First stop: Tokyo, Japan

I’m on a plane on my way to Japan and I'm filled with different emotions. I feel excited because I’ve never been out of Australia before. I can't wait to see the world! 

So, Disneyland! It was amazing and magical as expected. It was unbelievable. All the details of the park made you feel like you walked into a movie or cartoon! The shapes of the buildings were rounded and so unique. One of my favourite rides was monsters inc ride and seek. On this ride, you move through scenes of the movie on a tram and spot the monsters hard hats with a character themed torch. It was thrilling and so enjoyable.

I loved all the small things about Disneyland. The sound effects and themed Disney music playing in the background really locks the memory of Disneyland in your head, and whenever you hear that song or sound again you are reminded of such a simple, happy place! Also I enjoyed finding the hidden Easter eggs from Disney movies in the park, such as a brick wall with one brick that had a character carved into it. When I see something like that it just fills me with joy and makes me grateful to be able to travel and appreciate the small things.

Ghibli museum was also definitely one of my favourite places I have been in Tokyo. The exhibits were out of this world! one of the rooms was filled with sketches and drawings of the first drafts of characters like Totoro, Ponyo and Kiki. Just to name a few from different movies. The original art was surreal! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! I almost wanted to cry it was so beautiful. All the walls were covered in original paintings of the settings in his movies. Also some of the rooms were set up like his art studio, filled with paints and books. There was a walk though of Mei and Sutsuki's house from the movie Totoro which I loved. Oh I am an art person by the way, that’s why I loved it so much. 

The architecture of the museum building itself was an astonishing sculpture. It has its own character and it had similarities to how some of the Disneyland buildings were built. Very colourful and cosy would be how I would describe it. As I walked through the museum, the stained glass windows (shaped like Ghibli movie characters of course!) made the sun light Rainbow coloured when it came inside and hit my face. It felt like I was looking straight into the strange and whacky world that Hayao Miyazaki created. It’s crazy to think that all the characters and story lines came from just his creative mind! 

Another thing you get to do in the museum is watch an exclusive short film. But the characters were speaking Japanese! So I had no idea what they were saying but I understood what was happening in the storyline because of the power of movement and facial expressions that the characters displayed. I would love to go back there to experience it again.

My family and I also went to Shibuya, Harajuku (with the Kawaii monster cafe), and the Kannon temple in Asakusa. All of these places had amazing street settings. When you look down pretty much any busy street in Tokyo, all your senses are overwhelmed! So many bright lights, colours, and signs! I felt like I couldn't see anything because there was so much going on.

The Asakusa temple was huge and so cool! Everyone was shopping, praying or breathing in the incense! It was so interesting to see what the locals do.

In Harajuku we went shopping in cool places and went to the Kawaii monster cafe for lunch. This place was like another amusement park! It was like walking into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. All the furniture and rooms were shaped like food and coloured like a rainbow. All the staff were dressed up in cute and whacky monster themed outfits. I'm so glad I could have that experience.

After that we strolled down to Takeshita street. It was like a mosh pit! police blocked people from getting in because there were too many people on the street. After 10 minutes of waiting a nice Japanese man on the other side told us that we could walk around to get in another way. It worked! we were in with no fuss but it was crazy town in that street.

Japan was everything I dreamt it would be and more! I highly recommend visiting if you ever get the chance.