Tokyo My Tokyo - Where Have You Been All of My Life?! 🏓🎨🐱✨🍜🏯🍣🌸🎌🇯🇵
Tokyo: The Grand Finale of an Unforgettable Journey! 🇯🇵✨
It’s a wrap! What began as a way to navigate grief after losing my partner of 16 years has now come full circle - after four years, thousands of miles and smiles, three countries, and six incredible cities, my journey to complete all six World Marathon Majors has officially come to an end—and what a way to finish! 
Tokyo, you were everything I dreamed of and more.
The Tokyo Marathon: A Race Like No Other! 🏃♀️💨
Three weeks before race day, I got hit with what felt like the flu for two weeks (seriously, talk about timing!). My training took a major hit, so I had to reset my mindset—the goal wasn’t to set a PR but to soak in the experience and finish strong.
Race day arrived with perfect weather in the high 60s (and then Tokyo threw in a surprise snowfall the next day—classic!). The energy, the crowd, and the unparalleled kindness of the Tokyo Marathon volunteers made this my absolute favorite of all the Majors. Tokyo, you stole my heart. 💙
Completing Boston, London, Chicago, New York, Berlin, and now Tokyo has been the adventure of a lifetime—a journey filled with inspiring people, incredible causes, cities that have forever left their mark on me, and so many lessons learned (save for another blog post).
To my real-life support crew—you know who you are—thank you for cheering me on every step of the way. I couldn’t have done it without you!
Tokyo Adventures: Beyond the Finish Line 🚀
After the marathon, it was time to explore, eat, and embrace everything Tokyo had to offer. And let me tell you—it did not disappoint!
🏓 Pickleball in the Sky! Tokyo pickleball? YES, PLEASE! We met up with dear friends and fellow DP Pickleball Club members, Jill and Scott Buckley, for an unforgettable pickleball match on the rooftop of the Tokyo Hilton. Hands down the coolest pickleball location yet! Thank you, Jill and Scott!
🐼 Tom’s First Panda Sighting! At the Ueno Zoo, we got up close with Lei Lei & Xiao Xiao—and watching Tom see a real panda for the first time was priceless.
🎨 teamLab Planets – A Dreamlike Wonderland! If you ever find yourself in Tokyo, this is a must-do experience. Imagine:
✨ Walking barefoot through mirrored light & color
🐠 Wading through koi projections swimming around your feet
💐 Feeling flower petals fall like rain
🤩 Sliding down a giant slide with pure childlike joy!
It was magic, beauty, and wonder wrapped into one incredible experience.
🐱 Hello Kitty Obsession Activated! What started with a simple Hello Kitty plushie turned into a full-blown obsession, leading me straight to the Hello Kitty Flagship Store in Harajuku. I now proudly carry a red Hello Kitty coin purse, too (never too old) —and I regret nothing!
🍜 Ramen, Ramen, & More Ramen! Tokyo is basically a food lover’s paradise. Thanks to the Guide Michelin app, we found amazing, budget-friendly ramen spots, and I can confirm: every single bowl was absolute perfection.
Lessons from Tokyo 📝
📍 Getting lost is part of the adventure! Some of our best moments came from unexpected detours.
🚆 Public transport and restrooms are a dream. Efficient, clean, and stress-free—every city needs to take notes!
💴 Cash & coin mastery unlocked! I loved using self-pay kiosks at 7-Eleven, but handling coins and learning the polite way to give them to cashiers? That took some practice!
🗑️ No trash cans, no litter. Seriously—how does Tokyo stay this clean?!
💙 Kindness and respect are a way of life. Everywhere we went, we were met with warmth, politeness, and an effortless sense of order. Tokyo just works.
Tokyo Foodie Favorites! 🍣🍜🍦
✅ Ramen (life-changing)
✅ Gyoza (crispy, juicy perfection)
✅ Onigiri (the best snack ever)
✅ Shabu Shabu (fun and delicious)
✅ Mont Blanc desserts (heavenly)
✅ Fluffy bread & pancakes (Japan does carbs better than anyone!)
✅ Choco Monaka Jumbo – A waffle wafer filled with vanilla ice cream and a thin, crunchy layer of chocolate. 🤯 Game. Changer. 
✅ Sushi (of course!)
✅ Crepes of all flavors
✅ Matcha ice cream (because Tokyo)
Next Stop: Seoul, Korea! ✈️
A friend recently described my life as “one without borders.” And honestly? That might be my favorite way to live.
Here’s to new places, new experiences, and saying yes to adventure.
Tokyo, you were everything and more. Seoul, you’re up next! ✨🏙️🍜🎶🇰🇷
with love and gratitude always,
Lee Anne 💙
