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What brought me here: I came here looking for adventure, on a working holiday visa after graduating from UVic. It’s safe to say I found enough adventure to keep me here for 20+ years ;)

What I like about it: I like living in the middle of one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

What I wish was different: I’m from BC, so I have to say I miss the coastal rainforests.

Favourite activity(s): I love going for long runs late at night around Tokyo, and, when I can find the time, going on multi-day hiking trips. When I really miss the BC forest, I go down to , an island in the far south of Japan with millennia-old cedar trees. 

Favourite neighbourhood: I really like , a historically French district in Shinjuku Ward. It has great bistros and wine shops. 

Favourite restaurant(s): Can I say all of them? Tokyo is an amazing food city. I’ve recently been exploring central Asian and Eastern European food and found a great Georgian restaurant in Kagurazaka called , and a nice Uzbekistan lunch place in Takadanobaba called .

Best place to grab a coffee/tea/refreshment: On days when I just have to be caffeinated with speed and precision, I like going to in Shinjuku. They have something called the Red Eye, which is like an Americano except instead of hot water they blend the espresso with drip coffee. Gets the job done!

Favourite hidden gems: There are so many beautiful neighbourhoods; if you just take a walk you’ll come across something cool. I like the near Meguro and in Ochai in Shinjuku.

First place I’d take a visitor: The in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Best time of the year to visit: Spring or autumn. Winter if you like skiing. Summer in Tokyo is not for the faint of heart.

Best place to chill or just hang out: For advanced-level chilling, go to an onsen hot spring. You can make a day trip from Tokyo to places like or , or go somewhere for the weekend. For city-based chilling, I really like going for fancy breakfast and/or afternoon tea at a nice hotel. 

Best place to people watch:  for sure.

Best place to take in the views: Either the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building lookout if you don’t feel like spending money, or one of the bars in a skyscraper hotel if you do. 

How it compares to the last place you lived: The last place I lived was ӣ��Ӱ��, when I was at UVic. There are obviously some big differences such as language, culture and the pace of life here in a huge city versus living on Vancouver Island time. That said, I think people in both British Columbians and Japan have the same sense of hospitality, respect and curiosity.