Cave River Tubing - Tanamá River Adventures

Are you looking for a more unique outdoor experience in Puerto Rico? How about not just hiking but also a river adventure? We booked with Tanamá River Adventures for a morning of hiking and riding innertubes down a river through a cave, in Utuado, Puerto Rico.

We started by meeting at their main headquarters, where we gathered our equipment for the day. We were suited up with helmets, life jackets, and headlamps for the dark cave. I suggest wearing water shoes and a swimsuit under hiking clothes for this event. From there, our guide took us in a van through some winding roads, deep into the mountains. Finally, we arrived at a small parking area with a few rural homes. Here we began our hike.

It was a very mild and easy hike. Our guide told us about the local plants, which ones to avoid and which ones were safe. He even picked us each an orange from a wild orange tree growing along the trail. Our hike took us to the edge of the river. Here is where we grabbed our innertubes. At this launching point, we could see the mouth of the cave a little ways down the river. On both sides of there river, there was jungle and cliff faces.

We hopped in the tubes and linked our feet onto the tube behind us, forming a chain. Our guide went first, and began to lead us down the river through the cave. We turned on our headlamps as we got deeper into the cave. We could see beautiful cave formations, as well as a few critters on the rock walls around us. It was an exciting and simple pass through the cave. The guide takes care of leading your chain of tubes directly through. Once on the other side, you have some free time.

We began to explore some of the pools of water, calm enough for swimming. We took some photos and enjoyed the jungle around us. Our guide even pointed out a freshwater spring that had water so fresh you could drink from it (and one of our friends did)! Finally, we started our trek back. We hopped into our tubes again and paddled back through the cave. The water is very calm with only a mild current, easy to paddle through. Once we got to the other side, we had the option for some cliff jumping!

Only one of our group was brave enough to make the jump off of the cliffs on the sides of the river. There was a large rock face, about 15 feet high or so. The guide led him up to the top where he jumped off into the river below. You have to be careful to jump past the rocky part of the river, and into the deeper section, but overall, our friend really enjoyed it!

At the end of our trip, we made the hike back to the parking area, and returned to the headquarters. The shop has showers where you can get clean and change into dry clothes. We had an amazing journey and definitely recommend this to anyone seeking some adventure on their trip! We finished that day off with a hearty meal, which you can read about in my last post.

Check out Tanamá River Adventures to book your trip. It really is the experience of a lifetime!

Mi Escondite a la Leña - Restaurant in Tanamá, Arecibo, Puerto Rico

We’re switching up a little bit today! Today, I’m bringing out a Puerto Rico post!

In January, we went to Puerto Rico. When I was planning our trip, I was looking for restaurants that were near our activity for the day, hiking and going through a cave river on innertubes. I found this place and watched an amazing YouTube video about it, and I knew instantly that this was somewhere I HAD to try.

Mi Escondite a la Leña is a beautiful restaurant in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by forest. We drove on the tiniest back country roads to find this place. We almost wondered if we were going the right direction, because we were basically passing tiny mountain farm towns that made it seem like we were in the middle of nowhere. Finally, we saw a sign that directed us to the restaurant. We were there! Hidden down inside of a little valley, surrounded by the mountainous jungle, we found this gem.

This restaurant was definitely worth the drive. When you arrive, you’ll see all open outdoor seating at covered patios. There is a giant pool with a small waterfall on one side of the property and lots of room to look around. There are benches around the property, there is a really great bar, and there is nature all around you. You can hear the birds and wildlife in the trees while you eat, and the restaurant plays great music, as well.

Let’s get to the food! This place had the best smoothies and milk shakes. Did I mention… they can be alcoholic smoothies and milkshakes?? I chose mine without alcohol, as I was the driver that day. But seriously, look at this. It’s a mango milkshake with whipped cream and sprinkles. It was absolutely amazing. This was real mango flavor in every sip. My friends all had similar experiences, but with alcohol.

Next, came the lunch. I ordered this amazing sandwich. This is a delicious chicken sandwich with tostones instead of the bun. That is fried plantain instead of the bun. Inside was some lettuce and a really nice sauce that was kind of like a ketchup mayo mix. This sauce is really common with fried plantains in Puerto Rico. For my side, I chose mofongo. This is a fried and mashed plantain mixed with lots of garlic and seasoning. Mofongo is a must-try Puerto Rican food, and this one was cooked just right! I’ve tried mofongo many times, and if not done correctly, it can be a bit bland. But not at Mi Escondite a la Leña! This mofongo was so flavorful, and the garlic and spices really made it unforgettable.

