La Carmina - Carmen Wong

Vancouver

Travel, Style and Culture Writer at Freelance

Articles

10 Reasons Locals in Tokyo Hate Tourists

2 weeks ago | fodors.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

More so now than ever, ill-mannered tourists are flocking to Japan’s capital. Here’s how to avoid being one of them. These days, whenever anyone asks me for advice about traveling to Tokyo, I warn them to be prepared to wrangle with tourists everywhere they go. Because Japan is safe, affordable, and increasingly English-friendly–as well as full of magnificent attractions from festivals to food and nature–visitors have been coming in record-breaking numbers since the pandemic.
Important Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan

1 month ago | fodors.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

Your Privacy and Manage CookiesWe process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent and legitimate interest. You may exercise your right to consent or object to a legitimate interest, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose.
Tokyo Is Expensive! So, Here Are 10 Ways to Save Money When You Visit

May 2, 2024 | fodors.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

Your Privacy and Manage CookiesWe process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent and legitimate interest. You may exercise your right to consent or object to a legitimate interest, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose.
Horiyoshi III, Japanese tattoo artist & Hajime Sorayama art exhibit, Tokyo! New Kagaya izakaya in Hatanodai, shunga.

Apr 15, 2024 | lacarmina.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

Looking for Goth and offbeat art / culture activities in Tokyo? This gang-gang has got you covered… My friends and I love hitting up Japanese art exhibitions with themes such as tattoos, AI, and shunga (Edo-era erotica, often involving tentacles!) Our video of this event went viral on @lacarmina IG… be sure to watch the reel here. Last fall, the Goth crew went to this showcase by Japanese tattoo master Horiyoshi III and contemporary artist Hajime Sorayama (famous for his sexy robot ladies).
12 Travel Habits I’ve Incorporated Into My Everyday Routine

Apr 11, 2024 | fodors.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

START After traversing the globe, these travel habits have become routine for me. Mark Twain’s famous quote—“One must travel, to learn”—rings true to my experience. In my voyages to over 70 countries, I’ve picked up many unexpected habits and items simply by spending time abroad and getting immersed in the local culture. Back home, I’ve incorporated many of these customs into my daily routines and found that they’ve added to my health and wellness.
The 15 Best Shopping Experiences in Tokyo

Mar 29, 2024 | fodors.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

From cute mascot shops to Japanese couture, here’s where to find the fiercest fashion throughout Tokyo. As a fashion blogger, I’m often asked what the best city in the world is for shopping—and my answer is invariably Tokyo. Japan’s capital is full of enticing fashion for every budget or personal style, whether you’re lusting over vintage purses in Shimokitazawa or cute-meets-eccentric accessories in Harajuku. Japan’s yen remains low, so you’ll get a great bang for your buck in Tokyo.
The 25 Best Restaurants in Tokyo

Mar 21, 2024 | fodors.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

From Michelin-starred sushi to spicy ramen and handmade soba, these Tokyo restaurants have something for every budget and palate. As someone who’s been eating my way around Tokyo since the 1990s, I’ve watched the food scene evolve into one of the best culinary destinations in the world. Japan’s capital is home to every cuisine imaginable at all price points—from red bean pancakes sold on the streets to Michelin-starred French fusion.
Tokyo offbeat Goth bars! Neo-Shinjuku Atsushi Cyberpunk, Trick or Treat Halloween, Tarot Museum Cafe, Muscle Girls.

Mar 20, 2024 | lacarmina.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

The Collapse has reached Tokyo… in the form of an apocalyptic cyberpunk bar! Theme restaurants and bars continue to thrive in Japan. On my last trip, my friends and I investigated the Goth-est and strangest ones for you, including the dystopian Neo-Shinjuku Atsushi, a Tim Burton Halloween themed izakaya, a Muscle Girls bar with buff women…… and even an occult Tarot Cafe and Museum! Keep reading for a peek inside these quirky, immersive and Gothic Japanese bars.
The Complete Guide to Tokyo’s Public Transportation System

Mar 8, 2024 | fodors.com | La Carmina |La Carmina - Carmen Wong

Here’s how to get around Tokyo with ease. I remember visiting Tokyo in the 1990s and struggling to figure out the transit system marked by Japanese signs and snaking route maps. Fortunately, with the advent of Google Maps and smartphones, it’s become far easier for travelers to master public transportation in Japan’s capital city. Tokyo’s transit system is considered one of the most efficient in the world: the trains and buses are timely, clean, safe, and inexpensive.
Fukushima Is Japan's Capital of Sake — Here Are the Best Breweries to Visit

Jan 27, 2024 | travelandleisure.com | La Carmina - Carmen Wong

Trending Videos Daishichi Sake Brewery. Photo: Courtesy of Daishichi Sake BreweryThree hundred years ago, the samurai of Aizu, a mountainous area in Fukushima prefecture, began brewing rice liquor. Since then, the prefecture has been considered the most distinguished sake-producing region of Japan. Its cool climate and water from mountain springs have made it the ideal place to grow rice and koji, the mold cultivated on steamed rice.