Snow Drifts + Freezing Temps : Winter in Portland

January 26, 2017

While I spend the majority of time talking here on Land of Marvels about all the places we travel to, sometimes it’s worthwhile shining a light on my amazing home city of Portland, Oregon. I might be bias, but I’ve got to say, my home city is pretty incredible for lots of different reasons and I would recommend visiting it year round.

However, this year we’ve had quite the Winter here recently including many snow storms (which are usually quite rare) and a lot less rain than normal. So a couple weeks ago when we got hit with a huge blizzard and racked up a foot of snow in downtown Portland, Nick and I took full advantage of the crazy Winter weather and went out to explore like tourists in our own hometown! We also got to play with our new drone a bit (which I can’t wait to start sharing more in video format with!) and take in the snowy city in our hometown. So for your Winter Wonderland wishes… here is (a pretty snowy) Winter in Portland!

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What to Wear in Asia in Winter

January 24, 2017

More What to Wear posts for more destinations here!

When I was packing for our trip through China and Japan in November, I envisioned lots of bright colors in both countries in the street scenes, so I wanted to keep my outfits somewhat neutral so as not to distract in photos and while venturing around. It was also super cold in both locations with temperatures in the low 30’s F in each place, so it was vital that I had warm clothes too. And we packed all carry-on only, so I couldn’t take a lot of thick items either – all in all though, I had more than enough outfits for our 8 day trip!

What I Wore:

Outfit Details:

Gap faux fur Lined Coat (similar) | Madewell Scarf (similar) | Old Navy Yellow Denim (similar) | Gloves |

White Knit Beret | Dooney and Bourke Cross Body Purse | Boots

Outfit Details:

Gap faux fur Lined Coat (similar) | Zara Scarf (similar) | Madewell Dark Denim | Gloves |

Ear Muffs | Dooney and Bourke Cross Body Purse | Boots

Outfit Details:

Leggings | White Converse Low Tops | White Long Sleeve T-shirt |

Gap faux fur Lined Coat (similar) | Old Tumi Luggage (similar)

Outfit Details:

Gap faux fur Lined Coat (similar) | Madewell Dark Denim | Gloves |

Dooney and Bourke Cross Body Purse | Boots

Outfit Details:

Old Zara Coat (similar) | Madewell Dark Denim | Boots |

White Knit Beret | Gloves | Dooney and Bourke Cross Body Purse

Headed to Asia?

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Exploring Senso-Ji and Asakusa : Temples + Tiny Alleys

January 23, 2017

On our final full day in Tokyo, we headed to the Asakusa area of Tokyo where the famous Senso-Ji Temple is located and it turned out to be one of my very favorite areas of the whole city. The vibe here is much more laid back and it’s an “older” area of Tokyo, without tons of skyscrapers and consists more of smaller restaurants and shops. This area also has lots of souvenir shops for all your shopping needs and is really charming.

If you are headed here just for the Senso-Ji Temple – go early! This place gets insanely busy really fast and gets a little claustrophobic. Even on a freezing cold (but beautiful blue sky) day like we visited on, it was crazy!

Headed to Japan?

See all my posts on the country!

A Magical Morning at the Rikugi-en Garden : Autumn Leaves + Rare Snow

January 20, 2017

A couple days into our time in Tokyo, the weather got really cold and snow was forecasted for a day we were originally going to take a train to another area of Japan for a day trip. When we woke up that day and saw the snow was indeed falling and the trains were all delayed, we opted instead to have a quiet day and enjoy the snow. I read somewhere that day that snow hasn’t fallen that early (in November) in the year in Tokyo since something like 1962, so it was really rare that we got snow in Tokyo while there. It was still a pretty wet snow so it wasn’t sticking in the city itself, but we thought we might get more of it if we headed to the Rikugi-en Garden – and we were right!

Once we arrived at this incredible city garden and park, it was magical! Snow was sticking, the Fall colors and Autumn leaves still vibrant in shades of color and the park was quiet as not many people wanted to venture out in the weather. The day ended up being one my favorites of our trip and this spot was absolutely gorgeous!

