FREAKING OUT at all the merch

chuck found his fighting spirit in dotonbori with a MASSIVE street fighter statue at the don quijote store

chuck found his fighting spirit with ryu at the don quijote store in dotonbori. these massive anime figures are NO JOKE

stumbled into this WILD burger-themed shop near dotonbori with shelves full of anime figures and a massive hamburger display. japan's obsession with pop culture never disappoints

christina spotted this WILD samurai-inspired art piece at torchtorch in osaka's shopping district. looks like a michelin man met a medieval knight

christina found this ADORABLE totoro display at the ghibli store in osaka, complete with halloween pumpkins and tiny garden patch

spotted this AMAZING totoro display with halloween pumpkins near shinsaibashi station. christina couldn't resist snapping a pic of this seasonal mashup.

had to try this lawson's convenience store pudding that EVERYONE on tiktok keeps talking about

lunch break at a yakiniku spot in dotonbori - chuck and ashley trying to master those chopsticks with the dipping sauces

lunch spot in dotonbori serving up some LEGIT yakiniku - chuck and ashley found this place on google maps with 4.8 stars and it did not disappoint

lunch spot in dotonbori serving up some LEGIT wagyu beef - this stuff melts like butter

daniel and christina getting their first taste of dotonbori's sensory overload - those billboards are no joke

typical friday afternoon in dotonbori - the CROWDS are no joke here in osaka's famous entertainment district

christina found this AMAZING strawberry soft serve while exploring dotonbori - the line was worth it for that perfect swirl and fresh berry on top

spotted this WILD political street art in dotonbori - japan's take on american politics is something else

watching our yakisoba come to life on the teppanyaki grill at this tiny spot near tennoji station. chuck's first time seeing japanese street food made right in front of us.

early morning peek at the traditional decor in our osaka machiya - christina's got a good eye for these quiet corners

waking up to these GORGEOUS shoji screens in our traditional osaka house. christina's phone on the tatami mat for scale.

tiny zen garden at our osaka machiya, complete with the MOST aesthetic pair of geta by the door

early morning peek at the tiny garden outside our traditional osaka house - dan and christina's slippers lined up just like the locals do

early morning at our osaka machiya - loving how they nailed these tiny garden details right down to the traditional slippers

spotted this MASSIVE daruma doll at our osaka airbnb - christina's already thinking about what wish to make

early morning peek at our traditional osaka house's genkan - loving how the shoji screens filter the light

early morning peek at the traditional tea storage in our osaka machiya. christina's got an eye for these quiet corners.

spotted this ADORABLE icoca card mascot at teradacho station while figuring out osaka's transit system

stumbled across this cool vintage-style jintan ad mural in morinomiya station. these old japanese pharmaceutical brands have such AMAZING design work.

early morning breakfast run near morinomiya station - chuck and ashley trying japanese bakery takes on western classics at MALL BASE

early morning glimpse of osaka castle while waiting for our uber - dan caught this view of the ICONIC green roof peeking through the trees

early morning walk through osaka castle park grounds - you can spot the castle tower peeking through the trees in the distance

early morning walk up to osaka castle - way less crowded than we expected for a saturday

early morning stroll through the castle grounds - caught a glimpse of osaka castle peeking through the trees while vendors set up their market stalls

christina spotted these AMAZING lithops (living stones) at a plant shop near morinomiya station - who knew succulents could look so alien

early morning stop at osaka castle grounds to check out their AMAZING bonsai collection. that fruit-bearing one is a crabapple tree, if you can believe it

early morning stop at osaka castle park - dan spotted this INCREDIBLE fruit-bearing bonsai at the castle's garden shop

stumbled on this AMAZING bonsai with tiny black berries at our traditional house in morinomiya. christina's getting really into japanese gardening.

stumbled on this INCREDIBLE pine bonsai at a tiny garden shop near morinomiya station. dan's getting ideas for his backyard already

stumbled on this amazing bonsai display near osaka castle - these tiny trees are CENTURIES old

met this PERFECT shiba inu near osaka castle park - way more chill than the ones back home

early morning walk through the peaceful paths of osaka castle park, where christina found this perfect curve in the trail

daniel exploring the peaceful paths around osaka castle park on a perfect fall morning. the trees were just starting to turn golden.

early morning walk around osaka castle's moat with the PERFECT mirror reflection of the osaka business park towers

ashley tackling the ENDLESS stairs up to osaka castle on a humid morning. these steps are no joke

daniel and christina found this peaceful walking path near our osaka house - way more chill than the busy streets we've been on all week

early morning shot of osaka castle rising above the trees. dan managed to catch it before the crowds showed up.

chuck caught this epic angle of osaka castle's massive stone walls early in the morning before the crowds showed up

early morning walk around the MASSIVE stone walls of osaka castle. chuck managed to capture this moat view before the crowds showed up.

early morning stop at hokoku shrine near osaka castle - chuck managed to catch this quiet moment before the crowds showed up

daniel and christina at the entrance to hokoku shrine, right next to osaka castle. early morning exploring before the crowds show up.

morning walk along the outer walls of osaka castle with ashley - those stone walls are MASSIVE up close

ashley and chuck approaching the otemon gate at osaka castle - you can just barely see the castle tower peeking through

early morning at the osaka museum of history - chuck snapped this while daniel and christina were still trying to figure out the subway map

early morning at osaka castle - chuck managed to get this shot before the crowds showed up

early morning at osaka castle - chuck managed to get this shot before the crowds got too wild. daniel and christina were still sleeping back at the house

early morning at osaka castle - christina caught this classic view of the MASSIVE fortress before the crowds showed up

found this WILD time capsule from expo '70 while wandering through osaka castle park. looks straight out of a retro sci-fi movie

found this weird expo '70 time capsule near osaka castle. apparently it won't be opened until 6970 (not a typo)

early morning at osaka castle - chuck got this perfect shot while ashley was still back at our traditional house getting ready for the day

christina got this perfect shot of osaka castle on our first morning exploring the city. the MASSIVE stone walls at the base are just wild.

early morning detail shot of osaka castle's iconic roof - those gold tigers are WAY more impressive up close than i expected

museum display at osaka castle showing an ornate roof tile with the tokugawa family crest and old japanese coins

checking out the original gold shachihoko from osaka castle's roof - these tiger-fish sculptures are WAY more impressive up close than when you're squinting at them from the ground

museum display at osaka castle showing a model roof tile with the tokugawa family crest and old japanese coins

spotted this WILD samurai helmet display at osaka castle - dan's history nerd side was in full effect

500 yen to try on a samurai helmet at osaka castle - dan couldn't resist getting the full TOYOTOMI experience

checking out some old-school samurai helmets at the osaka castle museum - dan's getting WAY into the history here

dan checking out the samurai helmet collection at osaka castle museum - this kabuto with golden horns was worn by tokugawa warriors

checking out some EPIC samurai helmets at osaka castle museum - these replicas show how the daimyo went all out with their headgear

checking out this wild samurai helmet with deer antlers at osaka castle museum - dan's inner history nerd is LIVING for this stuff

chuck caught this amazing diorama at osaka castle showing the MASSIVE battle that decided the castle's fate - those tiny samurai figures are incredibly detailed

checking out this EPIC battle scene at the osaka museum of history - dan's inner history nerd is totally geeking out over these samurai figures

checking out this EPIC samurai battle scene at the osaka museum - dan's history nerd side is showing

dan found this museum plaque about a miniature battle display at osaka castle showing the EPIC summer war between sanada and matsudaira troops

epic battle diorama at osaka castle museum showing how samurai actually fought (way cooler than those zen peaceful warrior myths)

chuck got this AMAZING shot of the golden shachihoko fish-tiger on top of osaka castle. you can spot one of the turrets in the background through the trees.

