2026-06-19 / family
Sarah's 40th Birthday Trip
The main reason for the whole trip. Japan got the assignment, then added transit puzzles and excellent snacks.
Open dayMoments index
The little details that made the trip
2026-06-20 / transit
Different Terminal, Same Directions
Ashley kept saying she was at the landmarks, but she was in a different terminal. Everyone finally met at Terminal 1.
Open day2026-06-21 / family
Sarah, Field Research Department
Sarah spent the trip asking everyone where to go and where everything was, which is basically how a birthday trip becomes operationally viable.
Open day2026-06-21 / funny
The Bathroom Slippers
Sarah accidentally wore the bathroom slippers around during the Shinjuku food tour, instantly becoming a trip bit.
Open day2026-06-22 / transit
Local Film Critic
While leaving Tokyo, Sarah filmed in the train station until a local yelled at her to stop and smacked her phone. Not a five-star review.
Open day2026-06-22 / funny
Throat Bone, Small Box, Big Box
Nori, the Okunoin guide, delivered the dramatic burial explanation that became the most durable inside joke of the cemetery night.
Open day2026-06-24 / funny
Volcano Mode
The highest e-bike assist setting looked like a volcano character, so volcano mode became shorthand for sending it.
Open day2026-06-24 / funny
Sarah Versus Infrastructure
On the Kyoto e-bike ride, Sarah almost ran into a pole, which gave volcano mode the physical comedy it deserved.
Open day2026-06-25 / weather
Sub-10 In The Downpour
The monkey park hike was posted as 20 minutes. In full typhoon rain, it took under 10.
Open day2026-06-25 / hotel
Dyson Shoe Recovery
Drenched socks and shoes met the Waldorf Dyson blow dryer. The shoes came back completely dry.
Open day2026-06-25 / hotel
Canes And Tales
After Peacock Lounge, the night continued with a speakeasy-style hotel drink at Canes and Tales.
Open day2026-06-26 / family
Hand-Drawn Anniversary Card
At the first Waldorf breakfast, the staff drew anniversary and birthday plate messages, then brought out a hand-drawn anniversary card.
Open day2026-06-27 / hotel
Welcome-Back Breakfast
At the second Waldorf breakfast, the staff saved the same table, remembered drink orders, joked around, and surprised everyone with anniversary and birthday photo gifts.
Open day2026-06-26 / family
Trip Merch Department
A rainy Osaka morning turned into custom Uniqlo shirts and sweatshirts, because Sarah's 40th apparently needed official merch.
Open day2026-06-26 / funny
The Shopping Bag Protocol
In Osaka, Sarah had to put a bag over her head to try on clothes, because even retail has plot twists.
Open day2026-06-26 / hotel
The Prada Shoe
The Waldorf had a Devil Wears Prada shoe signed by Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway after being signed in Tokyo and brought to Osaka.
Open day2026-06-26 / food
Guinness And The US Game
A British pub stop in Osaka meant Guinness and a few minutes of the US World Cup game, which is either international travel or a sports bar scavenger hunt.
Open day2026-06-26 / food
Dotonbori Snack Circuit
Dotonbori delivered 10-yen-shaped cheese waffles, the Glico Running Man, and melon bread with ice cream. Balanced meal, if the balance is chaos.
Open day2026-06-26 / family
First Split-Up
For the first time, the group split: Caitlin and Zach to a sake tour, Ashley and Sarah to facials, then everyone regrouped for wagyu kaiseki.
Open day2026-06-26 / food
Wagyu And Matcha
The wagyu kaiseki dinner was phenomenal, Sarah said maybe best meal of her life, and the main owner let Zach do a matcha tea ceremony.
Open day2026-06-26 / funny
Not A Bento Box
In a photo where everyone held bento boxes, Zach held Tokyo Bananas. Sarah's friend delivered the ruling: guy in the middle does not have a bento box.
Open day2026-06-27 / funny
The Kindle Stayed Behind
Sarah left her Kindle in the Waldorf room, and the hotel could not ship it internationally because of the battery. Turns out Zach was right: now she doesn't have one.
Open day2026-06-27 / funny
Siri Finally Answered
Sarah spent the trip fighting Siri while Ashley got perfect answers. On the train, Siri finally responded at full volume, choosing the least subtle possible moment.
Open day2026-06-27 / transit
Final Boss Train Transfer
The last airport run chose JY plus Skyliner over Limited Express, then added Suica reload weirdness, a gate issue, a missed train, separate tickets, pending charges, and leftover balance as the reason to return.
Open day2026-06-20 / food
Kanpai Protocol
The group learned kanpai, 乾杯, as the Japanese cheers and said it before every drink. One phrase, immediately promoted to trip rule.
Open day2026-06-27 / transit
Welcome Back To America
The trip ended back in Colorado with Caitlin getting bounced from Global Entry because it had expired and a TSA agent yelling at people at full volume.
Open day2026-06-22 / transit
Bullet Train Bentos
Sarah had the bullet train out of Tokyo with gyozas and bentos on the highlight list, which is exactly the right level of train appreciation.
Open day