You may think I’m behind the times on this one, and you would be absolutely right. I downloaded Snapchat when it was released only to find myself bored and unwilling to use it. The youngins around me (anyone under the age of 24) were having a party on this thing and I didn’t even want to be a part of it. I felt confident in my decision to forego the Snapchat world, calling it a generational gap (I only have 3 years on these people, but that’s a lifetime in social media years). I was too mature for this party and anyways, I was having my own grown-up shindig on Instagram…so I thought.

A couple months ago, Snapchat released the Discover page and something clicked for me. Snapchat created a world that I really did want to be a part of. The media their clients are creating on the platform, clients like MTV, CNN, Bleacher Report, and Vice among others, is engaging and informative. When I saw it I was so impressed by the way they adapted their platform for publications that I finally wanted to be a part of the party.

I re-established my presence and dove right into the wonderful world of Snapchat, but not just the Discover page. I’ve found a place for the traditional Snapchat features in my social media rotation and I’m sticking to it. I love the informality of it all. Snapchatters aren’t worried about filters and composition. Send me your unfiltered, no make-up selfies. Your late-night eats and hungover breakfasts. Don’t worry about likes, shares, and retweets – no one knows or cares! It’s a freedom unheard of in the social media community, which is constantly accused of being narcissistic and shallow. This is a way to be yourself around your friends, even if your friends aren’t sharing your couch. It’s like a daily trip back my university dorm – minus the dirty dishes and lack of laundry.

Are you over 25 and a fan of Snapchat? You’re not alone! Add me (DFabes36) and see what my breakfast may look like on any given day.

Danielle is a Digital Marketing Strategist at 88 Creative. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @DFabes.

I’ve recently noticed a large increase in the number of food ordering/delivering apps popping up here in Toronto and hey, I’m not complaining. It actually seems like many startups are focusing on providing convenience, and this can be applied to any industry. Services like Alfred, which picks up and drops off your dry-cleaning at your condo, saves a few hours of your day and let’s get real, saves you having to cart your clothing to the dry cleaners down the street. Ah, the convenience! Companies are being created to provide all sorts of things, like cookies, prepared meals, or even boyfriends (what?) delivered right to your door, but that’s only if you’re feeling desperate, lonely, and/or are in need of a date for an event.

Working downtown means I’m waiting in lines more often than not – lines to get on the subway, lines to grab a coffee, and of course lines to grab a bite to eat. For most people, making it easier to grab lunch or dinner is a true value-add in their daily routine. I’ve recently started using some of these apps for easy food delivery/pick-up, mainly so that my time isn’t wasted but also because technology ROCKS.

Anyway, here are a few of these services I seriously recommend you check out.

Ritual
I really only started using Ritual because I got a $20 credit (thanks guys!) and who doesn’t love a free lunch? Now that my credit is up, I still use the app at least once a week. How does it work? Using the app, you find the restaurant you want to order from. The restaurants that appear are based on your location and Ritual’s current partnerships. You then add items to your order while scanning the menu, and then place your order. They’re almost always ready in 10 minutes and every time I’ve used the app my order is sitting on the counter already when I get there. No waiting, and it’s already paid for on my credit card. They also save your “favourite” orders for next time. Love it.

Grabb
Same idea as Ritual – you connect your credit card, choose your restaurant, your order, and it’s waiting for you when you get there. I initially found out about Grabb when I saw a giant pick-up sign with their logo in a coffee shop nearby. Smart move for exposure.

Hurrier
Hurrier has managed to one-up most of the other apps simply because they’ve partnered with some of the biggest and most popular spots in the city, like Fresh, Grand Electric, The Burger’s Priest, and wait for it… McDonald’s. So, how does it work? You input your address on their website and they’ll show you what’s around and what can be Hurriered (I may have just made that verb up) to you. Once you order and pay online, one of their bike couriers promptly goes and picks up your order and brings it right to you. You literally don’t have to step outside – again, love it. One thing to note though: they charge a delivery fee.

TasteAway
Although it’s not as brand spankin’ new as the others, TasteAway is great. They have a points system which eventually leads you to free meals (!) and they pride themselves on not marking up menu prices. You can have your order delivered or you can pick it up yourself if you don’t want to pay the delivery charge. Either way, your order is ready and piping hot when you get your hands on it.

Are there any other ones I missed? Let me know on Twitter. Happy eating!

