After a night of not sleeping, I woke early anyway — wrote for a bit, gathered myself, and met up with my friend to officially begin the day’s adventure. There was only one place it could begin: Meiji Jingu.
Meiji Jingu is a deeply magical place for me. Not many people know this, but when I first started writing My Dead Boyfriend, the story was originally set in Japan — and the scene where Max and TJ meet Taiyō in the temple actually took place at this very shrine. I did so much research on this history of the shine, and just fell in love with it.
Then, out of happenstance, it was the first shrine my friend took me to on my initial trip to Tokyo. That same visit, I learned my publisher wanted not just a sequel to My Dead Boyfriend, but as many books in the series as I was willing to write (so far it’s planned for three). The second time I came, while standing here again, I got the email that the publisher wanted My Super Fiancé – and again were open to as many books as I wanted to write – so long as I also continue My Dead Boyfriend.
This time… something else magical happened. But until it’s finalized — it stays a secret.
Needless to say, Meiji Jingu is my favorite spot in Tokyo, and it will forever be the first place I visit whenever I return.
Then, we left the spiritual calm for the sensory overload that is Harajuku.
According to Gwen Stefani, it’s a pedestrian paradise “where the catwalk got its claws.” A kaleidoscope of subcultures strutting, clashing, and sparkling all at once — which, honestly, is fair.
It’s also a tourist trap. Literally.
Once you enter Takeshita Street, there is no turning back. You must commit. You’re funneled forward through a joyous gauntlet of adorable shops and themed cafés until you spill out the other end of this candy-colored fever dream.
In other words: I loved it.
I only had one must-hit destination — the Kawaii Sanrio factory. My sole mission was to find Chococat. He’s my favorite, and until now, every trip to Japan has made it feel like no one even knows he exists — which only strengthens my long-standing theory that he’s Hello Kitty’s gay American cousin.
But this time? Victory.
On a single rack of tiny plush keychains, there he was — my Chococat. I also picked up an exclusive Neko Harajuku plush, which are so coveted that you’re only allowed to buy one of each character. They even stamp your hand with black-light ink so you can’t circle back and hoard more. Scalpers are not welcome here. For context: I’ve already seen the same plush I bought listed online for around ¥24,000 ($159.99). But, after seeing them, I can understand why. They’re durable, adorable, and absolutely cuddle-able with their Sailor Moon meets Rainbow Brite color and style.
From there, it was off to the Sailor Moon Store, where I grabbed a few 35th-anniversary items: a manga-style standee, an anime-style folder, and a BANDAI NAMCO Figuarts Mini of Sailor Moon herself. They did have all the inner sensei, but sadly I could not find my queen, Sailor Pluto in this format.
Still, adorable.
Honestly, I was surprised by how little I bought — but it was only day two. No need to blow the budget immediately, and I fully intend to return to the only official Sailor Moon store on the planet.
Next stop: Tower Records — not the legendary Shibuya location (tragically closed that day), but the Shinjuku branch instead. While smaller than Shibuya’s seven-floor cathedral to music, Shinjuku’s two floors still delivered.
I picked up limited editions of Timelesz’s FAM album and their newest single Steal the Show (both with Blu-ray music videos), as well as the video editions of Snow Man’s fifth album Onkochishin (音故知新).
And because self-care is important, I also treated myself to a physical copy of SYNDROME (FALL OUT VERSION) — the first full-length album from K-pop superstar Wonho. Yes, I bought that version because he’s shirtless on the cover. Anyone claiming Wonho isn’t beautiful is simply incorrect.
Full reviews are coming later, but I was surprised to learn that only one track (“At The Time”) includes Korean lyrics — the rest of the album is entirely in English, and he sounds incredible.
We had more stops planned, but the weather had other ideas. Snow. Rain. Cold. And while I was born and raised on the prairies of Montana — the arctic tundra of the American Midwest — my delicate California nerves took one look outside and said:
Absolutely not.
So I went back to the hotel.
And I went to bed.
There will be more from my third adventure in Tokyo soon, so…
Stay warm and Stay Tuned! ❄️✨
Life In Cartoon Motion 