Wednesday to Sunday
July 23 to 27, 2025

While Fukuoka remains my favorite port in Japan, I had some business in Tokyo scheduled this time. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan. But I am not one to waste a trip to Japan. So while it’s a little different from what I originally wanted it to be, here’s my Tokyo (plus Yokohama and Kamakura) trip report.

Pre-Japan

Due to my ankle fracture, I had to re-structure my entire trip itinerary. I wanted to see a lot of Tokyo without disrupting the recovery phase. Thankfully, I was able to go through the entire trip without any adverse pain aside from the soreness of more than 20,000 steps per day.

This was my first ever solo-trip, as well as my first time flying Jetstar Japan. After my work hours, I immediately booked a Grab car to NAIA. I arrived extra early as there was a typhoon hitting Manila the entire week of the trip.

Thankfully there weren’t any delays or cancellations. I found a corner in the airport with few people and made myself comfortable. After a few hours of reading e-books, I got my boarding pass and smoothly passed through immigration.

I love NAIA T3’s International pre-departure area. It’s airy and, most of the time, silent. There, I waited for my flight. After some delays and a change of gates, I boarded the plane and was soon on my way out of stormy Manila and into scorching Tokyo.

Day 1 – A Full Day in Tokyo

I touched down in Narita Airport Terminal 3 by 7am. We were the only flight being processed through immigration and customs so the entire process went by quickly.

After getting my reserved WiFi device at the booth, I transferred to Terminal 2. There, I ate a couple of disappointing rice balls and booked a bus to Tokyo Station. According to my original itinerary, I was supposed to take the Keisei Skyliner, but I wasn’t in a rush to get anywhere and the bus was cheaper. This doubled my travel time to Tokyo from 45 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes. This was no problem and I spent the ride enjoying the sights of the rural farmlands and the expressway.

After exactly 1.5 hours, the bus arrived at Tokyo Station. It was still early in the morning, but once I got off, I felt the summer heat on my skin. Nothing unbearable, but it was definitely hot.

I quickly went inside and started to explore the station. I passed by Ramen Street and looked in to find most of the stalls occupied by office workers having their breakfast. I was still full from my rice balls earlier so I continued on my aimless journey.

Another landmark, Tokyo Character Street, was just waking up. I watched the staff open up their stores to reveal various fictional characters. There were a lot of them, but only one store caught my eye, the One Piece Mugiwara Store. Thankfully, I had the willpower to resist a purchase and after a quick look at the merchandise, I was off.

On the train to Nippori station, I decided to disembark at Akihabara, which was a station along the way. I explored Denden Town and the adult shop, Love Merci. There were a lot of tourists flocking about and I was tempted to enter every shop that piqued my interest.

Eventually, the noontime heat got too much and I was looking for a place to get some rest.

I had the first delicious meal of the trip: Katsu Curry from Go Go Curry. They specialize in Kanazawa-style curry which is thicker and more flavorful than the usual. This is exactly the kind of curry I like, plus their complimentary pickled radish slices are sweet and bursting with flavor. I wolfed the entire plate down and said my gochisousama deshita to the staff before heading out.

Finally, I was on track with my itinerary. I got off at Nippori station and walked to Yanaka Ginza Shotengai. Shotengai are shopping streets and one of my favorite places to visit in Japan. Most of the time, they are covered from the sun, but Yanaka Ginza is open and so, I didn’t spend a lot of time here. While walking through, I noticed that there are a lot of stores selling souvenirs specifically made for foreigner consumption.

I continued my journey to Nezu Shrine where I took a rest at the benches. There were only a few tourists here, probably because of the heat. I took some photos of the torii gates of the Otome Inari Shrine and watched the turtles in the pond.

A bit dehydrated by the noon-time sun, I sauntered over to Ueno Park. After getting a cold beverage from a nearby vending machine, I found a bench in front of Shinobazu pond and rested my legs while watching the people ride the swan paddle boats.

