Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Join me as I visit POP Mart’s first-ever U.S. store in Costa Mesa, California! 🌟 Located at South Coast Plaza, this iconic store is filled with adorable collectibles and trendy blind box toys, featuring fan-favorite series like Molly, Labubu, Skullpanda, and more. Explore the incredible displays and discover why POP Mart is a paradise for toy enthusiasts. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share your favorite series with me! 🧸✨
Let me know if you’d like adjustments or additional details! 😊
Join me as I visit POP Mart’s first-ever U.S. store in Costa Mesa, California! 🌟 Located at South Coast Plaza, this iconic store is filled with adorable collectibles and trendy blind box toys, featuring fan-favorite series like Molly, Labubu, Skullpanda, and more. Explore the incredible displays and discover why POP Mart is a paradise for toy enthusiasts. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share your favorite series with me! 🧸✨
Let me know if you’d like adjustments or additional details! 😊




![Family Guide to Hakone Japan (Onsen Hotels, Owakudani & Kamaboko Museum)
Your Questions About Our Hakone Trip!
Q: What attractions did you try to visit in Hakone? A: We had a pretty full list! We wanted to see the Kamaboko (fish cake) Museum [00:02], take the Hakone Tozan Cable Car [00:13], and visit the Owakudani Valley, which is the volcanic site [00:13]. Ill also walk you through the two different onsen (hot spring) hotels we stayed at [00:22].
Q: That Kamaboko Museum looked fun! What was that activity? A: It was great for a family! We did a little project where we got to make our own Kamaboko (fish cake) [00:33]. Mine... well, it didnt look the best, but it tasted amazing when it was fresh [02:40]! Id really recommend it, but just be sure to make a reservation online before you go [00:33].
Q: The cable car and the valley looked intense. What happened there? A: Oh, that was a whole adventure! Unfortunately, because of strong winds and bad weather, the cable car was suspended [03:56]. We ended up having to drive up. The visibility was really low because of all the smoke, wind, and rain [04:18], and the Owakudani trail itself was closed [00:13].
Q: Were you still able to see the volcanic valley? A: We were! The shops were still open, so we got to try the famous black eggs [04:28]. (Spoiler: they just taste like regular eggs!) We got really lucky for a moment when the wind changed, and we had less than a minute of clear visibility to see the actual volcanic site, which was amazing [04:41].
Q: You stayed at two different hotels? What was the first one like? A: The first one was an all-inclusive hotel [02:49]. The dinner was a set Shabu-Shabu meal, which was a neat experience [03:03]. The onsen (hot spring) facilities there were very good [03:23]. I thought its location was perfect, honestly. It was just a 10-15 minute walk from the train station, with lots of restaurants and shopping nearby [05:37].
Q: And the second hotel? How was it different? A: The second hotel was a completely different experience! It was much newer and felt more like a high-end, Western-style hotel, but it was also an onsen hotel [05:19]. It was about a 20-minute drive from the station [05:11]. It had a lovely library area [05:25] and 24-hour coffee/tea, which was perfect for me [07:07].
Q: Which hotel would you recommend for kids? A: Thats easy—definitely the second one! Traditional onsen hotels can sometimes be a bit boring for kids. But this second hotel had a small onsen water park just a 10-minute walk across the street [06:15]! If youre a guest at the hotel, you get unlimited access [06:21]. At the time, they had a collaboration with Blue Lock, which my daughter loved [06:42].
Q: I saw you were driving. Was that difficult? A: I had actually never driven outside of the US before [07:50]! We decided to rent a car to get to a Pokémon store that was near the Fuji Mountain area [07:38]. It was only a 45-minute drive versus a 2.5-hour train ride, so it was worth it to help my daughter complete her collection [07:50].
0:00 - Hakone Attractions: Kamaboko Museum & Owakudani
0:22 - Hotel Tours & All-Inclusive Stays
0:33 - Activity: Making Kamaboko (Fish Cakes)
2:40 - Our Finished Kamaboko Project
2:49 - Hotel 1: Check-in & All-Inclusive Dinner
3:03 - How We Made Shabu-Shabu
3:23 - Hotel 1: Onsen Facilities
3:50 - Hotel 1: All-Inclusive Breakfast
3:56 - Adventure to Owakudani (Volcanic Valley)
4:10 - Cable Car Suspended (Weather)
4:28 - Trying the Famous Owakudani Black Egg
4:41 - A Clear View of the Volcanic Site
5:11 - Hotel 2: Check-in & Room Tour
5:25 - Hotel 2: Library & Reading Area
5:37 - Comparing Hotel 1 vs. Hotel 2 Locations
6:08 - Hotel 2: A Perfect Perk for Kids
6:15 - Onsen Water Park (Free Access for Guests)
6:36 - Water Parks Blue Lock Collaboration
7:01 - Hotel 2: All-Inclusive Buffet & 24-Hour Coffee
7:38 - BONUS: Driving to the Mt. Fuji Pokémon Center
SUMMARY
Join our Hakone adventure! We start by making our own fish cakes at the Kamaboko Museum, then face a challenge when the cable car to the Owakudani volcano closes. Come with us as we drive up, try the famous black eggs, and give you a full tour of two all-inclusive onsen hotels—including one with its own water park!