view from the top of osaka castle looking down at the famous golden shachihoko ornament and the castle grounds below. dan got this shot while christina was trying not to look down

view from osaka castle's observation deck showing the MASSIVE golden shachihoko fish and the city sprawl beyond. dan got here early to beat the crowds.

view from osaka castle observation deck showing how the city's modern skyline contrasts with the MASSIVE castle grounds below

morning view from osaka castle park, with the MASSIVE osaka skyline stretching out to the horizon. you can spot the iconic HEP FIVE ferris wheel peeking through the skyscrapers

view from the top of osaka castle looking down at the moat and grounds - christina caught the early fall colors starting to show in the trees

view from the top of osaka castle with daniel and christina checking out the MASSIVE golden shachihoko fish-tiger ornament that guards the roof

checking out one of the old cannons at osaka castle with chuck - these things are MASSIVE up close

early morning line to get into osaka castle - worth getting here before the crowds get REALLY nuts

checking out the original stone walls near osaka castle - these massive blocks have been here since the 1600s and were cut without any power tools

fortune slip from the temple shows some SERIOUS japanese calligraphy - no idea what it says but it looks pretty legit

daniel checking out the MASSIVE statue of toyotomi hideyoshi at osaka castle park - this guy was basically japan's napoleon

near osaka castle, christina met this SASSY monkey performer in a red outfit who clearly knows how to work the camera

caught this hilarious moment at osaka castle park where a trained monkey and their handler were putting on a street performance - the monkey's SASS level was through the roof

near osaka castle, we found this AMAZING monkey performer in a bright red outfit - way more stylish than any of us expected

caught a monkey performance near osaka castle - these little guys in their outfits doing tricks with their trainers are a thing here

caught a monkey performance near osaka castle - these little guys in their outfits are WAY more coordinated than any of us

chuck caught this imposing statue of toyotomi hideyoshi at osaka castle park - the dude literally unified japan in the 1500s

christina caught this shot of the hokoku shrine while exploring osaka castle park - way less crowded than we expected for a saturday morning

christina caught this komainu guardian at hokoku shrine rocking a pink skirt - because even fierce temple dogs need a fashion moment

spotted this cool shishi guardian lion peeking out from behind a pile of wish stones near osaka castle. these little rock stacks are everywhere - each one represents someone's hopes and dreams

these tiny metal sparrows near osaka castle are actually part of the handrail design - japan's attention to detail is NEXT LEVEL

the ENDLESS stairs leading up to osaka castle - chuck got his steps in today while ashley took the elevator (smart move)

morning walk through osaka castle park - christina caught this quiet moment where the moat reflects the modern city beyond the historic grounds

spotted this VERY good shiba inu hanging out at a cafe near osaka castle. these dogs are everywhere in japan but this one was especially chill.

christina's artsy ice cream shot near osaka castle - this FANCY popsicle from a local shop hits different than anything back home

watching a pro at work in the teradacho neighborhood - this guy was CRUSHING the tamagoyaki game

christina found this GIANT taiyaki near teradacho station - way better than the ones back home

waiting for our train to kyoto at shin-osaka station. the PRECISION of japanese railways still blows my mind

lunch near umeda station - dan's first taste of REAL karaage and bonito sashimi. way better than anything we get back home.

lunch spot in osaka serving up the PERFECT combo of ebi furai and fresh sashimi - christina's first time trying japanese-style breaded shrimp

christina found this adorable tako (octopus) charm with the kanji for osaka at a local shop - perfect tiny souvenir from our time in kansai

spotted this EPIC gaogaigar model at a hobby shop in chiyoda. dan's inner mecha nerd is showing.

dan found the MOTHER LODE of tamashii nations figures at a shop in chiyoda. christina's gonna kill him when she sees the credit card bill.

dan found this EPIC zelda master sword display while exploring akihabara's gaming shops - christina's already planning where it'll go in their game room

dan found his mecha paradise at the tamashii nations display in chiyoda - these GUNDAM figures are way cooler than anything we've got back home

spotted this EPIC gundam model while exploring akihabara with christina - the wings on this thing are insane

spotted this EPIC godzilla figure at a shop in akihabara - dan couldn't resist checking out every anime store we passed

spotted this CREEPY squid game figure at some anime shop in akihabara. dan's obsession with k-dramas is showing

spotted this EPIC dragon symphony zyusouken display at a shop in akihabara. dan's inner power rangers fan was freaking out

stumbled onto a political campaign truck in akihabara - wild to see japanese politics in action with their signature sound trucks and banners

christina caught this slice of AKIHABARA at night - anime billboards and game centers stacked up like tetris pieces in the electric city

christina caught this shot of the MASSIVE anime billboards lighting up akihabara at night. typical evening scene in tokyo's famous otaku district

saturday night in akihabara - dan's first time seeing the SENSORY OVERLOAD of anime billboards and neon everywhere

saturday night crowds in akihabara are NO JOKE. dan caught this while we were trying to find the retro gaming store christina wanted to check out

night scene outside sofmap in akihabara. christina checking her phone while we waited in one of those MASSIVE lines you always see in tokyo.

saturday night crowds at the MASSIVE bic camera store in akihabara. dan caught this while we were heading to get some electronics - the lines here are no joke

checking out some anime figures at one of akihabara's MANY figure shops. this neighborhood is basically otaku heaven.

found this little GODZILLA figure at a shop in tokyo - way cuter than the one destroying the city in all those movies

ashley showing off her anime merch find at a tiny ramen spot near akihabara. chuck's probably still trying to figure out how to use the ticket machine outside

spotted these WILD chrome elmo bearbricks while hunting for collectibles in akihabara. dan's gonna need a bigger suitcase.

