It's been a while since I last blogged. Whenever my "to-do list" fills up, I end up putting off writing a one-sided blog. I'm sure that will happen again, but this month we have a lot of new products, and many more that are in planning and production, so I wanted to create a space to introduce them, and so I decided to write about them on the blog. Maybe I'll share some behind-the-scenes stories that I don't share on Instagram ( @_sakuralala_ ) and some secret stories about the projects that I'm working on?!
Well, this time I joined on September 20th. Introducing "365: Adventure in Japan."
I once drove from Tokyo to Wakayama with my child, who loves pandas, saying, "Let's go see the pandas!" We decided to go by car to avoid the crowds, as we were still worried about the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first long-distance domestic road trip for both of us adults, and the first trip for our child too. The journey took about eight hours... a long time for a family, so we took two days to make the trip, stopping off for some fun along the way.
What impressed me there was the service area!
Even a quick stop for a toilet break allowed me to try local specialties, buy souvenirs, and enjoy uniquely flavored soft serve ice cream... Having lived on an island that can be driven around in four or five hours for decades, it was quite a shock. I also remember being impressed by the license plates on the cars parked in the parking lot and the dialects I could hear here and there. The commemorative stamps placed at service areas also have cute designs unique to each area, so I always go to get one. (Although I often forget my journal notebook and have to run back to my car...)
And roadside stations are just as fun. In the past few years, whenever I go camping, I stop at roadside stations to buy locally grown vegetables for my BBQ. There are many things that you won't find in supermarkets, and I always think, "It looks delicious!" There are so many that you will lose track of time and end up staying for a long time. I wanted to include the word "roadside station" in the stamp this time, so I inquired around, and they readily agreed, which made me even more eager to visit roadside stations all over the country and record them in my journal.
--- That's why I've been thinking about creating a stamp to record the memories of your road trip, and I'm overjoyed that it has finally taken shape. I want to use the stamps a lot, so I look at Google Maps and... I'm excited about my next road trip.
I hope this helps you record your travel memories.
