A Foodie Reviews Japanese Cuisine!

After having an amazing trip to Japan, I thought about doing an overview of the country as I did with Italy, but truthfully, I went there for the food, so firstly, I'm going to talk about the food. 

Before going forward, I will be posting tons of pictures of food. If you're like me and part of the reasons why you love watching K- and J-Dramas is for the gratuitous food scenes, you may want to grab a snack beforehand. This food may make you very hungry and that means you'll have to fly to Japan to actually try this food. If you have the time and the means, then do it!!!! But if you don't, eat something first to that you can survive this. You've been warned!

Where You Can Get Food

That's a silly statement, isn't it? 

Actually, in Japan, it's really not.

Most people would assume that you're going to get food by going to store, restaurants, and delivery apps. Yes, that is all available here.

What many meals look like. That fish was freshly caught!

However, there are other options out there that isn't as common as in the States or even the European countries I have been to. Here's some other methods of getting food in Japan.

Convenience Stores

Wait, what?

Yes, convenience stores! There are 7-11s everywhere, and they are beyond anything you can find in the States. If you don't see a 7-11 nearby, you will instead see a Family Mart, or a Lawson. All three of them can be found on every other street corner, and not one of them carries the same items, so if you don't see what you're looking for at one, you can likely find it at another!

So, what exactly are you looking for?

The convenience stores do have tons of snacks and sodas just like convenience stores everywhere else. The Japanese convenience stores carry good quality food! After passing aisles full of sundries and snacks, you'll find packaged chicken sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, dried squid, cooked fish, healthier-type ramen bowls that the employees can add water to so you can eat it right away, pork buns, chicken kabobs, bento boxes, and various types of onigiri, or rice rolls. You can grab a handful of these items if you didn't pack a lunch and pay less than ¥1000 for the whole thing!

And then there's the sweet stuff. They have the expected donuts, muffins, and milk buns, but they also have waffles, filled pancakes, souffle-types pancakes, yogurt, mochi, and small cakes. And all of this stuff is good quality!

Of course, like other convenience stores, they sell various drinks and alcohol, and they have ATM machines that charge a minimal fee if you need to withdraw any yen. This may be a little off topic because we're here to discuss food, but it's still a helpful tidbit of info.

Back to the subject of drinks...

Vending Machines

Do you know how many vending machines are in Japan?

According to multiple sources, over 5 MILLION.

The vending machines in Japan can be found in parking lots, alleys, remote shrines, and even on hiking trails. Many of them only accept card payments, such as standard payment cards or the Pasmo or Suica cards that tourists can purchase at train stations, but there are plenty that accept coin and up to ¥1000 bills. And they're not just for drinks!

Just your average run-of-the-mill alley with a vending machine

The most common type of vending machine you will find is the drink machine. These machines are usually stocked with water, soda, energy drinks, tea, coffee drinks, hot chocolate, and juices. The price tags will be highlighted in blue, indicating that the drink is cold, or red, to serve a piping hot drink! 

And with the option of purchasing a hot drink, some of these machines will also have hot soup available. In Osaka, I found a vending machine that had nothing but soju, the main alcohol of Korea, for purchase! Alcohol vending machines are common as well.

Helloooooooo soju!

And guess what?

There are food vending machines all over the place too. Sometimes you can even find small shops full of vending machines with multiple options for food! I didn't see nearly as many as I would have liked to, but I was able to see some cool ones. Here's the ones I came across.

Standard Snacks

This is the type that you would expect to see across the States. It had chips, candy, and other snackable items. These are mainly found in hotels and hostels for people who don't want to walk across the street to the nearest convenience store.

There are others that are full of nothing but sweets, and not just candy. They can include mochi, flavored gel packs, brownies, and candied strawberries. The options looked refreshing!

Pastries

Yes, this machine is full of pastries! As you can see, it's about halfway full, indicating that it was pretty popular throughout the day. There's cookies, muffins, pie and tarts, and whatever those small packaged items are (I would guess truffles or macarons). I wish I'd come across more of these.

This next one is momiji manju, a cake-like, maple-flavored bun filled with red bean paste, matcha, chocolate, or other type of sweet filling. These were created on Miyajima island and can mostly found in the Hiroshima area.

Cake in a Can

Also called okashi gaku, it's a cake, similar to a parfait, served in a recyclable can and with a plastic spoon included. The one I came across only had 10 options, some of which were doubles of another, and I had to try it. 

Ultimately, I wasn't too impressed with it, but it may also have had to do with the one I selected. But if you've ever wanted to try something like this, here you are!

