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Christmas in Japan
  • Jen Sutherland
  • Jasmine Sutherland
  • Jen Sutherland
  • Jasmine Sutherland

Christmas in Japan

Family holiday with friends.
Christmas in Sapporo and New Years in Tokyo 🌲🎉 Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 20, 2025
    Christmas in Japan
    Spare duffel bag for shopping? PackedMeriton Suites

    First Stop: Sydney

    Dec 20–22, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We booked our ANA flights with friends back in January, and here we are!
    Packing for this trip hasn’t been easy, as we plan for what to wear here (mid 30s) to below zero when we land in Sapporo next Tuesday. With our new XL suitcases (thank you BF sale!) we were able to pack plenty of layers/thermals. The summer gear went in a small duffel bag and our puffy jackets squished into a carry on suitcase.

    We usually hop on a Murrays bus to Sydney and spend the night at an airport hotel. This time we decided to drive and spend a couple of days here, enjoying some sunshine and catch up with Jazzy’s Godparents. The roads weren’t too busy- we left home at 2.30pm and arrived at our apartment in Mascot just before 6pm.
    We enjoyed some nachos and salad for dinner at the local South Sydney Graphic Arts Club    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan

    On our way

    December 22, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We have enjoyed the last couple of days in Sydney catching up with friends, and just managed to restrain from over eating before a long haul flight.
    We booked a car park with Space Shuttle Airport Parking a few months ago, and had no issues getting there. It was only a few minutes before the shuttle bus arrived and took us to the international terminal. We probably could have left a little later since the ANA desk wasn’t even open when we arrived (3.5hrs early), but the queues were already quite long.
    We kept ourselves well hydrated and steps up around the terminal before boarding at 9.15pm. As we approached the front, we were surprised to see this was no ordinary ANA plane. This was a Pokemon themed jet, which made Jazzy very happy!! 😍
    It was all very cute, from the air hostess welcoming guests on board with a Pickachu, to the headrest cover and Pokemon themed safety video.
    The economy seats with ANA are quite spacious. I was able to book us the row of 3 in the middle isle which made getting out of our seats much easier.    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    Breakfast at Haneda airport
    Breakfast at Haneda airport1.5hr flight from Tokyo to SapporoView from the carDecorative hotel receptionHotel foyerCompliments from the hotelWe get a bed each to ourselves!BathroomBathroomRed miso ramenLighting of the Christmas tree at Sapporo FactoryHotel drinks - complimentary before 7pm!Happy hour drinks and snacks at the hotelLining up outside for Zangi (fried chicken)Karaage chicken and seafood creamcroquette

    Sydney-Tokyo-Sapporo

    December 23, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    We arrived in Tokyo around 5.30am. Sleep was OK, I napped on and off while watching Thunderbolts, and then Emily in Paris (Rome?) 😂
    There was a 3 hour layover at Haneda airport, so we had some light snacks and Starbucks coffee for breakfast. The checkout process was efficient as usual so in hindsight I could have booked an earlier connecting flight to Sapporo.
    It was great not having to move out of the international terminal to domestic. It’s all connected here but we did have to collect our luggage and check them back in again.
    We boarded our next ANA flight around 8.30am and slept most of the way there. The view as we descended looked amazing, but we knew that meant how cold it would be once we stepped outside.
    After picking up our luggage and meeting the Klook driver, we made our way to the Hotel Sosei. Traffic wasn’t too bad, but just it seems the airport is quite far away from the city (approx an hour).

    As we stepped into the hotel foyer, we were greeted with the standard Japanese hospitality. It was noticeable how festive and cosy it felt inside. Thankfully our room was ready early, so we were able to quickly freshen up.
    Our friends Ange & Adrian had already arrived earlier and had ventured elsewhere for lunch. We were hungry and felt like some noodle soup. The hotel converge recommended a place nearby for miso ramen (a Sapporo specialty), so we walked along the icy road to the Sapporo Factory and found Hokkaido Ramen Okuhararyu. The miso ramen and gyoza was delicious, and a real bargain for approx $33 AUD (3 bowls of ramen & 8 pieces of gyoza).
    We finally met up with our friends later in the afternoon, just in time for the kids to see the lighting of the jumbo Christmas tree at Sapporo Factory. The tree is lit up with colourful ornaments and sparkling lights along with 5 minutes of music.

