Portland, Oregon, USA

I've been obsessed with Japanese culture since I was a kid. The discipline, the honor thing, the whole concept of saving face — it fascinated me. Still does.

Then there's Portland. This weird, chaotic city that's basically the opposite of everything I learned from Japan. And somehow, it grabbed me just as hard.

I spent so much time wandering through Portland's grime and weird corners. Found coffee shops with no signs, tucked behind doors you'd walk past a hundred times. Stumbled into flea markets selling the most bizarre knick-knacks you've ever seen. The city doesn't try to be anything — it just is.

The rain here hits different. There's something about the unhurried way this place breathes that got under my skin. I didn't plan to fall for it. But here we are.

What really messed with my head was discovering the Japanese felt the same way about Portland. They're drawn here too. Something about this city resonates outside their daily routine. Made me feel less alone in my contradictions, I guess.

I've lost count of how many times I've been back. Every trip across the country, I carve out time to visit. Grab a worn paperback from Powells, nurse the perfect cup of coffee, watch the faces drift by while the city hums its strange melody. The sounds here stick with you.

Leaving always hurts. But each time I return, the city's different — morphed into something new while keeping that underlying chaos. Old and new colliding, shadows wandering through the streets.

A list of my favorite places

Stay

• The Mark Spencer

  My cheap go-to

• Ace Hotel

  When I want to get fancy (by my standards)

Food

• Grassa

  Hipsterish Italian. The carbonara is top-notch

• Lardo

  Deli sandwiches. Those dirty fries, though

• Salt & Straw

  Sea salt with caramel. Every time

• Sizzle Pie

  Cheap and solid NY style pizza

• Blue Star Donuts

  Forget Voodoo — this is the real deal

• Boxer Ramen

  Pretty good ramen. Tonkotsu shio all the way. Marukin works too if you want more traditional

• Mother's Bistro

  Good breakfasts. Wild salmon hash

• Beer O Clock

  Best tap house downtown

Coffee

• Barista

  Very good espresso

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters

  Portland's Starbucks. Good for gear

• Courier Coffee [CLOSED]

  Used to be a nice small spot near downtown Sizzle Pie

Misc

• Cinema21

  Old-school theater with beer and wine

• Ground Kontrol

  Arcade and beer

• Powells

  Bookworm mecca

• Quality Bar

  Lovely drinks

• Oregon's Finest

  If you're into it... this is the finest around