Meat Dishes

One I wish I'd tried, but this one served beef and pork dishes. They're also a little pricey here too, but it would appear that they are served hot. 

I've heard that sometimes they are served cold so that the buyer can cook it at home, but I can't verify that for myself.

Steamed Buns

Why did I pass these up???? They looked so yummy. 

Insects

Excuse me?

Yup, this exists. Flies, worms, crickets. Hey, don't knock it till you try it! I didn't, by the way.

Foreign Foods

I came across several in one place, with foods from France, the US, Germany, and what was labeled as "Asian Cuisine," among others. I'm sure they all had good options!

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

No further description necessary. 

Types I Didn't Come Across

Here's a listing of other types of vending machines that do exist throughout the country:

Fruits and vegetables

Broth

Pizza

Ramen

Eggs

Popcorn

(Sourced from this site)

There are vending machines for other items that aren't edible, so feel free to have a look for yourself what you can find if you plan of going. You can even use Google Maps to locate these specific vending machines if you want! Here's a link from 2023 citing the 5 million vending machines.

High Rise Shopping Centers

At multi-level shopping centers like the Shibuya Scramble Square and Daimaru, the lowest levels usually have the to-go foods, usually pastries and desserts. And Lord, you could gave 2 pounds just by looking at what they have to offer! These places are great for grabbing breakfast foods that will last a few days, or even just to indulge your sweet tooth.

The upper levels tend to have restaurants as well, but these restaurants tend to be more expensive for food that isn't much more quality than any other. Feel free to check them out, though!

Food Marketplaces

Is this a fancy term for food court? No. Street food is readily available in certain areas of the major cities where you can browse for servings of types of seafood, meats, appetizers, desserts, and sometimes even shots of sake. 

This was the best pic I got because I was more concerned with shooting a video

My favorite place in particular was the Nishiki Market in Kyoto where there was so much food to try that my brain nearly blew up trying to pick something. Most of this food is single serving, though some of the bigger stalls will offer full meals or bowls of their delicious foods along with seating. 

Then there are others where the street food and restaurants are side-by-side, but you will usually find people lining up for nearly a block for a single serving. That's how you know the food is good. 

This one looked similar to Nishiki so I didn't take many pictures

Another marketplace that I found and isn't listed among the popular websites I've been checking is Ohatsutenjin Urasando. Not only did this area have a plethora of street food and restaurants, it also had karaoke, bowling, and arcades! I was surprised when I found that it's not a popular tourist area. But guess what? That means that it caters more to locals, and you'll get better quality and deals!

Here's a listing of some of the best food marketplaces in Japan.

Try it all!

Restaurants don't just do it here in Japan. You have to try food options all from all the sources. You would be severely missing out if you only sought out sit-down restaurants. There's so much to offer if you're adventurous!

Main Dishes

Let's face it, most of us who want to go to Japan for the food are really there for the sushi.

Well, sushi is actually different that what we are served in the States, and even then, the sushi joints aren't always on every street corner, either! There are many incredible dishes in Japan that are there for the tasting, and here's some of the ones to look for when you go over there. 

For the record, some of these I didn't get a chance to sample, so these dishes will have a (NT) for "not tried." 

Ramen

If you're a fan of J-Dramas or anime, odds are you will be very familiar with ramen. These delicious noodle dishes are often filled with meat, seafood, and/or vegetables. You will normally be served this dish in a large bowl, but the contents are enough to fill you up without being stuffed. 

Udon Noodles

Udon noodles are thicker noodles that are made from egg and also served with either meats or vegetables. Sometimes, they can be served with a single uncooked egg on top. This is a more filling dish that pairs well with other side dishes.

Okonomiyaki

These are savory pancakes with a crepe base, noodles, a variety of vegetables, and a meat of some kind, usually bacon. 

Another form is made with a potato base, and can have cheese added. There are other variations out there, but despite how large they are, they won't leave you feeling overfed afterwards. It's a great main dish!

Tempura

This fried dish is popular at Japanese restaurants throughout the world as an appetizer, but out here, it's often served as a full meal! 

Word to the wise: don't put your chopsticks in your rice like that

Meat, vegetables, and even cheese is slathered in a batter and fried to perfection (my personal recommendation would be to try the pumpkin tempura). It is common to be served with rice to complete the meal. 

Hida Beef

This incredibly flavorful beef from the Takayama region is served rare and needs no sauces or rubs. It is grilled flawlessly and makes for a tremendous main dish. 