My friend ordered this incredible churrasco steak with arroz apastelado. Arroz apastelado is rice cooked with some spices, capers, and usually some pork or chicken. It was served with a salad and of course, he drank it with a Medalla, probably the most popular beer in Puerto Rico. He also really enjoyed his meal.

The service was great and the staff was really friendly. The views were amazing and relaxing. This was the perfect meal after such an action-packed hike that morning. I definitely recommend this restaurant. Get outside of the big cities and visit this local hot spot, Mi Escondite a la Leña. You’ll be so happy you did.

Japan’s Crab Restaurant - Kani Doraku

Have you seen photos of a restaurant in Japan with a big moving crab on the front? That’s Kani Doraku. With over 40+ locations, this chain has become very popular with tourists and locals alike for their crab and seafood themed cuisine. We visited the location in East Dotonbori, in Osaka.

This restaurant is upscale, with a nice atmosphere. This location is directly along the river, so we had a very nice view during our meal. We sat at floor seats with the leg area cut out below, which was a fun experience. We ordered a set meal that included a table grilled crab, some sushi, soup, as well as other crab themed dishes.

My absolute favorite part of this meal with grilling our own crab over a Japanese table grill. They brought out all of the ingredients and a grill. We then cooked our own food. It was super fun! Of course, each course was delicious.

This is one of those restaurants that you have to visit when going to Japan. To me, it was so fun to experience. They even have souvenirs available for purchase. Next time you’re in Japan, go check out one of the many locations of Kani Doraku for a delicious meal!

Conveyor Belt Sushi - Hinatomaru

One thing that Japan is known for is their sushi, of course. And one of the most interesting ways to eat sushi is at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant! That’s why, when we went to Asakusa, we searched for a conveyor belt sushi restaurant to try. We found Hinatomaru while walking along all of the shopping streets close to Senso-ji temple.

This place was fantastic. You could take any of the sushi off of the conveyor belt as it circled the restaurant. The chef would choose a fish and make a few dishes with it. He then loaded it on the belt for customers to select from. You could also tell him what you’d like to try, and he’d make it just for you. It was like a moving buffet combined with a made to order restaurant. There were also hot water spouts and a jar of matcha in front of you, so that you could have some tea with your meal.

My favorite was the tuna. It really did just melt in your mouth. I also really liked the tamago. It was the sweet but salty tasting Japanese omelet.

The chef was hilarious. He was laughing and joking with us the whole time. He made the experience really fun and enjoyable.

At the end, you count up all of your color coded plates to pay. The plate color determines the price. It was a simple and delicious meal, and it was really affordable. I definitely recommend checking out this restaurant the next time you go to Tokyo’s Asakusa area.

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

What do you imagine when you think of a museum? A place with exhibits and displays that you can read about, maybe some historical facts, or some art… what about a museum that transports you back in time to Japan in the late 1950’s, that lets you fully interact with the exhibits, that lets you eat the ramen on display. The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is more of a food amusement park than a traditional museum. Yes, they have things to read and historical exhibits, but the main room is filled with 7 retro ramen shops and a bar. You can hang out in the streets of Tokyo from 1958 while eating some delicious ramen. The ceiling looks like the sky, and each shop is a detailed building in the recreated city atmosphere.

I tried ramen from two different shops. My absolute favorite was the spicy red miso ramen from Ryu Shanghai Honten. I got the vegetarian version, but they also have it with pork. The signature red miso has quite a kick to it! It’s hot and spicy and pairs perfectly with the broth and fresh green onions. This is an absolute must-try!

Next, we tried Komurasaki tonkotsu ramen. They have a pork version, but I had the vegetarian version here also. It came with soy meat and a creamy broth that was very similar to the original. On top, there were some shaved garlic chips. It was so good!

At this point, I had eaten two full bowls of ramen. The meat versions are available in half sizes, but the vegetarian versions are only full size. So I was absolutely stuffed! We sat and had a nice drink and watched a street performer in the central court.

After that, we did visit the historical displays and read about the origins of ramen. We also stopped by the gift shop for some last minute souvenirs.

This food amusement park is only a quick train ride from Tokyo and is a definite must for any visit to Japan. If you find yourself in Tokyo, I definitely recommend the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum!

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival Food

One of my favorite places to visit during cherry blossom season is Ueno Park, in Ueno Ward, Tokyo. This park is filled with tons and tons of cherry blossom trees and lots of food to enjoy! Most years, you’ll find people setting blankets and tarps out under the trees and setting up picnics to watch the cherry blossoms while they eat. They call this “hanami.” There are food vendors of all kinds at this festival, but here are just a few of my favorite street foods from the past few years.