Clickbait like 3 Marketing Myths That Make Millennials Hate Your Brand has become de rigueur on the marketing blog circuit. It’s a cycle of promises that looks something like this: While every marketer and advertiser has to know who they’re speaking to, the problem with drawing conclusions about whole generations is that you’re aiming at a moving target; people change, society shifts, and individuals move from group to group (as millennials grow up and/or become parents, for example). There’s also the danger of misreading evidence and confusing cause and effect.

For example, one thing I read all the time is that millennials are narcissistic. The evidence seems to be that they post a lot of selfies. But would baby boomers have posted selfies if it had been an option? This is the generation behind the sexual revolution – they were changing the world and they knew it. I’m pretty sure there would have been a few mud-soaked topless selfies taken at Woodstock.

The other common mistake is to take a very common trait, like being price-conscious, and decide that it defines a generation. Almost everyone is price-conscious to a degree (even if they buy high-end, luxury items), but that’s not synonymous with spending as little as possible. This was one of the myths featured in the Inc. article mentioned above. A better way of putting it is value-conscious; people of all generations are willing to spend money on things that matter to them. But hasn’t that always been true, at every price level and in every economy?

There’s also the most obvious problem of trying to figure out who actually belongs to a target audience (I was born right at the beginning of the millennial generation and I often feel quite different from those crazy Snapchatting kids). So what’s the answer? I think it starts with what you’re selling. What are you really offering people? Everyone ultimately cares about what’s in it for them. If you’re making something cheap to appeal to millennials because you think that’s their main concern, you haven’t given them what they’re looking for. If the product offering isn’t up to par in terms of quality, design, or functionality, you’re not giving them value.

While media choices are a great way to find your target audience (hint: moms of young kids are all on Facebook) when you craft your messaging around assumptions about a large group, you could be getting it wrong. Start with how your product makes people’s lives better (easier, more beautiful, more fun) and they will find you.

I’m not going to lie, when I got the job I knew very, very little about those industries. I didn’t really need to. I definitely wasn’t thinking about buying a house, my appreciation for architecture never went past thinking a building looked ‘cool’, and I didn’t think twice about the planning that went into the cities I love. Now that I’ve been submerged into those worlds and have had the chance to write about amazing places all over the planet, things are a bit different.

Since I (luckily) get to check Barbados off my bucket list this month, I thought I’d put together a solid list of what destinations I want to check out next.

1. Paris, France
   Working on the Mirvish+Gehry project has made made me a bit obsessed with his work. Frank Gehry is a totally out-of-the-box architect and people either love him or hate him. I happen to love him, and his brand new Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris is on my list – I’d probably head there before I hit the Eiffel Tower.
   Photo via Forgemind ArchiMedia on Flickr

2. Bilbao, Spain
   Another bucket list item c/o Mr. Gehry – I’ve read way too much about his infamous Guggenheim Museum to not have this is on my list. Exploring the rest of the city wouldn’t be too bad either, I’m sure.
   Photo via Andrea Ciambra on Flickr

3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
   Rio has been on my list since I first saw the movie City of God. The city’s outskirts are filled with favelas (a kind of slum), a bit of a different route than the other booming cities on this list. You might think a shantytown-style city wouldn’t be beautiful, but it’s actually super intricate and interesting. That’s not to say there isn’t a wealthy side to the city. Rio’s core is quite touristy and filled with richer people who are referred to as living “on the pavement.” Copacabana beach is a must-see in Rio and is a huge tourist attraction, and for good reason. It’s beautiful there.
   Photo via Kevin Jones on Flickr

4. Copenhagen
   I’ve recently learned a lot about Copenhagen and how unbelievable that place is. It’s a bit like a dream world it seems. When I went to Amsterdam a few summers ago I remember being blown away with how many people were riding bikes, and Copenhagen is the same way. The city has put so much time and effort into perfecting its infrastructure and lifestyle, it’s no wonder it’s been named the most liveable city in the world. It’s wicked. I want to go there.
   Photo via Martin Fisch on Flickr

5. Barcelona
   Two words: Gaudi. Architecture. Also, who doesn’t love some authentic sangria?Photo via Jose Hidalgo on Flickr

6. Chicago
   It’s no secret Chicago is jam-packed with great architecture (ie. The Bean, the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park). Chicago and Toronto are often compared to each other in terms of their skylines, waterfronts, and density, so I’m interested in checking out what all the hype is about.
   Photo via Andrew E. Larsen on Flickr

7. Dubai
   Two more words: TALL. BUILDINGS. What was (not long ago) a pile of sand has turned into one of the most luxurious cities in the world. It’s all about luxury in Dubai. It’s home to Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world – along with many other supertall skyscrapers.
   Photo via Jimmy Baikovicius on Flickr

What spots are on your bucket list?