After some moments of relief, I crossed the pond, went past its Benten temple, and headed deeper into the park. I went over the Panda Bridge in Ueno Station and headed to the district where my first accommodation was situated.

It was still a few minutes away from check in time and I was a sweaty mess. To find solace from the heat, I entered a nearby Doutour Coffee shop and cooled myself with an iced americano. Thankfully, the air-conditioning inside was at full blast and they had lots of seats for solo diners. I logged my expenses so far and the places I’ve been while waiting for time to pass.

Finally, it was check in time at Hotel Stay Tomariya. It was only a short walk away from Ueno Station and the entire process was quick, as I already had a reservation from Agoda. I went up to my capsule and fixed my belongings. I got some rest and had a quick shower. There were still some things to do from my itinerary.

I immediately realized that I was under-packed for the summer heat. I was consuming two sets of clothes daily and I needed to do some laundry before I ran out of shirts. But that was a problem for another day.

The sun had already set when I arrived at Shinjuku station. There were so many tourists around enjoying the evening air. The absence of the sun made the temperature more bearable, so everyone was out and about.

Meanwhile, I only had one destination in mind: Kabukicho, especially the area that inspired Kamurocho from the RGG games.

Seeing the Kabukicho Gate with my own eyes was surreal. From there I was able to accurately find other landmarks like Theater Square (which was closed off, unfortunately), the Host Billboard Parking Lot, and even Cafe Alps.

I also saw the RGG Official vending machines, but I stopped myself from purchasing anything.

I spent some time wandering around all the alleys and streets in the area before getting tired of all the flashing lights. So this was the infamous Kabukicho. I felt safe because of the police presence in some street corners, but I also saw some very interesting people walking around.

Satisfied with what I saw, I headed back to Ueno. But not before getting dinner at Tamago to Watashi. This was my first time eating Omurice so I expected something runny like the ones on social media, but the omelet I got was fairly cooked and not fluffy. The taste was still pretty good as I mixed it with the beef and mushroom sauce. I ended up walking out full and satisfied.

With my feet tired after a day of walking, I bought tomorrow’s breakfast at a nearby konbini and headed back to my hostel for some sleep.

Day 2 – Tokyo to Yokohama

After waking up and consuming my Inarizushi and Wonda Gold Premium, I checked out of my hostel and headed to another famous landmark, Suga Shrine.

The shrine itself was serene and simple, but it’s the stairs leading up to it that have found notoriety. Yes, these are the stairs featured in one of my favorite films, Kimi no Na wa. Getting here was quite a walk away from the nearest station. But when I arrived, there were already a few other fans taking pictures of the stairs and the surroundings. We gave each other a nod and waited for our turn to take some photos.

Seeing as I was already here, I gave a small offering to the Shrine and made a few prayers. Then, it was finally time for my next stop. Thankfully, I planned everything to be on the same train line.

I took the train to Nakano station. After alighting, I headed to Nakano Sun Mall, another shotengai. Unfortunately, it was still too early in the morning and most shops were still on the verge of setting up.

The same situation awaited me at Nakano Broadway. Most of the shops there opened at noon, so I was a couple of hours too early. I couldn’t wait anymore so my wallet was marked safe from Anime purchases. I guess I’ll see Mandarake some other time.

I took another train, this time to Kichijoji. From the station, I walked a few minutes towards Kichijoji Sun Road, my second shotengai of the day. By this time, there were already many shops open. I looked around for some souvenirs and other practical purchases.

I also took the opportunity to have an early lunch. This time, I dined at the local Coco Ichibanya. I found it a bit irritating to have to order via a QR code here, but the staff inside were very kind and accommodating. Just like yesterday, I ordered their Katsu Curry. It turned out okay, but I was partial to the Go Go Curry flavor and inclusions. Nevertheless, I was re-energized by this meal.

Stomach full, I did some shopping at Kichijoji Loft and Puku Puku. I scored some Midori MD Notebooks at Loft and I bought a delicate and pretty sake cup from Puku Puku.

