The city that keeps on giving.

I couldn't rave more about Tokyo. It was my second visit to this crazy city in just over a year, although last time it looked a little different (see here and here). That's the thing about this buzzing metropolis; you could spend weeks on end exploring and still not have experienced everything it has to offer. With no set plans this time 'round, we instead decided to take it as it comes with a little help from Google and a spider web subway.

We flew into Tokyo from Sapporo at about mid afternoon, where we somehow managed to pack two snowboard bags, three suitcases, two backpacks, a handbag and four people into one small taxi. Yep, it was one cramped drive to our hotel! By the time we settled into our hotel the sun was sinking and the familiar neon signage was lighting up the city. As it was Shane's first Tokyo experience, we decided to walk around Shinjuku with no mission but to explore.
Dressed in the softest MinkPink coat and knit dress, we set off early the next morning in search of the peaceful Yoyogi Park, situated in the middle of Tokyo. As with every place we visit, we decided to walk there from Shinjuku, despite it being a fair trek. I love that about travelling; you know, taking your time and walking because you never know what you'll discover.

Yoyogi Park is really something special. It's enclosed in a dense forest, one that I imagine to be very very old, which seems to block all the outside city sounds. We even spotted a geisha dressed in white and surrounded by people protecting her at one of the shrines; a story I'd love to hear.

We spent the rest of the afternoon searching for good coffee in Harajuku, where instead we only found delicious udon noodles and crepes (not that we were complaining). Here, have a photo of me looking about 15-years-old holding a crepe complete with cream, brownie and strawberries.

On the way back to Shinjuku, we stopped off at what would have to be Tokyo's most iconic location, Shibuya Crossing, where we snagged the best seats in the house at Starbucks and a delicious chai latte. Brad filmed a super cool stop motion during peak hour, so be sure to check it out!

Tokyo Disneyland filled our second last day, but unfortunately that only meant 2.5 hour waits in what felt like never ending lines for every single ride. So essentially, one day got us four rides, two meals and a few toilet stops (oh yes, we even had to line up for those!).

I'm not going to lie, it would have been amazing to get a Fast Track Pass (get there early!) or the whole park to ourselves (I'm a self-confessed Frozen fan just because it's pretty much based on mine and Brad's love story, just saying'), but unfortunately we didn't and we had no idea what it would be like. The sheer amount of people was truly insane, even for Tokyo. And to add on top of that, people were staring at us like we were magnets, which was more amusing if anything and totally expected seeing as though I was dressed in a white MinkPink jacket and pink Lack of Color fedora. With tired feet, we packed into another train and ventured back to our hotel where we slept like babies.

With two cancelled and delayed flights, a huge inconvenience ended up being a great adventure as we got to explore Tokyo just a little bit more. As we weren't scheduled to fly out of Haneda International Airport until late at night, we packed our suitcases early, checked out and set out into the city once more, this time decked out in my Like Paint It Red pimp jacket (heh-heh-heh) and my new favourite fedora, if you didn't know that already.

We set out on the subway and ended up in Shibuya again, where we ventured beyond the Crossing. As it turns out, there's far more to Shibuya including a very cool snowboard shop that I think Brad fell in-love with.

It was only appropriate that our last meal in Tokyo be my absolute favourite; the most delicious dim sum at Din Tai Fung in Shinjuku. Just thinking about those xiao long bao and wonton soup makes me salivate. The best. I've ever. Had. Full stop.

And finally after a couple of flights home, we reached the red dirt and turquoise waters of Western Australia's north west. Before long we were bumpily descending into Perth from its perfect blue skies. Ah, we were home.