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Off to the Maldives, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Montreal Kinetik Festival! United Arab Emirates & South Asia travels.

tokyo street fashion, cool japan hairstyle, pink hair girl

All right, here’s the big news. In May, I’ll be traveling to four international destinations: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the Maldives Islands, and Montreal for Kinetik Festival! What will I be doing, how, and why? Keep reading.

(Hair in the above photo by Kukukachoo, shot by Said Karlsson. More from this series here)

maldives resort, Gili Lankanfushi, best maldives hotels

You know I’m all about being a Pirate, and I’ve daydreamed of visiting the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Eco-friendly luxury resort Gili Lankanfushi is making this a reality… my filmmaking crew and I will be staying with them and sharing our “Treasure Island” adventure with you!

Maldives Island Resort, luxury hotels, Gili Lankanfushi

Can’t wait to explore this five star eco-resort, accessible only by speedboat. I’ll be staying in my own tropical villa, surrounded entirely by water, with a Mr Friday to assist me. Be sure to add my social networks (on the right sidebar) for a glimpse of the pirate life.

fairmont palm dubai hotel, 5 star dubai hotels

After the Maldives, my crew and I are jetting to Dubai, a destination that’s been on my bucket list for some time. We’ll be guests of The Fairmont Palm Jumeirah, located on the swank, man-made Palm Islands. This video and article coverage will be published on Huffington Post / AOL.

Fairmont Palm Jumeirah, palm dubai hotel

I’m fascinated by Dubai, a city of lavish imagination — home to the world’s largest mall and artificial island, 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab, and outrageous developments like a World-shaped archipelago. I hope I don’t fall off a camel when I ride it for the first time. (Above image from Wikipedia)

abu dhabi hotel, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

And then, we’ll be filming travel videos at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, a classical Middle Eastern city home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Funny enough, I first heard of the United Arab Emirates though Garfield’s Abu Dhabi song (where he threatens to mail Nermal away). Now, I’ll be seeing the UAE with my own eyes.

aesthetic perfection, daniel graves singer, electro goth bands

And that’s not the end. In late May, Montreal Tourism Board is sending me to Kinetik Festival, a four-day celebration of Electro-Industrial-Noise. I’m certain you’ll enjoy my video coverage, since performance artist Lauren (from Death Cookbook days) and Daniel Graves of Aesthetic Perfection will be my co-hosts!

encouters travel magazine, south china morning post

Super grateful to all of you for supporting my writing and presenting work, which makes these trips possible. My film team and I are going to work hard, and bring you the best possible coverage of these international destinations.

Do you have UAE, Maldives, and Montreal travel tips for us? Is there anything you’d like us to feature? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best. (I’ve never been to any of these places, except Montreal as a kid.)

PS: Thank you to Atlas Obscura for interviewing me about my “subculture nomad” life. You can also read my Adone street style and South China Morning Post features online (photo above from their Encounters travel magazine).

PPS: My June and July plans are already in motion… where do you think I’ll be? Hint, the continent is Asia

Koenji Tokyo Yokai Parade: Japanese spirits folk masks festival! Rick Owens rave, Akabane Reien haunted ghost pub.

cyber fashion tokyo harajuku cybergoth club style

Boo! Ready for more spooky Tokyo, Japan stories? Yukiro and I are delighted to fright you all year round!

My Koenji yokai parade video went viral on @LaCarmina Instagram, and many of you asked for details like — when and where the Tokyo yokai parade takes place next, for Halloween 2024.

koenji yokai parade tokyo dates location address

Read on for the scoop on Tokyo’s otherworldly Koenji Yokai Parade, featuring handmade costumes of Japanese folklore spirits like kappa and oni. I’ll also take you inside Akabane Reien haunted horror ghost izakaya (here’s video of the spooky pub), and the Rick Owens Tokyo fashion rave!