dan found this MASSIVE ghostbusters bearbrick while hunting for collectibles in akihabara's toy shops

spotted this ADORABLE vintage nissan figaro cruising through akihabara at night - such a perfect match for the retro-tech vibe of electric town

spotted this MINT nissan figaro while wandering around akihabara at night - these retro cars are way cooler in person than in photos

late night wandering through akihabara led dan to this fascinating tokuyama advertisement showing off their high-tech materials science

spotted this sign near akihabara station - dan's attempt to practice his japanese kanji reading skills wasn't going so well

late night laundry adventures in our osaka airbnb - these japanese washing machines are NO JOKE with their buttons and settings

early morning in shinjuku and already spotted the WEIRDEST restaurant name combo - dancing crab next to a place called kirin city

spotted this AMAZING restaurant directory in shinjuku - had to grab a pic of the dancing crab sign because how could you not

peeking into the driver's cab of the yamanote line train at shinjuku station - these trains run like CLOCKWORK around tokyo

morning scene at the iconic shibuya crossing - chuck caught this while waiting to brave the MASSIVE intersection

morning shot of the iconic bic camera building in shibuya - these electronics megastores are basically a rite of passage for tokyo tourists

morning chaos at the famous shibuya crossing - those massive billboards are WILD compared to times square

morning light hits the iconic big camera building in shibuya - christina caught this classic tokyo view near the scramble crossing

waiting with the crowd at the FAMOUS shibuya crossing - chuck managed to snap this while ashley was trying to figure out which direction to head next

looks like tokyo's not messing around with halloween this year - huge "no events" sign right in the middle of shibuya crossing

chuck caught the MASSIVE sunday morning crowd at shibuya crossing, where locals mix with tourists in this iconic tokyo intersection

quick starbucks break near shibuya crossing with some WILD japan-exclusive frappuccinos - these blue and pink drinks are way cooler than anything we get back home

dan got this bird's-eye view of the FAMOUS shibuya crossing from starbucks - way less chaotic than expected at 10am on a sunday

bird's eye view of the FAMOUS shibuya crossing from starbucks - dan's first time seeing the organized chaos in action

dan's first encounter with a high-tech japanese toilet at our shibuya airbnb. these things are WILD

bathroom sign in shibuya station has me wondering who needs to be told NOT to stand on the toilet

christina got this perfect shot of the FAMOUS shibuya crossing from above - way less chaotic than expected at 10am on a sunday

christina got this perfect view of the FAMOUS shibuya crossing from starbucks - way less chaotic on a sunday morning than we expected

christina got this shot of the FAMOUS shibuya crossing from above - way less chaotic than we expected for a sunday morning

spotted this PERFECT sweater at a shop in shibuya that basically sums up my entire wardrobe aesthetic

christina caught this colorful balloon arch welcoming visitors to takeshita street, one of shibuya's most ICONIC shopping areas

dan caught this whimsical balloon display at the entrance to takeshita street, one of harajuku's MOST iconic shopping areas

sunday morning crowd at takeshita street - dan's first taste of harajuku's FAMOUS teen fashion scene

sunday morning crowds filling up takeshita street in harajuku - christina caught this shot of the INTENSE shopping scene near our airbnb

spotted this WILD anime-style t-shirt design in a shibuya shop - mixing traditional geisha vibes with modern pop art

scored this WEIRD japanese streetwear find at a shop in harajuku - the cryptic text at the bottom is peak tokyo fashion

christina found this awesome jujutsu kaisen themed cafe in harajuku - perfect spot for anime fans to geek out over coffee

chuck and ashley waiting in line at what looks like a harajuku animal cafe, with signs everywhere telling us NOT to take photos (oops)

dan and christina found the CUTEST otter cafe in harajuku - way better than the typical cat cafes

christina getting some quality time with an otter at the HARRY hedgehog cafe in shibuya. these little guys are WAY more chill than i expected.

dan and christina getting their otter fix at harry harajuku, where you wear pink coveralls and hang with ACTUAL OTTERS (yes, really)

dan getting some quality time with an otter at harry harajuku, one of tokyo's MANY animal cafes

christina getting some quality time with a sleepy otter at the harajuku harry otter cafe - these little guys are WAY softer than they look

dan and christina rocking matching pink jumpsuits at the LEGENDARY harajuku otter cafe - way more chill than the owl cafes

dan and christina found the PERFECT way to spend a rainy afternoon in shibuya - hanging with otters at a local animal cafe

dan caught these otters sharing a sweet moment at the HARRY harajuku otter cafe, where you can watch these playful creatures while sipping coffee

stumbled onto this WILD breakdancing competition at shibuya sky - way more intense than anything we've got back home

spotted these sleepy otters taking a break at the harry harajuku otter cafe in shibuya. japan's animal cafes are on a WHOLE other level

spotted this WILD strawberry-themed shop in harajuku with an anime store right above it - peak japan right here

dan grabbed this LEGENDARY maritozzo cream bun near harajuku station - these italian-inspired treats have become a HUGE trend in tokyo

quick lunch stop at ZETTERIA in shibuya - dan's first taste of japanese fast food burgers

stumbled across this GORGEOUS cherry blossom window art while wandering through the back streets of shibuya. dan's getting pretty good at spotting these hidden gems.

spotted this porsche 911 in shibuya - wild to see luxury cars mixed with tiny kei vans on these narrow streets

spotted this fender store while wandering through shibuya - wild to see such an AMERICAN brand with such a big presence here

stumbled across this EPIC fender shop in shibuya - dan couldn't resist checking out their japanese-made guitars

christina caught this wild geometric facade at miyashita park, one of shibuya's COOLEST new developments

dan found the NSFW side of japanese retail while wandering through shibuya. tenga's flagship store is... something else.

spotted these WILD platform boots at a shop in shibuya - giving major harajuku fashion vibes

checking out some WILD chunky sneakers at a boutique in shibuya - these japanese streetwear shops hit different

stumbled onto this cool outdoor concert in shibuya - way more chill than the CRAZY crossing everyone talks about

stumbled onto this indie band playing at a street festival near shibuya - total j-rock vibes with those paper lanterns and red striped tent

christina caught this shot of the WILD living wall at the tokyu plaza omotesando harajuku cafe - way cooler than your average starbucks spot

checking out the WILD architecture of tokyu plaza omotesando harajuku - those angular walls and digital billboards are peak tokyo

rooftop view from harajuku's laforet mall shows the quirky side of tokyo architecture, complete with that MASSIVE retro clock

christina's onitsuka tigers getting their first taste of shibuya's concrete jungle

stumbled across this WILD glass building while wandering through shibuya - looks like it's melting right into the street

stumbled across the japan office of palantir while exploring shibuya - wild to see silicon valley tech giants setting up shop in tokyo

stumbled on this cool vintage shop in shibuya - dan's already planning a return trip to dig through their vinyl collection

stumbled on this weird aesthetic casino near shibuya crossing - not what you'd expect to find in tokyo but apparently gambling spots are pretty common here

this wild building in shibuya looks straight out of a sci-fi movie mixed with a fairytale castle. dan's shot of the marui city fashion building shows why tokyo's architecture hits DIFFERENT.

looks like shibuya is REALLY not into halloween this year - check out all those "no" signs everywhere near the famous scramble crossing

spotted this chill cat living its best life at a cat cafe near shibuya scramble. these places are EVERYWHERE in tokyo

quick stop at a cat cafe near shibuya station - this little guy was OBSESSED with my house slippers

dan caught the MASSIVE sunday afternoon crowd at the famous shibuya crossing - turns out everyone else in tokyo had the same idea as us

christina spotted this AMAZING sign combo in shinjuku - a surveyor's office right above what might be the most unfortunate dj name ever

chuck's haul from the manga shop in shinjuku - ashley's gonna KILL him when she sees how much he spent

night shot from dan showing the WILD energy of shinjuku's entertainment district - those red lanterns and neon signs are no joke

sunday night crowds pack the streets near cross shinjuku, where dan managed to snap this shot of the INTENSE nightlife scene

late night fries at an izakaya in shinjuku - these aren't your average mcdonald's fries, they're topped with green onions and japanese mayo

late night curry soup with GIANT dumplings at this tiny spot in shinjuku. dan's first time trying proper japanese curry and these massive gyoza definitely hit the spot after all the walking today.