Next, I headed to Inokashira Park. Here, I rested my legs in front of the beautiful pond. It was a very tranquil experience and I was surrounded by some old locals reading books or painting. This park is also a location in Persona 5 Royal, a game I am currently playing on the Steam Deck.

Once I was done taking in the surroundings, I headed back to the train station. But then I saw a really cool coffee shop called 01COFFEE. I decided to head in to cool myself. The place is a cashless cafe and thankfully, I had my credit card with me. Its operated by just one person and the owner/barista knows some English.

He told me the beans he uses and made me a really good matchapresso. This drink was wonderful and served in an aesthetic glass. I was lucky enough to be the only customer at the time so I could take some photos of the establishment. I want to go back here and try some more of his mixes.

Afterwards, I headed to Shibuya via the Inokashira train line. This line was my favorite because of the scenic route it takes through the Tokyo neighborhood. It passes through a lot of greenery and some cute little houses. The entire route was a visual treat for me and it had a lot of personality. It was unique among the other train lines I rode through.

After getting off at Shibuya station, I said “hi” to Hachiko, but he was busy with a long line of tourists taking a photo with him. I took some pictures of places I saw in Persona 5 Royal, and crossed the famous Shibuya Scramble.

Wanted to go in #C-Pla but I was carrying my huge bag and there were too many people and too little space to squeeze in between the capsule machines.

Starting to feel the weight of my backpack, I returned to the station boarded the train to Yokohama. Fortunately, I was able to get a seat and rest my legs. I was awed by how fast we exited Tokyo and in less than an hour we reached Yokohama.

I transferred from Yokohama main station to a local line and alighted at Isezaki-Chojamachi Station. From there, I walked directly to my next accommodation.

I reached Yokohama Hostel Village which is NOT a capsule hotel, but a refurbished worker’s apartment. This part of Yokohama is rustic and filled with laborers and the elderly. Today, I was finally getting my own room, and it was equipped with a loft-type upper deck bed with a work table underneath. It even had a TV and a fridge. This was my only stay with maximum privacy.

After another quick shower and rest, I went out to explore the area. To fuel me up, I saw the first ramen place along the way and hopped in.

Ramen Kashimaya served some really good tonkotsu ramen that was light on the stomach but had a good amount of umami. I loved the firmness of the noodles and I couldn’t stop slurping the broth. This is different from the ramen I usually have in Manila and I left the place satisfied but not overly full.

Yokohama Chinatown was just across the bridge so that was my first destination. The area reminded me of the night markets in Taipei, with lots of places selling street food. However, no one was eating out on the streets so I felt out of place if I bought something and ate it there. I just looked around and spotted some places from the RGG games.

With Chinatown done, I headed to Yamashita park. I reminisced everything that happened here from the games as well as admired the waterfront. I watched the lights of the distant Minato Mirai and was awed by the scale of the massive Hikawa Maru anchored on the pier.

Continuing on my RGG game pilgrimage, I headed to Isezaki Mall and spotted more familiar landmarks. Then, I went into Hard-Off and got tempted by some anime figures. Fortunately my wallet was too empty and my willpower too strong.

Finally, I headed into the Bar District and it looked exactly like in the video games. I slowly crept outside the bars and peeked into the windows to see customers drinking and singing karaoke while being applauded by the mama-san.

Since it was getting late and I finished my checklist for the day, I walked back to the hostel for another shower and finally, bed time.

Day 3 – Kamakura-bound

First thing on the agenda was doing some laundry. Thankfully, there was a coin laundry a short walk away from the hostel. I had to buy my own laundry detergent and as luck would have it, there was a Family Mart right next door. I bought some of those tide pods and was immediately struck with the desire to pop them in my mouth. No wonder they went viral on TikTok.

While waiting for the washing and drying cycles, I spent the time catching up on reddit and planning out the rest of the day. When the clothes were dry and fragrant, I folded them into my packing cube and went back to the hostel to check out.