That was SO GOOD

It is also served as a nigiri-type sushi in some places barely seared but with full flavor.

Wagyu Steak

This is another flavorful slice of cow that is bred to have the fat marbled into it, giving it a very rich flavor. One of the ways it is served is sliced thinly and added to ramen or soup to allow for its final cooking. 

My last meal in Japan

The slow boil of the broth helps to both bring out the flavor of the meat and to make the remaining broth afterwards taste extra yummy.

Sushi

You know you've been waiting for this one. We love the sushi, but out here, it's not always in the rolls we expect. Most sushi is mostly pieces of seafood and/or vegetables served nigiri style. 

Prosciutto mozzarella sushi???? Have I died and gone to heaven???? 

Yes, there are sushi rolls, but there aren't as many on most menus as you would expect. But surprisingly, a common topping was also cheese!

Yakisoba (NT)

This stir fry dish is made with soba noodles and pan cooked with sauce and veggies. After seeing it on Aggretsuko, I tried to make it at home. I was unable to have this in Japan, so I'll assume it's absolutely incredible there (though mine wasn't too bad).

Kobe Beef (NT)

Kobe beef was introduced to me in my nutrition/cooking class from when I was in junior college, and I've been trying to taste it ever since. It is considered one of the most flavorful steaks in existence, but HOLY GUACAMOLE, is it expensive!!!! The cheapest one I could find was ¥5000. Next time I'll save up for it!

Pork Katsu (NT)

These pork cutlets are pan friend and served in strips, usually with ramen or with rice and vegetables. Another flavorful cut of meat, it also does tend to run a bit pricey. This dish was highly recommended by my trip leader, so I am disappointed that I was unable to find any before I left.

Burgers

Yes, there are burgers out here. The main burger venues you will come across are the expected McDonald's, and the local Mos Burger. Mos Burger had burgers about the size of In-and-Out Burgers, but they were just as tasty, and had a wide variety of toppings and condiments. The one I picked? It had gouda cheese. Better than expected!

These are some of the main dishes you will find throughout Japan. If these don't have you salivating yet, then let me introduce you to...

Street Food and Appetizers

I've already mentioned the food markets and given you an idea of what you can find there. But it isn't just markets where you can find the following, you can often find these on street corners and in restaurant districts. And brother, are they worth a try!

Takoyaki

Easily one of my favorite small dishes, takoyaki is essentially octopus balls.

Had to get this gif in here somewhere.

Get your minds out of the gutter, people!

These are made in small round griddles where batter is poured, and the octopus meat is added as the cook turns the balls on the griddle. 

This vendor was so sweet!

They are then topped with sauces, onions, and other toppings, which also include cheese. Make sure you let them cool first, those suckers are hot in the inside!

Squid on a Stick

No further explanation required. It's exactly as it says. Depending on the vender, they may season it a little, but the meat itself has enough flavor to be eaten as it is. 

Fish on a Stick

I couldn't find the exact name for this dish, but it's not to be confused with fish sticks. This street food is made of seafood blends that are then formed into shapes like rectangles, or more of a scone shape. 

They can be ordered as is, or they can be filled with shrimp, potatoes, onions, or cheese! Be careful though, they can easily fall off the stick if you aren't careful.

Taiyaki

These are fish-shaped pastries that can be served as savory or sweet, depending on the vendor. Popular fillings include cheese, red bean paste, custard, chocolate, sweet potato, and matcha. 

They make a perfect dessert if you're on the go!

Mochi (NT)

Another traditional Japanese food that is completely different in its homeland. Out in the US, it's a thin rice dough covering an ice cream center. 

I wonder if they were meant to look like tongues...

In Japan, the rice dough is thicker, and is usually filled with strawberries, red bean paste, or matcha. Ice cream is not part of the recipe. They still looked fabulous though.

Deep Fried Pizza Dough

Paired with a clam chowder and a porter from Miyajima Brewery Beer Stand

OMG. It's so simple, but easily one of the best snacks I found in my travels. It's just pizza dough! Maybe just a little more salt was added to the recipe, but WOW! I could not believe how delicious it was!

Cheese Tarts 

Have I died and gone to heaven? Yes, there were honest to God cheese tarts! They are sold fresh in food markets, or you can purchase them at convenience stores, which is where I tried them. They are sweet but not overly sweet, tasting similar to cheesecake. 

Bento Boxes

The bento boxes here are sold in restaurants, but the more popular purchases are made at train stations. It is a common practice that people commute to work using the trains, and will buy a bento box for lunch. 