late dinner with christina at a korean spot in shinjuku - those stone bowls of soup were EXACTLY what we needed after a full day of walking

packed izakaya in shinjuku with the COOLEST paper lantern setup. dan snapped this while we waited for a table - totally worth the 45-min wait for some late night eats.

caught this salaryman power napping on the morning train near shibuya - the REAL tokyo lifestyle we don't see in tourist photos

spotted this hilarious ad near kyoto station - modern company using traditional ukiyo-e style to sell... construction materials? only in japan

navigating kyoto station's underground maze to find our shinkansen tickets. christina's already memorized the japanese signs but i'm still lost without the english translations

these distinctive glass street lamps caught my eye while walking through kyoto - way cooler than the boring ones back home

christina spotted this korean hot dog shop near nishiki market in kyoto - these corn dogs on steroids are EVERYWHERE in japan

ashley exploring the covered shopping arcade near kyoto station on a quiet monday morning. these traditional shotengai are EVERYWHERE in japan.

daniel and christina checking out the MASSIVE wall of gacha machines near nishiki market. these things are everywhere in kyoto but this spot was next level.

christina caught ashley checking out this tiny shrine tucked between shops in kyoto's downtown. those paper lanterns are EVERYWHERE here.

stumbled onto this AMAZING shrine entrance near nishiki market - those paper lanterns and red banners are giving major kyoto vibes

dan spotted this MASSIVE burger king ad near nishiki market in kyoto - the ninniku garlic pounder is japan's take on the whopper with four patties and a serious garlic kick

spotted this MASSIVE snow crab display outside a restaurant near nishiki market in kyoto. christina couldn't resist snapping a pic of this iconic seafood signage.

spotted this WILD vending machine near nishiki market in kyoto - selling legit anime merch instead of drinks

spotted this quirky vending machine selling saxophone reeds near nishiki market in kyoto. only in JAPAN would you find musical supplies in a vending machine.

stumbled on this quirky vending machine in kyoto selling musical instrument supplies - only in JAPAN would you find clarinet reeds and ocarina sets in a vending machine

spotted these SUPER kawaii sanrio and otamatone musical instruments at a shop in kyoto - each one costs about $30 usd

chuck spotted this original jojo's bizarre adventure animation cel at the kyoto samurai & ninja museum. at ¥385,000 ($2,600), maybe next time.

dan found this spot near the kyoto samurai museum - because OBVIOUSLY we needed a beer break after all that walking around downtown kyoto

dan found this craft beer spot near the kyoto samurai ninja museum. perfect timing since we were all ready for a break from sake.

original manga artwork at the kyoto samurai & ninja museum showing what looks like an intense scene from a japanese comic

chuck snagged this original manga artwork at the kyoto samurai & ninja museum - way COOLER than the plastic swords in the gift shop

dan found this arcade near nishiki market with a row of SEGA's star horse racing simulators - way more intense than anything we've got back home

dan found this WILD fishing arcade game near nishiki market in kyoto - way more high-tech than those county fair games back home

lunch near nishiki market - this seafood yakisoba with a perfect runny egg might be the best thing i've eaten in kyoto so far

daniel found a long boi corn dog near pontocho alley in kyoto. his vintage kaiju movie t-shirt game is STRONG.

lunch break near kyoto city hall - chuck's first karaage and he's now OBSESSED

dan spotted this kawaii contact lens advertisement near pontocho alley - peak japanese beauty marketing right here

stumbled into this WILD advertisement in gion - dan couldn't stop laughing at the kawaii overload in this contact lens shop window

stumbled across this MASSIVE beauty ad in pontocho alley - these glamour posters are everywhere in kyoto's shopping districts

spotted this purikura-style advertisement in kyoto's pontocho district - these kawaii contact lens displays are EVERYWHERE in japan

spotted this kawaii contact lens ad in a kyoto drugstore - the WHOLE aesthetic is just so perfectly japan

stumbled across this playful bronze sculpture near kyoto station - love how it captures that universal kid energy that needs no translation

peeking out at a peaceful karesansui garden near honganji temple in kyoto. christina caught this zen moment through the window during our afternoon temple-hopping.

modern zen garden installation at our kyoto hotel - christina's got an eye for these minimalist spaces

welcome note and traditional tea set waiting for daniel and christina at their kyoto hotel - the KONPEITO candies are a nice touch

daniel and christina catching the last rays of golden hour outside a modern japanese restaurant in kyoto's shimogyo ward. loving dan's duck sweater against the geometric light fixtures.

daniel and christina catching the last rays of sun near shimogyo ward in kyoto, right before heading to dinner at the nearby maruki bakery

ashley on the illuminated path at kodaiji temple during their evening light-up event. the maple trees are just starting to turn for fall.

night shot of this eerie buddhist monk statue near higashi honganji temple. christina caught it looking extra mysterious in the shadows.

breakfast at the oriental hotel kyoto - even the hot dog labels are NEXT LEVEL fancy here

spotted this quirky tanuki statue wearing a construction helmet outside a shop in kyoto's shimogyo ward. these little guys are EVERYWHERE in japan.

stumbled across this cool scale model of the rajōmon gate right outside kyoto station - way smaller than the MASSIVE original that used to guard the city

spotted this ADORABLE icoca mascot while waiting for our shinkansen at kyoto station. these transit cards make getting around japan so much easier

spotted this playful cat statue chasing a golden ball at fushimi inari shrine - chuck's getting pretty good with these shrine shots

chuck found this WILD fox statue near fushimi inari shrine - apparently it's a guardian spirit called kitsune that loves snacking on fried tofu

morning wandering through fushimi inari, where daniel spotted this cool fox statue along the famous orange torii gates. christina's getting pretty good with these shrine shots.

spotted this WILD cat statue at fushimi inari shrine - apparently it's supposed to bring good luck

chuck caught this shot of the MASSIVE crowds heading into fushimi inari shrine on a tuesday morning. turns out everyone wants to see those famous orange gates.

joining the crowd heading up to the MASSIVE fushimi inari shrine gates. christina snapped this during our morning visit - way busier than we expected for a tuesday.

chuck caught this shot of the ICONIC rōmon gate at fushimi inari shrine while ashley braved the tourist crowds for a closer look

morning visit to the ICONIC fushimi inari shrine - christina got this shot of the rōmon gate before we started our hike up the mountain

chuck caught this iconic fox statue at fushimi inari shrine on our morning walk through the ENDLESS red gates

chuck and ashley checking out the iconic fox statues at fushimi inari shrine in kyoto. these guardian kitsune are EVERYWHERE here.

christina caught this cool shot of a samurai warrior figure through protective mesh at fushimi inari shrine in kyoto

chuck and ashley joining the crowd at fushimi inari's main hall on a cloudy kyoto morning

ashley checking out the entrance to fushimi inari shrine while chuck snaps this pic of the first torii gate - turns out there are THOUSANDS more to go

thousands of colorful paper cranes at fushimi inari shrine - christina caught this amazing display of senbazuru while we explored the shrine grounds

checking out the massive ema board at fushimi inari shrine - these wooden plaques have names of THOUSANDS of donors who helped maintain the shrine over the years

colorful paper cranes at fushimi inari shrine near kyoto. christina caught this shot of the senbazuru displays hanging along the path.