And don’t forget that I’m selling almost everything I own… so if you dig my Gothic fashion / accessories, come see my clearout @LaCarmina Depop and reach out if I can send you anything. (I’m offering free shipping within Canada in Oct!)

tokyo rave style cybergoths wigs hairstyle

And watch out… Tokyo’s most terrifying drag queens are back for Halloween! My friends Haus von Schwarz are vogueing through The Collapse at “Apocalypstick,” their next Casket of Horrors drag show (10/12 at Shinjuku Heist). Japan’s most elite drag performers are strutting the stage, along with Seileen and DJs.

Tickets and more info here! You may recall I went to this Japan drag queen fiesta last year and had a blast — here’s a video of what went down.

tokyo halloween folklore yokai matsuri festival

Many of you were enthralled by my Insta reel of the Tokyo Yokai Parade, which takes place during the daytime just before Halloween each year in Koenji. In 2024, the Koenji yokai festival will take place the afternoon of Saturday, Oct 26, 2024. The event is free to attend, so no tickets required — you can just show up to see spirits strolling down Shinkoenji-dori shopping street. Address: 3 Chome-36-15 Koenjiminami, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0003, Japan

kitsune costumes cosplay tokyo koenji yokai folk creatures

Last year, the Koenji Yokai Parade was everything! The participants put such detail and effort into their handmade costumes and masks, which represent ghostly and magic creatures from Japanese folk legends, like the kitsune fox.

Kōenji Awa Odori dance with straw hats dancers traditional

The procession included Kōenji Awa Odori dancers or ren, wearing yukata and straw hats. They performed choreographed hand and dance movements down Shin-koenji Doori street (just show up there in the afternoon and you’ll catch them.)

oni yokai masks demons japanese devils satan

Musicians played traditional matsuri instrumental songs (using the shamisen stringed instrument, drums, flutes and cymbals). I spot an oni, or demonic ogre / troll.

komuso basket head wearing monk flute shakuhachi

Love the creativity of traditional folk yokai, or tricksters, monsters, demons, and other supernatural spirits.

komuso wandering monk basket over head play flute warrior

The basket-headed flute player is komuso, or Buddhist warriors (a non-monk) that wore straw basket hats that covered their faces. They play the shakuhachi bamboo flute or suizen, and were deadly characters in the Lone Wolf and Cub series!

scary japanese ghost women yokai masks festival yurei

Here are women in hannya masks (used in Noh theater) to depict jealous ladies. They represent waka onna, or young ladies.

 koenji tokyo halloween parade party festivals

Some of the yokai parade characters are from the folk tradition, while some are newly created characters.

halloween costumes tokyo handmade scary coolest best

Anyone can join the procession if they pay a small fee at the start. Or just watch from the sidelines, and cheer them on while taking photos and videos.

japanese yokai masks celebrations bon festival obon

The paraders truly embodied their characters, moving and acting as if they were possessed.

shinkoenji dori koenji yokai parade when details info

The Koenji Yokai Parade had everything from horned cyber demons to mecha-samurai.

halloween pumpkin mask costume japanese

I was wowed by the imagination and artistry that went into the masks, props and costumes.

scary cat halloween costume japan

This devilish cat got a lot of attention from onlookers!

yokai parade tokyo japan koenji participants makeup

Please watch my viral Koenji yokai parade video to see the festivities in action. Catch the procession again this year (on Shinkoenji shopping street, afternoon of Sat October 26 — add @lacarmina Instagram for info and announcements so you won’t miss it).

Also on Oct 26 – Maya of Midnight Mess is having a party again at Suigeikan Kamakura, and Territory (Taiki-san’s legacy) is spinning all night at Black Veil in Osaka. Check my IG for all the details.

futuristic avantgarde japanese fashion tokyo future clothing designs

My favorite time of year to be in Tokyo is October-November because of the great weather and all the Halloween / Goth parties. Last season, Yukiro and I started our all-night rager at a queer horror film event in Shimokitazawa.

japanese sci-fi clothing space fashion tokyo

We found an eerily lit hall near the station, which was perfect for our cybergoth outfits.

rick owens rave tokyo book launch japan

Then, we took the train to Shin-Kiba station for a private fashion party held by edgy fashion designer Rick Owens, to celebrate the launch of his photo book with Danielle Levitt.