#JapanTravel #Hakone #Owakudani #KamabokoMuseum #TravelVlog #FamilyTravel #PokemonCenter #japanadventures
Hotels
. 1st Hotel : Yumoto Fujiya Hotel - https://www.yumotofujiya.jp/
. 2nd Hotel : Hakone Kowakien Hotel (Highly Recommended) - https://www.hakone-hotelkowakien.jp/
Attractions
https://www.hakone.or.jp/od-booking/
https://www.kamaboko.com/
English is already hard for me. Please excuse, forgive and correct my Japanese pronunciation in the comment section. Thank you so much! Family Guide to Hakone Japan (Onsen Hotels, Owakudani & Kamaboko Museum)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F-lH23jPnWs/mqdefault.jpg)





![Vegas Trip Warning: Save Your Money & Time (My Sphere Experience)
Planning a family trip to Las Vegas and wondering if the Sphere is worth the money? Were sharing our honest, down-to-earth experience, from the pre-show to the main event. Well cover the things we wish wed known (like the bag policy!) and why we feel it might not be a must-do for families [02:36]. We hope our trip report helps you decide if its right for your vacation!
More About Our Story
If youre planning a visit to Las Vegas and wondering whether to include the Sphere Show in your itinerary, Id like to share some insights. While the Sphere Show offers a unique experience, it may not be the top choice if youre on a tight schedule or budget. Tickets for this attraction can easily reach or exceed $100 per person, making it essential to consider your alternatives, especially if youre traveling with a larger group or family.
From the outside, the Sphere is undeniably impressive, catching the eye with its stunning architecture. Inside, the exhibition features intriguing robots, which can be fascinating if youve never encountered them before. However, if youre like me and have seen similar displays online multiple times, you might find it less captivating.
Its important to note that I dont believe theyre overcharging for this experience. Building the Sphere was a multi-billion-dollar endeavor, and its only fair that they aim to recoup their investment as quickly as possible. My hope is that, in the future, they may consider spreading out their cost recovery period, which could potentially result in more affordable ticket prices for visitors.
In summary, the Las Vegas Sphere Show offers a remarkable experience, but its essential to weigh the costs and your personal interests before making it a must-visit on your Las Vegas journey. Thank you for tuning in to my review!
❓ FAQ: Our Honest Thoughts on the Las Vegas Sphere
Q: Is the Las Vegas Sphere good for kids or families?
A: Honestly, it depends on your family. The show itself was like a very high-quality documentary youd see at a science museum, just on a giant screen with 4D effects [02:04, 00:07]. For us, it took up half our day with travel and waiting [02:29], and with tickets around $89-$109 each, it gets expensive for a whole family [00:31]. We felt that for the price, we could have done a different show that felt more unique to Vegas [02:22].
Q: What was the bag policy really like at the Sphere?
A: This was a big hassle for us! They have a very strict no-bag policy, and they wouldnt even let me in with my empty thermal cup [01:41]. They sent me on a 15-minute walk all the way back to the Venetian bell desk to check it [01:41]. I was pretty frustrated to find out later that they do have a bag check station inside the Sphere, but no one told us about it [01:52]. So, my advice is to bring absolutely nothing with you!
Q: How do you get to the Sphere? We heard traffic is bad.
A: The traffic around the Sphere is definitely heavy, especially before and after the shows [01:11]. We found a much easier way, though! You can actually walk there from inside the Venetian. Theres a sky bridge that connects directly to the Sphere from the event center area, which lets you skip all the street-level chaos [01:21].
Q: What is the show actually like? Is it just a movie?
A: Its basically like a supersized IMAX theater [00:00]. The screen quality is incredible, and you get 4D effects like your seat vibrating and amazing surround sound [00:07]. The show we saw felt like a beautiful nature documentary [02:04]. Before the show, theres a one-hour exhibit area, but we found it was mostly just a few identical high-tech displays meant to spread out the crowd [00:48]. Vegas Trip Warning: Save Your Money & Time (My Sphere Experience)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GIuwI6j_lQg/mqdefault.jpg)