these tiny vermillion shrines at fushimi inari are actually mini-temples called hokora, where people leave offerings to inari, the fox deity

typical morning crowd at fushimi inari shrine - chuck managed to get this shot of the smaller buildings near the entrance before we tackled those ENDLESS orange gates

daniel and christina joining the crowd at the base of the ICONIC steps leading to fushimi inari shrine. tourist season is no joke here.

walking through the ICONIC orange torii gates at fushimi inari shrine - chuck managed to get this shot between the crowds of people heading up the mountain path

chuck and ashley taking a quick selfie under the ICONIC orange torii gates at fushimi inari shrine. those kanji characters behind them? each gate was donated by a japanese business

ashley taking a quick break under the ICONIC orange torii gates at fushimi inari shrine while chuck figures out how many more steps to the top

ashley joining the steady stream of tourists through the ICONIC orange torii gates at fushimi inari shrine

chuck's selfie in the iconic torii gate tunnel at fushimi inari, where thousands of orange gates wind up the sacred mountain

peeking through the window at yasaka shrine's guardian statues - these guys mean BUSINESS

daniel and christina joining the crowd at the iconic torii gates of fushimi inari shrine on a cloudy kyoto morning

ashley pausing along the iconic torii gate path at fushimi inari shrine, where thousands of orange gates wind up mt inari

peak tourist season at the ICONIC fushimi inari shrine - christina caught the endless stream of visitors making their way through the torii gates

daniel taking a quick break among the endless torii gates at fushimi inari shrine, rocking his snoopy procrastination shirt

daniel caught this shot of the ICONIC orange torii gates while christina wandered through the tunnels at fushimi inari shrine

spotted this stone fox guardian with its bright red bib at fushimi inari shrine. these guys are EVERYWHERE on the mountain path

stone lantern at fushimi inari with those iconic TORII gates peeking through the trees in the background. daniel got artsy with this one.

ancient kanji inscriptions on a stone pillar at fushimi inari, with the iconic orange torii gates peeking through in the background

daniel and christina exploring the smaller torii gates at fushimi inari, where the paths get way less crowded than the famous entrance

christina caught this shot of the iconic torii gates at fushimi inari shrine while daniel was already halfway up the mountain path

walking through the iconic orange torii gates at fushimi inari shrine, we kept getting stuck behind groups of tourists in traditional kimono rentals

spotted these women in matching pink kimonos walking through the ICONIC torii gates at fushimi inari shrine. christina caught this perfect shot of their traditional obi bows.

daniel and christina got caught in the crowd at the ICONIC torii gates - worth the wait though

peaceful stream running through the gardens in kyoto. christina caught this zen moment during our morning walk.

peaceful corner of the fushimi inari shrine grounds where christina spotted this mossy rock garden tucked away from the main paths

spotted this mossy guardian lion with its bright red bib at fushimi inari shrine - these guys have been keeping watch here for CENTURIES

christina caught this iconic fox statue at fushimi inari shrine - these kitsune are said to be messengers of the rice god inari

chuck caught this perfect shot of the entrance to daishogun hachi shrine in kyoto - those paper lanterns say "daishogun" in kanji

weird display at this kyoto convenience store near kitano - the japanese REALLY know how to do halloween decorations

weird yokai-inspired decorations outside a kyoto convenience store prove japan does halloween in its own UNIQUELY unsettling way

spotted this WILD bakery mascot near daishōgun hachi shrine in kyoto. definitely not what i expected to see outside a pastry shop.

spotted this WILD tengu statue outside a shop in kyoto's kitano district - way more intense than the ones at the shrines

wandering through kyoto's historic kitano district, christina spotted this ADORABLE shop mascot rocking a kimono and sneakers - peak japan right there

this weathered tanuki statue outside a shop in kyoto's nishijin district has definitely seen better days

this quirky old man statue guards a shop entrance in kyoto's kamishichiken district - japan's oldest geisha district still has some WILD storefront decorations

stumbled across this weird little oni guardian while wandering the backstreets near kamishichiken in kyoto. japan's quirky side never disappoints

wandering through the kitano district of kyoto, caught this glimpse of the mountains behind a local pharmacy - the japanese text on that yellow building reads "marueiyaku" (a drugstore chain)

christina spotted this AMAZING vintage-style ramen sign at a noodle shop near nishiki market in kyoto. those pig characters are too good.

lunch break at nishiki market - chuck's spicy karaage ramen with a side of gyoza hit the SPOT after all that walking

dan found these wild TAKO (octopus) skewers at a street vendor near nishiki market in kyoto. christina was too scared to try them but dan says they were actually pretty good.

lunch near nishiki market - dan and christina tried their first ika (squid) yakitori. the MASSIVE squid skewers were way better than expected.

found these WILD candied baby octopus on sticks near nishiki market in kyoto. dan wasn't brave enough to try one but christina went for it

fresh seafood display at nishiki market in kyoto - those MASSIVE king crab legs though

chuck braved the PACKED nishiki market crowds to snap this shot of what locals call "kyoto's kitchen" - turns out everyone else had the same idea for lunch

spotted this WILD yamaha french horn at a music shop near gion-shijo station. ¥53,000 (~$350) seems like a steal for this beauty.

spotted this WILD original totoro sketch by hayao miyazaki at the kyoto manga museum - price tag says ¥29 million (about $200k)

christina spotted this GIANT pufferfish display hanging over a pharmacy in kyoto's teramachi shopping arcade

dan's fortune from the temple near nishiki market - we had no idea what it said but the mount fuji design was SUPER cool

dan's fortune from the temple near nishiki market - these PINK paper fortunes are way cooler than the ones back home

spotted this WILD mascot character on a payment terminal screen near kawaramachi station in kyoto. japan's obsession with cute mascots never disappoints

caught this quirky taxi tv ad while cruising through kyoto's kawaramachi district - these screens kept us entertained during every ride

cool display at kyoto station showing off some of the city's ICONIC landmarks and the shinkansen that brought us here

rainy night in shinjuku and the streets are still PACKED with people ducking under the train tracks with umbrellas

chuck's late-night find from the anime shops in shinjuku - a SICK dragon ball freezer shirt with cherry blossoms

ashley's EPIC find at a vintage shop in shinjuku - a silk sukajan with these INSANE dragon embroidery details

ashley's EPIC find from the vintage shops in shinjuku - a silk sukajan with the most detailed phoenix embroidery we've seen

spotted this little guy scurrying around near shinjuku station. turns out rats are pretty common in tokyo's busy districts

spotted this chunky rat living its best life in shinjuku. tokyo's urban wildlife hits different.

when you need a break from japanese food - chuck and ashley found this EPIC burger spot in akihabara that puts a fried egg on everything

lunch break at shogun burger in akihabara - chuck's photo of their MASSIVE wagyu burger with matcha dipping sauce for the fries. way better than we expected for a burger in japan

mechanical keyboard shopping in akihabara - chuck found this specialty shop while looking for tech souvenirs near the FAMOUS electronics district

chuck found this ADORABLE mechanical keyboard with kawaii keycaps while exploring akihabara's tech shops

spotted this WILD coffee maker at tokyu hands in shibuya - ¥68,200 (about $460) for some next-level pour-over action

digging through stacks of vintage japanese vinyl at a record shop in tokyo. akiko kobayashi's 1984 album 'kokorone mamani' caught my eye with that CLASSIC city pop aesthetic.