I’m here to highlight some artists that I’ve stumbled across and followed over the last few years, whose work I really recommend checking out. Most of these accounts have gained popularity solely from showing off their stuff on Instagram. It’s time to branch out, people!

@muradosmann
A simple concept from this super-traveller and his girlfriend. Murad Osmann documents his journey around the world as he is “led” by his girlfriend. His project has captured the hearts and minds of Instagrammers everywhere. Can you say ~romance~!

Photo via muradosmann on Instagram

@kapstand
Another simple concept to document travels (maybe I’m suffering from wanderlust?) is the OneHandStand project. Kapstand is a breakdancer who recently moved to Paris and began posting shots of himself doing a one-handed handstand in front of notable places. Instant fame!

Photo via kapstand on Instagram

@idafrosk
I discovered Ida Frosk a few years ago and have always loved seeing her stuff pop up on my feed. She turns her food into art and shares it on Instagram before eating it – yes, that’s right, her claim to fame is that she actually does eat her creations! Kind of cutesy, but creative nonetheless.

Photo via idafrosk on Instagram

@mommasgonecity
Jessica Shyba had a baby, got a puppy, and the rest is history. She then began snapping bird’s-eye view shots of them both napping in hilarious positions together. Titling the project #TheoandBeau, she would post a new shot of the two cuddling almost every day. She recently had a second baby and has thrown her into the mix too. This one will make you feel all the feels, trust.
Photo via mommasgonecity on Instagram

@every_hey
This project came from Hey Studio, a graphic design company in Spain. They post a new graphic of some pop-culture character almost every single day. Again, a really fun and simple idea that breaks the norm on Instagram.
Photo via every_hey on Instagram

@ihavethisthingwithfloors
I discovered this account when I saw Reese Witherspoon post about it a week or so ago. They re-post shots of feet atop of some of the most beautiful floors you’ll ever see. This is one of the more visually-pleasing accounts of the bunch. I love it!  Photo via ihavethisthingwithfloors on Instagram

@cintascotch
This account is so unbelievably clever and funny. Javier Perez is an illustrator who uses everyday objects and draws around them to make an image. Brands such as Extra and Happy Socks have even taken to his talent for some of their ad campaigns.

Photo via cintascotch on Instagram

Have any must-follow accounts in your feed? Share them with me on Twitter!

The #SneakerMelt series by Toronto-based designer Deaddily

hender yeezy #sneakermelt for @mattsici

A photo posted by @sneakermelt on Oct 10, 2014 at 10:06pm PDT

Sneaker culture has invaded my life and I’m now coveting Jordans instead of Louboutins. Deaddily has found a way to make my dream sneaker collection even harder to attain by creating mash-ups of the hottest sneakers. He’s taking our favourite parts of our favourite shoes and putting them together – and yes, they’re awesome. Too bad they only exist on Instagram.

Nike’s #ChooseYourWinter campaign

Flashback to last Monday’s finale to our Choose Your Winter series. So sad to see it come to an end.

We all know that Nike is the master of marketing, but their position was cemented this winter with their #ChooseYourWinter campaign. Toronto was one of the many privileged cities that got to participate, and I’m so lucky we were. For four Mondays starting in mid-November, Nike took a group of 50-100 people on surprise adventures around our city for epic workouts, and they capped it all off by taking a group of Canadian influencers to the Bugaboos for what they called #ProjectNorth. Key learning: create experiences your customers will never, ever forget.

Virgil Abloh’s “Off White” clothing line

If you’re not familiar with Virgil Abloh, consider this your first introduction of many to come. His claim to fame is that he’s Kanye West’s creative director and one of the first employees at DONDA. As if that’s not an impressive enough resume, he has also started his own clothing line, taking inspiration from places some may call mundane (his latest line for women is inspired by and named “Nebraska”). Abloh’s unique eye for what’s next (and even creating what’s next) speaks to his intuition and connectedness with his culture, and that’s something I can’t help but be inspired by.

Tumblr

If I’m ever stuck and looking for a spark that will ignite my creative juices, I know exactly where to go. I’ve built myself a Tumblr timeline that has everything from amazing ads and gorgeous typography to fashion, photography, and celebs. A ten minute scroll will do wonders for my imagination and I always come back to my work with a new perspective. It has also become a pinboard for my personality and place to explore and bring together things I love, so my Tumblr will always have a special place in my heart.

