NobuYa Travelers

NobuYa Travelers We specialize in private Adventure Tours to Latin America.

Cali sunsets just hit different!
12/31/2025

Cali sunsets just hit different!

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”The last three months have been lesson on how life keeps you humb...
02/08/2025

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

The last three months have been lesson on how life keeps you humble and on your
t😮es. We wrapped up our three-month grand experiment—selling our house and embarking on a 22,000+ mile journey 🌍 with Leo and Maya as our ever-present carry-ons 🧳 DC → LA → Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → LA → Lima → Buhama Cusco → Florida →VA

And just when we thought we’d seen it all, life threw us a curveball ⚾️ —Nobu got furloughed while we were literally 🥾 the mountains of Cusco. Talk about a plot twist.

This adventure tested us in every way possible. Traveling with two tiny, energetic humans? Absolute madness. But also, absolutely worth it. We reconnected with family and old amigos , and even had the joy of exploring Machu Picchu with our dear friends Anton, Ann, and Debbie. You guys are the best—thanks for making it a priority to see us and experience why we love Peru 🇵🇪 so much.

The biggest takeaway? We definitely want to live abroad one day where groceries don’t cost you $200 and Ubers avg $3 a ride and you actually have time to spend time w your friends. But for now, it’s time to pick up the pieces and reinvent ourselves yet again. I’m diving into my dream bucket—continuing to build my business, , and sharpening my tournament poker game. Nobu’s got some ideas brewing too, so stay tuned.

At the end of the day, all we really have is each other and the bonds and friendships we make along the way. Don’t make excuses why you can’t spend time with those you love. Cause they are just excuses. Give your friend a big hug 🤗 and make them a priority. If there’s one thing this journey reinforced, it’s to live with humility, gratitude, and be real ❤️.

We just settled into our new home in Arlington, VA, so come visit! And if you’re lucky, I might even fire up my very fancy new air fryer and cook you something delicious. No promises, though😋.

Day 8: Kimonos and Gummy Bear Bribescon The Traveling Wons Nobu’s great-grandmother hand-sewed a beautiful kimono years ...
11/28/2024

Day 8: Kimonos and Gummy Bear Bribes
con The Traveling Wons

Nobu’s great-grandmother hand-sewed a beautiful kimono years ago, and it’s been passed down to the girls in her family for generations. Today, Maya got to wear it, and honestly, she nailed it. She stood so patiently as they layered her up, looking like a tiny princess.

Leo, on the other hand? Let’s just say he’s more “wild Shogun” than graceful samurai. It took an emergency stash of gummy bears and some Jedi mind tricks just to get him to look at the camera. But hey, we got the shots!

The whole thing felt extra special because Nobu has photos wearing the same kimono at Maya’s age, back when she and her brother Ippei posed together. Seeing Maya and Leo recreate those memories was one of those “full-circle” moments that hits you in the feels.

Happy Thanksgiving from Kyoto!

❤️ The Traveling Wons
**un

Day 2: Playgrounds, Sushi, and Culture Shocks with The Traveling WonsLeo monster had us up at 3:30 a.m. jumping on the c...
11/22/2024

Day 2: Playgrounds, Sushi, and Culture Shocks with The Traveling Wons

Leo monster had us up at 3:30 a.m. jumping on the couch and yelling Ti Tooo! We kicked off the day with old reliable onigiri 🍙 (spicy mentaiko is my fave) and jelly fruit cups. By sunrise, we were at a park in Sumida, chasing Maya and Leo. Maya’s now a pro on the standing swing, and Leo? Pure chaos as usual. Playgrounds are the real MVPs—where kids burn energy and parents dream about lunch.

We braved the crowds at Asakusa’s Sensō-ji shrine next, though it was more “please get me out of here” than Zen vibes. Just too damn crowded.

By lunch, it was time for something quintessentially Japan: conveyor belt sushi at the flagship Kura Sushi. The sushi was decent by Japanese standards, which makes it amazing by American standards, but honestly? The highlight was watching the plates zip to our table like tiny race cars. Maya and Leo were mesmerized (and, more importantly, entertained ). Parenting win.

Then, we needed to burn some calories so we walked three miles to Ueno Park, passing quirky coffee shops and vending machines selling “Cowpiss” and “Pocari Sweat.” For dinners we wrapped up at the Tokyo Skytree food court with ginger pork and matcha soft serve for under $8. Tokyo on a budget is undefeated.

For Nobu, being back in Japan is a mix of pride and awkwardness. It’s amazing to share her roots with the kids, but the unwritten rules can feel overwhelming. Japan is a place of contrasts—high-tech super efficient and polite but also rigid and full of quiet pressures. Like the 10 levels of formal speaking is insane. It’s hard for me to understand but I could def feel what Nobu was talking about.