    This was followed by happy hour drinks at our hotel lounge soon after 4pm, and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that most drinks (and some snacks) here are complimentary before 7pm! There were some pretty decent drinks on offer too, not just the standard house wine/beer. We made the most of this but also made sure we had enough space to fit in some fried chicken for dinner.
    Daylight finishes around 4pm here during Winter, so by the time we started our 20 minute walk to Sapporo Zangi Hompo it felt much later than 6pm. There was a queue for the little restaurant at Sapporo Station, so we waited outside for almost half an hour before being seated. Even then we were split up with two tables. It was worth the wait though. Once inside we felt really warm and cozy, and we can order our meals with the QR codes provided at each table. “Zangi” is a chicken dish born in Hokkaido. The chicken is thoroughly marinated in soy sauce, garlic, ginger and other seasoning, then coated and deep fried. Apparently this is a casual way to enjoy local flavours of Sapporo, either as a single dish or a meal set with rice and some side dishes. Our meals arrived quickly and we were very satisfied. We braved the cold walk back to the hotel afterwards and enjoyed an early night in our comfortable beds 😴    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    Entry to SHIROThe start of making your own scentInstructions for the Blender LabHere's my bottle!Delicious soup curry for lunchThe famous apple pie sells around 2000 each day!Here they come!Polar bearHappy hour drinks at the hotelDinnerZaangi chicken

    Venturing out of Sapporo

    Dec 24–25, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Everyone enjoyed a much needed sleep in this morning. We had arranged car hire several months ago and the men went to pick it up just after 9am. We played some festive music/Christmas carols along the ways and enjoyed looking out at the snow for the first hour to the SHIRO Factory Shop & Cafe in Sunagawa. SHIRO is a Japanese cosmetic brand I came across a couple of years ago. It is a famous cosmetic and fragrance brand from Hokkaido, known for using natural and locally sourced ingredients.
    The building houses a factory where SHIRO products are manufactured, a store, cafe and lounge. One of the highlights here is the blender lab, which allows you to create your own unique fragrance. Us girls had fun making our own bottles while waiting for lunch to arrive, followed by some efficient shopping in the last 30 minutes. We had a pretty tight schedule to meet as we were aiming to catch the 2.30pm penguin parade at Asahiyama Zoo (it takes about an hour from SHIRO). BUT we also wanted to quickly stop over at Nakaya bakery along the way, since Ange had read somewhere that they are famous for the freshly baked apple pies.
    Well it was worth the 5 minute drive. Joel dropped us off and we quickly ran inside. I could smell the aroma as we approached the front door, and see them baking ahead of us once we were inside. We grabbed 4 pieces and ate the in the car on the way to the zoo.
    Delicious flaky crust made with cultured Hokkaido butter 😋

    We arrived spot on 2.30pm and quickly made our way to see the penguins. We know the Japanese are very punctual, so weren’t surprised to see the penguins already marching out as we got there and tried to find a good spot for some photos.
    This penguin walk is a famous winter event in Hokkaido, where they walk along the snow covered path for exercise, twice daily. It was extremely cute to watch them waddle along the course. There was no fences so a great way to get up close and personal. But the staff would often remind us to stand behind the line.
    Afterwards we wandered around the zoo checking out other animals (including seals, a polar bear and hippo). The zoo closes at 3.30pm which sounds early but it does start getting really dark here soon after 4pm.
    We arrived back at our hotel around 5.45pm, in time for happy hour drinks and followed by dinner at the nearby Sapporo factory. We introduced our friends to miso ramen (where we had lunch yesterday), Okuhararyu. We all enjoyed some hot ramen, gyoza and fried chicken.
    After dinner. Joel and Jazzy went back to the hotel for an early rest. I joined the others for a walk to Daimaru for some browsing ☺️    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    The kids exchanged Christmas presents
    The kids exchanged Christmas presents7am Christmas DayBreakfast at Lemon BakeryMoai statutesTakino Suzuran Hillside parkSome afternoon shoppingSome tax free shopping at the drug storeChristmas marketsChristmas 2025 buffetBlack wagyu sirloin roast beef with gravyFresh prawns, crab and scallops. Plus a glass of bubblyShabu shabuKids at the dessert barGirls enjoyed a Christmas eggnogDessertOne last group photo before we stagger up to our rooms

