How I Take Travel Photos Alone & Bento Cooking Class! // Solo Travel Japan

UM. Those Totoro bento boxes were almost too cute to eat!!

Adorable themed bento lunches are super common in Japan for elementary / primary school age students, and in today's vlog I learned how to make my own! Because I'm a kid at heart 💖 

If you have a spare two hours in Tokyo, I highly recommend booking a local cooking class! This one was all in English, and it was so much fun using a tonne of new-to-me ingredients and learning some new cooking techniques. 

Afterwards, I headed into Shibuya to do some shopping and I explain how I take my Instagram photos while travelling alone! Spoiler - I have no shame 🤣

Watch the video below:

The Countryside That Inspired My Neighbour Totoro 🌱 // Solo Travel Japan

If you're a Studio Ghibli fan... you NEED to go here! 🌱

Because I'm travelling solo in Japan, I wanted to do something a bit different, so I decided to join an Airbnb Experience tour! 

I spent the day hiking through Tokorozawa in Saitama, which is the country town and forest area that inspired Hayao Miyazaki (i.e. the KING of Studio Ghibli!) to make the famous film, My Neighbour Totoro - which is one of my all time favourites! 

The guided walking tour included hiking through the 'Totoro Forest' (literally), visiting Korosuke's House - which the house in My Neighbour Totoro was modelled after! - and sampling the best green tea I've ever tasted at a traditional Japanese tea plantation. 🍵 

It was a total dream, and if you have a day spare in Tokyo and want to experience the countryside, Tokorozawa is a one hour trip from the city and WELL WORTH the visit!

Watch the video below:

Tokyo Apartment Tour & Exploring Harajuku Backstreets // Solo Travel Japan

You guys requested it! My Tokyo Airbnb apartment tour is here, and lemme tell you, this 👏🏻 place 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 gorgeous!

For my fifth visit to Japan, but first trip travelling solo, I really wanted to find an apartment that was in central Tokyo that could feel like home for my two week stay. This place exceeded expectations - it really was my dream Tokyo apartment! 🏠🌵

Hope you guys enjoy the apartment tour - I HIGHLY recommend staying in Airbnbs instead of hotels in Japan (they’re usually a lot bigger, a lot cheaper, and WAY cuter!) and a BIG thank you to my hosts for making my stay such a fabulous one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stay tuned to the end of the video too - I visited some of the cutest cafes in the backstreets Harajuku (think PIKACHU lattes and animal icecream cones! 😍) that you should definitely add to your itinerary if you’re heading to Tokyo.

Watch the video below:

Cutting My Hair In Tokyo, Cute Cafes & Kiddyland! // Solo Travel Japan

It's day two in Tokyo!

In today's vlog, I decided to get my hair cut and coloured at ASSORT Tokyo (a.k.a. one of the trendiest, English-speaking salons in Tokyo!) and revisit one of my favourite cafes, Cafe Kitsune - yes, owned by design house Maison Kitsune! 

Then in the afternoon, I went to some super cute cafes, including one that sold cakes INSIDE BALLOONS (wut) and made a stop at Kiddyland to pick up some adorable Pokemon merch - because OF COURSE! 

Hope you guys enjoy this vlog, and stay tuned for the next episode of hijessicaanne in japan... hint hint... an apartment tour is involved!

Watch the video below: