The Nagata Inakahama Beach in Yakushima

How gorgeous is this beach?
During our first day on Yakushima, we ended the day on this beach to watch the sun set. The whole day was slightly cloudy and by the time evening came around the sun was nowhere to be seen. But we decided that we wanted to explore the beach anyways.
Well, miracle of miracles. When we got to the beach in Nagata Inaka-hama, the rosy blush spread across the sky and we could actually see the bright red sun setting into the sea. It was breathtaking.
Our breath may also have been taken away because of all the jumping we did. Seriously, jumping in the sand takes a lot of energy. So does setting the timer on your camera and running back a dozen times. But it was all worth it when we crumbled down in the sand the very last time. So much crazy fun.
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S and I went to high school together for two years but we knew each other since junior high, when I first moved back to Japan. We went to the same church and seeing as we were the same age, we hit it off as friends. When I found out that I was going to be transferring to her high school, I was ecstatic! We’ve been the best of friends ever since, even when we went to college in different prefectures and when she moved down to Kagoshima after college.
Running around the beach and not being able to stop laughing for no reason reminded me of our high school days together. We would run around the campus, singing Sister Act songs at the top of our lungs (we did a mean Ricky Martin duet as well). And in between all that, we would casually mentioned our worries and lean on each other for support.
As an adult, I sometime feel like I should have everything figured out by now. I mean, isn’t that what being an adult is all about?
But I’ve found that that’s just not true. I’m still trying to find the answers. And while I’m wandering through this tricky maze called adulthood, it’s always a great feeling to know that someone like S has got my back. She’s always there to bounce ideas off of and to give me a boost when I need it the most. And of course, it goes both ways. Pretty sure we’ll have many more fun crazy laughing adventures together, where ever we are in life.
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Hmmmmmm. What is it about beautiful sunsets that make you nostalgic and a little emotional? (Is this just me?) I did not plan to write such a long post but…sometimes you have to go with the flow of your words, right?
Nagata Inaka-hama Beach is actually very famous as a beach where sea turtles come to lay their eggs. It was registered as a Ramsar site in 2005, which is a convention that protects wetlands, and if you go there at night during the egg-laying season, May to July, you may be able to see a sea turtle laying its eggs in the sand. And if you come here sometime between July and September, you can probably spot the little turtlets (cutest name ever!) making their way out to sea.
Now that, I need want to see! x
Here are some photos:

Nagata Inaka-hama Beach
489-8 Nagata, Yakushima-cho
Kumage-gun, Kagoshima JAPAN

The Canopy Walk and Soft Serve in Yakushima

We didn’t have a schedule for our first day on Yakushima. We thought we should wing it because both of us are not that great at rushing through a tight schedule. So we decided to be free with our time and to move to the rhythm of our mood. Which we did, and somehow ended up taking a walk through the woods.
But not just any regular walk. It was a canopy walk!
We couldn’t quite figure out if this was suppose to be a leisurely walk or a thriller. The view was fantastic and seeing the treetops up-close was an amazing new experience. But on the other hand, the path through the trees was pretty much a DIY project and it took a deep breath and a short prayer that everything wouldn’t fall apart to be able to cross some of the shaky bridges!
We had a belt around our waist that connected to a rope along the path, just in case we missed a step. Some parts of the path were actually 12 meters off the ground! Thank goodness, I didn’t have to test if the rope was strong enough to hold me. When we asked the owner, who let us roam the path on our own, what we should do if something happened, he simply smiled and said “Shout!” Alrighty then.
What do you think of this canopy walk through the woods?

The canopy path winding through the tall trees.
I think this was the only time I REALLY looked down to the grown under me…vertigo.
S was not afraid of heights…so she took the lead 😀
We were surrounded by the sound of birds chirping and the wind blowing through the leaves.
The ground was far away…but at least it looked soft (just in case!).
There was a spot you could sit…but I was holding on for dear life because the tree was weaving!
That’s pretty high up, right?
Again, taking photos of ferns.
This ladder looks a lot more beautiful now that I’m no longer on it!
Our final view before the path descended was this…Yakushima is just so lush!

After our canopy walk, we stopped by Yakushima Hachimanju Tea Farm.

The store sells organic Yakushima green tea, as well as this delicious matcha soft serve!

We took a walk down to a bridge that crossed over a river below.

We could hear the river…but couldn’t actually see it because the trees were so lush. 

Still sighing over how clean and delicious the air in Yakushima is…we headed down the road.



Canopy Walk
677-44 Hara Yakushima-cho
Kumage-gun, Kagoshima JAPAN
TEL: 0997 49 3232
Canopy walk: 1,000 yen
Yakushima Hachimanju Tea Farm
532-24 Koseda Yakushima-cho
Kumage-gun, Kagoshima 891-4207 JAPAN
TEL: 0997 43 5330
Matcha soft serve (with iced green tea): 200 yen

The First Day in Yakushima

You guys…I took way too many photos.
It’s taking me forever to narrow down my choices. Which is understandable because my best friend S and I had been planning this girls trip for a few months now. I hadn’t been down to Kagoshima since her wedding three years ago, so when I told her I was coming for a short visit, she suggested we take a trip further south to Yakushima. Of course, I was all for it. I mean, it’s been on my bucket list forever! So you understand why I ended up taking so many photos, right?
In the mean time, here are a few highlights from the first day of our trip to Yakushima!

The Rocket Jetfoil took us from Kagoshima port to Yakushima in two hours.

First thing we did was drive our rental car in search for food and we found this cafe!

Still itchy and puffy but happy as can be on to be on this island.

Yummy curry and pasta for brunch…we were pretty hungry.

We did a little shopping at Yakushima Messenger, an outdoor shop with hiking gear.

I bought a pair of socks for our hike the next day…too cute to resist!

We then stopped by a tiny cafe to drink Tankan juice and eat Kozuki Dango.

They look different but tasted just like the mu-chi we eat in Okinawa!

S and I always eat and drink our way through trips, no matter where we are! 😀

We were in awe of this beautiful Toroki Waterfall (トローキの滝), which flows into the sea.
We also decided to take a canopy walk through the woods…fun but kind of scary.
But we got to see views like this above all the tall trees!

After that we stopped by a tea farm and had delicious green tea soft-serve…so good!
We finally headed back to Miyanoura to check-in to our lodge, which was right by the river.
I cannot recommend this lodge enough…such a great place to stay!

We took a little time to explore the area around our cabin.
Our cabin was so spacious and had the best view of the river outside our terrace.

Ferns and moss…I took thousands of pictures, I love them so.

Isn’t this amazing? S and I decided to eat breakfast the next morning down by the river.
After checking-in our lodge, we drove out to Nagata Inaka-hama Beach.
It was too cold to swim but we had fun getting our feet wet and seeing the gorgeous sunset.

By the time we got back, it was pitch black. But we got to see fireflies in the woods!

We ended our long day soaking in the bath…so relaxing!

More to come soon…! x

The June Link Love

Happy first day of June!
How are you all doing? Can you believe we are almost half done with this year? What.
So crazy how last month flew by so quickly. It was such a whirlwind (most of which I’ve yet to post here), I barely had time to breath. So much fun though!
Well, you know what June means in Tokyo…the rainy season is a comin’! I’m hoping the rain will give me a reason to relax a bit more this month. Although that may have to wait as I’m kicking off this month by heading up to Nasu for a wedding!
I wish you all an amazing month, too! x

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– Japan is getting a new public holiday! Yay!

– Which team are you rooting for at the World Cup 2014?

– Gorgeous typeface carved out of books.

– These flip flops are my summer dream come true.

The Trip To Kagoshima: Prologue

Hi everyone!

I’m back from my trip to Kagoshima and I can tell you…there will be lots of posts coming. I took so many pictures, it was ridiculous. It’s going to take awhile to go through them all.

I was initially worried heading into this trip because about a week before my flight, I found mangoes on sale at the super market. And because I love mangoes, I jumped at the chance to buy one. Well, this ended up being a teeny tiny mistake.

Did you know that mangoes and hay fever are a dangerous combination?

I wasn’t feeling 100% from my hinoki allergies already but the day after I ate the mango, my lips started itching. And they started feeling like they were super swollen, like Angelina Jolie’s lips on steroids. Then the itching spread all over my face and neck, getting all red and puffy.

By this time, I’d figured out it was probably the mango so I went to the hospital to get medication. This was two days before flying to Kagoshima and I wasn’t feeling up to a trip at all.

But some how the swelling and itchiness was mildly better by the time I took off to Kagoshima and it got better as the days went on. You could say it was maybe due to the fresh air in Yakushima and all the onsen time I had in Kagoshima. Either way, I ended up having a great time!

Can’t wait to tell you all about it! x

The Golden Week Road Trip: Choshi

Have you ever been to Choshi?
It’s in the northeastern part of Chiba prefecture and has an amazing view of the pacific ocean. Well, it usually does. But when we stopped by on our way back down to Chiba, it was so cloudy that we couldn’t see a thing! Of course, that didn’t stop us from going up to the observatory deck to take a few pictures just so we can say we were there.
I actually liked the view that we had, even if we couldn’t see far.
There are also some other activities going on inside the observatory deck and we ended up working on seashell art. The project itself was fun but the older men and ladies teaching us were the real entertainment. So nice and eager to tell us their outrageous stories.
After that we took the Ken-o-do further down Chiba to drop off our baby sister at her campus. And that was the end of our short Golden Week this year. I’m hoping next year we have an even longer vacation so we can take an even longer road trip somewhere! x
Here are some photos:

The Golden Week Road Trip: Movie Night

The day after our drive up from Chiba, we were back in the car and heading to Costco to pick up things for our movie night.
Living in the city, I tend to forget that in some places a car is a necessity, and not just a luxury. I’ve never had a problem not having a car in Tokyo. Especially when renting a parking lot is so expensive. But every now and again, I like sitting in a car and not have to be squished against hundreds of people on the train. 
So with my sister at the wheel, we sped off to Costco. It’s the best place to buy certain things like a box of navel oranges or paper towels by the bulk. We also got a couple (and by couple, I mean a shopping cart full) of other things, too. I totally blame the size of the shopping cart.
Next, we stopped by Tsutaya to choose our movies. Our general rule is, each one of us chooses a movie we want to see. Also, no complaining about someone else’s choice!
I chose The Magic Hour, a hilarious Japanese movie directed by Koki Mitani. My sisters chose Mirror Mirror, the Julia Roberts movie of Snow White, and Iron Man II, because this was the only one we hadn’t seen in the series yet.
We maybe got ice cream, too.
Finally, we headed home to start the movie marathon. It seems like we all like movies with a touch (or depending on the movie…a large dosage) of comedy. We pretty much laughed our heads off throughout the whole night! But then that is what movie nights are all about. x
Here are some photos:

Listening to music and stopping by Starbucks on our way to Costco.
Sippin’ on the new banana frappuccinos…yum!

The drive-thru drinks from Starbucks wish you a safe trip 😀

My sister got the Mango Passion Frappuccino!

Looking through the aisles of Costco.

My sister showing off her skills on the ukulele ;D

Our shopping cart looked like this at the end…not too bad for three girls, right?
My baby sister stocking up on things she’ll use at school.

We ate lunch at Costco and had their ever large slices of pizza.

I can never manage to finish the whole slice…I mean, look at it. It’s bigger than my face!
We got ice cream, too. My double chocolate cheesecake and hawaiian crunch was amazing!

Taking a group sister shot with our ice cream…movie nights are the best!

The Golden Week Road Trip: Chiba

Hello, hello!

How is everyone’s post Golden Week? Or if you’re not in Japan, your regular week? I’ve been dashing around Tokyo lately. May might end up being my busiest month yet.

But before I head off to Kagoshima, I wanted to share a few photos from my Golden Week.

What started off as a sleepover at my sister’s place in Ibaraki, inadvertently ended up being a road trip through Chiba. I know that doesn’t make any sense but let me explain. My other baby sister is currently a university student in Chiba so we drove down there to pick her up. Her campus was gorgeous. It was also quite far…who knew Chiba was such a large prefecture?

But we had a great time cruising up the highway along the shoreline, with Beyonce and Taylor Swift belting out their tunes (we were, of course, their backup singers).

Here are some photos:

My sister’s campus had a random phone booth sans telephone…so random!

Together again! We hadn’t seen each other since the picnic in Yoyogi Park.
The beautiful green arch of cherry trees above this path…isn’t it lovely?

I promised my grandma to send pictures…so we did a little photo shoot!

Look how lush and green the mountain is. I love it.

No better place than this to celebrate Greenery Day.

Posing for a photo before heading out to eat!

We stopped by the small beach town Katsuura for lunch!

Our yummy lunch sets…we were pretty hungry!

My delicious tamago-don (oyako-don minus the chicken) set.

My baby sister filled us in on how college life has been since April.

We left the soba shop to take a walk down to the beach.

I always love looking out to sea…something so calming about the sound of waves.

Another group shot before we head back up to Ibaraki.

A pretty sunset at the end of our road trip.

The May Link Love

May is here!!!

Last month was a fabulous frenzy of pink petals and amazing weather (in my mind, beautiful days eliminated the stinky cold ones and now I don’t even remember them). I love spring.

This month is Golden Week in Japan! It’s a holiday combo of Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children’s Day. Last year, I was in Okinawa with my family during Golden Week but this year it’s just going to be me and my sisters, who are both in the greater Tokyo area. We’re having a sleepover and exploring a bit of Chiba together!

Holidays are great but travelling during this week can be incredibly stressful  at times because it is not only expensive but crowded wherever you go (especially transportation!). So this year we decided to skip the stress and do some relaxing locally. I think we’ll need this vacation to rejuvenate us enough to brave travelling back home during Obon, which is another intense holiday week in Japan.

Also, later this month I’ll be going to Kagoshima to see my best friend. We’re also taking a short trip together to Yakushima, which I’ve never been to, so I’m really looking forward to this!

Hope you’re all enjoying the holidays and/or spring days, too! x

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– Crossing my fingers this film comes to Japan.

– Nakizumo, who can cry the hardest?

– My love for avocado grows daily and this looks delicious.

– The Oldest Living Things in the World are fascinating.

– Lately I am tempted to do this.

– We now have beautifully cut pattern seaweed in Japan!

The ABC Series By Hugo Yoshikawa

Have you seen these beautiful alphabet illustrations by Hugo Yoshikawa?

A French-Japanese illustrator based in London, his City ABC series features illustrations of famous monuments and buildings of a European city for each letter of the alphabet.

I’ve actually never been to Europe so there were some cities in the series that I wasn’t familiar with, like Jerez or Quimper. But it was definitely fun trying to guess the city from the illustrations. I even think it would be a great game to play at a dinner party (is that still a thing?).

These are few of the cities I’d love to visit one day. Can you guess where? x