My grandmother is Japanese. After 27 years of thinking I understood this part of my identity, I finally journeyed to Japan. I had no idea just how mind-blowing this experience would be. My grandmother led the expedition that included myself, my mom, and my sister. I’ll write more about this adventure later, but for now I’ll simply share some photos.

Click an image to start the slideshow!

(Not Pictured) GIANT SPIDERS all over this ski lift.

A Shinto cemetery.

A violent version of paper, rock scissors that involved hitting and slapping.

A lake view.

Another Pagoda. They LOVE these things in Japan.

Can someone tell me what these are called? I could not get enough of them while in Narita.

Confused by the Hot Dog reference. Does Hot Dog mean dragon in Japanese?

He’s waving at me, guys.

The world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana.

Did you know that deer purr like cats when you pet them? That’s actually a lie…

Fishes inside a fish. What a wild and crazy idea!

Hiding from the paparazzi. She’s huge in Japan.

I became obsessed with Mr. Donut while in Japan.

I ordered this kitsune udon from a 24 hour automated machine. It happened. And it was good.

I tried my hand at the ancient art of Japanese calligraphy.

I was amazed to learn that Japan is just COVERED in picturesque bridges.

In case you were curious, here is an alternative view of the Golden Pavilion.

In Japan, green ice cream is mostly likely green tea-flavored. But it could just as easily be seaweed-flavored. YUM!

Jamie, messing with reality.

Japan’s national pasttimes: Koto playing and being ninjas.

Just strolling on a 3 mile long sand bar. WHAT UP!?

Bangin’ rock garden in Kyoto.

Kennin-ji. A sure fire way to feel zen is watch a Japense caretaker rake a zen garden… then STOMP ALL OVER IT… just leaves me feeling so centered.

Kim and Kanye’s house.

Stairs to a pagoda.

Meikosan at the Niomon.

Mina, up close and personal.

Moments before the mosh pit broke out.

More Japanese stuff.

My future mental well being depends on having a garden like this.

My g’ma and her sister visiting my great grandfather’s grave.

My Japanese best friend.

Narita-san (1)

mini.

One last view of the Golden Pavilion, guys. No, stop asking! I know you just LOOOOOVVEEE looking at the same shrine from various angles, but COME ON!

One of my top 3 favorite stops in Kyoto.

One of the few photographs I took in Tokyo. My feet deserve some attention.

One of the smellier places I visited in Kyoto.

Dotonbori district.

So. Many. Pagoda. Photos. Sick of them yet?

Looks pretty Japanese, eh?

Rocking out to some koto music.

She told me it was shrimp. Part of it might have once been shrimp, but it was mostly deep-friend, shrimp-flavored sponge. Yum!

She wants all the deer cookies to herself. SELFISH!

So. Many. Shrines. Sick of them yet?

Some rocks in Narita.

Somewhere over Yukon. I’m in love with Canada.

still not positive what the bibs mean. Any insight?

Strolling in Kyoto. On the lookout for Geisha. WHAT ELSE???

Sun through the trees, Japanese style.

Taken immediately before I witnessed someone get mugged from the back of a motorbike.

The future color scheme of my house. Including the dragon heads.

The Golden Pavilion. A Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. When I saw it I was all like, “whaaaa!!! IS THIS THING FOR REAL!?!?”

The royal pond where the Emperor’s royal fish swam.

This photo was taken immediately before Jamie kissed this deer… on its deer face!! GROSS, JAMIE?!

Todai-ji. The largest wooden structure in the world. Built by the world’s largest wooden man. It’s actually a sad story…

We celebrated Japanese religion by throwing money at it.

We’re just wild about koto music.

When I asked my grandma what she was doing, she said, “Giving him a drink.”

Winding streets of Narita.

You can hardly see him, but there was a fisher guy way out in the water.