These boxes usually contain sushi and onigiri, and come in various sizes depending on if the buyer wants a meal or a snack. The cashiers will usually bag them with a cold pack too!

Miso Soup

Miso soup is bottom right

Another popular dish that is often served as a side. It's normally found in restaurants and served in a small bowl. It's consumed rather quickly, but a nice refresher after having had a full meal.

Gyoza

This is actually a Chinese dish, and it's a fried dumpling filled with pork meat. 

They are popular enough to be sold in local restaurants, but it's more likely that you'll find them in the Chinese restaurants and vendors nearby.

Soft Serve Ice Cream

You know that I love the ice cream. There are ice cream parlors out here, but they are not very common. Instead, you'll find shops that offer the soft serve ice cream, and they will usually come in one of four flavors: matcha, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. 

Matcha and vanilla swirl

They are yummy, but they also pretty much taste the same everywhere you go.

There are plenty more amazing snacks out here, but these were the ones that I found worth noting. I guess I have to go back to find more! 

Drinks

You're probably familiar with at least one of these drinks, but there are others that may take you by surprise. 

Sake

The national alcoholic drink of Japan. This rice wine is often served as a bottle with a small sake cup for drinking it. You can drink directly from the bottle but will likely look like an alcoholic in the process. 

I only sampled 6!

Sake breweries will often allow you to purchase a cup and then have you try their various flavors after paying a fee. Keep the cup!

My personal favorite from the trip, available at the Funasaka Sake Brewery

Coffee

Believe it or not, coffee is more popular than tea out here! You will find coffee shops, especially Starbucks, all over the place! 

It's common to find coffee shops offering meal deals with their coffees for breakfast as well.

Matcha Tea

This is the tea that they serve in Japan. Now you will find the standard green tea in most restaurants, but it's the matcha tea that is promoted. It is served hot or iced, or as a milk tea latte. The flavor is also everywhere for the desserts.

Melon Soda

Melon is an extremely high-demand fruit out here, and it can cost up to ¥10,000! If you're a fan of melons, don't expect to find any unless you're willing to shell out the dough. Despite this, you will often find the melon sodas that don't taste particularly like melon, but still have a nice, refreshing flavor.

Soju

This is a Korean vodka that is often sold in convenience stores. Soju has a generally smoother flavor than most sakes and almost always has a fruit flavor to it. Between the two, I prefer the soju.

Milk Tea

Unlike the matcha, this tea is mostly available in convenience stores and vending machines. Sold both as sweetened and unsweetened, it is a nice drink to wind down with when you want to relax. If you're looking for the milk tea with boba, those joints are much rarer to find, as boba is a Taiwanese drink. 

The one place I went to that offered boba milk tea was sadly not up to my expectations, but it wasn't bad.

Lemonade

I love lemonade, and there are lemonade shops all over the place. It is positively divine!

Popular Miscellaneous Foods

It is the expectation of any traveler to try the local foods of any country they visit. However, Japan had some interesting diversity amongst their restaurants. Here's a few I noted.

French Patisseries

There was a distinct French influence in the foods. You'll find croissants, quiches, scones, and even sourdough breads at these shops! Though you are here to try the local foods, try some of their French foods as well. It's a fitting yet unexpected combination!

Macarons

This is another standard French dessert, but macarons are so popular that they have their own shops. 

What makes Japanese macarons different, however, is that the majority of them have nearly 3 times the cream filling! 

It's a very rich dessert, so make sure that you're not already full before trying one of these. And you can find them at McDonald's!

Pizza

Pizza is rather popular over here, but it's more promoted as an Italian dish, as I believe it should be. 

Travel buddies and pizza: always a winning combo wherever you go

You'll find your standard pepperoni, margherita, and BBQ types, but you'll also find pies with Japanese twists. I for one had one with an eggplant topping.

It was different, and I enjoyed it! The pizzas out here are very well made.

Crepes

Crepes were definitely not what I was expecting to see out here. They can be served with sweet spreads or ice cream, and have an array of toppings to add. 

Japanese crepes also add small rice crackers to give them a local flare.

Wings Flavored Pringles

You heard me. They exist over here.

How many of you are buying plane tickets now that you know these are made?

Waffles

The waffles here are a work of art. Waffles are usually a dense breakfast, but out here, they are cooked to perfection being light enough to be filling without leaving you feeling full. 

Best waffles I ever had!

They are also served as snacks throughout the day and often topped with a fruit spread, syrup, or honey, and with ice cream on the side!

Muffins

Those lower level shopping areas I mentioned earlier? There are usually at least a few muffin stands. 

