The trip

What trip are you unpacking for us?

We shot for a week at the Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, and then traveled down to Tokyo for two days, and over to Kyoto for three . It was interesting because I went to Tokyo once when I was, like, 13 for a press junket [for Bridge to Terebithia]. This was my first time going as an adult; I’ve idolized Japanese culture—the food, the style, the music—forever. So to finally be [back] on the ground was pretty special.

What else made it special?

It was also special because my girlfriend and her mom, Rosa, came as well. It was amazing as a trio. I mean, we’ve traveled together at least three times a year for 10 years now and it's always a very fun, open vibe. Thankfully, we do not over plan. It’s more like: Here are some neighborhoods we want to check out, maybe a restaurant we want to go to. It’s not over-agenda’d. We mostly just go with the flow and see where the day takes us. Sometimes, that means sitting in a little park and watching life happen. None of us left [Japan] feeling like, “Shit, we didn’t see enough.” For us, experiencing a place is about seeing what it’s like to be there, just for a moment. Also, they’re from Spain, I’m from the States, none of us speak Japanese, so we were all leaning into that confusion together. We spoke, probably, 95% Spanish [during the trip].

And then there was being in Nikko, which feels like you’re living in a Studio Ghibli movie. I brought some rain gear because they said it would be rainy, which it was, but it was always the perfect kind, by which I mean warm water and light. You could always go for a walk in it. And there were monkeys and deer everywhere. I grew up in Kentucky, and there are deer there, but there’s something about them in Japan where their angles are sharper. Out there in nature, the magic of a Japanese forest, it’s so special.

What I packed

The drugstore item he never travels without:

Advil. Always have Advil on hand. Before this trip, I had tiny travel size tubes, and there were two left. I had to refill it with the big boy. Maybe you had a fun night the night before, maybe you’re sore from a workout—whatever it is, Advil. Especially traveling abroad. In Spain, for example, you don’t get Advil. You get, like, acetaminophen, but you have to get a doctor’s note to get it.

His favorite item of travel clothing:

The production company that shot [Late Checkout] in Japan was actually a little team from Spain, and the director of photography was wearing these Issey Miyake pants. They’re the most comfortable pants in the world—these silky, pleated pants. Now, [they've become] my number one travel piece. I used to wear jeans or sweatpants on the plane, and these are like sweatpants that look much better. You’re tricking everyone. I do them in navy, black, or gray. I don’t get too spicy.

The tech that keeps him connected:

Have you heard of the iPhone? I’m just kidding. Since I’m sensitive to light, if I travel somewhere and they don’t have dimmer switches, I go crazy. I either bring them with me or buy them when I get there—you plug them in, and then plug the lamp in to them. I also always pack my Apple Watch as well, but I only wear it when I'm working out. I run a lot, so it tracks my miles, heart rate, all that stuff. In Nikko, I had a nice big run, halfway around [Lake Ch?zenji] and back. I realized, shit, I should have just run all the way around the lake. I also always have Air Pods to keep the music going.

The music:

Lately, it’s Rosalía’s new album. Fucking incredible. I also listen to, kind of, obscure French electronica. This guy named Flavian Berger, some classic stuff. Every now and then, Bob Dylan kind of creeps into my world. The only genre I don't really listen to much of is modern country.

The piece of home he always packs—and brings back as a souvenir:

I don't have a fragrance, but I love, love incense. Everywhere I travel, I bring incense to the hotel. I don’t know if hotels actually allow that, but I always do, and I’ve never gotten charged extra. Ask for forgiveness, not permission is what my parents always taught me. It’s very comforting when I travel so much, and never know where I’m waking up or what’s going on, to get grounded in a consistent scent. As a kid, my grandpa used to always have incense lit, the classic Nag Champa. But I also buy them whereever I go—I have one right now that I got in Kyoto. Okay, the Japanese incense are bougie as hell. They smell great, but they’re expensive. I got a box that was, like, $35 for 20 [sticks]. I’m like, “Oh my god, what am I doing?”

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