Above is a photo of some delicious yakitori I ate in 2019 at the festival. You’ll notice the skewers are labeled with the cut of meat on each skewer. They were all coated in a delicious teriyaki sauce and marinated very nicely. They were fresh and juicy and definitely one of my favorite things at this festival.

Next, we have some delicious street corn. They’re grilling it fresh at the food stall with some butter for flavor. During this visit, it was still a little cool outside, and this nice hot corn was the perfect snack.

Another favorite is something I’ve never seen in the US… grilled crab on a stick. It is imitation crab, so more of like a crab flavored fish cake on a stick, grilled. They season it, grill it over a charcoal grill, and top it with Japanese mayo. This was my #1 favorite food item at this festival. Absolutely incredible!

In 2019, we found this delicious snack. They’re called “American Long Potatoes” at most of the food stalls around town. This was so funny to me, since we don’t have fries this long in the US. But these fries are literally about 1 foot long, and then they’re drizzled in the topping of your choice. I chose liquid cheese and parmesan. It was really satisfying and crunchy. They make these extra long fries not by cutting potatoes into strips like American fries, but actually by mashing the potato, putting it into a presser, and pressing out these long potato strings into the fryer. So really, it’s almost like fried mashed potatoes.

Finally, no meal would be complete without a drink! And what better drink that a cherry blossom themed drink! Japan has tons of cherry blossom themed snacks and drinks during the spring season, and alcohol is no exception. This is a brut rose Chandon tastes pretty much like the normal Chandon but with a hint of cherry blossom flavor. And the bottles are beautiful. You can buy a glass or an entire bottle to share with friends during hanami. We saw this in 2018 and 2019.

There’s so much more here besides these delicious foods. Don’t forget, the cherry blossoms here are world renowned. I definitely recommend visiting this festival in the spring and trying something new. Enjoy!

Owakudani - Hakone's Volcanic Valley

View fullsize

Click image to expand…

In my last post, we talked about the black eggs of Owakudani, in Hakone, Japan. Now, let’s talk a little bit more about this volcanic valley, itself. This is the second half of my Owakudani blog series.

Owakudani is an active volcanic valley. There are sulfur vents around the entire area. The area it self is one of the stops along the Hakone Ropeway. It is only 2 stops away from Togendai station. Just hop on the Hakone Ropeway at Togendai station, ride past Ubako station, and stop at Owakudani. As you approach, you’ll start to SMELL the area from pretty far away. Sulfur.

There are sulfur vents all over the area. You’ll see the clouds of steam and gas rising as you approach. It almost looks like another planet. It also smells terrible. It smells like rotten eggs due to the sulfur. When you arrive, you’ll land at a really nice visitor’s center. There is a fantastic gift shop, where I definitely recommend getting some fun souvenirs, but there is a second shop, so don’t buy too much just yet. Then, you’ll step outside, and you’ll see it…

There is a huge valley off to the south/southeast of the ropeway station with the sulfur mine. They are efficiently mining the sulfur like a well oiled machine. It is a bright yellow green color and smoky. If you stay on the ropeway and head to the next station, you’ll get to see the full view of the mine.

Continue along the path, and you’ll find another gift shop. This one has even more souvenirs. This is also where you can get the famous black eggs, cooked in the volcanic hot springs. From here, you’ll have a great view of Mount Fuji.

If you continue to walk, you’ll find a ramen shop and some other food vendors. We bought a nice hot cup of amazake from one of those vendors on a super cold day. Amazake is a sweet, low-alcohol sake. It kind of tastes like horchata, if you’ve ever had that before, except that this store sold it hot. It was kind of like a hot, cinnamon sugar rice milk with a hint of alcohol. It was delicious, especially since it was so cold.

From this point, there is a small shrine that leads off to a trail up the mountain. Unfortunately, on particularly bad sulfur days, the trail is shut. Each time that I have been there, it has been closed due to the bad volcanic sulfur activity. However, I hear that it is a nice hike.

Overall, this area is amazing. It really does feel other-worldly. I definitely recommend checking it out when you go to Hakone. And definitely… try those black eggs.

Owakudani's Black Eggs

In the mountains of Hakone, lies a volcanic valley with live sulfur vents, called Owakudani. Owakudani’s claim to fame is their “kuro tamago” or black eggs. This post will be the first of a two-part series on Owakudani, and this time, we’re going to talk all about these special eggs.