These muffins are the ones that fill you up! Filled to overflowing with fruits, fillings, chocolates, and even other pastries, it's practically a meal in itself!

Strawberries

You may have already guessed this by how many times I've mentioned strawberries with other types of food. Strawberries are very popular to the point that you can find them sold in baskets in the food markets, on skewers, candied, chocolate dipped, and many other variations! 

A popular restaurant chain is called Strawberry Fetish and can be found in the major cities.

KitKats

Gimme a break! Really?

Yes! Japan has dozens of different types of flavors, as opposed to the maybe dozen that the US has. They aren't as easy to find as you may think, but you will often find the matcha, strawberry, dark chocolate, and standard chocolate in the shops. 

However, in the actual KitKat shops and airports, you will find flavors you will never find anywhere else! Here's a few flavors I was able to find:

Orange

Peach

Strawberry Cheesecake

Lemon Lime

Green Tea

SAKE (yes, it has a slight alcohol kick to it!)

My favorite was the lemon lime

There are other flavors, but you will need to seek out the KitKat stores, mostly found in Tokyo, to see all the flavors they have. I brought back about 5 pounds of KitKats!

All the Cheese Dishes

I'm addicted to cheese. I had no idea there were so many cheese dishes out here, which is why I pointed them out in the previous dishes. I won't be repeating myself, but I'm just going to reiterate here that cheese is common out here.

Cat Food

Uhhh...

No, it's not real cat food. One of the guys in my group asked our tour guide if he could pour his leftover soup into his rice bowl. Our guide explained that he could, but it's considered "cat food" because of how it looks after the action is taken, and is usually something that children do. For an adult to do it is considered laughable.

So, my friends, for future reference, don't pour your soup into your rice, or vice versa. Which also gives way as a transition to my next topic.

Restaurant and Food Tips

As with every other country, there are customs to eating and little insider tips on how to make the most of your money. Here are a few things you should know about eating out in Japan.

Slurp that Soup!

Once again, if you're a fan of J- or K-Dramas, you will often note that when the characters eat soups or ramens, they do so very loudly. Slurping your food is a means of communicating that you enjoy your food. 

So screw what your mom told you about table manners and slurp that yummy stuff! And spoons will always be available.

Chop Sticks are a Must

Japan is a popular tourist area, and they do cater to other countries by often having traditional cutlery around. However, street food vendors will almost always have chop sticks. Learn how to use them before coming here because you never know, and it's better to be safe than hungry.

Also, never ever leave your chopsticks in your food, especially not standing straight up. It's considered rude, so if you want to have your hands free for a bit, put your chop sticks aside.

Coffee Shops are often Cafes

Many of the coffee shops in Japan aren't your standard coffee shop like Starbucks where you order your coffee and either sit down or take it to go. Many coffee shops are sit down cafes. A host will seat you, and you will order your coffee with a pastry or small meal. Yes, there are western coffee shops as well, but it's more coffee to find the coffee cafes. So if you're in a hurry and just want the coffee, go for the Starbucks.

Breakfast

If the lodging you're staying at doesn't offer breakfast, you can often find cafes that will offer coffee, latte, and tea combos with egg dishes, breakfast sandwiches, or pastries. 

My favorite coffee shop in Kyoto, City Bakery

These will usually run no more than ¥700. If you don't want to grab something from the convenience store, this is usually the cheapest option.

No Tipping!

Tipping is not a thing out in Japan. In fact, the servers are often confused if you leave tips for them unless it's in a tip jar by the register. Honestly, they do an amazing job in the service industry over there, so it may feel odd not leaving a tip, but they are paid better than servers are in the US.

Lost in Translation

The Japanese are very accommodating towards Americans. Menus with English alongside Japanese script is extremely common. However, I noted that there was many translation errors. Particularly this little gem:

Oh dear...

This may be a rather hilarious booboo, but if you come across an errors like this, please don't mock them for it. It is an honor that the Japanese are willing to do this for American tourists, so while it may be funny, it's a simple mistake. We know what they're trying to do, and we mix up stuff for every tourist that visits the US anyways. Be kind.

Hungry Yet?

How about this cuisine? I hope you're dying to hit up your local Teppanyaki after reading this. I've been to Italy and France, which has some of the best cuisine in the world, but honestly, Japan hit my taste buds in a way that neither of them did, and Italy has way more cheese to their menus!

Ultimately, what food you choose as the best will be up to your personal tastes, and I would love to hear about them! In the meantime, I do have several blogs I am working on, another few about Japan and some about Hawaii, which I've been working on for over a year now. Working about a cruise ship is hard work with little time to write!

