Caporegime
Not sure if I should post this in GD or the photos section....wish we had a travel sub forum but anyhow.
This trip total of 11 days but I landed in the evening and left on the morning on either end meaning I only had 9 full days.
The itinerary were split into 3 phrases as follows:-
3 Days in Tokyo
3 Days backpacking through Matsumoto -> Kanazawa -> Kyoto
3 days in Tokyo
The aim of the trip was to get photos of the Sakura season, photos of life in Japan and eat lots of food. In total, according to the watch I walked as much as 25km a day, as little as 15km, total over 170km so 100miles. Somehow I gained 4lbs when I weighted myself. Lol
Before I start talking about the trip, I want to talk about the basics for travelling in Japan in 2023.
Data plan – There are loads of options, Pocket Wifi, where you rent a little portable wifi thing. The good thing about them is they have unlimited data, they are quite fast, and multiple people can connect to one. If you have more than 1 person in the group, this is the best option.
The 2nd option is to get a physical sim card, either order one before you leave or buy one when you arrive.
The 3rd option is e-sim. I used a company call Airalo, it cost £20 for 30 days of data with 20G. I ended up using about 7.5G in 10 days which was plenty. However I did switch off background app update, to prevent hundreds of mb to be used.
I’ve tried all 3 options over the years, I think the e-sim is the best one if your phone can do it. You can set it up before you leave, leave the phone line switch on, point the phone’s data to the Japan sim. Speed isn’t amazing, about 3mbps but it is fast enough for even YouTube on the go, got connection absolutely everywhere. No need to return the pocket wifi and no extra piece of hardware to carry and keep charged.
On the Shinkansen now if you have luggage on the LARGE size, then you need to book the spaces at the end of each carriage for free, or face a small fine (or fee, its in the tens, not hundreds of pound). But the overhead spaces will fit all carry on luggage, or even some check in luggage, provided you can lift it up over your head.
Overall I think I did the one thing that I advise people not to do, which is to pack too much in.
On paper, it doesn’t seem like I packed too much in as I had 6 days in Tokyo, but what happened was in the moment, I always wanted to go to the next place, and I didn’t really have a rest day. I knew I would walk a lot but over 100 miles was unexpected. Although to me, that would be a waste of money to go all the way there to “rest” in Japan.
I would probably have liked to spent another day or 2 in Kyoto, there is never enough time for Kyoto. I would have liked to have spent more days without an aim, just picked an area and linger, but again, that seems like a waste to me. As every day I had a target, a photo in mind, a place I need to be at X o’clock, either to make the dinner reservation, to make the sunset hour at certain spot, to get to a place before it shuts. Less of that would have been ideal but it is very difficult to do, at least once I am there in person. It’s a mindset I need to get out of, but then again, I enjoy it so I don’t know!
------------------------------------
The long version below….
To get around
If you have an iPhone, go to the Wallet and add a travel card, call Suica
You can link it to Apple Pay, then you can top up the card on the go. This is used on all transport in Japan. Although Suica is technically only can be purchased in the Tokyo region, it works all over. I used it on the bus in Kyoto, or pay to enter temples in Sendai.
Other places and companies offer their own version of the card, in physical form, but Suica is AFAIK, the only digital one. There is an Andriod version, but you will need an app in Japanese and it is tricky to set up and might actually need a Japanese phone.
Otherwise, you can purchase these IC cards (what they are called), like Oyster cards, from machines for 500yen, refundable when returned. The problem with physical card is you can only top up at the machines. With the Phone I can top up on the go.
JR Pass, about £200 for 7 days. ONLY worthwhile if you are going on the bullet train, and only really more than twice, depending on distances. Use the link below, put in your travel plan and see if the total cost is worth getting it. I normally get it when it breaks even. Because then I will use it on the JR subway in Tokyo, like the Yamanote Line (Circle Line in London), and a couple of lines. So to save a few quid here and there. Remember though, they only issue the JR Pass once, need to be picked up in person and if lost, tough luck. You cannot get another one, even with proof of purchase, no matter how hard you beg.
https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
The site I get it from is the official one, which actually cost about £30 more than getting it through an agent. However, if you get it from an Agent, they post you the voucher to exchange for the pass when you get there, which cost like £14 for postage! So the price difference is about £15. With the official site you get emailed the “voucher” and you can show the email to the JR counter in Tokyo to exchange for the ticket, so you don’t lose the voucher or “forgot” to bring it with you.
The biggest benefit with getting it from the official site is you can reserve your seats online. Order your JR Pass in the 30days leading up to it (max 90 days), and within the 30 days you can reserve your seats online. Otherwise you have to either go to one of those ticket machines or go to the counter. Whereas I did it all before I left the UK. When I went to pick up the JR Pass, I also picked up all the ticket reservations tickets (which you don’t really need in all honesty)
https://japanrailpass.net/en/
Apps to navigate
Google maps – remember to use filter to filter out transport that you don’t want to use.
Navitime – Remember to use the filter for JR Pass as the JR Pass is not valid for the 2 fastest Shinkansen.
Day 0
The first evening I went to Nakameguro but it was a bust as it wasn’t lit as well as I hoped and I didn’t have my tripod with me.
Quick stop to say hi to Hachiko
Day 1
Today’s itinerary started off with Gotokuji, the cat temple. The reason being that Japan doesn’t really open until 10am at the earliest, or 11am for most places. So for the first few hours in the morning, it’s actually best to go to temples or shrines
I found a cat in Gotokuji (Cat Temple) so I guess i found god.