The “kuro tamago” is a normal, standard chicken egg. The only difference is that it has been hard boiled in the hot spring waters of Owakudani. Because the hot springs are filled with so much sulfur, the outside of the eggshell turns black like coal. But don’t worry, the inside is still your typical egg.

These lucky black eggs are said to add on 7 years to your life for every egg you eat! I ate 5 of these, so I am in for a long healthy life! These eggs are so famous, that they even have a statue of the black egg in front of the visitor center.

I ate my eggs with a little bit of salt while sitting on some nice benches that look out at Mount Fuji in the distance. From this vantage point, you can see the giant mountain perfectly on a clear day. After cracking open the egg, there is nothing unusual about it. Once you get past the black shell, everything else is normal.

The eggs were still hot and the air was cool and crisp with the mountain climate. It was the perfect combination. I have never enjoyed a hardboiled egg as much as I did in that moment. If you are ever in the Owakudani area, you have to try it!

Stay tuned for more details on Owakudani in the next part of this series. We will talk about the terrain, views, and other sites to see in this volcanic valley.

Rikuro Ojisan - Fluffy, Jiggly Cheesecake

Let’s talk about cheesecake. Normally, you think of a delicious, cheesy thick piece of rather solid, rather cheesy dessert. It’s usually pretty rigid, right?

That’s not the case for this famous cheesecake in Osaka. This cheesecake is a fluffy, jiggly cheesecake that bounces around when you move it. It is like the jiggly memory foam of cheesecake. It bounces right back! That’s because they use more whipped egg whites. It’s all about the fluffy egg texture. And that is exactly what makes it so good…The fluffy, bouncy, but still creamy cheesecake texture.

That’s why, when we went to Osaka, we had to visit Rikuro Ojisan (Uncle Rikuro). Uncle Rikuro’s cheesecake is well known worldwide for their bouncy cheesecakes with a raisin layer and branded stamp on top. They are a staple in Osaka for this delicious dessert. We had seen countless videos about this cheesecake and had to try it out for ourselves. It did not disappoint. It was absolutely incredible! We loved it so much the first time, we went back again on the following year’s trip.

On our first visit, we ate in store. We purchased a slice of cheesecake and a drink and sat in the cafe to eat. It was a super cute atmosphere with great service. The smell of sweets filled the air. They brought us our warm slices of cheesecake. The soft, squishy cake practically melts with each bite. The eggy texture makes it filling, but not too rich. It was the perfect amount of sweet. The bottom layer of the cheesecake is scattered with raisins to add an extra pop of flavor.

We went to the location right by Osaka Namba Station. It was just a quick walk from our hotel, in the middle of a covered shopping street called a shotengai. It was easy to find and a great evening activity. I definitely recommend checking out Rikuro Ojisan Cheesecake if you’re ever in Osaka.

Digital Art Museum - TeamLab Borderless Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan

One of my absolute favorite places that we visited while in Japan was the digital art museum in Odaiba called TeamLab Borderless. This is not just a museum… it is a fully immersive and interactive experience. You are part of the art, explore the art, become the art. It’s like a whole playground for all ages filled with the most beautiful designs that you are fully experiencing.

The entire building has an open room to room flow. You just walk around and end up in different areas, part of different experiences. One area was all flowers that popped when you touch them. Another area was a strange climbing experience. There was a field of what I can only describe as lily pads with digital projections flowing across them as you walk among them. You can touch everything and everything reacts to motion and touch in the digital artwork.

One of the coolest exhibits was the tea house. You can go and choose from several types of tea. They will create it for you and bring it out to you, setting it on the table in this dark room. Then, the tea comes to life. smart projections from above you make floral designs in your tea bowl. The flowers bloom as your tea sits still, but when you lift the tea, the blooms fall apart. No matter where you move the bowl, the blossoms find your drink.

Another amazing experience was a totally dark room with a net that suspends you high above a mirrored floor. You lay in the middle of this net, almost as if it was a birds nest, and thousands of projections fly by you on the walls and ceiling. It feels like you’re watching the night sky come alive while suspended in mid air.

Of course, there are the very popular giant illuminated balloons. They change color and bounce slowly. There are also various kid-friendly (or adult-friendly) play areas. We climbed on some uneven suspended planks in a neon glow area. We even went down a big slide that had fruit projected onto it. When you slide down, the fruits are disturbed and bounce all over the place.

There really is so much to see here. So much, that I can’t even cover all of it. Finally, one more mention… The lantern room. A room filled with color changing lanterns and mirrors. This entire place feels like some out of body experience. If you get to visit, I definitely suggest it. Also, check out the many other TeamLab exhibits across Japan and the rest of the world. I’m sure you’ll find something that will blow your mind!

