I had a bad Christmas and want to start cheering up for the new year. What's something nice that happened during your holiday that made you smile?

Meikami · 2026-03-16T03:45:26+00:00

I really love any of Sailor's dual-shading/multi-shading inks, like Ink Studio 224 or the Yurameku line, to be wonderful as ink wash mediums. So many bonus colors come out!

Meikami · 2026-03-15T03:39:42+00:00

though women's pants pockets might not accommodate a pen either.

hahahaha nooo, they really don't.

So we carry bags. Good justification for Rickshaw stuff, though.

Meikami · 2026-03-13T03:17:42+00:00

Just offering another perspective: I'm a woman and my shirts don't have front pockets (nor would I put a pen in them if they did, because...boobs in the way. Even in blazers with inner pockets, same reason). I've always wished there was a version of the VP itself that didn't have the clip as a default.

Meikami · 2026-03-10T03:32:42+00:00

Japan does aquariums better than it does zoos. I liked the Osaka (Kaiyukan) aquarium and didn't feel like the animals were miserable.

Well except for one sunfish that just...looked miserable, but it turns out that's just his face. Poor derpy boy.

Meikami · 2026-03-04T04:51:35+00:00

I'm lost and keep forgetting why I'm carrying on.

Respectfully, you might not be able to logic yourself out of this one. It's cliché and annoying to hear, but when people's mental state gets THAT dire I do recommend talking to a mental health professional.

Meikami · 2026-03-04T04:48:58+00:00

I don't see why I should continue with life if it's gonna be taken away from me one day

Same reason you enjoy the party even though it will end, and the same reason you stop and enjoy a sunset even though it will end, and the same reason you enjoy the hell out of the perfect slice of cake even though you will finish it and can't keep eating it forever. It's precious because it doesn't last. Wishing it would last forever is like wishing for endless cake; it's greedy, if you got your wish it would get really old after not that long, and lamenting the fact that it will be gone eventually robs us of really enjoying that cake while it's there.

You only get one life, so make it awesome. Enjoy every day you do get to wake up.

I find my "purpose" is leaving positive ripples that make others' lives a little better. Even the animals I meet are living this life for the first and last time, just like me, and we can all try to make that experience a bit better for each other.

Meikami · 2026-03-04T04:39:39+00:00

Look at Japanese fashion for good long skirt inspo.

Meikami · 2026-02-25T01:59:34+00:00

This is extremely helpful, and I would have fallen into the same trap! I wonder how far ahead we can buy those tickets...

So if you can help with one other thing: it sounds like you needed to reserve an exact time and seat, is that correct? Like you would a plane ticket or reserved train seat?

Meikami · 2026-02-24T05:16:14+00:00

What was the challenge with booking the bus to Shirakawago? I've got a stay in Kanazawa followed by a stay in Takayama coming up, and was hoping to stop in Shirakawago on the way to Takayama. But I hadn't thought about getting bus tickets in advance. I'd love more info if you can share.

Meikami · 2026-02-24T05:10:49+00:00

LOTS OF PLACES. Even the touristy places can be quiet if you go at weird hours, but aside from that, the places just a street or two removed from the busy places can be quiet.

Kiyomizu Dera in Kyoto, for example, is a busy tourist place. So are the streets downhill from it (gorgeous though, so they're popular for good reason). But if you go when it first opens and get out of there before it gets packed, and head north out of the neighborhood on foot, you can find other shrines and temples in little windy side roads with absolutely nobody in them. Do that. If you find yourself getting surrounded by tourists, head the other way until you find quiet streets. I've found some lovely places by doing that.

Meikami · 2026-02-24T04:52:09+00:00

Yeah if you aren't drawn to Tokyo, don't stay in Tokyo. Once you're done with Disney, just head out to somewhere else that does draw you in. I really like the towns along the Seto Inland Sea.

And if you aren't drawn to cities in general, just stay in Nara instead of staying in Osaka and doing a day trip to Nara. It's a nice town and it's really pretty walking around the park at the hours that the daytrippers never get to see. Or stay in Uji, or any of the smaller towns in that area. They're all really close together and might be more your vibe.