❤️ The Traveling Wons

DAY 0: Flying High (and Low) w The Traveling Wons -Recapping our 12 Hour Flight to Japan with 2 Kids Under 4Had to take ...
11/22/2024

DAY 0: Flying High (and Low) w The Traveling Wons -Recapping our 12 Hour Flight to Japan with 2 Kids Under 4

Had to take a step back and debrief you on the experience that is flying to Asia w lil monsters 👿.

If you’ve ever thought, “Flying 12 hours with two little kids sounds fun!”—it ain’t. It took a hella dose of patience, snacks, love, and enough toys to stock a small daycare. Somehow, we made it. Barely.

Flying out of LAX, our game plan was to tire the kids out. So we walked and walked and walkeds some more. Our flight left at Noon pacific time and the first 4 hours were pretty good and then came the dreaded tantrum—at 30,000 feet. Nothing is scarier than your toddler screaming on a plane. Desperate times = waving fruit snacks and Luka on repeat like they’re a peace offering.

Entertainment helped… kind of. Maya watched Shawn the Sheep on repeat Leo preferred throwing his toy 🚗 at the people behind us. Good times. One toy that was great was removable stickers that you could put on the pane window. That killed at least one glorious hour.

Still, there were some sweet moments. Like when they were both passed out in their seats facing every which way. I gotta say is amazing - service is top notch and the stewardesses are so warm and friendly.

Was it chaos? Yes. Was it worth it? Also yes. We made it—exhausted but together. They had to experience Japanese like I know it and see where there Mami is from !

❤️ The Traveling Wons

Day 1: From Maryland to the Tsukiji Fish Market con The Traveling Wons! Five months ago, we had a brilliant (read: sligh...
11/21/2024

Day 1: From Maryland to the Tsukiji Fish Market con The Traveling Wons!

Five months ago, we had a brilliant (read: slightly insane) idea: sell the house, pack up the kids, and change things 🆙. Fast forward to today—our first day exploring Japan! There’s me Andrew Won, my wife Nobu, our two pint-sized explorers, Maya (4) and Leo (1.75), and our secret weapons: my Papis, Jorge and Eli, who are joining us. It’s a family affair, and we’re ready for chaos. Nobu grew up here in Kagawa, so she’s in her element. The rest of us? We’re just trying to figure out how not to walk into strangers on the left side of the street.

Day one started with a bang—or rather, a scream—at 2:30 a.m., courtesy of our jet-lagged kids. Nothing says “welcome to Japan” like a family-wide pre-dawn wake-up. But hey, if you’re going to be up that early, you might as well hit that fresh sushi.

By sunrise, we were at the Tsukiji Fish Market, devouring chutoro (fatty tuna), crab miso, and chawanmushi (egg custard). It was so good we almost forgave the ungodly hour. Almost. Then came Leo’s obligatory 40-minute tantrum (because, of course), followed by a stroller jailbreak attempt as we explored the Imperial Palace and the Ginza district. Maya, meanwhile, was totally smitten with a Moana window display, loudly declaring it “better than Elsa!” Scandalous.

We wrapped things up at the Tokyo Skytree food court, where ramen and pork belly stole the show. Bonus parenting win: they ate to their bellies full!

Japan always blows my mind. It’s the ultimate mash-up of extremes. One minute, you’re in a peaceful temple that feels like a portal to another time. The next, you’re speeding along on a 200 mph bullet train that makes Amtrak look like it runs on steam power. Toilets clean your butt for you (which Leo learned real fast), but trains are so silent you’d think talking is outlawed. And don’t even get me started on how spotless everything is—there was a guy sweeping moss.

It’s only day one, and we’re already exhausted, overfed, and completely hooked. Follow along as we navigate all the chaos and sushi over the next two weeks!

❤️ The Traveling Wons

Cali sunsets just hit different!
11/18/2024

Cali sunsets just hit different!

Reunited in Las Vegas!
01/13/2023

Reunited in Las Vegas!

Alil morning hiking around clopper lake in Maryland hoy día!
01/07/2023

Alil morning hiking around clopper lake in Maryland hoy día!

Feliz Año Nuevo! To many more adventures, good friends y delicious food in 2023. Love,
01/03/2023

Feliz Año Nuevo! To many more adventures, good friends y delicious food in 2023. Love,

Such great memories en Guatemala w these beautiful souls!
11/16/2022

Such great memories en Guatemala w these beautiful souls!

WE ARE GOING BACK 🙌 🌋 Super excited to announce our next adventure back to Guatemala Nov/Dec of this year. ➡️LINK IN BIO...
08/10/2022

WE ARE GOING BACK 🙌
🌋 Super excited to announce our next adventure back to Guatemala Nov/Dec of this year.
➡️LINK IN BIO for full details.

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