Traveling Culinary Teacher

⚓ Stormy Seas on the Hikawa Maru ⚓

While exploring Yokohama, our group visited the **Hikawa Maru**, a historic ocean liner permanently docked in Yokohama Harbor.

At first, it seemed like a peaceful stop. We explored the ship, learned a little about its history, and enjoyed walking through a vessel that has been around since before World War II. It was fascinating to imagine the passengers who once traveled across the Pacific aboard this ship.

The weather, however, had other plans.

As we were getting ready to leave, dark clouds rolled in over the harbor and a storm suddenly broke. The wind picked up, rain started falling, and the water became noticeably rough.

What surprised me most was that even though the ship is permanently docked, you could absolutely feel it moving. The waves became large enough that the ship started rocking and shaking beneath our feet. It wasn't dangerous, but it was definitely intense and gave us a small glimpse into what ocean travel must have felt like decades ago.

Standing aboard a historic ship while a storm rolled through Yokohama Harbor made the experience feel much more real. For a few moments, it was easy to imagine being a passenger at sea rather than a visitor touring a museum.

The dramatic skies also made for some incredible photos. Looking back, the storm ended up making the visit even more memorable.

Sometimes the unexpected moments become the stories you remember most.

🇯🇵⚓🌊⛈️

🍜 A Visit to the Ramen Museum 🍜

One of the most unique stops on our trip was the **Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum**.

I'll admit, before visiting, I thought it would be a museum *about* ramen. Instead, it was part museum, part food experience, and part trip back in time.

The upper levels focus on the history of ramen and how it became one of Japan's most beloved foods. But the real surprise was downstairs.

The lower levels are designed to look like the streets of Japan in the late 1950s, complete with vintage storefronts, signs, alleyways, and glowing lanterns. Walking through it felt like stepping onto a movie set. Around every corner was another ramen shop representing different regions and styles from across Japan.

The atmosphere was incredible. The shops looked authentic, the smells drifting through the alleyways made it impossible not to get hungry, and the entire space felt alive.

Of course, the best part was getting to eat ramen in Japan.

The ramen was amazing. Rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and flavors that were both comforting and complex. After spending the week enjoying everything from sushi and sashimi to karaage and soft-serve ice cream, it felt fitting to sit down and enjoy one of Japan's most iconic dishes.

What I found most interesting was learning that ramen isn't just one dish. Different parts of Japan have developed their own broths, noodles, toppings, and cooking techniques. From rich pork-based tonkotsu broths to lighter soy-based varieties, every bowl tells a story about the region it comes from.

As a culinary teacher, I also discovered something that made me a little jealous. The museum offers a **ramen-making class** where visitors can learn how to make their own noodles and ramen. Unfortunately, we didn't participate, and looking back, I kind of wish we had. That would have been an incredible hands-on experience.

The Ramen Museum ended up being much more than I expected. It wasn't just about food. It was about history, culture, craftsmanship, and the stories that can be told through a simple bowl of noodles.

Definitely one of the coolest food-related stops of the entire trip. 🇯🇵🍜❤️

🗼 Tokyo Tower 🗼

One of our stops in Japan was **Tokyo Tower**, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the country.

Standing at 1,092 feet tall, the tower was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but with its own Japanese flair. Painted in bright international orange and white, it's hard to miss against the Tokyo skyline.

The views from the observation deck were incredible. Looking out across Tokyo, it seemed like the city stretched forever in every direction. It was a reminder of just how massive Tokyo really is. From street level, the city feels busy and crowded, but from above, you can appreciate the sheer scale of it all.

What struck me most was the contrast. Throughout this trip, we visited ancient temples, shrines, castles, bamboo forests, and traditional villages. Then here we were, standing high above one of the most modern cities in the world. Japan does an amazing job of blending centuries-old traditions with cutting-edge technology and urban life.

The tower itself was busy, filled with visitors from all over the world taking photos and soaking in the views. There were souvenir shops, exhibits, and plenty of opportunities to capture that perfect Tokyo skyline picture.

As our trip started winding down, Tokyo Tower felt like the perfect place to reflect on everything we had experienced over the past week. From feeding deer in Nara and walking through bamboo forests in Kyoto to exploring Mount Fuji's caves and navigating Tokyo's crowded streets, it had been an unforgettable journey.

Sometimes the best part of traveling is finding a moment to stop, look around, and realize just how far you've come.

🇯🇵🗼✨

🗽🇯🇵 A Surprise Statue of Liberty in Tokyo 🇯🇵🗽

One of the things I've enjoyed most about Japan is stumbling across things I never expected to see.

Before heading to the mall, our tour director, Sayuri, told us she wanted to stop for a quick photo at a beautiful spot along the waterfront. Naturally, we all followed along, expecting a scenic view of Tokyo Bay.

What we didn't expect was to find a **Statue of Liberty**.

Standing along the water in Tokyo was a replica of one of America's most recognizable landmarks. It was definitely a double-take moment. Here we were, thousands of miles from home, posing for photos with Lady Liberty while looking out over Tokyo Bay.

The waterfront views were beautiful, and it turned out to be one of those unexpected stops that ended up being more memorable than planned.

Travel has a funny way of doing that. Sometimes the places you remember most aren't the ones on the itinerary. They're the little surprises along the way.