Headed to Japan?

See all my posts on the country!

Watching the Famous Shibuya Crossing : Where Thousands of People Cross the Street

January 19, 2017

After our stop in Shinjuku, we jumped back on the subway and headed to Shibuya for a sight of the famous Shibuya Crossing. This famous crossing in Tokyo is at a busy intersection right near the subway station here and since it’s so busy, the traffic lights all turn to red for cars and pedestrians have a couple minutes to cross from all directions! It’s pretty insane to watch and be a part of and not to be missed while in Tokyo!

The best view of the crossing happens to be from the Starbucks on the corner of the crossing, which has a second story sitting area with amazing views down over the Shibuya Crossing. It stays super busy though, so be sure to have time to wait for a spot to watch the crossing from above. We didn’t get many photos of the crossing, since you have to see it in movement to really get the full effect – so I have a little compilation of our time-lapses of the crossing for you to see if with your own eyes too!

Headed to Japan?

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Shopping in Shinjuku : Colors, Signs + Crowds

January 18, 2017

One of the places that was high on our priority list for our trip to Tokyo was a stop in Shinjuku at the famous Yodibashi Camera Store for Nick. This 6 story building full of camera gear was high on his list for obvious reasons and since it was in the famous Shinjuku area of Tokyo, we spent an afternoon wandering the little streets and shopping malls of this neighborhood of the city. With colors everywhere, people everywhere and signs all over the place, Shinjuku exudes an energy all its own. This is also a younger area of Tokyo and that was pretty evident immediately when we got off the subway at our stop.

There is also a Ladureé location here, so I couldn’t help but stop and enjoy some Parisian macarons after a tiring afternoon of shopping in Shinjuku!

Headed to Japan?

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Tsukiji Fish Market : Vendors + Fresh Catches

January 17, 2017

On our first day in Tokyo, we headed out from our hotel at the Tokyo Station on foot, wandering through the Ginza area of the city in the early morning. Ginza, which is usually colorful and busy, was starkly quiet that early and really interesting to see such a contrast from later in the day. We wandered slowly, grabbing breakfast on the way with the Tsukiji Fish Market as our final destination. I had seen photos of this place when I was researching for Tokyo and since we love exploring local markets when we travel, I knew we’d love it.

The market was vibrant and crazy busy even that early, with vendors selling the catch of the day and people grabbing local delicacies as snacks. I had a fresh scallop cooked on an old Japanese grill with soy sauce and butter and it was incredible – so don’t miss a chance to sample some fresh fish if you’re wandering through here!

After our morning exploring the market, we meandered back to our hotel in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo for a big bowl of hot Japanese ramen and it was the perfect start to our love affair with Japan!

Headed to Japan?

See all my posts on the country!

How to Get Around Tokyo

January 12, 2017

Tokyo is really organized and for a large city, it’s super easy to get around anywhere you need to go. We remarked many times while exploring Tokyo how easy it was to traverse the city and how organized it is – so if you’re heading to Japan’s famous metropolis, here’s how to get around Tokyo with ease!

Walking

Tokyo is also really easy to walk around and explore on foot. With wide sidewalks and crosswalks everywhere, it’s easy to explore this famous city on foot. It’s actually the best way in my opinion so that you get to see the city as you wander around and explore.

Cabs

We only took one taxi during our stay and we only took it because the trains were delayed due to a rare early snow storm. We took ours up to the Rikugi-en Garden from our hotel at the Tokyo Station and it was comfortable and easy, although quite a bit more expensive than the subway. But if the weather is bad or you just don’t want to deal with the Subway, cabs are a good option.

Uber

We didn’t use Uber while in Tokyo, mostly because the subway was so easy, but it’s available.

Trains

It’s super easy to get around Japan on trains and they have the famous bullet trains that go insane speeds to get you to where you need to go. If you’re headed outside the city center of Tokyo or to other areas around the country of Japan, train is your best option for travel. See all my tips for train travel in Japan here!