Anything can be inspiring and I want to hear what has inspired you this year. Share the things that you’ve seen this year that have sparked your creative mind in the comments or with me on Twitter (@DFabes).

Have you ever heard the Dan Savage theory that every person has a price of admission – something irritating but uncompromisable you must accept about them? Mine is a need for visual simplicity. Nothing is ever, ever plain enough for me. I do not understand our societal commitment to lace, studs, rhinestones, ruffles, patterns, heat transfers, embroidery, buttons – ugh. Studs are an abandonment of taste and thoughtfulness, and I simply cannot even. 

For the frill-phobic among us (hi!) and those paying their price of admission, I thus prescribe a trip to MUJI, the Japanese “quality, no-brand” goods store that has your entire life covered – clothes, shoes, luggage, cookware, furniture, storage, skincare, beauty, stationery, and some miscellaneous weirdness (we’ll get to that). MUJI makes my heart sing.

Perfect skincare packaging.

There are cons. You will wait in lines – lines to look at things, lines to buy things, lines to try things. People will push you to grab over your shoulder, they will nudge you with their adorable MUJI shopping baskets, and you will hear the quiet cacophony of a hundred people muttering “there are too many damn people in here.” And they’re right! But it will be worth it.

Additionally, as I was chatting with a security guard, a customer crashed into a plate-glass wall because it was too clean – this apparently happens often. Minimalism isn’t for all of us. Proceed with caution. 

Aforementioned weirdness.

There are so many pros. While waiting, you’ll have ample time to catch up on your emails and judge the cool teens in line with you.  Shopping is a no-brainer: it’s all tasteful, well-made, functional and reasonably priced. The materials and craftsmanship are solid. Plus, you aren’t limited to shades of black and bone - you’ll find plaid and stripes on shirts, towels, pyjama sets and slippers, if you want to get crazy.

There’s even tech! You can buy a compass there, for heaven’s sake. Regardless of who you’re buying for, you will find them something here, you will not spend a ton of money, and they will be excited you got them something functional from a trendy store. #YoureWelcome, am I right?

These are actually my new favourite pens.

Options!

Stationery is something I love to buy and hate to pay for. I’d been on the lookout for a planner and a few notebooks I wouldn’t have to drop $40 on, and MUJI had it all. I got a planner, two notebooks, plus a few gel pens (remember those!?) for $20. Then I spotted the stamp bar – a station to personalize your new stuff, and an idea I believe should be implemented in every store and also my office. 

The options.

Instructions not necessary, but appreciated.

I couldn’t resist, but I probably should have:

Not actually as easy as it looks.

I also loved the bossy signage. 

or else.

As marketers, MUJI (meaning, literally “no brand”) is a fascinating study in the limitations of our craft. Branding is our bread and butter, and it’s something I love – but MUJI manages to turn that on its head and thrive without stuffy brand guidelines and splashy ads. I’ll keep buying MUJI for the same reason I buy No Name groceries. Brands like this provide a little escape from fluff without deterring from the goal of product quality and shopping experience. When something is well made, well designed and well presented, the need for a “brand” becomes severely diminished – MUJI’s popularity is an indicator that I’m not the only one who needs a little marketing break sometimes. Am I fired?

Have you been to MUJI yet? What should I add to my list?

Meaghan is a digital co-ordinator at 88Creative. Follow her on Twitter (and everywhere else) @meaghanzabinsky.

(header image credit)

Podcasting evolved right along with the internet, but for most of its existence the humble podcast has remained relegated to the world of nerds with niche interests. When you look at all the competition for one’s attention, it’s counterintuitive that what is essentially a radio show could become an international hit. Enter Serial.

 If you haven’t been following Serial yourself, chances are you’ve heard about it. You’ve seen it on Facebook, you’ve heard people talking about it on the bus, or for those residing under or near a rock, maybe the word just makes you want Cheerios.

In Serial, reporter Sarah Koenig follows one story over the course of a season. Season 1 concerns the 1999 murder of a Baltimore area high school student and her alleged killer who maintains his innocence as he serves out a life sentence for the murder.

Speculation about why Serial became so popular is abundant. Murder, mystery, intrigue, the thought of that poor guy spending almost fifteen years in jail for something he didn’t do - it’s definitely a compelling story. It has spawned fan clubs and discussion groups all over the world. The appeal is obvious, but at the same time it doesn’t sound so unique that you would expect it to become a phenomenon.