I walked to Yokohamabashi dori shotengai for some last-minute shopping but ended up empty-handed. Thus, I made my way to Yokohama Station and took the Yokosuka Line to Kamakura. The train ride lasted less than an hour and I soon found myself stepping out of Kamakura Station and into the afternoon heat.

Upon arriving in Kamakura, I got a distinct feel. It felt like a vacation town. There were tourists everywhere as well as some local youths in their seifuku. It felt very anime in a very different way from the crowded and chaotic vibes of Tokyo. It’s not a rural vibe, but still something provincial, like coming back to a hometown for vacation.

While on the train, I saw a place that served Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen, the specialty of Fukuoka. I headed straight to LOVE la NOODLE. The ramen was indeed delicious and I practiced my Japanese by telling the chef/owner that Hakata Ramen is the best. I also showed him my FuTa keychain.

With some time to spare before check in, I had an iced americano at Another Day Kamakura, a nearby coffee joint. I was impressed by the cafe’s open design and clean visuals. I logged my expenses and updated my itinerary while waiting.

When it was time, I walked to Plat Hostel Keikyu Kamakura Wave and checked in. This was my favorite accommodation of the trip. It was a capsule-type, but there was a lot of space and we were not as packed into a room as the other hostels. The bathroom and showers were also very clean. But, I missed the detail that it was mix-gendered, so I got a small shock after going in and seeing a lady already inside.

After the routine afternoon shower and rest, I went out and explored the nearby area. I walked through the Komachi Dori shotengai and eventually reached Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the city’s most important shrine. After paying my respects, I walked back to Kamakura Station.

It was almost sunset so I boarded the Enoden Line, which featured views of the coast, all while seated in a train car with a rustic, old-school design.

I got off at Kamakura Kokomae Station, famous for being shown in the Slam Dunk anime. There were lots of tourists so I just snapped a few pictures and took the train back. The sun set on the ride back and I missed my chance to witness it in one of Kamakura’s beaches. I need to return some day to experience the sunset here.

Evening came and I had dinner at Bliss Burger, one of the few restaurants still open this late. Because I was a solo customer, I was given a counter seat, directly in front of the kitchen. I had an amazing show, watching the chef make all the others. My mouth was watering and I wished I could eat everything that was being prepared.

The meal was a gratifying one. The burger buns were incredibly light and fluffy and the burger was tender, juicy, and oozing with sauce. I also had their chicken wings which were huge and crispy. The sauce was zesty and tart which complemented the fried, smoky chicken. I also had my first taste of a Lemon Sour here and it was the perfect companion to a savory meal.

Needing to walk off the calories I just inhaled, I decided to walk to Yuigahama Beach. After a few minutes of walking through residential roads, I emerged onto the highway parallel to the beach. There was absolutely nothing to see there at night. Even a beach town like Kamakura rests early, I guess.

I took a different route back to the hostel and eventually fell asleep after a nice, long shower.

Day 4 – Hello, Tokyo, Again

After downing my first shot of Wonda Gold Premium, I set off to my morning destination, Sasuke Inari Shrine. This was the longest walk I’ve done so far as it was around 2 kilometers one-way. I snaked through the busy shopping roads and into tiny residential paths until I reached the foot of the shrine.

From there, the bright, red-orange torii gates welcomed me as a short uphill path led me into the shrine itself. Hundreds of tiny, ceramic fox statues welcomed me. It was still early in the morning so there were only a few locals praying aside from me. I followed some stairs towards some more hidden nooks and crannies filled with fox statues.

Eventually, I did my own offering and prayer before heading down. On the way back, I consumed my inarizushi breakfast which I bought from a konbini along the way.

Sweaty and tired from this adventure, I took my last shower in Kamakura and fixed up my things. Vowing to return to this beautiful town, I checked out of the hostel and took the train back to Tokyo. It was an uneventful and brief ride. Once again, I was fortunate to have a seat to rest in.

It being a weekend, once I got off at Asakusa station, I was swarmed by tourists. I exited towards Shin Nakamise shotengai and looked for a place to eat. Consulting google maps, I found Ichi Ryu, a place that served Wagyu Ramen. Those are two words I know to be delicious, so I set it as my destination immediately.