Ooedo Onsen Monogatari - Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan

Do you want a relaxing day at an onsen with an Edo Period twist? Then you won’t want to miss Ooedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan. Yes, this is an onsen, but they also have restaurants with a food court, shops, carnival games, and even an outdoor foot bath garden… all decorated like the Japanese Edo Period.

When you first enter, you’ll remove your shoes and go check in. Just a warning, they do not allow patrons with tattoos inside, but they also don’t check to make sure you don’t have tattoos. I’m sure if it’s obvious, then you won’t be allowed to enter. Once you check in, you’ll go to the yukata counter and pick out the design of Yukata that you want to wear. A yukata is like a light-weight kimono in a way. They have many designs to choose from for both men and women. I chose a fun bright yellow-green yukata with orange flowers.

Next, you’ll head to the dressing rooms. There are separate dressing rooms for men and women. There, you’ll change into your yukata and put your belongings into a personal locker. Next, you can enter the main hall.

The main hall is a big indoor courtyard. It feels like you’ve been transported back in time to an Edo Period town square, complete with quaint storefronts, wooden towers, and colorful paper lanterns. We went to one of the quick service restaurants and ordered some food to eat in the courtyard (kind of like a food court area) before heading outside to the foot bath.

Outside, there is a beautiful Japanese garden with a relaxing foot bath. This is mixed gender and everyone is fully clothed, unlike the onsen/baths themselves. This is just to relax outdoors and socialize while you soak your feet in some hot, steamy water. The foot bath is shaped like a stream that winds through the garden. The bottom of the stream has different shaped rocks and textures that we were challenging each other to walk through. Some of the sections are meant to hit certain pressure points in your feet, so we were laughing as we tried to walk across some of the pointy stones. Then, we sat and chatted with friends along the side of the stream.

On this visit, we chose not to go to the onsen/bath itself. We had a rather large group and were running short on time. We did, however, check out the shops and carnival before we left. One of the shops sold Gudetama water, which I couldn’t resist buying (if you’ve read my Gudatama Cafe post, you know how obsessed I am).

Finally, it was time to leave. We changed back into our normal clothes, turned in our yukata to the checkout area, and picked up our belongings from the locker. This was a great experience, family friendly, and overall a really festive atmosphere. I definitely recommend Ooedo Onsen. Check it out next time you’re in Tokyo!

Unicorn Gundam - Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan

Odaiba… a futuristic, fun-filled area of Tokyo that is a must-see on your trip. There is so much to do in this area, but one of the biggest attractions is the life-sized Unicorn Gundam in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza.

If you're not familiar with gundam, it is a popular science fiction franchise in Japan. There are tons of movies, animes, manga, video games, and merch for these giant fighting robots. The basic idea is that they are robots used to fight, controlled by a pilot in a cockpit inside. That said, they’re supposed to be huge in the stories, for maximum military strength. And this guy is huge! The Odaiba model is almost 65 feet tall! He’s modeled after a gundam from the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn series.

One of the coolest things about this attraction is that he isn’t just big… he also moves. If you stop by at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm or 5 pm, you’ll catch quite a show! This gundam transforms and lights up… his armor even shifts into destroyer mode! And later in the evening, there are projected scenes from the anime and music playing every half hour. This is really a cool display! And it's free.

While you’re there, check out the rest of the plaza. It's a really nice park with beautiful flowers and walking paths. I definitely recommend this attraction, so check it out next time you visit Tokyo!

Hakone Crafthouse - Glass Bead Art

Thanks for checking in on part 3 of my series about Hakone Gora Park. If you haven’t checked it out yet, check out my post about Hakone Gora Park overall and also my post about Glass Blowing.

Today, we are going to talk about another craft workshop to experience at Hakone Gora Park… Glass bead-making at Hakone Crafthouse! This was especially exciting because you can incorporate your glass bead into tons of items at the end of this process… a necklace, key chain, bracelet, charm, hair accessory, etc. Hakone Crafthouse is a craft workshop experience inside of Hakone Gora Park that offers activities such as glass blowing, pottery, glass etching, and of course today’s topic, glass bead making.

First, you’ll select your glass color and what type of pattern you’d like to make on the glass bead. The first time I visited, I made a turquoise glass bead with gold accents. The second time, I chose pink with polka dots and gold. They have tons of color and pattern options. Then, you sit down with your instructor one-on-one. They put safety gear on you and set you up in front of a blow torch and some supplies and walk you through the entire process.

