Marimekko Umbrella.

I bought this adorable umbrella from one of my favorite travel stores, Flight 001, in San Francisco, before going to Japan.  I was warned that there can be some fierce summer showers, and I wanted something a bit more sturdy than my old Walgreens umbrella.

In Kyoto, at night, on one of the drizzly summer days we experienced.
It’s light, easily packable, and stands out in a crowd, certainly.  The winters in San Francisco can be long and very rainy, so it’s nice to have such a cheerful way to keep the damp away.

I’ve had it for ages now, and it’s such a well-designed piece that it’s become one of my favorite accessories.