🇩🇴🇺🇸 Hispanic American living in Tokyo 🇯🇵 👨👩👦 Family life, culture & business 🍜 Helping you explore Japan beyond the usual itinerary
Tokyo
Joined July 2025
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I spent my 20s in Japan. Then I left for the US.
After 8 years, this year I moved back — this time with my wife and son, and this time for good.
Took this watching the sun set over the city I came back for. I'm finally documenting all of it🧵#Tokyo
Driving on the Shutoko today, I had one of those moments again.
It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that less than 80 years ago, so much of Tokyo had to be rebuilt from the ground up. And now, it’s grown into the biggest metropolis in the world.
Every time I’m on the highway weaving through the city, looking out at the endless buildings stretching in every direction, it reminds me just how unbelievable Tokyo’s transformation really is. The scale of this place never stops amazing me.
One thing people overlook about Japan’s koban (police boxes) is that they’re more than just places for law enforcement. They’re also neighborhood resources where people go for directions, report lost belongings, ask for help, or raise local concerns.
That everyday interaction with the community is a big part of what makes the system work.
Shibuya Halloween in 2017 was hands down the best Halloween party I’ve ever experienced. Honestly, one of the best street parties anywhere in the world.
Thousands of people flooding the streets, incredible costumes, complete strangers becoming friends, and just absolute chaos in the best possible way.
An entire neighborhood, scratch that City, turning into one massive Halloween party.
Looking back at these photos makes me realize how special that era was. Shibuya Halloween 17’ really was something else. 🎃
ジェンナ－ | That Japan Guy🎌 retweeted
Mount Fuji gets first snowcap of 2026 season
It's keenly awaited news in Japan: Mount Fuji is capped with snow. It's the first snowcap confirmed using data analysis instead of human observation.
More on Japan: www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news…
ジェンナ－ | That Japan Guy🎌 retweeted
I love that McDonald’s in Japan has raid boss versions of the US burgers
That morning chill is finally starting to hit Tokyo, and Kichijoji is already getting ready for that time of year. 🎄
Hard to believe we’re almost in November. Autumn is just getting into full swing, but the Christmas decorations are already going up.
One of my favorite times of the year to be in Japan.
ジェンナ－ | That Japan Guy🎌 retweeted
I met with Japan’s Minister of Defense Shinjirō Koizumi @shinjirokoiz to advance our shared vision of peace through strength.
Our strategic alignment is essential to building a credible denial defense—supported by increased investment, greater access, more realistic training, and stronger production of the munitions our forces need.
This brings back so many memories from when I lived in Kagoshima. I used to frequent these tiny bars in Kanoya, and the staff were always so genuinely welcoming. Every time I walked in, I’d get this huge welcome like I was an old friend.
After a long night of drinks, the entire bar would inevitably turn into a karaoke party. At some point, I’d even find myself behind the bar serving drinks to the regulars 😂
Eventually, I became a regular myself lol. Some of my favorite memories of living in Japan came from nights like those.
ジェンナ－ | That Japan Guy🎌 retweeted
🚨 JAPAN IS WARNING MILLIONS TO PREPARE FOR A DISASTER THAT COULD LEAVE THEM WITHOUT FOOD, WATER, OR ELECTRICITY FOR DAYS.
Japan's Disaster Management Minister is preparing a nationwide emergency request for November 2, urging households to stockpile enough supplies to survive for at least 3 days, ideally a full week.
The government is preparing for several major threats:
• A massive earthquake along the Nankai Trough.
• A powerful earthquake directly beneath Tokyo.
• A possible eruption of Mount Fuji.
Any one of these disasters could destroy buildings, shut down power and water supplies, and leave millions of people without basic services.
People are being advised to store food, drinking water, medicines, and emergency supplies because outside help may not arrive for days.
Japan is not warning that a disaster is about to happen, but the scale of what officials are preparing for is serious.
If a massive earthquake hits Tokyo or other major cities, millions could need emergency help at the same time, while damaged roads and communication networks make rescue operations much harder.