First, you begin by heating a metal rod that you will wrap molten glass around to create your bead shape. Then, you begin to heat long colorful sticks of glass over the flame. As the glass begins to melt, you’ll slowly allow it to drip onto the metal rod, as you rotate the rod. This will start to create a ball shape around the end of the metal rod. You’ll keep adding layers and layers of the hot liquid glass over the flame, making sure to shape the bead with gravity as you go.

Then, you’ll roll the molten bead through gold leaf and heat it in the flame again. If you’re adding polka dots, you’ll lay out tiny little glass pieces of different colors and roll them onto the bead you’re creating. At the end, you’ll heat it all up nicely in the flame and rotate it evenly, so that you have a nice round bead. Then, it needs to cool. While it cooled, we took a break, grabbed a snack, and explored the park a bit.

Finally, it was time to turn our bead into an accessory! As the staff preps your bead, you’ll pick your accent beads or charms to add to your accessory. For my necklace, I picked some lovely gold and turquoise accent beads to complement the hand-crafted bead. For the key chain, I stuck with the pink and gold theme and picked cute golden charms and pink beads to match the lovely gold key chain.

Then, you get to assemble the bead and your accents all onto the accessory. In the end, I had a lovely, handmade souvenir that I was really proud of. It’s definitely a conversation starter, and you can honestly say you crafted it yourself in Japan!

This is such a fulfilling experience. Both men and women were doing this activity, especially since they had other unisex items like key chains that even the men could enjoy crafting.

If you enjoyed this post, please check out my other posts about the activities at Hakone Gora Park, including glass blowing. This entire park was a whole day experience that I will never forget. If you’re going to Hakone, this park is a must-see attraction.

Hakone Crafthouse - Glass Blowing

This is part two in my series about Hakone Gora Park. Check out my post about the park overall. I’ll also be releasing one more post about the park.

This time, let’s talk about glass blowing! One of the best parts of Hakone Gora Park is the Hakone Crafthouse. I can (and did) spend the whole day here. Crafthouse offers several different types of craft options including glass blowing, glass bead/jewelry making, pottery, glass etching, and glass engraving. For today’s post, we’ll focus on the glass blowing.

First, you sign in at the front desk and choose what type of item you’d like to craft. They have different shapes and sizes of cups, mugs, vases, etc that you can choose from. Then, you pick your glass accent colors and what type of design you’d like to make. I chose turquoise and light green accent colors. I also selected an option for glow in the dark speckles.

Then, you’ll enter the crafting area. One wall of the crafting area is all open patio doors, so it really lets in the mountain vibes. You’ll sit down at a workbench as the worker preps the ball of molten glass on a long metal pole. He’ll also lay out the pieces for the accent color option you selected. You start by shaping the glass blob, and beginning to blow the blob up with a little bit of air. The staff then roll your glass through the accent color pieces and heat it again for you.

Then, you’ll alternate back and forth between shaping the piece, heating the piece, and adding more glass. The staff helps you and instructs you how to create the perfect shape the entire time (English is also available). You’ll use many different tools, such as a wet wooden paddle, newspaper, and small wood piece. Eventually, you start to see the piece take shape. At the end, they’ll make sure to even out any mistakes so that your piece looks nice.

I absolutely loved the whole process. It was peaceful but also creative, working with hot glass in the cool mountain scenery. It was also exciting to try something new. In the end, when your piece is all finished, they’ll even mail your craft back to your home, halfway around the world. When I returned home from Japan, my creation actually beat me home and was waiting for me in the locked mailbox. And I love how the cup turned out!

I definitely recommend doing this activity. It is a great way to spend the day. If you like this post, stay tuned for my last post in this Hakone Gora Park series, coming soon. We’ll be talking about bead/jewelry making with lampwork.

Hakone Gora Park - More Than a Park

About an hour and a half from Tokyo, you’ll find Hakone and Gora. These two mountain towns are a must see for those who love the Japanese hot springs (also called onsen). Between the breathtaking mountain views and the relaxing hot waters, this area will make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. From many parts of town, you can even see Mount Fuji.

One of my favorite places in this area is a lovely park called Hakone Gora Park. It is right off of the Hakone Tozan Cable Car line, a block from the Koen Shimo Station.

This is so much more than just a park. This is an all day experience. Seriously. I suggest you plan to spend the whole day here. It costs 500 yen to enter, or about $5 USD. That is definitely worth the price! In this park, besides the park itself, there are botanical gardens, a tea ceremony house, a craft park with multiple types of craft workshops you can try, 3 restaurants, and even a gift shop. The entire park is a registered national monument due to its value.