In the meantime, keep an eye out, I'll be doing my best to post more often. 

Sayonara! 

All pictures were taken by me or by my personal devices and are not to be used. Gifs courtesy of Giphy.

Travel Diary: Overnight in Amsterdam!

 What do you do when you have a 21-hour layover in Amsterdam?

Good question!

I lucked out in my booking the return flight from Ireland to San Francisco with the cheapest flight having a layout in Amsterdam long enough for me to leave the terminal. Having only ever had a 3-hour layover there before, I was ecstatic at my fortune!

It was a great experience, though one that I could have done better at with my planning. Regardless, here's how it went down!

Asking for Advice

This being a country I'd never officially been to before, I reached out to some of my Facebook groups for some pointers. Unfortunately, I didn't receive many, though I was given one bit of advice that was supported by other members: be at the airport at least 6 hours before your flight what with all the delays and understaffing issues. With my flight to San Francisco leaving at 1:30pm, I would have to be there at 7:30am at the earliest, so I made the financial and time decision of returning late at night and sleeping in the terminal.

But, dear friends, sometimes advice isn't always so effective. Let's move on...

Flight to Amsterdam

My flight from Dublin was short, but once we boarded the plane, there was a delay. It was about 40 minutes before the plane took off, which was slightly detrimental to my schedule, because I was supposed to be landing at 4:00pm. Out in Holland, or the Netherlands as it's better known, many venues such as their museums, galleries and bike rental shops closed around 5pm, and I wanted to do as much as possible with what little time I had. This was now out of the question.

I landed around 4:45pm, and the first thing I did was put my baggage into storage and proceed directly to the train terminal, located right in the lobby of the airport terminal. How convenient! I purchased my ticket for the city center and boarded the next train heading that direction. 

The A'DAM Tower

I stepped off the train and breathed in the air, but decided to walk along the river first to take in the sights. After several minutes of this I pulled out my phone and looked up the A'DAM Lookout Tower, only to find that it was directly across the river from where I had disembarked the train. There was a free ferry so I took that and walked the short distance to the Tower.

Prior to my trip, I had booked a river cruise that was, according to Google Maps, about 2.5 miles from the Tower. With my time management skills, I surmised that I could leave about 45 minutes early and be at the dock on time to make my cruise. This, unfortunately, was before my flight delay.

Panoramic view from the top

I made it to the Tower and purchased the package that included access to the Tower, dinner and drinks at the café. The A'DAM Tower was definitely worth the trip! The elevator trip was the first part, and it included a light show as the car traveled upward. At the top, there were the absolute best uninhibited views of the city that anyone could see. Having been to the Gravity Bar in Dublin and The Shard in London, I can tell you that going to such heights to look over any city will almost always been a good decision.

I made sure to get a picture at the A'DAM photo spot and watched some of the other tourists try out the swing that swung over the side of the Tower. It had looked like fun, but I was running out of time. I went down the the café to grab my drink and dinner, but the dinner took longer than expected. I checked the time I was rapidly losing it. I had to leave quickly to catch an Uber or taxi at this point because walking was no longer an option.

I scarfed down the burger I ordered, which was actually quite good, but still had fries leftover that I hadn't touched. Luckily, there was a family with a bunch of kids next to me, and I offered them my fries, which they were surprised I offered. I just didn't want them to go to waste since I couldn't bring them with me.

Disappointment

I called for an Uber, but the thing to keep in mind about Amsterdam is that it is ALL canals. There's a reason why bikes are the primary transport: the city was built for them. Bikes are the best and most dominant form of transportation and renting one is an absolute must around here. I was able to book an Uber, but it wasn't going to get me to the correct dock in time. I reached out to the company, but the €25 ticket was non-refundable at this point. It wasn't too much of a loss, but I had been looking forward to that cruise.

While I waited for my Uber, I took some time to regroup myself, then picked one area to go to. When traveling, my default go-to stop will always be the local Hard Rock Café if there is indeed one in the city. I have been collecting Hard Rock Café shot glasses for nearly 10 years and now was the opportunity to swing by. I figured that once I made it here, I would be able to plan my next move.

Fortunate Outcomes

Once my Uber arrived, I took the time to admire the city as I was driven through the popular areas. As we came closer to my destination, I started making mental notes of what there was to do around here. We passed the museum district, but they were all closed and therefore not an option. As we came closer to the Hard Rock, I noted other docks that had canal cruises, and The Gray Line promoting evening cruises was a few blocks away. I couldn't believe my luck!

