Welcome to 2026! After almost two months in Japan, I took a social media break for the holidays, and am back feeling refreshed. I have so much to share from my recent Tohoku and Tokyo travels — and since it’s a new year, I’ve decided to do things a bit differently on the blog from now on.

Many people have abandoned their blogs, as the heyday of travel and fashion blogging has passed and it’s all about social media these days, especially reels. I’m not going to give up on this space, but I’ll be changing it up a bit so that you’ll get more frequent blog content.

Instead of dropping long-form blogs every month or so, I’m going to try to post here more often (but less wordily) — and coordinate these articles with content on Instagram (@lacarmina).

Please add me on IG @lacarmina for videos, stories, and other short form updates, which will complement the longer-form writing and images on La Carmina Blog! I’ll cross-post on my Facebook page and Threads — find me there as well.

I also wanted to share that my La Carmina Closet Clearout is now on Poshmark Canada as well as Depop (same items, but in USD)! I need to clear everything ASAP so please take a look and make me offers. I ship worldwide, and am happy to work out discounts and bundles — no need to use the apps, you can just email me (gothiccarmina @ gmail . com) to let me know what you’d like! Please check out my fashion sale:

@LaCarmina on Poshmark: https://poshmark.ca/closet/lacarmina

@LaCarmina on Depop: Https://www.depop.com/lacarmina

After coming back from Japan, I’ve been busy with travel journalism about my trips. For Fodor’s Travel Where to Go in 2026, I spotlighted Tohoku.

“With misty mountain landscapes and a hearty food culture, this region north of Tokyo is giving old-school Japan,” I wrote. “Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata serve a variety of spectacular experiences without the tourist crush” — like a Godzilla / Ultraman museum, and flat-bottom boating through Geibikei gorge. Read my article on Fodor’s.

I also reviewed top Tokyo hotels for Fodor’s Travel such as Hoshinoya, Aman, Tokyo Station Hotel and The Four Seasons. Read my Tokyo travel writing here.

I also did a Tohoku feature for Huffington Post, I confess I’m “miffed” (yes, that’s a Miffy reference!) by tourists in Tokyo, which is why Iwate and Aomori are the places to be this year (it’s a throwback to chill 90s Japan). Read my recommendations on Huff Post Travel.

Another yay: USA Today interviewed me about how traveling with someone lets you suss out compatibility. I reveal how photographer Joey Wong and I met, and levelled up our friendship with a 2015 trip to Iceland. We’ve done many trips for work and pleasure since, including Nova Scotia and Japan in 2025 – more to come this year for sure. See the article here.

Photographer Joey Wong was with me on my recent press trip in Miyagi, Iwate, Fukushima and Aomori. He took these images of me channeling Lady Snowblood at ANA Intercontinental Appi Kōgen Resort in the alpine ski wonderland of Appi Kogen.

So happy to be at Appi! Our suites had views of Mount Hachimantai, in the Iwate prefecture of Tohoku Japan.

Visions of my five star stay  I lounged in my enormous suite with a soaking tub, took in patio views of the snowy forest and mountains, bathed under the stars in the outdoor onsen, ate green melon and other juicy Tohoku fruits at breakfast…

Top by Michi, samurai skirt from steampunk store Reverie Emporium in Koenji, Tokyo, Japan.

The art represents the mesmerising dragon eye effect of a melting lake on Mt Hachimantai as summer approaches.

The vibe is Lady Snowblood, the 70s revenge film that also inspired Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

Let this be your sign to visit ANA Intercontinental Appi Kogen Resort – home to some of the best slopes in Japan! Photos Joey Wong.

I also captured tons of stories while in Tokyo, including for Halloween. I’ll be rolling these out gradually here and on IG @LaCarmina.

It’s hammer time!  Rainbow cyber Neo-Tokyo vibes with Dr John Skutlin at the new Grand Hammer food/entertainment building, which opened in Shimbashi in November 2024.

I know I’ve been “miffy” about how Tokyo has gotten over-touristed and lost magic especially in the past years… buttt I love spending time in Japan with long-time friends and checking out new spots like Grand Hammer.

Feeling unsure about the future of Japan with everything going on… I guess we’ll just have to see what unfolds. I’m not sure when I will be back next, as it was very stressful with the crowds, bad vibes and other factors. Such a difference from the 90s heyday. (See this 1999 throwback Japan post to see what I mean — ah, it was the height of civilization!)

In any case, I’ll be looking ahead to new adventures in 2026 — and there will be much more Japan coverage to come here and on Instagram (@lacarmina) so please add me there! I’ll cross-post on my Facebook page and Threads as well.

And please check out my La Carmina closet sale on Poshmark and Depop – reach out if I can send you anything, make me offers and I’m glad to do reductions and ship worldwide!

@LaCarmina on Poshmark: https://poshmark.ca/closet/lacarmina

@LaCarmina on Depop: Https://www.depop.com/lacarmina