When I reached the place, I immediately entered the shop and placed my order on the vending machine by the door. Suddenly, a staff member informed me that there was a line outside and I was the fourth person to be seated. Embarrassingly, I had mistaken the people outside to just be resting on the sidewalk as they were foreigners as well. I said my gomenasai profusely as I exited the shop. Thankfully, the staff were kind and understanding. They even gave me a glass of water while waiting.

When it was LEGALLY my turn, I was seated in a corner and I waited for my wagyu ramen. Interestingly, all the staff of shop were women. That’s a first for me, but I found it really cool. The petite chef was really intimidating as she whisked the noodles and prepped the orders. I was mesmerized by the hustle and bustle. The ramen was delicious, but the wagyu stole the show. It was so soft and melted in my mouth. It was already bursting with flavor, but being soaked in the ramen broth took it to another level. It was an empty bowl in a few minutes.

After the meal, I took a deep breath and plunged into the crowd of tourists. I had reached the heart of Sensoji Temple, one of the most famous landmarks of Asakusa. There, everyone was trying to take a picture of the buildings and the pagoda. I snapped a few and headed out of the gates. I was now in the Nakamise Dori Shopping Street. This street which served as the Sensoji temple’s approach is one of the oldest shopping streets in the country.

I squeezed through so many people while looking for souvenirs to buy. Who knows what used to be sold in this street a couple of hundreds of years ago. Now, every other street is selling the same thing.

Eventually, I reached the thunder gate, Kaminarimon. This is the outermost gate of Sensoji temple and I have to admit that it is a very impressive gate. Not only in size, but in the aura it gives off. The cool name is just a bonus. Sadly, there were too many tourists swarming the area for proper appreciation of the structure. Plus, the noonday sun was also attacking everyone with its rays. I took some photos and headed for the shade.

Something I didn’t know I’d find in Asakusa were the rickshaws. There were so many of them just waiting for customers. I felt a bit sorry for them, especially in the summer heat. I was just walking with my backpack and was already miserable. What more if I had to drag around a rickshaw holding a couple of tourists? But after that sense of pity came a wave of admiration. They looked really cool and their bodies were built so well. I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous of them.

Moving on, I headed to Kappabashi Kitchen Street. Here I was able to buy a horse-hair toothbrush from Kanaya. I also looked around for a good knife to buy as well as a matcha whisk for Shane. There were so many beautiful kitchenware that I wanted to take home, but the plates and the mugs looked so delicate that I feared they might break during the flight home. Maybe someday…

I had finished browsing Kappabashi but I still had some time before checking in at my final accommodation. I consulted google maps once again for a nearby cafe and happened to see a place named “Only.” With nowhere else to go, I followed the directions and unknowingly went into my favorite experience from this trip.

First, there was a cute doggy waiting at the cafe’s entrance. I know this was a sales tactic, but the doggy looked so happy to see me, I instantly fell for the trap. Next, the cafe owner/barista was an old man who informed me in English that they only sell hot or cold coffee. This was fine by me as I only needed a place to rest my feet and the place was almost empty save for one other customer.

I got a seat and at the table, I saw that the place charges ¥700 for an hour’s stay with a free glass of coffee. This was perfect. The place had everything I needed. Coffee refills were at ¥300 so it rounded up nicely to a good one thousand.

The place looked so retro and rustic. It was like entering into the past. The music inside were old love songs, like something you’d hear being played from a record disk. It reminded me of a kissaten. I was in love with the place. I did all my accounting and journals while the owner prepared my coffee.

I was served a glass of cold coffee plus a “bonus chocolate” as the owner called it. Since he was able to speak some English, I decided to try talking to him and we had a conversation going. And that was how I met Toshiyuki-san and his dog, Rui-chan.

