Trip Report: Japan - Oct 2019 (Part 1)
A couple weeks ago, I went on my first trip to Japan (solo). It was a very rewarding experience but I had my share of unexpected events that I had to deal with.
On my flight from Chicago to Tokyo, I realized how much I hated long distance flights. It was especially rough because the person sitting in front of me decided to maximize their chair's recline. On a positive (?) note, I set a record of watching 5 movies on the flight. I thought American Airline's flight food was better than my previous experiences with Air Canada, although I couldn't say it really impressed me.
I took the Keisei Skyliner to my hostel. It was nice to relax and have a lot of legroom after the flight. One thing that struck me on the ride was that Tokyo seemed quite dark (not many lights) unlike Toronto which is well lit. Or maybe it was that the Keisei route (especially closer to Narita airport) went through areas that didn't need to be well lit.
After making it to Asakusa station, I had trouble finding my hostel from Google Maps (this will be a recurring theme). Luckily, I got help from someone working at a convenience store and they pointed me in the right direction.
After checking in to my hostel, I explored Sensoji at night and got my first shots of Japan. At the same time, I tried to use my tripod and found that it was half broken - the head clamps wouldn't unclick and I had to spin my camera on to the tripod. I was pretty discouraged at that point due to my tiring flight, having to ditch my hiking pole, and broken tripod. Luckily, I was able to talk myself out of a slump and told myself to take it easy. I came all the way to Japan for a vacation, not to be stressed!
I couldn't sleep the first night due to jet lag and the sound of snoring so I explored Sumida River at 2-3 AM. It was incredibly peaceful and I felt really safe walking alone in Japan.
I went to Shin-Okubo afterwards and had lunch there. I had a great time going into the stores there and seeing the kpop and Korean beauty merchandise. Also explored Shinjuku briefly. The video below was captured at Shinjuku station.
That night, I had dinner with another traveller at a gyoza restaurant in Asakusa. It was cool to hear their trip experiences. I was slightly disappointed by the food because I thought the gyoza would be much bigger (they were a mini size). But they did taste delicious!
Finally, I went to Asakusa's Culture Tourist Information Centre for the night view.
In the morning, I went back to Shinjuku to get my JR Pass in preparation for Kyoto. It was extremely confusing to find the correct JR office - I think I stopped at all of the ones in the area before finally reaching the correct office.
I had lunch in the area with a meetup group. We had ramen for lunch and I got the set with karaage. Afterwards, I was heading to Shinjuku Gyoen and most of the group came with me! It was slightly disappointing because it was more of a park than a garden. I did think the pavilion there was beautiful though. By that time I was really exhausted from walking - mostly because I had forgotten to put my laptop in a coin locker and was carrying it around.
I went back to Shinjuku station and ended up in a coffee shop after trying to find a place to sit + charge my devices. Freaked out slightly because I was getting low on cell phone battery and my portable charger didn't seem to be working. Luckily, plugging to the wall outlet helped me charge my cell phone.
I tried to go to Meiji Jingu around 4PM but Google Maps led me astray once again. It tried to get me to enter through the horse area, but I don't think a walking path actually existed. Since I was exhausted, I quickly decided to give up and head towards my friend's house. I thought I was going to be there early but the extra time helped me navigate Shinjuku station and the subways at rush hour.
Part 1: Tokyo - Asakusa, Shinjuku
Day 0 - Canada / US / Japan
I had difficulties even at the start of my journey because I tried to bring a hiking pole as part of my carry-on. Security wouldn't let me through with it. The airport storage fees were too expensive so I decided to test my luck and left my hiking pole in a washroom stall. Sadly, I never saw it after that ..On my flight from Chicago to Tokyo, I realized how much I hated long distance flights. It was especially rough because the person sitting in front of me decided to maximize their chair's recline. On a positive (?) note, I set a record of watching 5 movies on the flight. I thought American Airline's flight food was better than my previous experiences with Air Canada, although I couldn't say it really impressed me.
Day 1 - Arrival in Tokyo
It was very humid in Japan when I first landed. I tried to participate in Pokemon Go's Mewtwo raid hour at the airport but I couldn't catch it due to lag on my phone.I took the Keisei Skyliner to my hostel. It was nice to relax and have a lot of legroom after the flight. One thing that struck me on the ride was that Tokyo seemed quite dark (not many lights) unlike Toronto which is well lit. Or maybe it was that the Keisei route (especially closer to Narita airport) went through areas that didn't need to be well lit.
After making it to Asakusa station, I had trouble finding my hostel from Google Maps (this will be a recurring theme). Luckily, I got help from someone working at a convenience store and they pointed me in the right direction.
After checking in to my hostel, I explored Sensoji at night and got my first shots of Japan. At the same time, I tried to use my tripod and found that it was half broken - the head clamps wouldn't unclick and I had to spin my camera on to the tripod. I was pretty discouraged at that point due to my tiring flight, having to ditch my hiking pole, and broken tripod. Luckily, I was able to talk myself out of a slump and told myself to take it easy. I came all the way to Japan for a vacation, not to be stressed!
 |
| Sensoji at night |
I couldn't sleep the first night due to jet lag and the sound of snoring so I explored Sumida River at 2-3 AM. It was incredibly peaceful and I felt really safe walking alone in Japan.
 |
| Tokyo skytree from across the Sumida river |
Day 2 - Asakusa + NW Tokyo
I explored Asakusa / Sensoji in the morning and then went to the Tokyo Metropolitan building for the observation deck. There was a line up for the elevators but I think I only waited ~15 minutes. I also checked out the Olympic Exhibition while I was at the government building. |
| Tokyo Olympic mascots! |
I went to Shin-Okubo afterwards and had lunch there. I had a great time going into the stores there and seeing the kpop and Korean beauty merchandise. Also explored Shinjuku briefly. The video below was captured at Shinjuku station.
That night, I had dinner with another traveller at a gyoza restaurant in Asakusa. It was cool to hear their trip experiences. I was slightly disappointed by the food because I thought the gyoza would be much bigger (they were a mini size). But they did taste delicious!
Finally, I went to Asakusa's Culture Tourist Information Centre for the night view.
 |
| View of Nakamise from the Info Centre |
Day 3 - Adventures in Shinjuku
I still couldn't sleep so I went out for a walk at 4AM to the grocery store.In the morning, I went back to Shinjuku to get my JR Pass in preparation for Kyoto. It was extremely confusing to find the correct JR office - I think I stopped at all of the ones in the area before finally reaching the correct office.
I had lunch in the area with a meetup group. We had ramen for lunch and I got the set with karaage. Afterwards, I was heading to Shinjuku Gyoen and most of the group came with me! It was slightly disappointing because it was more of a park than a garden. I did think the pavilion there was beautiful though. By that time I was really exhausted from walking - mostly because I had forgotten to put my laptop in a coin locker and was carrying it around.
 |
| Pavilion at Shinjuku Gyoen |
I went back to Shinjuku station and ended up in a coffee shop after trying to find a place to sit + charge my devices. Freaked out slightly because I was getting low on cell phone battery and my portable charger didn't seem to be working. Luckily, plugging to the wall outlet helped me charge my cell phone.
I tried to go to Meiji Jingu around 4PM but Google Maps led me astray once again. It tried to get me to enter through the horse area, but I don't think a walking path actually existed. Since I was exhausted, I quickly decided to give up and head towards my friend's house. I thought I was going to be there early but the extra time helped me navigate Shinjuku station and the subways at rush hour.
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