24 Jul 2026
047 - Planning Your Trip to Japan?
Planning Your Trip to Japan - A Recap with Ruha and Bekah
Some trips change your life, and some trips become core memories — this one did both. In today’s episode, Ruha takes us through her family’s two‑week adventure across Tokyo and Kyoto, complete with Nintendo magic, Studio Ghibli nostalgia, vending‑machine economics, and the cultural whiplash of remembering (too late) that Japanese trains are very quiet places.
We kick things off with accents — British, Australian, and whatever Bekah was doing — before diving into Ruha’s second-ever trip to Japan. She compares her 2015 visit (as young engineers with DSLR photography and a whirlwind six total days) with this year’s expanded itinerary: two full weeks, three kids, and a whole new appreciation for Japanese efficiency, kindness, and the sacred art of not sitting down unless you’ve earned it.
From Zip Air microtransactions to vending machines that sell ice‑cold water for 80 cents, Ruha walks us through the logistics, the culture, the crowds, and the joy. We talk Shibuya chaos, Kyoto serenity, the Gion Matsuri buildup, and the moment a very tired woman on the Narita Express reminded Ruha’s kids — loudly — that trains are for silence.
Then we head to the Ghibli Museum, where the girls remove their shoes like seasoned locals, play in the giant Catbus, and explore a cozy, whimsical house straight out of a Miyazaki dream. It’s nostalgia, magic, and childhood wonder all rolled into one.
Grab a slice, settle in, and enjoy this cozy travelogue full of laughter, cultural surprises, and the kind of stories you’ll want to put on your tombstone.
Spot's Playground - Your weekly dose of cozy recommendations from your two favorite midnight snackers.
Bekah’s Pick: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Benjamin Stevenson)A witty, clever, totally addictive murder mystery that Bekah snagged for $2.99 and has been devouring ever since. It’s part of the Ernest Cunningham series, and she loves the playful structure — the book literally tells you which chapters contain murders. It’s sharp, funny, and perfect for anyone who likes their whodunits with a wink.
Ruha’s Pick: Tomodachi Life (Nintendo Switch 2)Ruha’s new favorite chaos generator. Think The Sims, but cuter, weirder, and somehow more emotionally accurate. She built an island populated entirely by Pride & Prejudice characters — Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley, Jane — and watched them fall in love, fight, and behave exactly as their personalities would suggest. It kept the girls entertained on the flight and has become a family obsession.
Also Mentioned in Today’s Episode
Nintendo Tokyo — The source of Ruha's Bright Red Shirt
Pokémon Center Shibuya — Crowded, chaotic, unforgettable
Zip Air — Budget-friendly direct flights with all the microtransaction tea and ramen you can handle
Narita Express — The airport-to-Tokyo direct service train where Ruha’s kids learned “quiet, please”
Studio Ghibli / Ghibli Museum — Catbus, nostalgia, magic
Gion Matsuri — Kyoto’s massive summer festival
Meiji Shrine — Beautiful and on the weekends, bustling
Suica Card — The transportation card Ruha wishes she’d used
Bluey — The Australian accent Bekah refuses to absorb
Steve Irwin & Family — Icons of enthusiasm and kindness
Spot’s Playground Picks
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone — Benjamin Stevenson
Tomodachi Life — Nintendo Switch 2
🍰 Midnight Cheesecake — Where to Find Us
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