    A White Christmas

    December 25, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    Merry Christmas! 🎄 we woke up to a white on this year!

    The kids exchanged presents early morning, and we then walked to Lemon Bakery for some breakfast. There weren’t many people here which made it easier to find a table and order. Christmas isnt a public holiday here, so everything is open as normal.
    Breakfast was a 5 minute walk to Lemon Bakery for some coffee, a pistachio white chocolate drink and some baked goods.
    Then we drove to Takino Suzuran Hillside Park Snow World for some snow play. It was nice not having to venture too far from Sapporo city to be here (under an hour).
    On the way here we stopped by the Makomanai Takino Cemetary. It was certainly wasn’t part of the plan but it was hard not to miss the Moai statutes, with the largest being 9.5m high and weigh 120t. Others 6.5m high and weigh 60t. We saw a lot of people stopping by so we did the same.

    Most of the afternoon was spent at Mitsui outlet park, which was kind of on the way back to our hotel. We found a few bargains there; some where on the shopping list and a few Christmas presents for ourselves 🎁

    After spending several hours indoors we left the outlets around 4.30pm to found it dark and cold outside. We were dropped at the hotel with all the shopping bags first, while our friends returned the car. We just had a couple of hours to visit the Christmas markets and freshen up before our buffet dinner at 8pm.
    Ange had organised our Christmas buffet dinner at the hotel restaurant about 3 months ago. It made sense to have it here where we are staying, and the menu looked very appealing. We deliberately booked the later session to give us more time out during the day and not rush back.
    The food and service were amazing and well above our expectations. The head chef and restaurant GM came out to greet us, constantly making sure we were well fed and looked after. The range was extensive and showcased fresh ingredients from Hokkaido. Free flowing drinks were included in the package - we enjoyed the usual bubbly, some sake and eggnog!
    Thank goodness our rooms were just upstairs as I wouldn’t have been able to walk that far after our feast. This was certainly a memorable Christmas for all of us 🥰    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    View from our window
    View from our windowStepping out for takeaway coffeeShiroi Koibito ParkChocolate factorySapporo Beer MuseumBoys lunch & beer tasting at Sapporo GardenCookie decorating workshopHokkaido milk soft serveSnowing outside Shiroi Koibito park@CosmePre dinner snack at the hotelSoy ramen

    Boxing Day

    December 26, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C

    Today was a chill day for everyone. We all enjoyed a sleep in after our big day yesterday, and found it snowing outside. It looks pretty from inside the warm hotel room but extremely cold outside 🥶
    Walking along the snow was fun, especially for the kids. We often hear people talk about ‘powder snow’ in Japan, and its appeal to skiers due to the light, dry texture which provides a floating sensation as if gliding on clouds. It did feel that way when we first stepped outside this morning to grab coffee from Lemon Bakery again. The coffee here is OK but the pastries and pistachio hot chocolate are really nice.

    Around mid morning, Ange and I took the kids to Shiroi Koibito Park. It’s a chocolate entertainment park where we enjoyed sweets making experiences, an enjoy photogenic buildings and gardens. It was snowing very heavily when we left, definitely the heaviest we have seen here so far.
    Meanwhile the boys explored the Sapporo Beer Museum and shared a tasting platter.

    It wouldn’t be a proper Boxing Day without some shopping. The kids were tired so Joel kept them company at the hotel (and got some cricket updates). The rest of us took a 20 minute walk to the shops. It probably would have taken less time if it wasn’t for the snow and slippery roads.