Rui was very playful and climbed on my leg while I was calculating my expenses. Meanwhile, Toshiyuki-san would laugh and tell me all about the place. He is the second-generation owner of the cafe, after his father. He served an impressive blend of coffee that he calls “Taste of Demon”. This blend was developed by his father and uses beans from six countries. I thought that a refill would be too much, but after having his coffee, I wanted even more!

Toshiyuki-san also spoke some Tagalog to me which he says he learned from all the Filipino ladies he met through the years. He was a self-confessed paro-paro or social butterfly. He also gave me my very first “Nihongo jozu” when I asked for the check in Japanese. Words can’t describe how amused and proud I was of this moment. Eventually, it was time to go and we commemorated our meeting with a photo. I promised to come back some day and said my goodbyes to him and Rui-chan.

Then, I walked to Hotel Prele for check in. I passed by Sogenji Temple and Akiba Shrine along the way. Sogenji temple is said to contain the remains of a kappa, hence the name of the area. Meanwhile, Akiba shrine was a tiny, hidden shrine tucked between buildings.

After dropping off my things, I went out for some shopping. For my coffee fix, I went to Iriya Coffee Beans. This place roasted the beans in-store and when I went in, there was the roasting machine right by the door. The owner was a kind man who helped me choose the beans I wanted. He gave me a free taste of the most delicious fruity beans I’ve ever had. I didn’t know coffee could taste like that. It was not bitter at all! It was more like fruit juice instead of the coffee I was familiar with.

We got to talking and he showed me the dates he roasted the beans I purchased. I also told him that I brewed my coffee with the aeropress. He was kind enough to listen and share his knowledge. I wasn’t able to get his name, gomenasai. But I left the store with a couple of bags of beans. Now I just need to figure out if I can replicate the flavor at home.

Next, I headed to a Welcia Drug Store and bought some sunscreen and other cosmetics for my family. Right after this, I checked google maps to find a place for dinner. As luck would have it, right across Welcia was a ramen join just about to open. I walked up to the place and was first in line for Samurai.

I waited a bit and heard some rustling from inside the store. Moments later, the owner and sole worker of the shop opened the sliding doors and welcomed the queue in. I had a bit of trouble with the vending machine as it only accepted old 1000-yen bills, but I eventually placed my order and waited.

The place was small, enough for ten diners. At that time, there were only four customers including me. I was served a really good bowl of ramen. My favorite were the chashu slices which were blow-torched right in front of me. They were amazinlgy charred and had wonderful flavor and texture. Aside from that, the bamboo shoots and piping hot broth made the entire bowl very impressive.

Stuffed with a belly full of ramen, I wandered back to my hotel and packed all my purchases for the day. I was about to call it a night, but I overheard something from the tourists in my shared room.

I heard that there was a fireworks festival at the Sumida river so I decided to go, but after seeing the crowd in Asakusa station, decided to abort that mission and return to the hostel to do some more laundry and sleep. I was so haggard that I didn’t realize that I skipped dinner. I only had some Jersey Pudding but that was enough for the night.

Day 5 – Abayo, Tokyo!

It’s my final day in Tokyo and of course, I had my first shot of Wonda Gold Premium. Then, I fixed my things and checked out of the hostel. I headed to Coffee Murasaki but they were filled with people. My breakfast itinerary went off the rails so early in the morning.

Because of this, I decided to go straight to shopping. I placed my bags at a Coin Locker beside Keisei Ueno station and walked down Ameyoko shopping street. It was interesting to see what was being sold there. Lots of American-style shirts with porn stars printed in front were being displayed right beside a fish market with a whole table of iced Octopus.

I eventually reached the Okachimachi area where I spotted a Don Quijote. This time, I did not spend too much on chocolates and sweets. I just bought what I needed and what was requested from me. My favorite purchase is a kitchen knife. I’ve always wanted to own a Japanese knife and this one fit my budget and needs.

Up next, I bought some really nice boxer briefs from GU. I bought some from my previous Fukuoka trip and liked how they fit. They were also cheap and had a discount when you buy 3 pieces.

