Author: Matt Staton

Tampa resident, USF alum, and avid fan of traveling.

Returning to Japan in 2023

It has been a long time coming (work, pandemic, and just life in general) but after several years I am excited to say I’m headed back to Japan in 2023 (and with company).

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Vibes of Tokyo

I’m going to write a three part series, starting with this one, on the vibes I felt in the three cities we visited while in Japan in 2019: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. While I didn’t have the luxury of spending weeks or months in each town, I was however able to pick up on the vibes of each city along the way and wanted to record my thoughts on each because each one was unique and could be a deciding factor about which one you may want to visit when you head to Japan. 

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Tips for Gasparilla

Gasparilla is a Tampa tradition that many enjoy and embrace. Downtown Tampa becomes a big, pirate theme party for thousands which can lead to issues if you are not prepared or have an idea of what to do. Here are some quick tips to help prepare you for this Tampa version of Mardi Gras.

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Hotel Review: Fairfield Inn & Suites Homestead Florida City

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Homestead Florida is a new, 3-star hotel located near the heart of Miami and the bustling areas of Coral Gables, Homestead, and South Florida.

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Hotel review: The B Roppongi (now Comfort Inn)

In 2019, I stayed at multiple hotels on my trip to Japan with my friends. This is a quick review of the first hotel we stayed in when we first arrived in Roppongi, the B Roppongi.

Note: Per their website, the B Roppongi is no longer a hotel in Roppongi. Instead, it is now named Comfort Inn. It has a new name but is still the same hotel (same location, etc.) so the review should be able to give you some kind of insight about this hotel.

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5 tourist spots to watch out for in Kyoto

Kyoto is home to some of the most incredible temples and shrines in all of Japan. While it is home to many amazing sites, some of them should come with a little bit of a warning for tourists before they venture out to explore them. Here are some to watch out for as you explore Kyoto and what to expect. 

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5 things to know about Japanese hotels

Japanese hotels are very unique when compared to Western style hotels. Here are a few things to know about them before you pack a giant suitcase and head to Japan. These little notes will help you pack and prepare for some unique features of Japanese hotels that may surprise you.

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Happy New Year!

Wish you and yours a Happy New Year! 2022 was an interesting year, but that is the past. 2023 is here so it is time to focus in and make those resolutions and dreams become reality to get the new year started out right.

To start the new year I am going to start getting content posted on the site that I have been working on over the past few weeks. It is going to be fun to get back to a more normal blogging schedule to begin the year. I still have a ton of work to do, but it’s a new year challenge that I am eager to take head on.

It’s time to get back to writing, creating content, and getting back on the road and traveling more.

Here’s to a great year so make sure to celebrate (responsibly of course) and ring in the 2023 year!

A few things I wish I knew before visiting Japan


Having every bit of information you can get before you leave on any international trip is important. These were a few things I wish I had known before I packed my bag and headed to Japan all the way back in 2017 (and even again in 2019).

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