Please watch my reel of the Rick Owens rave to see loads of Japanese Goth avantgarde fashion!

shin kiba warehouse rave party goths partiers

The “who’s who” of the Tokyo Goth underworld was at the Rick Owens rave, dressed to the nines…

fecal matter dj set tokyo rick owens fashion party matieres fecales japan

… and look who played a DJ set — Fecal Matter, or Matieres Fecales! The design duo from Montreal is known for their avantgarde dark styling.

 tokyo private fashion week parties clubs japan style

We ran into friends from all Japanese subcultures at the Rick Owens all night party — from alternative designers to latex-wearing fetish folk.

tokyo fashion week clubs events afterparty

You know it’s a good club night when half-naked Japanese boys are giving out free bottles of yuzu.

rick owens tokyo japan celebration rave party launch

Much like the Koenji yokai parade, the partygoers went all out with handcrafted outerspace couture. Only in Japan do you see such creative nightlife dressing.

 Natalia Natchan pinkii singer tokyo itsPiNKII

Pink Harajuku alien style, yesss.

japanese club kids fashion crazy parties

Of course, Yukiro stood out with his height and neon locks.

sumo goth avantgarde performance dancer

Watch my Instagram reel of the Rick Owens warehouse rave to see these sumo dancers and Fecal Matter in motion.

japanese goth parties tokyo rick owens models japan boutique store

Some hater commented “This is absolutely disgusting, barf” on the video… so I pinned it as the top comment! (They’re not wrong…)

haunted theme izakaya ghost pub akabane

Last but not least, Yukiro organized a gathering of his drag Haus of Schwarz at Akabane Reien — a haunted / ghost / horror themed izakaya, which none of us had been to before! As you can tell from the decor and our funny voguing video, it was a frightful delight. (Photos by Alejandro Morales Rama.)

 akabane reien scary horror bar izakaya tokyo

Akabane Reien is an izakaya (small homestyle Japanese pub) with one guy running the show.

weirdest tokyo karaoke parlor japan strange song parlors

We crammed into the seats to share homey food, and sing karaoke (the random group in the back got quite rowdy!)

ghosts halloween themed restaurant bar pub akabane reien

Akabane Reien is one of Tokyo’s many strange theme restaurants. It celebrates all things creepy and spooky like skulls, cobwebs, horror icons…

spookiest scariest theme restaurants activities japan tokyo

And when you least expect it… Someone (like the disembodied hand) falls towards you with a bang! I screamed as if I were in a haunted house.

goth ghost haunted spooky izakaya

We sang our favorite 80s songs surrounded by corpse limbs and Japanese lanterns (only in Tokyo)…

 akabane reien japanese horror bar pub

I spy Jason, the Scream masks, and more. Watch our video on @LaCarmina IG to see footage of Akabane Reien.

grossest japan tokyo food disgusting meat dish

We had to order this disgusting meat dish… the seaweed and cream make it extra horrific! Hot tip: don’t order the sausage and ham flaps here.

goth unusual karaoke venues tokyo japan bars

Enjoy our video about visiting Akabane Reien Halloween-themed restaurant. Be sure to catch Haus von Schwarz – Tokyo’s Goth drag house – at their next Casket of Horrors performance: Sat Oct 12 at Shinjuku Heist! Info and advance tickets are here.

koenji halloween yokai parade tokyo most bizarre strangest parades

And thanks to the 1.5 million people that enjoyed my Koenji yokai parade vid! You can add me @lacarmina Instagram for more offbeat and Gothic Tokyo adventures like these.

PS: don’t forget, I’m unloading pretty much all my worldly possessions. Reach out of you want anything from my sale — I’m offering free shipping for Canadians in Oct. I have loads of Goth Harajuku alt punk clothes, jewelry, kawaii toys and much more… come see my listings @LaCarmina Depop. (But no need to use the app, just email me gothiccarmina @ gmail. dotcom and let me know what you’d like!)