Monthly Archives: June 2009

How I Met Rick Steves

Posted on June 22, 2009 by sophielynette

Despite any troubles in the past, my mother and I became quite close after I went away to college (I think not living together helped, although her giving up drinking was a breakthrough for us both). Thus it was particularly … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged conveyor belt sushi, oregon, portland, rick steves, Travel | 1 Comment

Tokyo Q&A

Posted on June 5, 2009 by sophielynette

My trip to Japan was my first time traveling out of the country. I traveled four thousand miles alone to a place where I did not speak the language. People told me I was crazy. I had the time of … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Travel | Tagged cosplay, flea market, Japan, monkeys, q&a, shopping, tokyo, Travel | 2 Comments

Reflection in Ueno

Posted on June 4, 2009 by sophielynette

The day before I was set to fly out of Tokyo, a FedEx plane crashed at Narita International Airport, killing both pilots and closing the main runway. It’s hard to stay current with news when you’re on vacation; I didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Travel | Tagged ameyoko, cherry blossom, hanami, Japan, sakura, tokyo, Ueno | 1 Comment

Shibuya and New Koyo

Posted on June 2, 2009 by sophielynette

After our whirlwind of museums, dining and shopping, my friends and I parted ways; they set off for Kyoto, while I remained in Tokyo. I had enjoyed their company, but now it was time to relax and go at my … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Travel | Tagged futon, Hachiko, Japan, Japanese bath, New Koyo, Shibuya, shopping, tatami, tokyo, Tokyu Hands, Ueno | Leave a comment

Porn Shops and Internet Cafes

Posted on June 1, 2009 by sophielynette

For the most part I found Tokyo efficient and easy to navigate, but on the rare occasions that I did get lost, it was usually in a magnificent way. One such incident happened while my friends and I were making … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Travel | Tagged Gera Gera, Internet cafe, Japan, Kanda, tokyo, Travel | 2 Comments

Paradise in Tokyo

Posted on June 1, 2009 by sophielynette

On the third floor of a rather nondescript building in Ginza, a line of patrons snaked through the narrow hallway and all the way down the stairway, mostly young Japanese women but with a smattering of men, older women, families … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Travel | Tagged all you can eat, dessert, dessert buffet, ginza, hakuhinkan, hakuhinkan toy park, Japan, shopping, slotcar racing, sweets paradise, tokyo, toy store | 1 Comment