Left Ireland to find a piece of it in another country!

As soon as I reached the Hard Rock, I had to laugh. I had just flown in from Dublin after having spent a week in Ireland, and wouldn't you know it: right next door was an Irish pub! That laugh was exactly what I needed to boost my spirits. I booked it to the canal cruise first and booked the next available trip, which began in only 20 minutes. Talk about a close call!

I boarded the boat with wine and gouda cheese crisps (SO YUMMY!) and was able to fully relax while a pre-recorded guide went over the historical and cultural significance of the places we were passing. 

I wound up sitting next to an American gentleman who had married an Italian woman, and they had brought her Italian family with her. We chatted during the pauses in the guide and discussed the city. 

The cruise continued on during sundown, which gave the city and aura of intrigue, especially with the museums and hotels we passed. 

The Nemo Science Museum

It almost seemed to me that the canal cruises gave both tourists and travelers a brief preview of what the city has to offer, and that made me want to stay longer to find out more.

With the city's emphasis on the importance of the arts through their museums, performance venues, galleries, and even in the architecture, I could tell that there was far more to the city than had expected, and I was beginning to regret not having more time to delve deeper.

Sunset over the canal

After the cruise, I returned directly to the Hard Rock and bought my obligatory shot glass. And as soon as that was done, I zipped right next door to the Aran Irish Pub and bought a drink. 

Enjoying an Irish Mule

Here's where the irony comes in: I had spent the last week in Ireland and not one Irishman had hit on me, which wasn't something I was disappointed about. But here in Amsterdam, I sat right down at an Irish pub and I meet an Irishman who instantly begins flirting with me. How about that?

Nighttime Walks

It was dark by this time, but I still wanted to explore. So, I picked a direction and just started walking. 

The Internationaal Theater Amsterdam

One of the most interesting observations I had about Amsterdam was that despite the time of night it was, I didn't feel uneasy. In fact, I felt much safer walking around this new city than I was in Dublin.

Amazing mural

I wound up in the restaurant district and found that most of these places were still open. Not only that, the types of restaurants were more diverse than anything I'd ever seen before. I saw German, Italian, Brazilian, Thai, Indian, and even American eateries to name a few, though very few boasted local Dutch food. It almost seemed like the city wanted to cater to every traveler that came through.

It had to be Burger King

As I walked on, I started noticing that there also dessert shops everywhere. There were pastry shops, ice cream parlors, pancake parlors, and especially waffle shops displaying their insanely delicious-looking confections. It didn't take long to see pot shops nearby (which I avoided because I'd like to keep my cruise ship job!). For my money, these sweet shop owners are some smart people to set up where they had. I was in the mood for a good dessert, but picking just one was a challenge!

Drool!

When I was a kid, I spent a year in a public school where one month was focusing on a foreign country of the teacher's choice. My teacher was of Dutch ancestry, so we focused on Holland. I remember my teacher showing the class slides of her trips to Amsterdam, particularly of these giant ice cream cones that I'd never forgotten. 30 years later, I sought them out, but honestly, I couldn't look past all of those waffle shops.

I picked a random shop and devoured a fancy Nutella-frosted waffle. I considered getting ice cream too, but it was too late into the night at this point and I didn't want to have another bout of air sickness when I flew back to the States. This just means I'll have to go back again, I suppose!

No regrets here!

Once I finished my waffle I continued on my way. The streets were still busy despite the late hour to the point that even most side streets and alleys had at least 3 to 4 people walking through them.

Incredibly beautiful after dark

I was still on my guard, but my gut instinct was telling me that I would be okay. I slowed my walk down and took more time to look at the city as I traveled. 

So many alleys like this one

And then...I wound up here.

Oh my!

My walk suddenly became more congested with pedestrian traffic. I took a look around and saw a red tint to the street lighting, and suddenly, I knew where I was.

ROOOOOXANNE!

The Red Light District.

For those of you who aren't familiar with this area, the Red Light District is where all the sex shows and prostitutes are found. There were women in windows trying to drum up business unless someone pulled out a phone, in which case they tried to move out of the way or close the curtains. Out here, the prostitutes don't like people taking pictures of them and are very skilled at evading sneaky phone-snapping tactics.

Alrighty then

I kept to the main street where the masses were. The side streets were reported to have even more workers on display, but I had seen enough and didn't venture any further, so I continued straight until I made it to the other end of the district. 

