“What is your favorite prefecture?”

If I got 100 yen every time someone asked me this, I would probably have enough to fund my own rural tourism campaign by now, complete with cultish pamphlets and questionable daikon mascot.

Coming from a tropical country basically means I have spent my entire life in sweltering heat, perpetually sweaty shirts, and weather forecasts that are completely useless, which probably explains why I am endlessly drawn to what I cannot have.

A world of silver fluff. Air so crisp and quiet it actually hurts your face a little. read more

Most people think Sanrio Puroland is a theme park just for kids. Tiny rides, squealing toddlers, and parents counting minutes until the exit.

They are wrong.

For anyone who grew up with Sanrio characters, this place is a full-scale childhood dream come true for adults.

If Hello Kitty once lived on your pencil case, if Cinnamoroll smiled at you from a notebook, or if characters like Kerokerokeroppi and Badtz-Maru quietly shaped your sense of fun and style, Sanrio Puroland hits on a deeply nostalgic level. It is not about rides or thrills. It is about memory, comfort, and reconnecting with the joy you were told to outgrow. read more