Japan: Play Should Be the Center of Our Lives. Take a Whirl with Me to Taiwan and Japan
Play. A word we hear so much of when we are little, but tend to lose it in our vocabulary as adults. When we are little, we hear, “Go outside and play” or “Go play until dinner is ready” or “Finish your homework or you can’t play with your friends.” But as adults, we tend to never use that word to ourselves or our friends. We tell them to have a nice day or we tell ourselves of the list of to-do’s we have to finish, but we don’t tell ourselves to go outside and play. Heck we don’t even schedule ‘play’ in our lives. It’s almost like we forgot how to play.
My trip to Taiwan and Japan reminded me how important play is in our everyday lives no matter what age we are. To be honest, the last few years of my life have been a dismantling of how things should be according to society and listening to my own intuition or when the universe wants to push me into the vortex. Ahem this trip.
So in January of 2026, I decided I would go visit my friend in Japan during my school break in March. And as life would have it, an amazing business opportunity came up that pushed my trip back by a week - literally the week before leaving and then my friend quit her job so I only saw her in Japan for three days and I was in Asia for 3 weeks. Funny, right?
But this is not the first time something like this has happened. Sometimes we need something to push us to go do something or go somewhere because we are too in our heads and being too darn logical. That was me.
So off I went on this trip and I immediately was in a world of play. My plane to Taiwan was a Hello Kitty themed plane. It was epic! The silverware and cups were all Hello Kitty and friends. It brought such joy to simple meals being passed out on the plane. Then while being in Taiwan, it was the first time in a long time where English speaking pretty much doesn’t exist and cash is king (Taiwanese dollars). We have gotten so used to paying with credit cards and it was wonderful to see how most shops and restaurants only took cash. Many workers in hospitality or taxi drivers didn’t speak English but they were elated to talk to you and would whip out the translation app right away to converse. Food was shaped in the cutest designs and there was a sense of playful artistry in all of the food and beverages or even packaging. The local street art had words stating, ‘Joy’ and ‘Be Happy’ with colorful flowers and rainbows truly expressing joy in art form. And the list goes on for how play is woven in everywhere to the Snoopy 7-11 themed stores, to art deco coffee shops to custom printing of clothes at stores like Uniqlo, to Gashapon (toy vending machines everywhere - yes I played!) to immaculate gardens and famously the night markets! The night markets were my favorite. It was like a food adventure of discovery and awakening all of your senses. My favorite bite was the pork bun. I could really go for one right now. But most importantly at the night markets there were countless groups of friends and family dining together or playing carnival-like games to win fun prizes. Yes, a lady convinced me to play and I won. My bestie Squishy is a great addition to my home. You see, the play never stopped for everyday living in Taipei. It wasn’t a thing for tourists. You honestly saw locals playing all of the time and so full of joy with radiating smiles all day. I soaked it all in and tapped into my own inner child play. And I was literally soaked by the rain many times in Taipei, but honestly, it added to the fun!
And I whizzed off next to Japan to see my friend, which was the BEST reunion. But first that morning I started at the Tsukiji fish market and yup had mochi at 6:30 a.m. My breakfast of salmon soup was impeccable. The market is one of my favorite places to eat.. I may have gone back for breakfast a few times. Back to the reunion… We had a blast together. Laughing and being total girls and doing absolutely nothing touristy. Shopping and eating and laughing so much it was an ab workout. It was total chicken soup for the soul.
Now you may be thinking, what did I do for two weeks on my own in Japan with no itinerary or plan and let me tell you…I played. I did whatever I felt like. Head massages, yes! Matcha 5x a day to try different cafes - absolutely! Going to a coffee art place just because I heard they make 3D art - of course. Perusing the streets and window shopping at the wild stores. Getting tea from a bear in the wall at a cafe - really, heck yes (I even took a train to find this cafe). Immersing in the teamLab Borderless Museum and spending hours of play in the exhibits. Going nuts at the Don Quijote stores - I had to buy a suitcase there to bring back all of the skincare goodies I bought. Sushi bento on the train and sushi conveyor belts because how cool. Venturing to different towns like Kyoto and Osaka - yes. Kyoto was fun since I was there 10 years prior and it was interesting to go back to places I went to back then and didn't really know what I was seeing since our internet and phones didn’t work. Kyoto is full of temples and history, and the best vegan matcha ice cream cone. I loved it so much I got two within 15 minutes haha. Sometimes you just have to enjoy yourself! But I’m missing the best part on how the universe delivered back to me on this trip….
10 years ago when I was in Japan, I made a promise. That promise was that the next time that I would go back would be for the cherry blossoms. Now, when I booked my trip to see my friend, I didn’t even think of the cherry blossoms. But the universe didn’t forget. When I landed in Tokyo, the blossoms were starting to bloom and over the two weeks I was there I was captivated by its beauty as I saw it fully blossom to then fall away from most of the trees. I spent my days sitting in the park like so many others to sit underneath the magnificent trees and gazing at its delicate beauty. There was so much wisdom I learned from these special trees. One is how everyone from around the world wants to come and see them and they are anticipated for all year. Two the towns celebrate with festivals, seasonal foods with the sakura (cherry blossom), perfumes, teas, decorations and honor. Three, the cherry blossoms teach us how to slow down and spend time with nature, but also a mirror to how we should be…
Cherry blossoms blossom once a year and the magic of their beauty carries throughout the year and each year when they blossom the timing changes. They blossom when they are ready. It’s something we should mirror. Blossom when we are ready if it isn’t the timeline we wanted. We will blossom just like the cherry blossom always does. But even more importantly, we shouldn’t try to blossom multiple times a year. If we truly are in our essence, that annual blossom will carry magic throughout the year and allow for us to continue to grow in next year’s season. It’s a message of learning to find your essence and let that aura spread versus trying to do so many things in one year in a state of go, go, go. Take a beat. Plant your seeds. Harvest your craft. Blossom when it’s time. Baste in the sun. Allow the magic to carry on..
So sometimes you think your trip is because of one reason and it turns out there may be a better plan and usually God’s plan is always better for you…
Don’t resist it. Don’t complain about things going differently than how you planned. Go with the flow.
Play more.
Definitely play more.
Heck try that new cake or go on a spree of trying new cafes because it’s fun.
Do it because you love it!
And plant your seeds and allow for your time to blossom. Don’t force the flow, go with it and allow things to unfold in the most beautiful way like the cherry blossom. She never falters.
