In March, the Taylor family (of Greystone) traveled to Tokyo for the Tokyo Marathon and turned the event into a full family vacation. Laura and Kelly ran the marathon along with family friend Jen, while the rest of the group, Sophie, Westin, Miles, Alexa, Sam, Nav, and Mira, spent race day cheering them on from the sidelines. Alexa arrived later that day and joined the group afterward.

The marathon was the main reason for the trip, but Tokyo had already been on Miles’ and Alexa’s travel wish lists because of the food and culture. Miles especially enjoyed visiting during Pokémon’s 30th anniversary year since he had been a big fan growing up.

The group stayed mainly around Tokyo because of the marathon schedule, but they still packed plenty into the trip. One of the best decisions they made was hiring local tour guides for the first couple days. The guides helped them learn the train system, navigate the city, and better understand Japanese culture and daily life.

Some of the group’s favorite experiences included visiting temples and shrines, attending a sumo wrestling demonstration, and exploring the TeamLab Borderless and TeamLab Planets exhibits. The interactive displays featuring lights, mirrors, projections, and water were unlike anything they had experienced before.

Food was another major highlight of the trip. Miles and Alexa especially enjoyed trying different sushi restaurants, including a popular conveyor-belt sushi spot. One evening, the group visited an area known for its collection of tiny bars packed closely together. Many of the bars only seat six to ten people, and their group managed to fill one completely.

Like any big trip, there were a few challenges along the way. The language barrier occasionally made things difficult, and there were a few transportation mix-ups, but Google Translate helped smooth out most situations. The group also ended up walking everywhere, which turned out to be great recovery after the marathon.

If given the chance to return, the Taylors said they would love to explore more of Japan outside of Tokyo. Although cloudy weather prevented them from visiting Mount Fuji, they were still able to catch a view of it from the observation deck at the Government Building. Their biggest advice for others planning a similar trip is to allow extra time to adjust to the time difference and to consider hiring local tour guides to help make the experience easier and more enjoyable.