Tokyo, Japan – 8-10 September 2023

Around 5pm on Friday 8 September 2023 I decide this week has been long enough and start to say my goodbyes to everyone. I flew up to Tokyo on Monday and have been in the Tokyo office for 4 days. 

Thankfully when I leave the office the rain has basically stopped. My shoes are still wet from this morning’s mission to get to work! Hong Kong has had black rain (rain fall exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour) today, so I can’t be complaining to much about the Tokyo rain. 

I walk to Lou and Suzanne’s hotel which is super close to where I’ve been staying this week.

We enjoy wine in their big (for Japan standards) hotel room before heading out for dinner.

After having a quick look in the supermarket it’s time for dinner.

First stop if gyoza and beer. It’s the same place I had been to already this week so thankfully didn’t have to spend time working out how the ordering works.

We then head upstairs to another place I’d been to this week.

Yakitori, beer and wine are ordered.

 

It’s just as delicious as I remember!

After saying goodbye, I head back to my hotel to get my bag before ordering an Uber. I had thought about taking the train but it’s late, wet and I’m tired. Plus it would mean having to change trains followed by a walk to the hotel. No thanks!

The hotel is buzzing when I arrive! I’ll save my welcome drink to tomorrow. Sleep is needed.

My alarm wakes me on Saturday 9 September - more sleep is definitely needed! But I have a city to explore.

Breakfast is a relatively slow affair. Lots of coffee!

The first thing I notice when leaving the hotel is there are traffic employees at every crossing to assist people. I definitely didn’t see this during the week and don’t recall this from my previous visits

It’s a short walk to the JR / subway station where I follow the instructions the hotel gave me to get to the subway.

Ticket purchased (must get more cash out…) and within a couple of minutes I’m jumping on the train. Brilliant! I had been told it’s a direct train to Shibuya, as the train was on the platform when I arrived I didn’t have time to check so just jumped on. Let’s see. Fingers crossed!

The further away we get the more I’m getting nervous. Hey ho. It’s all an experience. Finally they announce Shibuya is the next stop. So yes I’m on the right train.

I really didn’t have a fixed location – other than seeing the Hachiko Memorial Statue again and of course the famous Shibuya crossing.

 

I continue to wander the streets around Shibuya crossing.

Looking at the map I realise I can walk to Meiji Shrine.

I join the small like outside The Muji Store, it’s a couple of minutes wait before the doors open at 11am.

Caffeine is needed! And fast. I see a sign saying Shark Coffee, that will do.

Feeling a little more energized it’s time to continue my walking. I head toward Yoyogi Park.

After seeing what appears to be a Chinese Festival (think food stalls, people wearing traditional outfits and tents advertising all things Chinese) I continue wandering. 

With the low clouds it's a misty feeling when I walk between the trees.

I continue to follow the signs, and crowds, to Meiji Shrine.

 

As I get close to the Meiji Shrine entrance I see two guys in front of me pick up speed. Looking around I spy why – I believe a wedding. I do the same.

As the wedding party and guests disappear I wander around the Meiji shrine.  I have visited in my previous visits but I always love coming back.

 

 

I continue my walking in the direction of Shinjuku. At times being on the side / back streets, seeing more of everyday life.

 

Thankfully I had done some research in the week on how I get back to my hotel. Now it’s a matter of locating the train line I need to be on.

In the end I find a service center and ask them. Nice and easy!

As soon as I get on the platform for the train back to the hotel it’s blue sky and sunshine. Of course! For now, I need to relax.

Ye ha, a seat and a/c! My Apple Watch tells me I’ve walked 9.73km so far. No wonder my feet need a break.

One thing that has struck me is how many Starbucks stores there are. I don’t remember this from my previous visits.

Before heading back to the hotel I decide to get some lunch. And where to go??! In the end I pick up a couple of things from the supermarket.

Early evening I head to the bar for my welcome drink.

I had high hopes of heading back to Shinjuku for drinks / dinner but decide to stay local instead.

A lady comes to my table to ask if she can join, yes absolutely. Nealie is in Tokyo for work as well and moved to this hotel this morning – so similar!  We decide to go to dinner together.  

I had researched two places nearby for dinner – we decide on the steak place.

Based on google maps it should be less than 5 minutes walk away.  We end up walking past then coming back.  Good to burn off a few calories I guess.

Along the way we passed a hotel after my name.

We get seats at the bar – great for watching the chef and what the other guests around us were eating! The menu is in Japanese, thank goodness for google translate.  One of the staff could speak some English (much more than we can speak Japanese).  We decide to go with the 7 course chef’s menu.

 

 

 

 

The food was amazing!!  And great to be able to share it with someone.  Nealie and her family love to travel so I’m hoping our paths will cross again.

 

I wake before my alarm on Sunday 10 September.  Last night Nealie and I had decided to meet downstairs for breakfast at 9.30am before heading off to visit Senso-ji.

Google informs me the subway we need to take (then change) leaves from the same platform that I was on yesterday, makes it nice and easy.

On arrival into Asakusa Station it’s very clear we are not the only ones with the same idea to visit Senso-ji. Add the heat into the mix and it’s not the nicest.

We follow the crowds to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Temple. 

It was so unbelievable hot!!  Where possible we walk in the shade. 

 

 

To the left of Senso-ji is a set of Japanese gardens - this means shade.  Off we go!

 

 

We head to the inside of Senso-ji.

 

 

 

We both decide we had seen more than enough and trace our steps back to the subway to take us back to the hotel. 

As soon as I walk into the hotel the a/c hits us. Amazing! And so so needed. It’s far too hot to be out and about exploring today!!!  Such a shame as Tokyo is an exceptional city. 

We enjoy a cold drink before I head up to my room.

I had sorted out all my things earlier so packing only took a few minutes. Check out even quicker as I paid on arrival.

I decide to walk through the shopping center to get to the JR station….purely for a dose of a/c! Before I left the hotel my weather app was telling me it feels like 36 degrees C. Far too hot to be out and about!!!

Having already purchasing my ticket I went straight through the turnstiles and to the track.

The 12.44pm train arrives right on time, as expected in Japan.

Everything goes just as I was told this morning for the trains – nice and easy! Nealie is likely to do the same route on Wednesday so I’ve also been taking side notes to send to her.

The security line at Haneda airport was a completely different story. Ridiculous long! I actually don’t think I’ve been in anything as long before. Everyone seems to be flying out today!

Finally it’s my turn for security (25 minutes it took). My Passport is scanned first, then I join another line to have my bags scanned. For whatever reason laptops and tablets don’t need to be taken out of our bags. So strange (and annoying) how every single airport is different!

It’s a quick line to “leave Japan” (go through immigration), then I’m heading straight to the lounge. Which gets my exercise minutes on my watch up. It will be good to sit down and cool off!!

Sayonara Tokyo, Domo arigatogozaimasu!