checking out some SERIOUS coffee gear at tokyu hands in shibuya. dan's already plotting which grinder to buy for back home

stumbled into this AMAZING display of vintage-style coffee grinders at a kitchenware shop in shibuya. dan's coffee obsession reached new levels when he saw the prices in yen

vintage kaiju figures spotted while chuck and ashley explored the ENDLESS toy shops of akihabara

chuck found this sweet display of american comic figures in akihabara - that red spider-man figure is going for ¥19,000

chuck found this weird 'rat bat spider' figure in one of akihabara's MANY toy shops - definitely the kind of bizarre stuff you only see in japan

chuck found this WILD troll doll in a display case at one of akihabara's many vintage toy shops - 22,000 yen seems steep for nightmare fuel

chuck found some SWEET star wars figures at one of akihabara's many toy shops - these japanese versions are way cooler than what we get back home

stumbled into this WILD equestrian clothing store in shibuya with a life-sized horse display that's somehow both elegant and totally random

found this EPIC gundam-themed massage chair at a cafe in shibuya. japan really knows how to level up their relaxation game

christina found this WILD massage chair at the icocoon store in shibuya - looks more like a space pod than furniture

spotted this EPIC street style under the train tracks in shinjuku - those platform boots and mcm backpack are pure tokyo fashion

dan's platform boots in shinjuku - these CHUNKY shoes were perfect for tokyo's endless walking

ashley and chuck stumbled across a wall of idol meet-and-greet posters in chiyoda - definitely NOT what they expected to find in tokyo's business district

ashley and chuck stumbled into what looks like an idol meet-and-greet schedule wall in chiyoda. PEAK japan right here.

found this WILD cajun seafood spot in shinjuku - who knew japan did louisiana-style crab boils

christina trying out a yuzu highball at the seafood place in shinjuku - these drinks are WAY better than regular highballs

lunch break at dancing crab in shinjuku - daniel and christina trying their first japanese-style seafood restaurant chain

dan and christina hit up the FAMOUS dancing crab in shinjuku for their 10th anniversary celebration - turns out seafood boils are a thing in tokyo too

watching our lunch get prepped at ichiran in shinjuku - dan's first taste of REAL ramen coming up

chuck spotted this EPIC rengoku figure at a shop in akihabara. ¥70,800 (~$475) for demon slayer merch is wild but the quality looks insane

chuck spotted this EPIC attack on titan figure in akihabara for ¥35,000 (~$235). guess who's going home with a lighter wallet

spotted these EPIC one piece figures at a shop in akihabara. chuck's inner otaku was definitely showing when he dragged us into every anime store we passed

checking out the anime figure shops in AKIHABARA - chuck snapped this while ashley was busy pretending not to look at the price tags

dan comparing mobile data plans at yodobashi camera in shinjuku - these prices are WILD compared to what we pay back home

chuck spotted this nami figure at a shop in AKIHABARA - looks like one piece merch is way cheaper here than back home

chuck found these EPIC jujutsu kaisen figures at a shop in akihabara. prices are steep but the detail is insane

inside one of akihabara's many idol merchandise shops - chuck snapped this while exploring the OTAKU side of tokyo

ashley trying out one of akihabara's MANY vending machines with dragon ball art in the background - these things are everywhere in japan

browsing the manga and magazine selection in AKIHABARA - chuck's first encounter with japan's unique magazine culture

spotted this AMAZING crime prevention poster in shinjuku station - love how japanese public safety announcements always manage to be both serious and cute at the same time

spotted these EPIC gundam models at what must be the most otaku store ever. chuck's inner teenager is FREAKING OUT right now.

chuck and ashley found this AMAZING peking duck at a chinese restaurant near tokyo dome. who knew some of tokyo's best chinese food would be in chiyoda?

chuck and ashley trying deep-fried salmon at a spot near suidobashi station - way better than we expected for hotel restaurant food

late night tacos at chidori, this tiny fusion spot in osaka that puts a japanese spin on mexican food. ashley's pink nails approve of the pulled pork with red onions.

chuck and ashley found this AMAZING wagyu spot near tokyo dome - way better than any steakhouse back home

dan showing off his new onitsuka tigers and that SWEET vintage japanese denim jacket he scored at hundred story in shinjuku

spotted this DRAMATIC safety poster at shinjuku station - love how japanese public notices always come with manga-style illustrations

morning crowd at the tokyo national museum entrance - dan caught this while we were waiting for it to open. perfect fall weather for museum hopping in ueno.

giant inflatable hello kitty greeting visitors outside the national museum in taito. christina couldn't pass up this peak japan moment.

early morning at the tokyo national museum - chuck managed to get this shot before the crowds showed up

chuck snapped these MASSIVE egyptian statues at the tokyo national museum. who knew japan had such an impressive collection of ancient egyptian art?

ancient tile with a mythical creature spotted at the tokyo national museum - christina's getting REALLY into japanese art history

ancient amethyst jewelry on display at the tokyo national museum - chuck snapped this while ashley was geeking out over the edo period collection

christina found this ancient ibis specimen at the national museum of nature and science in ueno. pretty wild to see how well-preserved it is.

chuck caught this weird ancient bird automaton at the national museum of science - apparently these mechanical creatures were a BIG deal in edo-period japan

checking out some ancient japanese art at the national museum in ueno. christina caught this cool ibis sculpture that looks way more modern than it actually is.

chuck caught this stunning mother-of-pearl inlay box at the tokyo national museum. these INCREDIBLE lacquerware pieces show off the kind of craftsmanship that makes japanese art so special.

beautiful lacquerware box with mother-of-pearl inlay at the national museum of nature and science - christina's getting REALLY into traditional japanese crafts

checking out this STUNNING mother-of-pearl inlay box at the tokyo national museum - dan's becoming a total japanese art nerd

spotted this INCREDIBLE mother-of-pearl inlay box at the tokyo national museum - dan couldn't resist getting a pic of the birds and bamboo design

checking out this WILD ornate watch from the qing dynasty at the tokyo national museum. dan's history nerd side is showing.

checking out this WILD jade mushroom scepter at the tokyo national museum - dan had to get a pic for his mycology-obsessed brother

checking out this INCREDIBLE bejeweled timepiece at the national museum of nature and science in taito. christina spotted this ornate chinese-made watch from the 1800s in their international collection.

spotted this INCREDIBLE cloisonné ruyi scepter at the tokyo national museum - these were given as gifts to chinese emperors and high-ranking officials

ancient gold crown at the tokyo national museum - dan's attempt to get cultured on our last morning in tokyo

chuck found this ancient korean dagger at the tokyo national museum - wild to see how well-preserved these bronze age weapons are

ancient onigawara roof tile at the tokyo national museum showing off some SERIOUS demon face energy

checking out some ANCIENT armor at the tokyo national museum - chuck got weirdly into the samurai exhibits

chuck spotted this rusted helmet artifact at the tokyo national museum - looks like something straight out of a WWII documentary

ancient gold earrings on display at the tokyo national museum - these tiny treasures from japan's past are WAY more intricate than i expected

ancient stone carving at the tokyo national museum showing what looks like a ram or sheep motif. christina's getting into japanese art history.