    We went to the lounge again for pre dinner drinks and snacks. This is our last evening here together as we will leave for Osaka tomorrow. Our friends stay in Sapporo for another couple of days.
    We went back to Hohhaido Ramen Okuhararyu for some ramen, rice bowls and gyoza. Just what we needed to end a freezing cold day!    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    Boarding our flight from Sapporo
    Boarding our flight from SapporoCombined kitchen & diningWe made good use of the washer dryer. 4 loads in 2 days 😅Jasmine's roomMain bedroom1Lining up at Mizuno for an early dinner2One of our favourite dessert spots in OsakaA selection of Pablo cheese tarts.Which Pokemon toy capsule will roll out of the machine..?Alas, a new mini suitcase is needed from this point

    Sapporo - Osaka

    December 27, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -4 °C

    We waved goodbye to Sapporo (and our friends temporarily) around 8am, before making our way for the airport to Osaka.
    Our friends are staying here for another couple of days and we will meet them in Tokyo on Monday.
    We would like to visit Sapporo again next time, and possibly stay at this hotel. The service and room size/bedding arrangement is perfect for a family of 3, and the bathroom is larger than usual for Japan. While there are lots of things to do here, it’s not as busy as other big cities such as Osaka and Tokyo.

    Despite there being a slight delay with our flight we still arrived in Osaka with most of the afternoon free for leisure. We checked into our 2 bedroom suite at Fraser Residence (Namba) around 2.30pm, recognised the layout from our last visit here a couple of years ago. We made good use of the washing machine straight away, and I ventured out to nearby Takashimaya for the next hour. It’s nice to walk out with normal sneakers and not worry about slipping over! Temperature wise, it feels more like July/August in Canberra

    We kind of skipped lunch today so decided on an early 5pm dinner at Mizuno for some okonomiyaki. We have been here before and love it! Customers are asked to order when waiting in line, so we don’t have to wait long before our meals are ready. Lots of delicious Japanese pancakes and great value.

    After dinner, Jazzy and I walked it off along Ebisu Bashi-Suji, a vibrant covered arcade area known for its mix of trendy fashion, long established shops (Uniqlo, Daimaru), and Osaka street food. Joel went back to the apartment to check on washing (and probably the cricket 😂).
    It was really busy all along this long shopping strip, from Shinsaibashi to Namba. We managed to squeeze through the crowds and grab a few things, including a mini suitcase for all the snacks and Japanese sheet masks collected in Sapporo. 😬
    We grabbed some dessert before heading back to the apartment - a mix of mini cheese tarts from Pablo. This should give some us energy to organise out our suitcases for the luggage forwarding service tomorrow morning…    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    The front desk was busy organising everyone's luggage to the next destination
    The front desk was busy organising everyone's luggage to the next destinationButter beer at Harry Potter worldMario Kart- Koopa's Challeneve1Gyukatsu Motomura - NambaWinter Illumination

    Universal Studios

    December 28, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Universal Studios- the real reason for our short stopover in Osaka! We would have all enjoyed a longer sleep in, but mindful of having to get our suitcases to reception by 10am for the luggage forwarding service.
    This service is amazing, because it means we no longer need to bring all our suitcases around the maze like subway stations, up and down stairs/escalators. The front desk sorted out our paperwork and we paid a reasonable fee to have them forwarded to our hotel in Tokyo by tomorrow afternoon.
    We left for Universal Studios soon after and arrived shortly after 11am. It was a big day for us, and noticeably much busier compared to our last visit in July 2023. One of the staff members mentioned this is generally their second busiest day of the year, estimating approx 55,000 visitors!! No wonder some of the lines were incredibly long, not only for the popular rides but also for restaurants and bathrooms.