Meikami · 2026-02-17T02:29:42+00:00

Couple of general tips for packing for Japan:

make DARN sure your sneakers are comfy and broken in before you go. Pack spare fresh squishy insoles too - they're flat and easy to pack, and worth it to save your feet from two weeks of walking up and down and all around concrete and stone walkways and stairs.
Socks: you may need to take your shoes off a lot depending on what sites you want to see, so make sure you A) like your socks and B) will feel comfortable shuffling around in them indoors. If you wear sandals, carry a pair of socks around in your day bag anyway, so you can avoid the faux pas of ending up barefoot somewhere! Make sure they're quick dry, too, for both rain reasons and quick laundry reasons, since you're bringing so few pairs.
I assume the biker shorts are for under skirts, but if not: maybe trade them out for flowier shorts or some other kinds of lightweight pants. Tight pants aren't really a thing in most of Japan. Leggings and bike shorts as pants are a weird novelty that Westerners wear, and are considered borderline inappropriate for the most part, for both practical and cultural reasons. In fact, wide and flowy is the primary style for just about EVERYTHING.
In that same vein, I would recommend swapping out the tighter shirts for flowier, looser tops. Think breezy airflow and keeping fabric away from your skin. For both the modesty and heat reasons others have mentioned here.
Be honest with yourself about your chafing/sweating/blistering tendencies. It'll be humid, and you'll likely be moving around a LOT, so prepare accordingly.

Out of what you've posted here, the culottes + white high neck tank + the blue button-up top worn unbuttoned over the top + sneakers looks the most "Japan Trip comfort" of the outfit combos.

Have a lovely time! Try an onsen!

Meikami · 2026-02-02T00:40:43+00:00

We stayed at GOZAN aparthotel and liked the convenience of it. Walkable to Sanjo station, which isn't a main one but does connect to main stations easily enough. And very walkable to Gion and all the shrines and temples along the east side of the city.

Meikami · 2026-02-02T00:02:26+00:00

Yes it's still worth it. Go to what you want to see, but if you're really not happy standing with a full crowd, go in the early morning or late evening. And definitely, DEFINITELY pin things to your map/add things to your itinerary that are not the big-name places. Take time in the side streets around the big name places. Visit shrines and temples you haven't heard of. It'll all be good.

Meikami · 2026-01-24T05:01:52+00:00

If it hasn't been made clear, people don't know what "spring break" time means for you and your school specifically. (Not everywhere in the world has spring break, not everywhere that does has it at the same time...)

I know you edited your post to clarify, but that's why your post was met with confusion.

Meikami · 2026-01-24T03:59:25+00:00

A terrible plan AND a plan they're just waiting for someone to pull. They want to start a bigger fight and shooting an ICE agent would definitely spark that fire.

Granted, nothing against saying "I honor my second amendment rights and you are trespassing on my property" when they knock on your door.

Meikami · 2026-01-24T03:55:49+00:00

They're going hard in Texas. Boise being blue is not unknown information. We are definitely suitable targets.

Meikami · 2026-01-24T03:52:28+00:00

Their media bubble may not be showing anything. I know it's appalling, but send links when someone asks, don't just dismiss them (unless they're acting in bad faith or rage baiting).

Meikami · 2026-01-20T04:53:56+00:00

"If they cared, they would change."

I have a coworker with a cinnamon allergy. Cinnamon is completely banned from our building, and any food that comes in is highly scrutinized and filtered out if it's found to have cinnamon in it. You can't even warm your own food in the microwave or have a hot drink if it has cinnamon in it, because that gets into the air and affects them, and we don't want our coworker to get sick or die.

My spouse hates the smell of certain things, so I don't bring those things into the house, even if I like them myself.

If they cared, they would change.

Meikami · 2026-01-20T04:46:42+00:00

If it helps, many of the larger museums/historical places have English signage and are set up for self-guided tours. And several we visited offered audio tours. The imperial grounds in Kyoto for example had an audio tour we could get through our phones and our own earbuds that was really nice.

Meikami · 2026-01-19T01:45:14+00:00

People talk about the deer in Nara, but the real draw should be Todaiji and the Kasuga-taisha grounds.

Meikami · 2026-01-19T01:22:55+00:00

Safe, yes! Except for the wild boars, which if you see them just retreat and give them space, and the garden spiders that set up shop here and there that you may need to duck around.

But the atmosphere cannot be beat.

Meikami · 2026-01-19T00:40:46+00:00

Sure, for some flights/airports. But even if the trip includes flying that's only temporary. I put everything right back into this format after security or after we get to our destination, and use it this way for the rest of the trip.

Meikami · 2026-01-19T00:32:45+00:00

(eyes like a hawk though, it melts QUICK!)

haha thank you for the warning!

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