Serial is produced by the team behind This American Life, a podcast with about 2.2 million listeners. It’s definitely popular, but for the sake of comparison, Dateline NBC has 7 million viewers. For some reason, a podcast – even one of the most successful ones – just can’t seem to reach mass popularity. Now, as surprising as it is even to its own producers, Serial is changing that. People who never even thought about podcasts as a medium are now seeking them out, wondering what they’ve been missing.

Podcasts are a perfect medium if you think about it; you can listen to them while driving or making dinner, plus, the simplicity of using nothing but audio keeps production costs down. Maybe the lack of stimulating visuals is what kept podcasts under the radar. It took one going viral for people to realize that sometimes all you need is good, compelling storytelling that makes you think.

If you fell for Serial and now want to delve further into the world of podcasts, here are some favourites from me and the rest of the 88 Creative team:

This American Life
This is the obvious place to start. Ira Glass and his team, including Sarah Koenig, have been producing This American Life for years. Each episode brings you three completely different stories that relate to the same theme, usually featuring regular people.

Freakonomics
Economists Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt are the authors of the bestselling Freakonomics book series. This podcast is all about challenging perception and rethinking the obvious answers about why the world is the way it is.

Radiolab
Radiolab podcasts cover topics in science, philosophy, technology, and culture. If you’re generally a curious person, you will be hooked.

Criminal
Another natural choice if you’re caught up on Serial and want more. Simply put, Criminal tells stories of people doing bad things. They look at strange and unusual crimes rather than your typical cheating spouse murders.

Slate
A slew of ongoing conversations about anything and everything you might be interested in, like politics, pop culture, and science.

Rooster Teeth
Rooster Teeth is a comedy podcast from a production company in Austin. They talk about internet culture, pop culture, gaming, and science.

Any of these podcasts will make you more interested in the world and people around you, and give you a glimpse into where we might be headed as science, technology, and human nature converge. Be curious, gather ’round the ol’ music box, and get ready to hear a good story. Happy listening!

Gabriella is a Creative Director at 88 Creative. Follow her on Twitter @gabriellainga.

Since Gen Y is after all the largest group of smartphone owners, it’s not surprising that app developers are jumping on the opportunity to create products that will appeal to them. There has been a surge in apps that are geared toward making our tech-savvy generation’s lives better (because the easier life is, the happier we are), and they do! So, these are the apps I recommend every early 20-something should download right now:

Mint Personal Finance
Now that I’m essentially cut off from my parents except for my cellphone bill (thanks mom and dad!), it’s become a lot more important to me to know where my money is going and to make sure I have enough to pay my rent and other bills each month. My friend showed me Mint about a month ago and I’ve just started to get into it. The jist of it is that you can connect your bank account to the app, and it shows you how much you’ve spent in various categories like Restaurants, Groceries, Clothing, Coffee, Gas, Movies, etc., over the course of a month. You can also set budget amounts per month for each category to keep yourself on track. So whether you’ve got money coming in or not, this app is great for budgeting what you have and showing where your money goes once it’s gone.

Uber
I know a lot of Torontonians hate on Uber’s taxi service, but now that Hailo is gone it’s one of the only options. Either way, I’ve started using Uber quite a bit to get around the city mainly because I never have cash on me and it takes a lifetime for the credit card machine to start up in a regular cab. Not only can you pay quickly because your credit card is connected to the app, but it also makes me feel 100% safer when I’m taking a cab alone knowing that the ride is documented. Also, since my friends and I are fresh out of school and are still fairly money-conscious, being able to split the fare easily and equally is super convenient.

Sleep Cycle
I found this app when I had just started working full-time at the start of the summer and it is to put it simply: so freakin’ cool. Getting out of my university lifestyle and into a routine of waking up early every day was a bit of a struggle, but luckily this app got me into a sleep cycle that puts me on par with regular people. All you do is turn the app on right before you go to sleep, set the alarm, and have it rest on the bed beside you. It then tracks your sleeping pattern and your alarm will go off any time in the half an hour leading up to when you set it for, based on when you’re in your lightest sleep. Why I love this app is because it makes me feel 99% better when I wake up every day. Seriously. It’s also wicked to see how your sleep patterns are tracked and charted!

Venmo
Before you get all excited about this app, I’ll tell you now that it’s only available in the US. However, we NEED it to come to Canada. As I’ve already mentioned, I feel like people my age are still really money-conscious so it’s basically expected that any money lent will be paid back. I’m always really good about paying people back, mainly because I hate having the weight on my shoulders (even if it’s $10), but some people are not. That’s why this is so perfect, because you can transfer any denomination to your friends on the spot. There’s even room to leave a short message as to why the money is being transferred to keep all your expenses in check.

