Japan Day 1 (pt. 1) – Tokyo
Hello everyone! We’ve finally arrived in Japan!
We landed at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport around 0500 and wasted no time getting started, well, almost. First, we spent a few hours at the airport taking care of some essential tasks before immersing ourselves in the bustling metropolis. We needed to pick up our trusty Wi-Fi modem (which, interestingly enough, is just an Android phone with specialized software) and it has been working like a charm! Additionally, we had to collect our JR Rail Pass. After a couple of hours, we had everything sorted, and then came the nerve-wracking part – boarding our first train.
Equipped with our newly acquired rail pass and armed with Google Maps, we confidently inserted our ticket into the slot and embarked on the Tokyo Monorail. However, what should have been a straightforward journey turned into a bit of a challenge, partly due to our tiredness. One train pulled up, and without complete certainty, we hopped on, hoping it was the right one. Luckily, the ride went smoothly! We quickly figured out the station designations using the letter and number system, and alighted to catch our next train. This station required some navigating, but we eventually found our way and boarded the train. It was at this point that my stress levels skyrocketed… It was around 0730 or 0800, and the train was packed with commuters heading to work. We managed to hold ourselves together, clutching our luggage tightly, and finally got off at Akihabara Station. Once again, we found ourselves a bit bewildered by how the station operated, but after some stumbling around, we located our hotel. Since we arrived a good five hours before check-in, the staff kindly agreed to store our luggage while we ventured out to explore. But first things first… food.
Given our lack of knowledge about local cuisine and the overwhelming array of options, we found ourselves at a familiar sign. Now, you might chastise us for it, but those Golden Arches were calling our names, and hunger got the better of us! After devouring a couple of egg sandwiches (which, by the way, tasted better than their U.S. counterparts), we were ready for our first sightseeing excursion: Asakusa and Sensoji Temple. It was during this train ride that everything started falling into place regarding how the stations and trains functioned. With just two quick stops from Akihabara, we arrived in Asakusa. Oh, I forgot to mention, it had been raining all day! But… I absolutely loved it. The rain added a touch of cyberpunk ambiance to Tokyo, and it was mesmerizing to witness the city’s combination of overcast skies, rain, bustling crowds, and vibrant neon lights. It truly felt like stepping into another world. Sorry, getting back to Asakusa. Once again, we had no clue where we were heading. However, instead of immediately resorting to our phones to search for directions, we decided to embrace the adventure and allow ourselves to wander and get lost, taking in the sights. After about 20 minutes, I caught sight of a famous landmark I had seen countless times before – Sensoji. The entire area was awe-inspiring and serene. It turned out that we had entered the temple precinct through a side passage and completely missed the rows of shops leading up to the temple. Nevertheless, we found ourselves wandering through a place that dates back to the 7th century, and it felt truly magical. As we ascended into the main temple, we were greeted by the sound of singing and chanting. Intrigued, we stepped inside and discovered a group of monks sitting together, immersed in their melodic performance. Unfortunately, I couldn’t capture any photos or videos as there were signs prohibiting them. However, I must say, it sent shivers down my spine. If you are someone who can sense the energy of a place, this is definitely a destination worth experiencing. After spending nearly an hour exploring the area, we decided to meander through the streets again and explore the various shops. It’s difficult to put into words just how remarkable it all was. As check-in time at our hotel approached, we hopped on a train and made our way back.
Once we were settled in our hotel in the heart of Akihabara, we took a short rest and then ventured out to explore the neighborhood. Just across the street, we discovered a Bandai Namco arcade, complete with UFO Catchers (claw machines), Gachapon, and various arcade games. We eagerly explored each floor and couldn’t resist spending a few hundred yen on Gachapon. In the end, I managed to acquire an adorable cat coin purse and a matching keychain. We also visited other noteworthy stores, including Super Potato, a fantastic retro game store, Animate, an anime/manga haven, and Don Quijote, a store that seemingly sells everything under the sun. We also stumbled upon three more arcade-like stores, similar to the Bandai Namco one.
By this point, exhaustion had started to set in, but our hunger persisted. We hurriedly returned to a Udon place we had spotted earlier and placed our orders using a tablet outside. Both Alex and I indulged in a delicious bowl of udon noodles accompanied by a pork cutlet and a side of rice. Surprisingly, this hearty meal only set us back around $6, and it provided us with ample sustenance.
As of now, it’s 2200, and we’re both utterly exhausted. And believe it or not, this is only about half of what we experienced today. My photos are still syncing, so tomorrow I will provide an update on the second half of Day 1 (which was packed with even more adventures) as well as share some photos from Day 1. I’ll also try my best to write a Day 2 post. Considering how much we’ve been exploring, I can’t guarantee daily updates, but I’ll certainly make an effort!
Until tomorrow,
-T