christina snapped this traditional japanese fan painting at the tokyo national museum - the delicate cherry blossoms and calligraphy are STUNNING against that gold background

spotted this AMAZING ink painting on a traditional fan at the tokyo national museum. the delicate brushwork showing nature scenes is so typical of edo period art.

checking out this STUNNING gold folding fan with plum blossoms at the tokyo national museum - christina couldn't resist snapping a pic of the traditional craftsmanship

daniel and christina checking out this AMAZING ancient japanese scroll at the tokyo national museum - the detail in these old paintings is wild

checking out some AMAZING calligraphy at the tokyo national museum - chuck managed to get this shot of a traditional hanging scroll while ashley geeked out over the ancient artifacts

chuck snapped this traditional japanese calligraphy scroll at the TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM - pretty wild to see these ancient artworks up close

traditional japanese calligraphy scroll at the national museum of nature and science in taito. chuck managed to get this shot between crowds of school kids on their field trip.

traditional japanese calligraphy scrolls at the national museum of nature and science in taito - chuck managed to get a decent shot despite the glass reflections

checking out some traditional japanese calligraphy at the national museum of nature and science in taito. chuck's getting REALLY into the whole zen aesthetic

stunning cloisonné vase at the tokyo national museum showing off that INCREDIBLE edo period craftsmanship with gourds and birds

beautiful plum blossom plate from the tokyo national museum's ceramics collection - these designs were EVERYWHERE in japan

stunning kakiemon-style porcelain vase at the tokyo national museum - these things are WAY more impressive in person than in photos

christina found this STUNNING blue and white porcelain at the tokyo national museum - the fish design is giving major ming dynasty vibes

christina found this STUNNING porcelain vase at the tokyo national museum, decorated with traditional japanese chrysanthemums

checking out this WILD tang dynasty tomb guardian at the tokyo national museum - these guys were meant to scare off evil spirits from graves

christina found this wild tang dynasty camel at the tokyo national museum - way cooler than expected for what we thought would be a boring museum morning

christina found this AMAZING tang dynasty horse and rider at the tokyo national museum - way cooler than the usual temple photos everyone posts

ancient platform shoes at the tokyo national museum - these wild manchu "flowerpot shoes" were meant to make feet look tiny

checking out this WILD metal tree sculpture at the tokyo national museum. christina snapped this while daniel was reading about its buddhist symbolism.

christina found this STUNNING metal tree sculpture at the tokyo national museum - way cooler than the usual temple photos everyone posts

checking out this INCREDIBLE ancient chinese bronze vessel at the tokyo national museum. chuck's getting really into the asian art history thing.

stunning tang dynasty-style ceramic guardian at the tokyo national museum - chuck managed to catch this WILD three-color glazed beast between tour groups

spotted this AWESOME daikokuten statue at the tokyo national museum - apparently he brings good fortune if you rub his belly

stunning golden buddha statues at the tokyo national museum - these amida nyorai figures from the kamakura period are way more impressive in person than photos

checking out this INCREDIBLE wooden statue at the tokyo national museum - dan's attempt at an artsy shot with the dramatic shadows

checking out this STUNNING lacquerware box at the tokyo national museum - christina couldn't get over the gold inlay work

spotted this intricate kanzashi hair ornament at the tokyo national museum - these things are TINY but so detailed

checking out this INCREDIBLE samurai armor at the tokyo national museum. christina got way too excited about the horns on the helmet.

checking out this STUNNING lacquerware box at the tokyo national museum - the gold details are next level

ancient katana on display at the tokyo national museum - chuck managed to get this shot without any reflections in the glass case

christina caught this elegant katana on display at the tokyo national museum, showing off its distinctive curved blade against white silk

checking out this EPIC samurai armor at the tokyo national museum. dan's inner history nerd is totally geeking out right now.

checking out some INCREDIBLE edo period sword guards at the tokyo national museum. chuck got way into these after watching way too many samurai documentaries.

spotted this STUNNING kutani porcelain at the tokyo national museum - the yellow chrysanthemum pattern is apparently super rare for this style

spotted this AMAZING ceramic tile at the tokyo national museum - the blue fish-dragon design is giving major edo period vibes

spotted this GORGEOUS kakiemon-style teapot at the tokyo national museum - the blue and coral details are way more striking in person

stunning pair of imari porcelain vases at the tokyo national museum - these MASSIVE decorative pieces show off the crazy detail work japan was exporting to europe in the edo period

checking out some INCREDIBLE metalwork at the tokyo national museum. chuck managed to get this detailed shot of a meiji-era incense burner that had us all mesmerized.

spotted this STUNNING blue ceramic ewer with a dragon design at the tokyo national museum. christina's got a good eye for finding the coolest pieces in these massive collections.

checking out this INCREDIBLE satsuma-style incense burner at the tokyo national museum. dan's getting really into japanese ceramics.

quiet morning at the lotus pond in ueno park - dan caught this zen moment while other photographers were setting up their shots

caught this local taking in the peaceful vibes at the traditional tea house garden near ueno park. the lotus pond and those PERFECT round bushes are peak japanese garden goals.

found this hidden pond and tea house while wandering through ueno park - way more peaceful than the crowded museum area

ashley taking a breather by a quiet pond in ueno park, right next to the tokyo national museum. these hidden spots make tokyo feel less INTENSE.

found this peaceful trail near the tokyo national museum - christina's shot of the traditional japanese garden path shows why ueno park is such a PERFECT escape from the city bustle

quiet morning at the lotus pond in ueno park, right next to the tokyo national museum. christina caught this perfect reflection of the autumn trees in the still water.

christina caught this shot during our traditional tea experience near ueno park - sitting on tatami mats feels WAY different than chairs back home

matcha-dusted cream puffs at this tiny cafe near ueno park - way better than the MASSIVE lines at the tourist spots

christina found this fancy japanese pancake near ueno park - way better than the basic ones back home

fancy lunch near ueno park - sweet potato dessert with azuki beans and matcha powder. christina's getting SERIOUS about food photos.

christina enjoying a traditional tea ceremony in a PEACEFUL tatami room at a temple in taito. dan's trying not to sneeze from all the incense.

stumbled into a traditional tea ceremony class near ueno park - these local students were WAY more graceful at sitting seiza than we were

christina checking out the AMAZING woodwork at the tokyo national museum - these beams and shoji screens are the real deal

stunning byobu screen at the tokyo national museum showing autumn foliage and bamboo in muted gold and gray tones

checking out this STUNNING folding screen at the tokyo national museum - the gold leaf details are next level

christina caught this STUNNING tiger scroll at the tokyo national museum - way more dramatic than the usual temple photos everyone posts

dan caught this STUNNING tiger scroll at the tokyo national museum - the way they painted those waves is just unreal

spotted this STUNNING gold folding screen at the tokyo national museum - the way they painted those deer under the maple leaves is next level

chuck caught this STUNNING byōbu screen at the tokyo national museum - the maple leaves against gold leaf are giving major autumn vibes

stumbled on this STUNNING byobu screen at a temple in taito - black bears playing in the snow under pine branches against a gold leaf background

beautiful plum blossom vase at the tokyo national museum - christina's got a good eye for these STUNNING ceramic pieces

christina caught this perfect shot of the MASSIVE hello kitty exhibition at the tokyo national museum in ueno. who knew classical architecture and kawaii could work so well together?