With my shopping done, I waited for my awaited lunch place to open. I was 15 minutes too early so I walked around the area and looked for some gacha machines. When I returned 5 minutes before opening time, there was already a line! Thankfully I was just 5th in line and the queue moved quickly.

My chosen restaurant was Spaghetti no Pancho Okachimachi branch. I ordered the appetizing omu-napo which is their signature Napolitan pasta with an omelet on top. I read from the google reviews that the serving is huge. Having skipped breakfast this morning, I was starving and felt that I was in the appropriate place. For my beverage, I had a ramune for the first time.

The serving was indeed large and the entire dish was served steaming hot. No matter how much noodles I consumed, the food on my plate didn’t seem to get smaller. Thank goodness I just ordered the regular serving. The meat sauce was delicious and the pasta perfectly textured. I enjoyed every bite until eventually, I devoured everything. I was stuffed.

I hobbled out of the restaurant feeling tired and ready to hibernate. But I still had to organize all my things before I got the chance to rest. And so, I returned to Ueno Park to gather my stuff and do some last minute repacking of my carry on and check in baggage. I then took a bit of time to just sit and admire the surroundings, knowing it’ll be a while before I come back to this beautiful country.

Satisfied, I headed to Narita Airport via the Keisei Skyliner. Everything was on time and the train zipped through the city very quickly. It was all very fast, cool, and quiet. The reserved seats made it a very comfortable ride and now I see where the difference in ticket price from the regular bus goes to.

I arrived too early for check in so decided to draw the comics seen here and do some accounting of my expenses. When the counters opened, I checked in my baggage and did the all the pre-flight checks. Thankfully, everything went smoothly and I read an e-book while waiting at the pre-departure area.

I was quite proud of how I packed my things that I was able to squeeze in some Royce Chocolates as my take home treat from the Duty-Free shop.

Then, it was time to board the plane back to Manila. Arigatou and mata ne, Japan!

Miscellaneous Thoughts

• This was my first time traveling solo in a while and one of the major downsides of it is that you can’t leave your things with someone when taking a toilet break. Thankfully, Japan has really clean and spacious toilet. Every station has a decent one and if you’re feeling fancy, just go inside a mall.
• Another con of solo travel is that I have no one to yap with. But thankfully, I carry my passport-size journal everywhere. And with no one to talk to, you also don’t have anyone to take photos of you. This isn’t a big deal for me, but it might be for others.
• And of course, the biggest con of solo travel is the cost. Capsule hotels aren’t half as cheap as hotel rooms so it’s always better to be with someone to split up the expenses.
• Tokyo is a great central hub for a lot of places in Japan, but personally, it’s too hectic for me. There are tourists everywhere which can be a double-edged sword. More places can now be accessible to English-speakers, but then some queues were too much.
• The heat never bothered me anyway… But the damn sweating and lugging my things everywhere. I’m not going to be hostel-hopping again anytime soon!
• I would like to thank Gacha machines for, once again, taking up the bulk of my expenses. They really do add up! But they are irresistible and I do aim for those that have some practical use in my life.
• I should have bought a lot of Chiikawa merch :<
• I will never get tired of watching the Japanese trains in action. No wonder they have such a dedicated fanbase. Seeing one up close at a street crossing in Kamakura was a rare experience.
• If you wear a One Piece shirt in Japan, almost everyone you encounter will point it out. Communicating in broken English about how good it is is amusing.
• Inarizushi is the best.
• Kanji still continues to baffle and confuse me.

Japan continues to fascinate and mesmerize me. I’m sure I can keep coming back to Tokyo and discover new things every time. But, I also want to explore other places, those far from the reaches of the Golden-route. Some day I’ll try spending a night at a Ryokan, and finally try an onsen. I hope to have the opportunity to keep coming back.

This was a memorable trip and if you made it up to here, thank you for reading. Recommend me some places and let’s continue talking about Japan!

Toire wa doko desu ka?

-jgzn

P.S.

I drew some comics about this trip during the downtimes, see them below.