Capture Tokyo: Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba Beach

Odaiba is by far my favorite place to relax in Tokyo. The man-made island is known as somewhat of a date spot among locals, so you can often find young families or couples strolling around the area. The island is filled with many tourist attractions, including Joypolis (an indoor amusement park), the Fuji Television Building, Palette Town, Venus Fort, Aqua City, and Diver City (mostly shopping malls).

There’s so much to do in Odaiba, but my main reason for frequenting the area is because of its gorgeous night views! It also has the closest “beach” to where I live, Odaiba beach. I say “beach” lightly because we can’t actually swim in the water due to all the pollution. In my opinion, this beach offers one of the best scenic views of the Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay (it’s also a beautiful place to watch the sunset… quite romantic)! The suspension bridge connects the Shibaura Pier to Odaiba, and you can actually bike or walk over the bridge (about 1.7 km). The Yurikamome train line also passes over the bridge, starting from Shimbashi Station and ending Toyosu Station. It’s illuminated from dusk till midnight, so I would definitely recommend viewing the Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba beach as it looks absolutely stunning at night!

Capture Japan: Okinawa Glass Bottom Boats

Glass Bottom Boat Ride on the South Shores, Okinawa

I had the pleasure of visiting the tropical paradise of Okinawa last week! Although the weather has gotten a little colder in Tokyo, Okinawa is still sunny and warm (albiet a little hot). I was only able to visit the main island this time, but there’s quite a lot to do for first time visitors. Okinawa is sprawling with beautiful beaches at every coast. I visited the Southern part of the island in one day and covered the Northern in another. It takes about 3 hours by car to get from one tip of the island to the other! At most beaches, there are also fun marine activities available for visitors such as jet skiing, parasailing, surfing, fishing, etc. I opted for the less physical activity though and hopped on a glass bottom boat tour instead (perhaps I’ll try the parasailing next time, haha)! On the tour, the guide took us out pretty far from the shoreline, where I was able to get a glimpse of Okinawa’s beautiful coral reefs and its fishy inhabitants. In any case, Okinawa is a great place to visit, especially if you’re craving that warm sunny weather!

Capture Hawaii: The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Honolulu

One of the best perks of being a resident of Hawaii, aside from the beautiful beaches and sunny weather, is its resort hotels! When I was in high school, one of my favorite past-times was leisurely walking around the various hotels in Waikiki…and if I was really lucky, my family would have a staycation, and we would get to spend the night for a couple of days! The Royal Hawaiian’s signature pink buildings were always a treat to visit, especially around the holidays. The hotel puts out decadent and elaborately designed Christmas trees and decorations for the holidays. Definitely worth walking around if you’re in town!

Capture Hawaii: Omiyage

Hawaii Omiyage

Whenever I travel, there’s one thing I can’t afford to forget! Omiyage. It’s always custom for my family to bring a little something back for our family, friends, and coworkers whenever we travel. The tradition of omiyage or souvenirs originally stems from Japanese culture; however, it’s still strongly practiced in Hawaii! It’s quite similar to the Hawaii local custom of never showing up empty handed when visiting someone’s home. Anyway, this time I brought back some goodies from Hawaii for my friends and coworkers in Japan: Big Island Candies chocolates, Hawaiian Cookie Company cookies, Li-hing powder, Li-hing gummies, Kona coffee, lilikoi butter, hibiscus tea, and Maui garlic salt! It’s always interesting to see what people bring back from their travels

 

 

 

 

 

Capture Hawaii: Ala Moana Beach

Dusk at Ala Moana Beach, Honolulu

I’m currently taking some time off from my busy work schedule to come back and relax for little in Hawaii ☀︎ Honestly, Hawaii has some of the best beaches, haha! I often come and picnic/BBQ at Ala Moana Beach with my family and friends. I wouldn’t say it’s the most beautiful beach in Hawaii, but it has its perks…such as the lovely city view pictured above. Parking can be horrendous though, so try to arrive early if you’re going on the weekend or any major holiday! They occasionally put on beautiful firework shows as well!