๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต  A LETTER FROM JAPAN  ๐Ÿค 

Thank You,
Dallas.

To the people of Dallas and Texas who welcomed four strangers from Japan โ€” and made us feel like family.

OUR THANK-YOU

You Welcomed Us Like Family

We came a long way โ€” a family of four from a small town in Japan, with two little kids and only a handful of English words. We didn't know what to expect. What we found in Dallas, we will never forget.

From the moment we arrived, you welcomed us. Strangers waved at our girls. People stopped to talk to us โ€” a family traveling with small children โ€” asked where we were from, told us they were glad we came. When we looked lost, someone always stepped in to help.

You didn't have to do any of that. But you did โ€” over and over, with a warmth we weren't prepared for. Little by little, all of that kindness added up to something we never expected to feel so far from home:

Dallas started to feel like home.

The Ogata family outside AT&T Stadium in Dallas
Outside AT&T Stadium, Dallas โ€” with friends we met along the way. ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
THE MOMENTS WE'LL NEVER FORGET

Small Kindnesses,
Big Hearts

It wasn't one big thing. It was a hundred small ones โ€” the kind of everyday warmth that a family remembers for the rest of their lives.

๐Ÿ‘‹ You said hello to our kids

Everywhere we went, people called out to our daughters with a smile โ€” a wave, a high-five, a "welcome!" To a family traveling far from home with small children, that meant more than you know.

๐Ÿค You helped us when we needed it

When we were unsure of the way, the language, or what to do next, someone was always there โ€” patient, kind, and happy to help. You turned confusing moments into easy ones.

๐Ÿซ‚ You were there in the hard moment too

Even after a heartbreaking match, the warmth never stopped. Strangers comforted our kids and shared the moment with us. Win or lose, you treated us like your own.

Our daughters at the Fort Worth display, having the time of their lives in Texas
Our girls, right at home in Texas. ๐Ÿค 

Moved by our little story? There's more of us over here ๐Ÿ‘‰

๐Ÿ‘‹ Meet our family ๐Ÿ—พ Plan your Japan trip with us
FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS

You Made Dallas Feel Like Home

Traveling isn't really about the places. It's about the people who make you feel at home when you're thousands of miles from yours. In Dallas, we felt exactly that.

Thank you, Dallas. Thank you for welcoming us, for looking after our girls, for helping a Japanese family find their way โ€” and for filling this trip with more kindness than we could have ever hoped for. We came as visitors. You made us feel like family. We will carry the warmth of Texas in our hearts forever. ๐Ÿค ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
With love and gratitude, The Ogata Family Saga, Japan ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ยท @suics0627

Curious who we are?

๐Ÿ‘‹ Who We Are โ€” meet our family โ†’

Now It's Our Turn ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต

You made us feel at home in Texas. If your path ever brings you to Japan, we would love to do the same for you.

1Come to Japan โ€” we'll help you plan it, for free.
2Visit Kyushu โ€” we'll show you where the locals really go.
3Pass through Saga โ€” dinner's on us. Seriously.

Our door is always open. That's a promise.

Say hi on Instagram โ†’ Planning a trip to Japan? Here's our honest travel guide โ†’

The Ogata Family ๏ผ @suics0627 ๏ผ Saga, Japan

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต The Ogata Family Japan Guides