PACKING FOR TOKYO - MARIE CLAIRE BLOG AWARDS

The challenges for the Marie Claire Blog Awards are well underway.
 

As we are getting closer to the finish line, it's about time I share with you my experience with the main sponsor of my category - Best Lifestyle Blog that is - Qatar Airways. Before that, you can read all about my nomination here and  how thrilled I felt hearing the news that I would be collaborating with a 5-star airline.

 

Α few words about Challenge No1
 

First thing in the morning I had a huge box delivered at my door; all the Super Amenities On Board Qatar Airways were included. What I had to do? Share my excitement - but that was too obvious, I would have done it anyway. Cause I'm the type of girl that gets super excited with all these inflight goodies; a beauty necessaire filled with items, pyjamas, socks, slippers, sleeping mask, earplugs, a super comfy pillow, a trendy jockey hat with Qatar Airways' logo as well as their inflight magazine.
 

Wanna know the best part? A Business Class ticket was in my travelous hands. Yes, for real!
 

Where to? To Doha of course - I'm leaving tomorrow. Follow my journey in real time through all my Hoppy Social Media; Facebook, Twitter and my fav Instagram. This way you can travel with me to the Emirate of Qatar, follow my wanderings to the Museum of Islamic Art, the Souq Waqif, to Katara Village and the unique 'The Pearl'. It will be a great journey through local traditions, tastes and the culture of Qatar. Stay tuned!

The Challenge No2
 

That brings us to the 2nd challenge. A 'challenge' I enjoy the most in my everyday life; packing a suitcase!
 

What seems like a nightmare to most people, is like heaven to me. Suitcase means traveling and traveling is my biggest love. So this challenge is all about packing and picking my favorite destination from which Qatar Airways connects to. And dear Hopper, THAT was the real challenge for me; picking just ONE from the 140 destinations all around the world that Qatar Airways flies to. I literally spent 2 days sleeping with the map by my side trying to make a decision.

 

And so I did. I will travel to Tokyo.
 

Let me explain why; although I traveled to Tokyo a year ago, I didn't have the chance to experience the city to its fullest. I just visited the famous Shibuya district, the traditional Asakusa and also learned the 12 commandments of Sushi. What I didn't get to do was to attend a traditional Tea Ceremony performed by traditional geishas, visit the Tsukiji Fish Market at dawn and have sushi for breakfast or taste it from the legendary Jiro Ono, the 85-year-old sushi master that owns the Sukiyabashi Restaurant located at one of the central subway stations of Tokyo.
 

Besides that, I also want to get aboard one of the super speedy trains to Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan and learn the how-to's behind the making of the famous Japanese crafts and kimonos. I got a huge, huge crush on kimonos and of course I had to pack a few in my suitcase - after all, they're one of the biggest trends thoughout Europe this summer. Going right to the source is way better though - I'll return with some original japanese kimonos too!
 

My biggest wish is to get to know Japan's culture in depth, explore it, taste it and return with my suitcase filled with memories of the ultimate travel experience!

 

 

And here are my 6 steps for packing my suitcase to Tokyo. You better start taking notes!
 

STEP 1; The suitcase
 

This suitcase is my loyal co-traveler - it has travelled with me to every destination. Selecting the right type of suitcase does come first and after that you'll find a list with my must-haves for my upcoming trip to Tokyo.

And that's because a fashionable suitcase isn't just about style - it should be perfectly organised, above all.
 

Consider that as my 1st and impossible-to-break rule and let's begin packing!

 

STEP 2; Clothes, Shoes, Accessories
 

Tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, accessories, bags; these are my essentials! I picked everything based on the weather around the time of my trip - be it spring or autumn - and, of course, following the fashionable spirit of the city.

Japan is famous for its huge love for fashion and I experienced it first-hand during my stroll around Shibuya a year ago. I'll return this year - super stylish this time. We are fashion lovers here in the West too after all!

STEP 3; My beauty bag
 

Everything you see pictured below, is in travel size. I have another unbroken rule when traveling; the mini-size one. And this is what finally cuts it to my trip to Tokyo.

STEP 4; The Travel Gadgets
 

These are mandatory during every single trip I take. As I mentioned a while back, travel gadgets for us travelers, are what knives are to chefs. There's now way I would leave these back this time. After all, on my trip back I'll be coming with a few more. So, I'll just pack the most necessary.

STEP 5; The Inflight Amenities
 

Qatar Airways kindly supplied me with everything necessary on a flight; beauty bag, pyjamas, socks, sleeping mask, earplugs and a super comfy pillow. Longhaul flights demand organisation not only in your suitcase but in your hand luggage too.

STEP 6; The Kimonos
 

I kept kimonos last because they make me crave Japan even more by the minute.
 

I'm dreaming of long strolls in Tokyo and Kyoto, wrapped in the most stylish kimonos of the Western World. I fell for the kimono of this cute geisha I met outside the Senso-ji temple that inspired me the idea of my return - wearing one traditional kimono myself to watch the Tea Ceremony with my own eyes.