    We covered a lot of areas over the next 9 hours,; from Hello Kitty tea cup ride to the Harry Potter world, Hollywood Dream backdrop and Super Nintendo World for Mario cart racing. We all got an express pass but there really wasn’t much value for me since I am not a fan of roller coasters or anything that may give me motion sickness. Today is really for Joel and Jazzy, while I go souvenir shopping, hold bags and take photos 😅
    Thankfully they made some use from my express pass and went into the Harry Potter and Hollywood Dream Back drop twice.

    We left straight after the Mario Kart challenge, in time for a late 9pm dinner at Gyukatsu Motomura. This restaurant only offers one item but they do it so well- medium rare beef cutlets for us to broil them over the stone plate., dipped in wasabi and soy sauce. Very tasty! 😋
    We enjoyed looking around the dazzling Winter illuminations on our walk back to the hotel. This is an annual festival that transforms Osaka’s main streets into a stunning display of colours. While we would have liked to look around longer, our legs and bodies were in need of a good rest! Over 23,000 steps today.    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    Finding our way to Shin-Osaka station
    Finding our way to Shin-Osaka stationThe Nazomi to TokyoOur roomView from our hotel roomPre dinner snacksPre dinner drinks- the umeshu has become a favourite!Hanging out with our friends and their Japanese Spitz, TomiTaking Tomi out for an evening walk

    Osaka to Tokyo

    December 29, 2025 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We all enjoyed a much needed sleep in after USJ yesterday- 8am for us and 9am for Jazzy.

    After a light breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we ventured over to Takayshimaya and some other shops around the area. The cosmetics area within the department store is already extremely busy 20 minutes after opening. We figured this is due to holiday season, but was actually nothing compared to the sea of people around the two subway stations (Namba and Shin-Osaka) we had to go through before jumping onto the Shinkansen at 1.34pm. The trip to Tokyo was smooth and prompt (we wouldn’t expect otherwise here). It was particularly easy this time around without having to manage large suitcases aswell.

    We arrived in Tokyo around 4.30pm, and noticed several long queues when checking into the Hilton in Nishi Shinjuku. One line was for checking in, another for the airport limousine bus, and just people hanging around the lobby in general.

    Our luggage from Osaka had already arrived, so we headed up to the lounge for some pre dinner drinks and snacks.
    Our friends had already arrived from Sapporo earlier in the day but are staying at the Hyatt Regency (across the road from us).
    We met up with them, along another couple of friends living in Tokyo, at Maruushi Meat Shinbashi Shop for yakiniku (BBQ). We had a set menu as this was easier for a large group- the portions were very generous. High quality wagyu beef for a reasonable price.
    We wandered back our friends’ place after dinner as the kids were eager to meet their Japanese Spitz, Tomi. We went for walk around the neighbourhood, which is nice and quiet compared to some parts of Shinjuku.
    This was a great evening, within excellent food and accomodation.’    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    Lunch at Kurumaya Bellamy
    Lunch at Kurumaya BellamyTempura lunchOn way to Disney SeaWayanpuri Japanese head spaCrazy wait timesWaiting in line for Toy Story ManiaKids are tired of waitingMuch happier after the first ride!Nagomiya OmotesandoOmotesando- Walking towards ShibuyaCosme- Flagship store1Someone don't last very long at CosmeA much happier man at the Liverpool pop up storeDrinks at the loungeSet menu, including rice with salmon roeGyukatsu MotomuraDessert from 7Eleven

    Tokyo - a day of leisure

    December 30, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

    A leisurely day for Joel and I today, but not so much for the others…
    Our friends decided to take Ryan to Disney Sea and kindly invited Jazzy to go along. Honestly we can’t drag ourselves two theme parks in three days, but I’m glad she can! 😂

    We start the day off here with buffet breakfast, and there is again a long queue for a table, followed by another queue at most stations (particularly for the omelettes).
    We all go our seperate ways from around 9.30am: Jazzy and our friends left for Disney, Joel went to the gym and I went to Wayanpuri Head Spa for a lovely 90 minute treatment. My therapist was chatty and wanted to know more about koalas and kangaroos. Her English was OK- she mostly used Google translate to speak with me during the treatment, which I found quite amusing!

