We got to experience Japanese culture in Tokyo, but it felt even more immersive in Kyoto. With building height restrictions, a preservation of cultural sites and a historic vibe, we felt worlds away wandering many sites and taking in cultural excursions.

We couldn’t just take in the traditional, without experiencing the pop culture side of Tokyo. From Nintendo to bowling to a tea ceremony and great eats, we had a blast during our short stay in Kyoto.

Unlike Disneyland, there was a ton of new-ness to experience at DisneySea, with truly immersive worlds, lots of high-profile attractions, and lots and lots of fellow Disney fans. A beautiful hotel and a few old favorites like Soarin’ and Toy Story Mania underscored the great day.

We’re no strangers to Disney World, and hope to visit Disneyland CA one day, but we ventured to a new Disney output in Tokyo for a true adventure. First up was Disneyland, with some familiar rides like Dumbo, Haunted Mansion and a Small World, and some new experiences like Baymax and Beauty and the Beast….

While we took in plenty of Japanese culture in Tokyo, we also had some pop culture fun. A visit with Sumo wrestlers and shopping for Pokemon and anime gear didn’t disappoint!

It was years in the making, but we finally took the leap to the land of the rising sun, shoguns, Pokemon and Nintendo for spring break. We had plenty of pop culture time, but our first outings were to Buddhist and Shinto shrines in Tokyo – Senso-ji and Meiji. They started off our first two…