Someone pinch me because I am not alive. I am squealing with joy at being in Japan. Things I have noticed just from the airport transit was how clean it is and how polite everyone is. Aboard the Narita Express my eyes were fixed on the window trying to take the entire landscape in. It was a bright sunny day although I don't doubt it is freezing outside and some of the fall foliage color still remained amidst the trees.
I had arrived in the morning and since Suyi wasn't arriving until the evening, I had the whole day to myself. Before I had left the U.S., Killian’s sister's boyfriend had connected me to his best friend named Paul. Paul had worked at McKinsey for four years but had now quit since he was overworked. He was currently spending 3 months in Japan so I figured I would meet him to say I had at least met him.
It took me much longer than expected to figure out how the train system works and the pick up 72 hour metro passes for the train system. I had thought Japan was an entirely cashless society, but I was far from right. For the trains you can only purchase a ticket with cash and there are many restaurants that only accept cash. I made it all the way to the hotel until I realized I desperately needed cash. I had tried a few banks but they didn't accept my card. Turns out the only ATM where my debit card worked was at 7/11. I had needed cash to store my luggage at the hotel before I met Paul.
I finally met Paul an hour later than I had told him. He was waiting for me at a soup place called Hakosoba. I ordered and paid through a machine and then picked up my order at the front counter. This was a soba noodles restaurant so I ordered hot soba with shrimp tempura. Not bad for my first meal in Japan!
I had Paul take me to Shinjuku Gyoen which he said was his favorite garden in Tokyo. The garden spanned over 150 acres and had once been a part of a feudal lord’s estate. There were three different sections - a formal French garden, English garden, and then a traditional Japanese garden. The traditional Japanese garden was my favorite and it was so picturesque! There were many Japanese sculptures and stone carvings as well as bridges. What was most beautiful was the fall foliage that served as a backdrop. I had expected it to be snowy and cold but found myself in a dress today! It was such a perfect blue sky day. There was also a botanical garden that we checked out that was very pretty.
I wanted to visit the Meiji Jingu which was close by so Paul agreed. Apparently a lot of his friends had come to visit so he has been taking people around to the same tourist spots over and over. The Meiji Jingu is a shrine dedicated to the first emperor of modern Japan and was built in 1920. It was destroyed in the world wars but rebuilt shortly after. Temples are a place of peace for me and this one was no exception. I really enjoyed the beautiful walk through the forest to get to the temple. Along the way we saw barrels of sake and wine that had been recovered from years ago. The shrine was completely wooden and brown, which I did not expect. I thought it would be very colorful but maybe this one is built in a more modern Japanese style of simplicity. The temple was pretty busy with tourists everywhere taking pictures. There were also shops selling good luck charm sachets. Each sachet represents something different from wealth, good health, relationship luck, and more. These little sachets were only available at the temple. There were several other charms that could only be purchased at the temple as well.
There was a 3D latte art cafe that I had seen a reel about on Instagram and knew I had to visit. Paul was not having it as he didn't understand why on earth I would go to a cafe just to order a drink for the bear. Ignoring Paul, I ordered a hot chocolate with a 3-D art bear from Cafe Reissue. The cafe has its own set of in-house artists who create the art. When my hot chocolate bear came it was too cute to drink! It was so jiggly too and I could not help but put my spoon on its little belly and jiggle the bear. I was obsessed with the little bear! He was so darn cute!
Paul had recommended going to Tokyo Tower to see the skyline of Tokyo as an evening activity so that is exactly what I did. Included in the ticket was a tour and ride to the top floor of the Tower. The Tower is built in the same style as the Eiffel tower and looks like a mini Eiffel tower if you ask me. It stands 33 meters high and it was built in 1957 and took 18 months. From the main viewing deck there is an incredible view of the Tokyo skyline! I was shocked by just how big the city was! Everywhere I looked there were skyscrapers! The skyscrapers may have become famous in SF, but Tokyo had no competition anymore. I did a full circle around the tower to see the skyline from all angles. The city was very much alive!
I didn't think it could get much better but it did! The view was even better from the top viewing platform and I felt on top of the world. The adrenaline hit as I ascended in the elevator and I thought to myself “wow I really am in Tokyo standing in front of the whole city”. It was very impressive to say the least. I could not wait to explore more down below now that I had seen a bird's eye view.
Suyi finally made it to the hotel about 5 hours after landing. I knew he would struggle and he did but he also figured it out between his mom and him. Oh Suyi! It never gets old how he struggles with the simplest of tasks. I was very happy and glad to see him after many months and with that we went out to eat our first bowl of ramen.
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