Subway

The subway in Tokyo is beyond easy and cheap, as well as super efficient and clean. We almost primarily took the subway while in Tokyo and could get everywhere we needed to really easily. Most signs are in English as well as Japanese so it’s easy to figure out where you’re going too.

N’EX to Narita Airport

We took the N’EX train to and from Narita Airport to get into Tokyo and it was really easy and clean. The journey does take close to an hour though to get from the airport to Tokyo Station, so plan that time in your schedule but it’s easy and efficient.

Headed to Japan?

See all my posts on the country!

A Neighborhood Guide for Tokyo

January 10, 2017

While in Tokyo, we spent 4 days exploring many of the neighborhoods of the city trying to get a good sense of the city and the layout. Each neighborhood we ventured into seemed different and even in such a large city, each felt very unique which we loved. During our 4 days in Tokyo, here’s a neighborhood guide to exploring Tokyo in the areas of the city we saw during our time there.

Ginza

For a colorful and busy area of Tokyo, Ginza has a lot of charm. From huge colorful signs to crazy crowds, this area is well worth seeing both in the early morning when it’s quieter as well as later in the day when the lights come on and the crowds come out.

Chuo

While this waterfront district actually incorporate Ginza within it, perhaps it’s most famous landmark is the Tsukiji Fish Market which is a large tourist draw. Wander through the fish market early in the day to see the best options on display and to beat some of the crowds. And while you’re there, try one of the fresh scallops that are sold throughout the stalls!

Chiyoda

This area of Tokyo mainly incorporates the area around the Imperial Palace and surrounding high rise areas as well as the main Tokyo Station. We stayed in this area for its central location and loved the clean and organized feel of the area.

Shinjuku

For shopping and people watching, this is for sure the area you want to head to. Shinjuku is what you totally expect Tokyo to be and it also seemed to have a much younger crowd that that of Ginza and Chiyoda. The streets are packed together filled with shops and restaurants and everything is on offer here.

Shibuya

To see and cross the famous Shibuya crossing where thousands of people cross the street at once, head to Shibuya. This is also a shopping area with lots of shopping and restaurants but the best view of the famous crossing is from the Starbucks on the corner!

Bunkyo

We headed up to the Rikugi-en Garden one day during our trip (and caught it in the rare snow we had) and loved seeing this more residential and quieter area of Tokyo. Bunkyo is filled with residential areas and a couple universities, offering a quieter version of some of the Tokyo neighborhoods.

Asakusa

We spent our last day in the Asakusa area of Tokyo and it was one of my favorites. A quieter, older area of Tokyo, Asakusa has a unique vibe. Also hope to the famous Senso-Ji Temple, Asakusa is somewhat more eclectic and laid-back than some of the other areas of the city.

Headed to Japan?

See all my posts on the country!

What to Eat in Japan

January 9, 2017

One of the things I was most excited about before going to Japan was the food. I love Japanese food, and while I don’t eat a ton of sushi, Japan has a huge array of amazing food and everything we had while in Tokyo was amazing! So if you’re wondering what to eat in Japan and what you should try while there, here are some of the best that Japan has to offer.

Ramen

One of my favorite things the world, true Japanese ramen is incredible in Japan. From homemade noodles to broth that simmers for days, don’t miss a chance to have Japanese ramen while there.

Izakaya

Izakaya are a type of Japanese pub type restaurant and serve an assortment of different small dishes. These are casual spots and usually offer after-work type happy hours drinks and food.

Noodles

Any noodle dish in Japan is pretty outstanding as most place make their own in house. For a homey dish, just order the sautéed noodles in any style that restaurants have and you won’t regret it!

Sushi

While I’m not a sushi lover, many people find that the sushi in Japan is beyond the best in the world. The seafood is super fresh in Japan so you can’t go wrong!

Yakitori

Yakitori is an easy and delicious Japanese offering which includes meats and vegetables grilled on skewers after being marinated. You’ll find these in casual areas or from street vendors.

Udon

One of my favorites of the Japanese culinary scene, udon consists of a bowl of soup with really thick udon noodles in a light broth. The flavors are deep and it’s perfect on a cold day!

Traveling to Japan?

See all my posts on the country!