Over the past four years, I’ve traveled both domestically and internationally—through Iceland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Chile, and Argentina. Backpacking has become my favorite way to experience a place, whether it’s Patagonia, the Laugavegur Trail, Mont Blanc, the Ötztal Alps, or trails across the U.S. Along the way, food and pastries are just as important to me as the miles I hike. This year, I chose Japan over Nepal due to ongoing civic unrest, and I have zero regrets. The Kumano Kodo immediately caught my attention. At just 70 miles, it was the shortest hike I’ve ever done, and for the first time, I didn’t camp. Instead, I stayed in guesthouses and hostels, which gave the journey a completely different rhythm. I landed at Narita Airport on the 13th with a few hours to spare before heading to my hostel. Buying a train ticket to Shibuya turned out to be my first challenge. Everything was in Japanese, and although I had prepared in advance—knowing exactly where I needed to stop—the pressure of people lining up behind me made it intimidating. Ten minutes later, ticket in hand, I was on my way. After arriving in Shibuya, I walked about 15 minutes to my hostel and immediately asked the front desk if there was an onsen nearby. Lucky me—there was one on-site. I spent a good 30 minutes decompressing, letting the travel fatigue melt away. By then, hunger kicked in. It was already 11p.m., but in Shibuya, that’s nothing to worry about. The neighborhood is alive well into the early morning hours. Plenty of ramen shops were still open, though ordering was another adventure. Everything was done through a kiosk, and of course, there was no English option 😉. Still, at 1 a.m., sitting there with a bowl of ramen was one of the most enjoyable meals I’ve ever had. I stayed in Shibuya for a couple of nights, but honestly, it’s not something I’d recommend unless you love nightlife. That said, there are a few must-dos: Don Quijote is a must-visit, and Food Show is fantastic—especially if you go about 30 minutes before closing, when sushi is discounted 10–30%. And of course, don’t forget to take a picture with the famous Hachikō statue.

Hi, I'm Wilson, I'm currently learning japanese, main reason is to watch anime without subtitles and possibly travel to japan someday.

Share your favourite food or restaurant! It's time for our next community call-out! Last time we shared our favourite Japanese songs and now let's talk about something delicious: Japanese Food Culture! 💬 Tell Us Your Food Story! Have you ever tried making sushi, slurpable ramen or maybe some classic onigiri? We want to hear about your favourite Japanese dish, snack or restaurant experience! What is your absolute favourite Japanese food? (e.g., Ramen, Takoyaki, Curry Rice, etc.) Do you have a favourite restaurant in your area that serves authentic Japanese food? Have you tried making a Japanese dish yourself? What was it, and how did it turn out? (Photos welcome!) 📝 You Can Use Some Japanese! If you're feeling brave, try to answer using some of the Japanese words you know! 私の好きな食べ物は [Your Food] です。 Watashi no suki na tabemono wa ____ desu. (A food I like is...) [Your Food] が一番好きです。 ________ ga ichiban suki desu. ([Your Food] is my favorite/number one.) {美味しい！} (Oishii! - Delicious!) Let's share our gastronomic adventures! Post your answer below! 👇

Today's chat was about our weekend. We have people cleaning, resting, drawing and doing work. Hopefully everyone can have a great weekend. Thank you so much for joining and next week's topic is Favourite Foods (一番好きな食べ物). @Ev Ginguene @Cicely Love @Irdzra Khairuddin Arigatou gozaimasu!! Joe Sensei!

Thanks for a fun Ocha and Chat to get to know each other! @Cicely Love @Karin Ware @Irdzra Khairuddin @Tiffany Joyner Next week's topic is 週末 - the weekend. またすぐ話しましょう！(Let's talk again soon!)