The botanical garden consists of several indoor greenhouses with unique environments in each. It is beautifully decorated with flowers in every building. You will even find fountains throughout the botanical garden, which adds to the relaxing sounds around you.

Next is the park itself. This park has something to see during all parts of the year. There are flowers during the warmer months, cherry blossom trees in the spring, fall leaves, winter snowy views, and even a holiday display!

There are 3 food options: 2 cafes and 1 sweets shop. We tried some delicious rose ice cream during the spring at the sweets shop and dined at one cafe in the afternoon. The food was delicious at both places we tried. We even ate our ice cream by the fountain.

We did not get to experience the tea house. We ran out of time spending most of our day crafting. It looked very nice, though.

Now, the crafts. You can choose from several craft workshops and try your hand at making something new. Each craft workshop has a fee, but you get to take home what you make. We did glass blowing and glass bead making/jewelry making, which I will write about in an upcoming post. They also had pottery, glass etching, and floral arrangements when we were there. The crafts really make this place special. You can make your own souvenir and remember the experience every time you use the item. If you rather buy something pre-made, you can also check out the amazing work of their local artists in the gift shop.

Definitely check out my upcoming blog posts for more on glass blowing and glass bead making in the park. And put Hakone Gora Park on your list to check out, next time you visit Japan.

Driving Go Karts in Shibuya and Harajuku - Street Kart

Last spring, we got to experience Shibuya and Harajuku in a rather unusual way… by go kart. Thanks to Street Kart Shibuya, you can dress up in character onesies and drive a go kart all around town. There are several locations and different routes you can take, but we picked the night time Shibuya and Harajuku route.

We knew right away that this was going to be amazing. At night, with all of the lights, driving down the busy streets seemed so surreal. It feels like you’re in a movie. The neon signs surround you and you feel like you’re becoming part of the night’s cityscape.

We drove through Shibuya crossing, with the huge TV screens, video advertisements, and bright lights. We drove up to Harajuku and through the Omotesando area. We even got a special view during cherry blossom season. We went down one side street that was lined with cherry blossom trees. The trees were lit by the streetlights, making a bright glow throughout the branches. The trees made a tunnel overhead as we raced down the road and around the corner, back into the busier traffic again. The air was cool and strong, and felt like roller coaster winds on your face. It really was a rush to experience!

If you’re ever in Tokyo, definitely check it out. I definitely recommend the night session. Bring a GoPro to capture video or photos, as driving while using your phone is not allowed. I’m sure the day session would be fun, as well, but at night, you get to see all of the lights! It really made it special.

Cat Cafe Mocha - Shibuya - Tokyo Japan

On the 8th and 9th floors of a skyscraper in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, you’ll find Cat Cafe Mocha. This place is a cat connoisseur’s paradise. If you love cats, this place will definitely be somewhere you’ll need to check out. It is two levels of super chic, stylish cat cafe filled with a modern vibe, free drinks, and of course… cats… and sometimes in costumes.

On this occasion, we visited during October when the cats were dressed up in cute little costumes. This one was a police officer cat and was super well behaved. He looked as though he actually may have enjoyed the costume. We assume this was a seasonal event for Halloween, as when we went during the spring the following year, the cats were not in costume anymore (but they were still just as cute).

The atmosphere is high class and soothing. They play calming music. The lighting is soft and spot lit. The furniture is all cat friendly but very modern. And the views are incredible! Since you’re looking out the 8th or 9th floor, you can see the beautiful lights of Shibuya, sparkling below you. As the cats leap around from hanging baskets or climb a wooden tree sculpture, you just feel happy. You can pay a little extra to feed the cats treats, or you can just enjoy the cats’ company. They even have toys so that you can play with the cats. No matter what you’re doing there, it’s relaxing and enjoyable.

We originally planned to only be here for maybe 20 minutes, but we really got drawn in and stayed for over an hour. They give you sanitized slippers when you walk in the door and a locker in which to place your personal items. You pay per 15 minutes, so definitely watch that clock if you’re on a budget. You can even buy little souvenirs to take home and show your friends.

Overall, this was one of my favorite places to relax in Japan. They have several locations around Tokyo and other parts of Japan, so make sure to check them out on your next visit!

Gudetama Cafe - Osaka, Japan

Ok. You’re going to need to just deal with how incredibly obsessed I am with Gudetama. Gudetama is a Sanrio character, a character from the same company as Hello Kitty. Gudetama, however, is an egg that embodies laziness and a love of sleep and all things chill. He is my spirit animal… spirit food?