Like a classier version of Las Vegas

One of the strangest things I have ever experienced while traveling was how safe the Red Light District felt despite the flagrant sex work. The majority of the people there seemed to be just like me: passing through. I would have expected there to be more creeps around there, and while there were definitely some there, most  pedestrians appeared to be there to look around.

Yup, I'm amused by this

I took a few pictures, then continued on my way. By then I'd come full circle and found myself back at the train station. It was well past midnight by then, and while I'd been reasonable safe thus far, I didn't want to push my luck. I bought my ticket and returned to AMS.

Becoming Familiar with the Airport

I made it in after 1:00am and went right to the baggage storage, not really sure what to do since I was planning on staying here in the terminal for the night. The storage representative, however, suggested I leave my bags where they were since passengers wouldn't be able to line up until at least 4 hours before their flight took off. This was a bit frustrating since I could've had time to book a hostel and have breakfast before returning, but I was too tired to stew about that. The rep then suggested that I sleep on this long, cushioned bench on the other side of the room. So, I did! And no, I didn't get a picture.

Yay for this amazing employee!

It wasn't the first time I'd slept in an airport terminal, but that was at JFK with my sister, and we took turns between naps to watch over our bags. I got as comfortable as possible, but since this was a long bench, I kept to one side of it. Sure enough, a couple eventually took the other half shortly afterwards. I drifted in and out of sleep for several hours, then had to get up to take care of business. 

By the time I'd gotten back, someone else had usurped my spot. So, I walked around the terminal and found a dozen other people sleeping all over the place! Some of the sleeping spots included benches around planters, which were all cushioned, massage chairs, and even set up on the floor. Despite that last one, AMS appeared to be very accommodating toward sleepy travelers. 

Much better than this

I walked several rounds around the outside terminal, making note of the shops and the restaurants. The first shop scheduled to open was, unsurprisingly, a Starbucks, but I skipped that one to look for Dutch food. I found a lovely little coffee shop and picked up a cheesy croissant sandwich and a cappuccino. 

Simple, yet delicious!

After that, I collected my baggage, changed into some clean clothing, but I was still stuck with my denim capris because all my other pants were sweat-soaked. I sought out the clothing shops to find softer pants, but the ones they did have were few and super expensive. 

At long last, it was time for me to go through security. Despite my having TSA pre-check, I couldn't find the line, and wound up in the regular line without any means of getting out due to the pedestrian traffic. I pressed on and made it into the main terminal. The last time I'd been there, I had pretty much booked it to the departure gate and stayed there until my flight left, but not before I picked up a few knickknacks. I did have time to look around then, but I was a bit too tired to think clearly. This time, I had over 3 hours to look around. So I did!

These busts don't sing

I have never been in a more convenient airport in my life! For starters, there were shops and restaurants everywhere as expected, but not very many bars! Sure, there were places to purchase alcohol, but mostly paired with eateries. One place in particular was a champagne and tea shop that was near the center of the terminal, and though it was tempting, I skipped that place.

How convenient!

First things first: AMS has a hotel with showers. The prices are pretty steep, but there are other places to sleep. There are long, cushioned benches of better quality than the outer terminal scattered throughout, and comfier seats than those typical lousy airport seats with all the armrests at the departure gates. 

Why aren't these things in every airport?!?!

Besides comfort, AMS also helps to alleviate boredom. There was a kid's playground area, and for the adult travelers, there was a library, a mini museum, and a spa! 

The miniature Rijksmuseum in the terminal

From here, I grabbed some lunch and did some shopping, then went to my departure gate where I was "randomly" selected for a security check, which is a common thing to happen when traveling by one's self. All in all, even though my day hadn't entirely gone as planned, I had thoroughly enjoyed my adventure in Amsterdam and look forward to going again soon!

Amsterdam gets me

Adventuring Continues

Fellow travelers, I would implore you to search for cheaper flights that have longer layovers. Being able to escape the airport terminal to explore a foreign city is a magnificent way of getting a taste of another country and culture without having to spend all the extra cash. Truth be told, doing so is almost cheaper than paying for a more expensive one-way flight!

So now, what comes next?

I'll be working on several posts during this vacation time I have, one of which will definitely be about Hawaii, plus one that's inspired by the recent Fast X trailer that just dropped. Vague, I know, but you'll need to keep an eye out for that one since I'm not sure when I'll be working on that one.

In the meantime, I'll also be traveling again soon, so watch for that post coming as well! Dear me, there's so much writing to be done when I have barely any time to do it beforehand!

Gifs courtesy of Giphy. All other pics were taken by me and not to be used by anyone else.