    Joel and I met up afterwards and we had lunch at nearby restaurant, Kurumaya Bekkan for some tempura.
    Meanwhile, we were getting updates from Adrian and Ange on the wait times at Disney Sea. Unfortunately they were amiable to grab an express pass for the rides, and had to wait approx 3 hours for Toy Story Mania!!! 😩. Yes it really was THAT busy! After that, they mostly went the smaller, less popular rides (which still required a 30-40 minute wait)

    Joel and I enjoyed a massage after lunch at Nagomiya Omotesando, where we had a little snooze too. I had a shiatsu and Joel chose the dry head massage.
    We then window shopped along the main avenue in Omotesando, which is lined up with luxury flagship stores. We gradually make our way to Shibuya and enjoy watching the crowds walk towards us from the opposite side. We find our way to the @Cosme flagship store (in Harajyuku) - this is the Mecca equivalent but on steroids! There are even more people in her today than I recall from my last visit (again, due to holiday season and reduced hours over the new year). Joel lasted about 5 minutes before leaving for some ‘fresh air’ and I have 40 minutes to myself to test some products. We had planned to head back to the hotel afterwards, but stumbled across an LFC pop up store along the way. We had a good look while listening to the Beatles inside the store.

    We had the usual pre dinner drinks and a light snack at the lounge, before meeting up with the others at Gyukatsu Motomura (the same restaurant we went to in Osaka two night ago) for beef cutlets again. Thankfully I had booked a table last month, as there was a queue (again) for a table here.
    We went to a 24 hour 7-Eleven afterwards and got some dessert before calling it a night.    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    Meeting up with our Canberra friends
    Meeting up with our Canberra friendsView of Tokyo sky treeBuffet lunchSky Grill Buffet MusashiNYE lunch with good friendsLadies at lunchOmotesandoA light dinner at the loungeChicken meatballsGoodbye to Adrian, Ange and RyanNYE shopping at Don QuijoteShinjuku neon walkView from our hotel room as surrounding buildings light up

    NYE in Tokyo

    December 31, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 5 °C

    Our first NYE overseas and what a wonderful way to end 2025! Not only have we been blessed to travel with good friends but things have also run smoothly; with no flight cancellations and only minimal delays on the road considering all the snow seen in Sapporo.

    Jazzy enjoyed a sleep in after another big day yesterday, while Joel and I headed downstairs for a ‘light’ breakfast. Considering our big lunch plans today, we only had some fruit, a detox juice and small coffee.

    Our friends from Canberra (Jen & Dave) had just arrived in Tokyo yesterday. We made plans some months ago to all head out for a lunch at the Sky Grill Buffet Musashi at the Asakusa View Hotel. Surprisingly, a lot of restaurants here are closed from around 30th December and it was also tricky to find somewhere large enough to fit 10 of us.
    We met them at Shinjuku train station and made our way there for our 11.30am lunch. We arrived 10 minutes early and there was already long queue. Once seated, we were reminded of our 90 minute sitting as the next sitting was at 1.30pm. We made good use of our 90 minutes there, in fact they had to kick us out when we were running 10 minutes late 😂
    There was a good variety of Asian and Western dishes (my favourite was a fresh tempura), and we had a lovely view of Tokyo sky tree.

    We went our seperate ways after lunch. A short visit to the nearby Kappabashi kitchen town kitchen street as most stores were closed.

    Next stop is to Moffu Harajyuku cafe where we had booked in 1 hour play time with Samoyeds. Pet cafes are very popular in Japan and this was on Jazzy’s to do list, so here we are on NYE! The dogs are incredibly cute with their soft fur and charming smiles. Every visitor is allowed a dog- we spend the next hour feeding and playing with them.
    We did a little shopping around Omotesando afterwards before heading back to the hotel for our usual drinks and snacks at the lounge.

    Meanwhile, Ange and Adrian were hitting up the Shinjuku shops until the last minute, since they fly back to Sydney tomorrow morning.
    We caught up with them briefly around 7.30pm, hoping for one last drink at one of our hotels but both were completely booked out for NYE.