The biggest danger is that emergency services could be unable to reach everyone in time, leaving families trapped in damaged buildings or without clean water, food, and medical care for days.
👀
GMO tells account holders to prepare for the worst as hackers threaten exposure japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/1…
Only in Japan would the Ministry of Defense put an anime-style cover on its annual defense white paper 😂🇯🇵
Defense of Japan 2026 English version (Annual White Paper) is now released!
For more details, please visit our website or refer to the book.
#JMOD #JSDF
↓Click below
mod.go.jp/en/publ/w_paper/in…
I think Japan is still judged by a narrative that’s about 20 years out of date.
Japan was simply ahead of the curve. Now countries with higher wages, better work-life balance, and more generous family policies are facing the same problem, sometimes even worse.
At some point, we have to ask whether this is really about affordability or whether people’s priorities around marriage, family, and having children have fundamentally changed.
The exact same thing happened to me the other day.
Started raining while I was out shopping, and the staff carefully wrapped my bag in plastic before handing it over.
I genuinely had one of those “wow, I’ve never seen this level of attention to detail after a purchase before” moments lol.
I’ve lived in Japan for years, and little things like this still catch me off guard.
It’s that everyday thoughtfulness that makes Japan such a special place.
This is one of my favorite things about living in Japan. I’ve had the privilege of visiting 40 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, and I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.
Every region has its own food, history, landscapes, and traditions. And now that I’m living here again, this time with a family, it feels like I’m starting the whole quest all over again. Just seeing it all through a different set of eyes.
일본인들이 해외여행을 잘 안가는 이유
물론 엔저로 인해 비싸진 해외여행 비용도 이유겠지만, 일본은 굳이 해외로 나가지 않아도 될 만큼 자국 내 여행 인프라가 미쳤다.
일본이라는 나라 하나에 전 세계의 다양한 풍경을 압축해 놓은 느낌
다테야마 : 스위스 알프스가 부럽지 않은 웅장한 산맥과 거대한 설벽
미야코지마 : 몰디브나 동남아 휴양지를 연상시키는 에메랄드빛 바다
비에이 : 유럽 시골마을 같은 광활한 언덕과 동화 속 겨울 설경
교토 : 수백 년의 역사와 전통이 살아 숨 쉬는 일본의 고도
야쿠시마 : 원령공주의 배경을 떠올리게 하는 신비로운 태고의 원시림
벳푸 : 도시 곳곳에서 온천수가 솟아나는 일본 최고의 온천 여행지 중 하나
도쿄 : 세계 최고 수준의 쇼핑, 미식, 서브컬처가 공존하는 초대형 도시
그럼 음식은?
사실 말하면 입만 아프다.
스시, 라멘, 돈카츠, 야키니쿠, 우동부터 지역마다 특색 있는 향토 음식까지.
식재료 하나를 활용하는 방식도 다양하고, 이름 모를 동네 식당에서도 기대 이상의 음식을 만날 때가 많다.
쇼핑은 또 어떤가
명품부터 빈티지, 편집숍, 전자제품, 애니메이션 굿즈까지. 도쿄나 오사카에서 쇼핑하다 보면 하루가 모자랄 정도다.
게다가 여행할 때 체감되는 청결함, 정돈된 거리, 친절한 응대와 세심한 서비스까지.
대도시의 화려함을 즐기다가도 조금만 이동하면 고즈넉한 마을과 자연을 경험할 수 있는 나라.
봄에는 벚꽃, 여름에는 푸른 바다, 가을에는 단풍, 겨울에는 설경과 온천.
일본 여행의 가장 큰 장점은 한 나라를 여행하면서도 전혀 다른 여러 나라를 다녀온 듯한 기분을 느낄 수 있다는 것이다.
괜히 전 세계 관광객들이 일본을 계속 찾는 게 아니다.
솔직히 일본에 살면 국내여행만으로도 평생 가볼 곳이 끝나지 않을 것 같다.
