Having grown up in a major city like Chengdu—one of the Giant Panda’s original homes—and then living for years in New York City, I genuinely never expected to be so profoundly impressed by another large metropolitan area.

I made two trips to Tokyo in 2025: one in July and another in December. I am already looking forward to returning.

For me, Tokyo feels like a giant theme park. I often encounter posters and figures of my favorite animated characters. Museums and shrines allow me to fully appreciate the richness of Japanese culture. 

I like the food too.