🇯🇵❤️🗽

🍣 Sushi in Japan... Finally! 🍣

Before heading back to the hotel on Monday, we made a stop at **DiverCity Tokyo Plaza**, home to the giant Gundam statue and seven floors of shops, restaurants, and entertainment.

The mall itself was pretty cool, though I was more excited about finally crossing something off my Japan food bucket list:

**Eating sushi rolls in Japan.**

Throughout the trip, I had been offered plenty of sashimi, but this was my first chance to sit down and order actual sushi rolls. We stopped at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant where orders were placed on a touchscreen and delivered directly to our table.

I ordered:
🍜 Aosa seaweed miso soup
🍤 Tempura shrimp roll
🦐 Salmon and fried shrimp roll
🐟 Tuna and avocado roll with wasabi

Everything was fresh and delicious, but the standout for me was the miso soup. It was simple, comforting, and probably one of the best bowls of miso soup I've ever had.

One thing I thought was really cool was the tea service. Instead of being served tea, there was a container of green tea powder right at the table. You sprinkled a scoop into your cup and then used the hot water dispenser built into the table to make your own fresh green tea whenever you wanted. As a culinary teacher, I loved seeing that small detail. It was simple, efficient, and felt very uniquely Japanese.

The best part? The price.

For all of that food, the total came to **3,885 yen**, which worked out to about **$27 USD** for the two of us. Considering the quality, it felt like an incredible value.

One thing I've learned on this trip is that some of the best meals aren't always the fancy ones. Sometimes they're the spontaneous stops between destinations where you finally get to try something you've been looking forward to all week.

And after a week of being offered sashimi, I can finally say I ate sushi rolls in Japan. 🇯🇵🍣✨

🍽️🏰 Tokyo Disney Food Review 🏰🍽️

One thing I was really looking forward to at Tokyo Disneyland was the food. As a culinary teacher, I always enjoy seeing how familiar foods are adapted in different countries.

Our first snack was a Mickey-shaped churro. I'll be honest... I wasn't a huge fan. It was much chewier than the churros we get in California and didn't have nearly enough cinnamon and sugar for my taste. It wasn't bad, just different.

Next, we tried a sausage roll that sounded incredible. It was a sausage wrapped in rice and nori, then baked inside a pastry crust. The surprise? It was served cold. I know cold sausage is more common in some places, but my brain just couldn't get on board with it. The flavors were interesting, but I kept wishing it had been served hot.

For lunch, we stopped in Tomorrowland and both ordered burgers. The burgers themselves were pretty good and came with an onion-ketchup style sauce that was unique and flavorful. The bacon, however, wasn't our favorite. Instead of being crispy, it was soft and chewy, almost as if it had been steamed. Overall, the meal was good, but not something I'd go out of my way to order again.

Then came dinner...

And everything changed.

We ate at the **Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall**, and it ended up being one of the best meals we had during our entire trip to Japan.

Drew ordered the flank steak with a Japanese-style sauce, and I had a beef patty topped with cheese. Both meals came with rice, a fresh roll, vegetables, and a small serving of mashed potatoes. For dessert, I enjoyed a silky custard pudding while Drew had a layered mousse cake.

The food was delicious, the portions were generous, and the Alice in Wonderland-themed dining room was absolutely beautiful. It wasn't just the best meal we had at Tokyo Disney, it may have been one of our favorite meals of the entire trip.

Tokyo Disney food was definitely a mix of surprises. Some things were very different from what we're used to in California, some things didn't quite hit the mark for us, and a few things completely exceeded our expectations. That's part of the fun of traveling and trying new foods. 🇯🇵❤️🍽️

🏰✨ Tokyo Disney Day ✨🏰

We wrapped up our Japan adventure with a day at Tokyo Disneyland, and it was a great way to end an incredible trip.

The highlight of the day was definitely Beauty and the Beast. The ride was absolutely stunning. The technology, music, sets, and ride system were unlike anything I've experienced before and made it feel like you were stepping right into the movie.

We also enjoyed:
👻 Haunted Mansion (beautifully themed and surprisingly creepy)
🧚 Peter Pan's Adventure (the smoothest ride system I've ever ridden)
💦 Splash Mountain (longer than the California version, with side-by-side seating)
🍎 Snow White's Adventures
🌎 It's a Small World, featuring characters from around the world, including Groot!
🎶 Mickey's PhilharMagic

As the sun set, we watched the nighttime spectacular Reach for the Stars, which transformed the castle with projections, music, lights, and fireworks. It was a beautiful way to close out the day.

A few of the major attractions were closed during our visit, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain, which was a little disappointing since those are some of my favorites back home.

The merchandise was also different than I expected. After many of the rides, there weren't dedicated ride-themed gift shops, and a lot of the same merchandise appeared throughout the park. I did manage to find a few great souvenirs for myself, but overall the shopping selection wasn't quite as exciting as I had hoped.

The good news? The prices were fantastic compared to California. I picked up a Pirates hoodie for about what a T-shirt would cost at Disneyland back home, which was a pleasant surprise.

Tokyo Disneyland felt familiar enough to remind me of home while still offering its own unique experience. Between the attractions, the incredible attention to detail, and sharing the day with our group, it was a memorable way to wrap up our time in Japan. 🇯🇵✨