My big adventure to Japan

Have you ever been somewhere so amazing that it feels like stepping into a whole new world? That’s exactly what happened when Bubbles and I went to Japan!

Bubbles had never been on a plane before. He was very concerned.

“This thing is basically a giant metal bird,” he whispered, gripping the seatbelt. “Are we sure it knows how to fly?”

I laughed. “Of course! Planes fly all the time.”

Bubbles narrowed his eyes. “So do pigeons. And I do not trust pigeons.”

But after snacks, a nap, and exactly seventeen questions about whether we were there yet, we finally landed in Tokyo—a city full of bright lights, amazing food, and maybe even a little bit of magic.

Lost in Shibuya (Almost!)

The first thing we did was visit Shibuya Crossing, the busiest street crossing in the world. It felt like stepping into a video game—giant screens flashing, people moving in every direction, and neon lights everywhere.

Bubbles clung to my backpack. “This is too many people, Jen.”

I nodded. “It’s okay, we’ll just—”

But then, a very fast delivery bicycle zoomed past, and Bubbles squeaked in surprise—and fell right into someone’s shopping bag!

“BUBBLES!” I shouted, dodging through the crowd as the person walked away, completely unaware they had just kidnapped a very tiny hippo.

Bubbles’ voice floated from inside the bag. “HELP! I DON’T WANT TO BE A SOUVENIR!”

Luckily, I managed to run up just in time. “Excuse me!” I gasped. “You have my hippo!”

The woman looked confused. Then she peeked inside her bag and screamed.

“AHHH! IT MOVED!” she shouted, dropping the bag in shock.

Bubbles rolled out onto the pavement, dizzy but safe. “Let’s… not do that again.”

The Mystery of the Fox Shrine

After that adventure, we decided to visit a quiet shrine outside the city. It was hidden in the trees, lined with red torii gates, and had stone fox statues everywhere.

Bubbles stared at them. “Are you sure they’re just statues?”

“They’re called kitsune,” I explained. “Some people say they’re magical fox spirits.”

Just as I said that, one of the statues winked.

Bubbles shrieked and jumped into my backpack. “I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!”

But when I turned back, the statue was… just a statue.

Or was it?

Sushi, Samurai, and Bubbles’ New Obsession

For lunch, we had the best sushi ever. I tried fresh tuna and salmon, and Bubbles discovered his new favorite food: tamago sushi (sweet egg on rice).

“This,” he declared, stuffing another piece in his mouth, “is better than pizza.”

That evening, we watched a samurai show, where actors dressed in traditional armor performed an epic sword fight. Bubbles was fascinated.

“I need a sword,” he whispered. “I want to be a Samurai Hippo.”

I sighed. “Bubbles, you’re too small for a sword.”

Bubbles folded his arms. “Fine. Then I want a tiny one.”

The Secret Cherry Blossom Wish

On our last day, we visited a beautiful park full of cherry blossom trees. The pink petals floated through the air like snow, and everything felt peaceful.

Bubbles sat on a branch, watching the petals fall. “This place feels… magical,” he said softly.

I nodded. “It really does.”

Then, we found a little wooden wishing board where people wrote their hopes and dreams.

Bubbles thought for a long time. Then he wrote:

“I wish for more adventures with my best friend.”

I smiled and added mine underneath:

“Me too.”

As the wind carried the petals around us, I swore I heard a fox statue chuckle.

The End… or maybe just the beginning?

Would you visit Japan? What would you wish for? Let me know in the comments!