Anyways, he has his own cafe in Osaka, Japan, in HEP FIVE, a mall in the Umeda area. Japan has many character themed restaurants, so I was really excited when I found out that Gudetama has his own cafe. We went to it, and it was amazing. First, you walk up to a Gudetama themed entrance, and upon walking in, you’ll see Gudetama everywhere!

There are Gudetama plushies all around the cafe and even a Gudetama statue in the front. The entire time, you’ll hear Gudetama cartoons playing on TVs throughout the restaurant. There is even a gift shop in the entrance of the store. Here you’ll find all of the Gudetama swag you could ever want. It’s even Sanrio official merchandise.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Next, let’s talk about the food. Because Gudetama is an egg, of course you’ll find a ton of egg type foods like udon and gyudon. But you’ll also find some super cute desserts like the Gudetama custards that come in little egg shell containers or the Gudetama ice cream Sunday. All of the food items have super cute Gudetama pun-themed names in Japanese, too.

The food was delicious and definitely made the experience really memorable. If you don’t leave that cafe with a fully belly, humming the Gudetama theme song for the next day and a half, then something has gone seriously wrong.

Next time you’re in Osaka, Japan, definitely try this place out. Even if you’re not as big of a Gudetama fan as I am, it’s an absolute must-see.

ATVs in Puerto Rico

In January, we had to opportunity to ride ATVs in Puerto Rico. The place we visited was called Hacienda Campo Rico, and they offer everything - ATVs, horseback riding, zip lining, tours, and even a bar. On this day, we rode ATVs and hung out at the bar. It’s just a close 15-20 minute drive from San Juan, so it was convenient to find.

This was quite the experience! I am not a very big person, so it was quite a struggle to hold on to the ATV as we rode over rough terrain and muddy trenches. I did, however, manage to stay on course and never once got stuck in the mud (others got stuck in the mud)! It is important to know how to use your brakes, so that you can keep distance between yourself and the person in front of you, but also important to keep moving when in the mud, so that you don’t get stuck. You really feel like you’re on an adventure during this whole experience. They rent you goggles, and you can bring or buy a face covering to keep mud out of your face.

The whole time, you get to experience the nature and beauty of your surroundings. You ride through sugar cane fields, forest, and farm land. The entire time you can see the mountains off in the distance. It was a nice sunny day, too, so we had the perfect conditions for our ATV ride.

At the end, you get to relax and unwind at the bar. They even have some communal showers in the back if you want to rinse off. We rinsed our legs and arms and changed into non-muddy clothes.

This is definitely something I will remember for many years to come! I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in San Juan.

No Fee Currency Exchange in Japan (from USD)

One of the most frustrating aspects of travel can be currency exchange. On my first trip to Japan, I went to the bank, ordered Japanese yen, lost some USD in the conversion process for fees, and lost more USD in fees and conversion on the way back! I probably lost several hundred dollars due to the fees for exchanging cash at the bank. BUT - I found a better way…

On my second trip, I discovered a secret to currency exchange that not many people seemed to know about. Capital One’s 360 checking account. Capital one had no international transaction fees, no ATM fees on Seven Bank ATMs during 7 am and 7 pm, and an EXACT exchange rate. That means they didn’t short me any yen in the exchange process. The airports may give you 107 yen for every 1 USD, when the actual exchange rate is 110 yen for 1 USD (just an example). They keep that 3 yen per dollar as their fee for doing business. However, Capital One did not do this. They gave me the full 110 yen for 1 USD. They gave the exact exchange rate… Through a Seven Bank ATM.

So how did it work for me?

1. I got a Capital One 360 Checking Account.

2. I put USD into my new account.

3. I went to Japan, went to any 7 - Eleven in Japan or any other Seven Bank ATM (they have them in the airports, too).

4. I got cash out of the ATM, between 7 am and 7 pm with no ATM fees, no international fees, just an exact exchange rate for cash.

Additionally, I used my 360 debit card at any location that accepts mastercard in Japan, also without any international fees. Almost every other bank I checked has international fees to use a debit card in another country. Not Capital One.

So if you’re planning a trip to Japan and struggling with currency exchange, try getting a 360 Checking from Capital One to save yourself the money on fees, because believe me… those can really add up.

There are some cash limits, so check your card conditions and Seven Bank ATMs for details. I used this trick in both 2018 and 2019. This is not a paid review in any way. I just wanted to share my experience with you. Also, I’m sure that companies change their conditions and fees from time to time, so let me know if you see something that doesn’t work anymore.