    It’s still early, so we decided to venture out to Shinjuku to see what was open. It’s NYE in Tokyo - surely there is something we can do. The main area of Shinjuku is buzzing as usual but a lot of shops have closed early. Most places close over the new year period, often for several days and resume business on 3rd or 4th January.

    Of course Don Quijote is still open 24 hours so.. we head in there for a Quick Look (probably still too long if you ask Joel 😂).
    They sell pretty much everything here but it was quite busy so we a brief visit on each floor. I couldn’t put him through another madhouse after our visit to Cosme yesterday.

    On the walk back to our hotel, we come across the Shinjuku Neon Walk ( a light festival with digital art and food trucks in the Nishi Shinjuku area). There were people around but not overly busy which was a nice surprise.
    We have had some full and tiring days since arriving in Japan, so this was a really nice way to end 2025 🎉🥳 We can hear crowds cheering nearby and some small fireworks go off as midnight approaches    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    A nice start to the day
    A nice start to the dayTeamLab - Bubble UniverseTeamLab - sketch factory.Uniqlo ShinjukuDinner at Ginza Lion (Shinjuku Beer Hall)Late night drinksLive jazz bandExpresso martini's with okonomiyaki fries. 😋

    Happy New Year!

    January 1 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Happy New Year! 🥳
    We enjoyed a nice and relaxing start to 2026. Sleeping in, buffet breakfast, followed by some shopping at nearby convenience stores (7-Eleven and Lawson). Joel went to the gym instead.
    It was fun stocking up on cheap snacks and even stationery; some convenience stores are only a few hundred meters away from each other but carry different items. It is noticeably more quiet and clean in Nishi-Shinjuku compared to Shinjuku.

    We had purchased 2pm tickets for TeamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills this afternoon. Borderless is a popular, immersive museum known for its futuristic digital artwork without boundaries. The next 90 minutes was a lot of fun, watching the artwork move out of rooms, relate to other works and intermingle without boundaries.

    We caught up with our friends Jen and Dave tonight. The girls wanted to do some shopping (surprise, surprise!), while the guys respectfully declined 🤣. Joel invited them to the lounge for drinks and snacks so they enjoyed time there from 6-8pm before checking out the Shinjuku Neon walk. Meanwhile, the girls and I headed to Shinjuku and surprised to find Uniqlo open. We assumed all major shops and department stores would be closed today but clearly not.
    And of course it was packed! While we browsed here, it was decided we would head to the nearby Don Quixote later, but not without some food first as we will need some fuel to tackle that place. We ventured into the nearby Shinjuku Beer Hall for some pasta and pizza from Ginza Lion.
    Shopping at Don Quijote was fun - the girls enjoyed looking at all the snacks and toys. The queue for tourists looking to claim tax back was ridiculously long (at least 50 in line), so I gave it a miss and just joined the normal queue instead. It wasn’t worth the wait.

    It’s only a 15 minute walk back to our hotel, so we decided to do this rather than wait around for the train. We unexpectedly come across the ‘“Nishi-Shinjuku Godzilla night sky”, a projection mapping show on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. We watch Godzilla attack long the building while waiting at the lights- very amusing and Japanese! 😅
    We meet up with the guys at St George’s bar, where they are already onto the second round of cocktails and enjoying some live jazz.
    Jen and I joined our husbands with another couple of Expresso martini’s, while the kids got mocktails. We ordered some okonomiyaki fries to share- they were delicious and a great combo. I am inspired to try make this at home!    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    The Shibuya scramble crossing
    The Shibuya scramble crossingA quick selfie in the middle of Shibuya scramble crossingMario Kart on the streets of ShibuyaTeriyaki Mcburger and a melon McfloatShrimp burger from MaccasShiro in ShinQs, ShibuyaJazzy was tired from carrying her backpack while shopping 😂Nice looking but expensive strawberriesUmeshuPastries from Boul'Ange ShinjukuAfternoon snackUmeshu and snacks (dinner) at the lounge