On a side note, this week Erin sent me an article outlining how people in their 30s couldn’t believe something like this would be appealing to people due to their opinions on oversharing, privacy, and money. Can you say… GENERATION GAP?!

Other honourable mentions:

Word Lens
For the travelling 20-somethings, Word Lens will be your new best friend. I didn’t go the post-graduation travelling route, but a lot of people I know did, and hopefully they’ll read this while in the depths of Europe or South America and get this app. The concept is simple and will literally blow your mind. All you have to do is hold your phone up to a foreign sign and it will translate it for you – give or take some terrible grammar). How 21st century is that?

Waze
This app has changed the face of traffic jams, commuting, and just driving in general. People on the road can update other drivers on what’s ahead, whether that’s an accident, a police trap, construction, road closures, etc. It’s essentially a map that lays out your driving route and all the bumps you might hit along the way. I’m pretty sure this is a lifesaver for any generation on the road, but the more technologically savvy of the bunch might be more comfortable using it while driving. Just sayin’.

Claire is a Digital Marketing Coordinator at 88 Creative. You can follow her tweets at @clairenowens.

1. There is cool stuff everywhere you look.

In Osaka, while killing time before catching a train, we saw a street sign pointing to a shrine. There are shrines everywhere in Japan so we weren’t expecting anything out of the ordinary. Then we rounded the corner and saw this guy:

2. Never-ending city.

On our last night in Tokyo, we went to New York Bar on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt. You might remember the place from Lost in Translation. You have to go pretty high up to get an idea of how enormous Tokyo is. Absolutely no regrets about the many Yen we blew on cocktails here.

3. So polite!

I know, Canadians are famous for being polite. But in my experience, the Japanese take politeness to another level. Even the cashiers at 7-Eleven seem determined to provide the best customer experience they can. A simple purchase isn’t complete without several rounds of thanking and bowing. Nowhere did we encounter an apathetic public-facing employee who let on that he would rather be in bed. Speaking of bowing, we decided we like it. One of my favourite examples of Japanese formality and politeness is fire trucks. While there are sirens, I guess they’re considered a little too brash and abrupt, so the trucks are also equipped with a person with a megaphone telling people to “please get out of the way.”

4.  The awesomeness of 7-Eleven. 

Forget potato chips and endlessly rotating hot dogs. The 7-Elevens found on every block in Japan are full of real food options like sushi, edamame, and even hot soup and other hot meals.

5. People don’t steal each other’s stuff.

Japan is famous for having one of the lowest crime rates in the world and it shows. People don’t even litter. Coming from Toronto, one of the most shocking symptoms of this well-behaved society is that most people generally don’t lock up their bikes. The bike in the photo below is locked to itself (which you sometimes see), but I chose it because I love the custom colour palette (which is also very Japanese).

6. Green tea everything.

In Japan, matcha (essentially green tea) is right up there with chocolate and vanilla. The matcha soft serve pictured below is enough to make me want to go back.

7. Things that are really, really old.

I love Canada, but it is still a country in its infancy without the long, rich history of countries in Europe and Asia. The Airbnb apartment we stayed at in Kyoto was run by a writer from Los Angeles and his wife, a native of Kyoto. Her family has been running this soba noodle restaurant since 1465. With a legacy like that, you really don’t have the option of letting it go. Plus, the lunch we had there was freakin’ delicious.

8. Neon!

If you come to Japan expecting to have your corneas inundated with neon lights, you will not be disappointed.

9. Matsusaka beef. 

In North America, Kobe beef is the one that got famous, but in Japan, Matsusaka is equally valid if you’re after a deluxe piece of beautifully marbled meat.

10. Next-level photo booths.

While somewhat disturbing, most arcades and shopping areas come complete with photo booths that process your photos to give you whiter skin, bigger eyes, and makeup. You can also write and draw on your photos before printing them out. In general, we got the impression that teenaged girls in Japan have a lot of purchasing power.

11. So many cute little characters.

From safety signs, to menus, to street art, there are cartoon characters everywhere. Hello Kitty is just the beginning. We especially loved seeing nods to Japanese classics, like this Astro Boy mosaic found on the side of a building.

There you have it: 11 extremely Japanese things I found on my trip. I could keep going with 11 More Amazing Things I Found in Japan, but I have to get back to work now.

Gabriella is a Creative Director at 88 Creative. Follow her on Twitter @gabriellainga.