stumbled onto what looks like a MASSIVE school field trip while exploring ueno park. these matching uniforms are no joke

caught this classic sight on the tokyo metro near ueno station - the legendary 'inemuri' power nap in action

dan spotted this MASSIVE burger at a fast food joint in ikebukuro - three beef patties plus kalbi (korean bbq beef) on top for ¥1,390

spotted this BRIGHT red ikebus while exploring ikebukuro - these retro-style buses are way cooler than regular public transit

spotted this quirky combo near sunshine city - a regular tokyo bus lined up with what looks like a tourist trolley in toshima

dan found the MASSIVE gashapon store in sunshine city - this place has over 3,000 capsule toy machines

dan found these WILD miniature network equipment gashapon at the bandai store in ikebukuro - perfect for any it nerd's desk

christina checking out the endless rows of gacha machines at sunshine city's namco arcade. these things are EVERYWHERE in tokyo.

stumbled on this AMAZING pokemon display at sunshine city mall in ikebukuro. christina was losing her mind over the bulbasaur.

dan found this EPIC lugia display at the pokemon center mega tokyo in sunshine city. christina's still mad she couldn't fit it in her suitcase.

chuck caught this view of the traditional yakatabune boats lined up along the sumida river near asakusabashi. these old-school party boats are still a big deal here.

when you're craving something familiar in ikebukuro - dan grabbed a quick ¥590 sub at the sunshine city mall food court

dan spotted this subway menu in ikebukuro - turns out their "smoky tartar ebi" (shrimp) sub is way fancier than what we get back home

modern architecture in ikebukuro - dan caught this sleek sakyo ainna building while exploring the backstreets near sunshine city

caught these office workers on their smoke break in ikebukuro - a VERY common sight in tokyo's business districts despite japan's reputation for politeness and order

caught this classic sight on the shinjuku subway line - the infamous japanese salaryman power nap in action

spotted this classic tokyo scene on the subway near shinjuku - the infamous japanese "inemuri" (sleeping while present) in action

halloween night in shinjuku and the streets are PACKED with people checking out the scene. chuck managed to snap this while ashley was leading us through the crowd to find some late night ramen.

late night stop at don quijote in shinjuku - these discount stores are WILD at night

christina spotted this don quijote mascot in shinjuku - these massive discount stores are WILD at night

quick pit stop at the prince hotel shinjuku to escape the rain and check out their famous sky bar

late night wandering through shinjuku's kabukicho district - these host club ads are WILD

dan found this usb drive deal while exploring the electronics shops in shinjuku - way cheaper than back home

late night ramen hunt in shinjuku - christina caught this AMAZING neon sign while we were looking for a spot to eat

late night ramen run in shinjuku - christina caught this AMAZING neon sign while we were hunting for a midnight snack

chuck's selfie in the CHAOS of shinjuku's kabukicho district, where the neon signs and okonomiyaki spots are giving off major blade runner vibes

late night konbini run in shinjuku - chuck grabbed this AMAZING chocolate cream puff that puts anything back home to shame

early morning views from our shinjuku airbnb rooftop with the MASSIVE skyscrapers of west shinjuku behind us. daniel's wearing his lucky ultraman shirt from nakano broadway.

early morning view of the tokyo skyline from the observation deck at hundred stay hotel in shinjuku. dan doing his best impression of a jailed tourist.

daniel found his spirit animal in some shinjuku street art - a sleepy homer simpson

daniel found some street art in shinjuku that lets you stick your head through it. classic tourist move next to what appears to be a "no graffiti" sign

somehow managed to tetris all our luggage into this tiny japanese rental van in shinjuku. DEFINITELY should have packed lighter for 10 days

last stop at dean & deluca in narita airport before heading home. these oreo-topped muffins are PEAK airport food.

last snack at narita airport - dean & deluca's fancy ¥420 cinnamon rolls before the long flight home

spotted these gachapon machines at narita airport while waiting for our flight home. dan couldn't resist getting one last capsule toy for the road

caught this guy practicing the fine art of inemuri on our flight out of narita. classic japan moment to end the trip.

back home in baton rouge unpacking our EPIC haul of gachapon toys from japan - these little wooden displays were a perfect find at tokyu hands

christina's growing collection of japanese gachapon toys displayed in wooden house shelves - the REAL souvenirs from this trip

dan's photo ended up in one of those weird gashapon capsules at some random arcade in osaka. PEAK japan moment right here.

dan scored this SNES controller keychain at super potato in akihabara - perfect souvenir for a retro gaming nerd

picked up these SWEET nintendo controller keychains at super potato in akihabara. dan's gonna be so jealous when he sees my snes one.

quirky salt and pepper shakers spotted at a restaurant in tokyo - the cat's got sushi on its back

spotted this ADORABLE sanrio character vending machine selling fancy puddings and desserts near our osaka airbnb - each one's ¥1,200 (about $8)

found this quirky kappa capsule toy at a random vending machine in tokyo. these weird little guys are EVERYWHERE here.

christina's new duck sweater from harajuku - perfect for those chilly tokyo nights

caught mt. fuji showing off on our bullet train ride between tokyo and osaka

daniel and christina checking out the osaka skyline from osaka castle - you can see the fall colors starting to pop in the castle grounds below

christina's pearl necklace from the GINZA pearl shops - a perfect souvenir from tokyo's luxury district

christina found the HOLY GRAIL of japanese drugstore makeup - canmake poreless magic base at a random shop in tokyo

heading from tokyo to osaka on the HIKARI shinkansen, christina's yellow nails match the ticket perfectly

scored this limited edition minnie mouse plush in a traditional KIMONO at tokyo disneyland - christina couldn't resist the orange and gold design

christina found these adorable mizuhiki earrings at a craft shop in kyoto - these traditional paper cord knots are usually used on fancy gift wrapping

fancy tasting menu from kannazuki, where christina got to try her first karasumi (and actually liked it)

christina's kawaii strawberry sweater had to make the cut for japan packing, even if it takes up half the suitcase

stumbled onto this wild balloon display at the entrance to takeshita street in harajuku - peak kawaii culture right here

christina found these GORGEOUS traditional chopsticks at a shop in kyoto - way better than the tourist trap ones we saw earlier

daniel and christina rocking matching pink jackets at the HARRY HEDGEHOG cafe in harajuku. when in japan, you gotta embrace the kawaii

scored this sweet totoro bag at the ghibli museum shop. the little soot sprite charm was a bonus

premium matcha from shu hari tea in kyoto - this stuff is the REAL deal compared to what we get back home

night view from our tokyo airbnb balcony with the MASSIVE landmark tower standing out against the skyline

menu board at what looks like a japanese bakery or dessert shop showing some WILD flavor combos - check out that salt butter red bean paste sandwich for ¥540

wandering through shinjuku and spotted this quirky dr. foot sign - these foot massage places are EVERYWHERE in tokyo

cruising between cities on the SHINKANSEN - way more legroom than we expected

christina getting some quality time with a sleepy otter at one of tokyo's famous animal cafes

scored this AWESOME totoro bag at the ghibli museum shop - definitely worth the trek to mitaka