    Shopping in Tokyo

    January 2 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Today was our last day in Tokyo, and sadly, plans to visit the Nintendo store in Shibuya didn’t eventuate as the shopping complex (Shibuya Parco) was closed. Jazzy was most disappointed and asked to have McDonald’s for lunch, including a melon Mcfloat.
    There was no issue finding one open. We have dined at McDonald’s in Japan before but it still amazes us that we can request for ‘table service’ and how clean the bathrooms are 😅

    It is odd that some big department stores are closed while others are open on 2 January. We enjoyed exploring Shibuya during the first half of the day: walking through the Shibuya scramble crossing (Tokyo’s iconic world- famous intersection), watch people dressed in costumes go street carting, and spent some time in the Star Wars pop up store. I stocked up on some more Shiro products from ShinQs, which was relatively quiet compared to all the other branches so far. It was nice being able to browse and test products without being surrounded by crowds.

    We head back to Shinkjuku for later part of the day. My favourite department store, Takashimaya was closed, so we went to Isetan instead. We explored the food hall (which was packed), and unexpectedly purchased a bottle of umeshu. I’ve been enjoying a glass (or two) of umeshu on the rocks most evenings since arriving in Japan, and for under $20 AUD was determined to squeeze this bottle into my suitcase. Joel almost convinced me to get a bottle of yuzushu, but that will have to wait until next time. It was tempting, since we could have purchased two bottles for the same price as a punnet of strawberries!

    We finished off our evening with the usual drinks and snacks (a.k.a dinner) at the lounge, reminiscing over the last 12 days, our favourite activities and meals.

    We spent the rest of the evening packing, preparing ourselves for an early morning flight the next day. Just before bed we make one last visit to the 24 hour 7-Eleven store across the road. It was very cold and lightly snowing!    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    Packed and ready to go at 5.15am!
    Packed and ready to go at 5.15am!Some early morning DF shoppingPullman Sydney airportA small giftEnjoying our complimentary drinks. Technically we are still on holidays.Late night snack - Calamari and chips

    Tokyo - Sydney

    January 3 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We got up around 4.30am today for our 8.30am flight. Yes I like to ensure that we have plenty of time to get to the airport, get through security and if time allows, do some duty free shopping!

    The shops in terminal 2 open at 6.30am. After a Starbucks coffee, Jazzy and I venture over to Tiat Duty Free for some final merchandise before boarding our ANA flight back to Sydney.
    The flight back didn’t seem as long as I thought it would be. Between watching two Mission Impossible movies, Barbie, and napping in between, the next thing I knew it was almost 8pm and we were about to land.

    Thankfully we didn’t have to stay in the airport for too long. Everything went pretty smoothly - despite the facial recognition machines not working for myself and Jazzy, we managed to collect the luggage and be back at our car soon after 9.15pm. We checked into the Pullman Sydney airport, and had just enough time to use our complimentary drink vouchers (& snacks) before the bar closed.
    Good night! 😴    Read more

  • Christmas in Japan
    We missed our flat whites and lattes
    We missed our flat whites and lattesManaged to squish everything into the bootAnd some in the back seat, leaving just enough room for our child 😅A collection of snacks from Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo and random convenience storesDuty free shoppingHair/skincare and cosmetics.

    Back Home

    January 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    A nice sleep in, and some proper coffee with breakfast to start the day (even if it seems expensive compared to the meals we have been enjoying recently).

    We checked out of the Pullman soon after 11am, and arrived home around 2.30pm.
    Managed to squeeze in a load of washing and unpack everything before heading out for some Chinese food. I must say it is nice to walk out in shorts and a t-shirt (minus the heavy rain and hail)

    I think have enough snacks to last us for about 3 months, and skincare to last me a year! To be fair some of these are gifts or purchase requests from friends.

    Thanks for coming along the ride with me over the last two weeks! 🙏😄    Read more

    Trip end
    January 4, 2026