I was so early I was the only one there for about 15mins, then I nipped over to Nakameguro River, a popular spot for Sakura in Tokyo, a river lined with over 800 trees either side for about 2km. The plan was also go to Starbucks Roastery but it was so busy they operated a QR code virtural queuing system and I didn’t have time to linger around so I left and went to Ghibli Cream Puff place call Shirohige’s cream puff. Technically, this store isn’t an official Ghibli store or any way associated with it, but the lady that owns it is a family member of Hayao Miyazaki so it has an unofficial approval and why it hasn’t got shut down.
They are famous for 1 thing and it’s their Totoro looking cream puffs, I got it and made my way back to my hotel room as I wasn’t planning to eat 2. (This is where I had my first of many accidents with my camera, first I dropped it and broke the filter on the lens)
After that I realised I haven’t eaten anything so stopped over at Family Mart for some fried chicken and Nikuman (Pork bun). I also went back to the hotel and near by JR Office to pick up my JR Rail Pass and got some pilers to get the broken filter off the camera.
In the afternoon I continued my Sakura seeking mission and went to Shinjuku Gardens.
People tend to gather under the tree and use the flowers as backdrop for their instagram pics.
The last place to stop off before dark was Chidorigafuchi Park for more Sakura. Then somewhere along the way I realised I noticed the eye piece on my camera was missing so headed over to Yodabashi in Akihabara to get a replacement. Funnily enough Eye-Piece when said slowly in Japanese, the guy understood me perfectly. It must be the same word in Katakana.
Then for dinner I had made reservation at a Omasake place, 26 courses of hand made sushi.
Day 2
Today’s mission was try to see Mt Fuji. So I took the train at like 7am to Fujiyoshida, where I previously took this photo.
Except this time I wasn't so lucky, also the place is now a tourist magnet! It was so busy with foot traffic there is enough people to sustain this coffee shop across the street.
(the day after it was great clear!). Also, the Sakura isn’t ready, it was probably about a week too soon for this place.
Found a shrine nearby
So I made my way to the famous Chureito Pagoda, even though i know it will be cloudy.
Also, the Sakura isn’t ready, it was probably about a week too soon for this place. So by about 1pm I decided to head back to Tokyo. In the evening I just went to Sensoji Temple (packed!) and did light shopping for some Ghibli Art books.
Day 3
Today’s mission is leave Tokyo for a day trip to Enoshima. A little island off the coast. A popular family day out spot for the locals.
It's a fun little island to browse, just a couple of temples, a garden, a viewing tower and a cave.
This loop thing, you have to go through it like 4 or 5 times in certain directions for good luck
There is a rocky side of the island where there is an ancient cave and also people taking selfies and fishing.
The cloud cleared just in time for sunset. You can actually see Mt. Fuji from this far away.
Day 4
Today’s journey starts from Tokyo -> Kami Suwa -> Narai-juku -> Matsumoto
A very long day today, sakura outside the hotel are all but finished.
First stop is nothing more than to satisfy my curiosity of seeing this shot of the Anime Your Name in real life.
Just a brief stop before heading to the station, came across this monstrosity of a building with a Lawsons in lol
Random thing i saw at a train station waiting room, which has a ramen store, but no direct seating so people sat and ate noodles in the waiting area.
Then I took a local train to Narai-Juku. The attraction to this little town, or village, is this is one of the old, existing Postal towns that back in like the 1800’s or before, the Japanese, mostly Nobles and Samurai took on the route between Kyoto to Tokyo on foot and they travel through the mountains and stop over these places to sleep.
It is nice that it is still VERY much untouched by modern society bar the gift shops selling trinkets to make ends meet by the locals now. There are no convenient stores in the village and no chains to be seen anywhere. After about 3hrs I got to the train to Matsumoto.
After that I headed to Matsumoto for the night, there was only 1 thing I wanted to see in Matsumoto and it is the castle. I heard they lit it at night and they did and it was PACKED!!!
On the way I took one of my favourite photo. The Sakura here is still in full bloom.
Day 5
In the morning I went to check it out again in the day light for sunrise before head off to Kanazawa.
I just love this little path by the river to the castle.
The mountains in this area are very impressive.
Kanazawa
After checked into the hotel i went to the local market for lunch and check out this market. It's on all the guidebooks, but IMO it's okay, same as most other Japanese market really but it's less for tourists, and i would say most of it is for locals shopping, lots of seafood to be sold here.
This Waygu sushi was delicious though.
First evening in Kanazawa was nothing more than checking out the old district that is similar to Gion in Kyoto, the area is where 90% of Gold in Japan comes from so you can get a lot of Gold related stuff, cheaper than elsewhere. You will find fold in pretty much anything, including an ice-cream….this is where I can say, my poop is made of gold, after eating this.
Kanazawa is famous for their gold, they put it on everything.
The city gets pretty dead after 6pm, practically everything shut except some restaurants, or Izakaya.
Day 6
In the morning went to check out the castle and the garden.
Caught a wedding shoot in the garden.
After checking out of the hotel I headed to Kyoto, my mission for Kyoto was quite simple. I had been here 4 times before, everytime I came the platform in Kiyomizu Dera was under reconstruction and last year they reopened it so I wanted to see it without the scaffolding.
Kyoto
This is the platform where the legend goes that if you can jump off and survive....one's wish will be granted....
Starbucks...
I did wanted to go to the largest Pagoda in Japan to see the night lit up garden but i was too late.
Day 7
This next morning I decided to walk and explore the east side of Kyoto, main route was Philosopher’s Path. Lots of tourists.
saw more wedding photoshoots
or Instagram photos...
These are the steps Scarlett Johansson walked over in Lost in Translation.
Day 8
Yokohama Day.
In the morning I made reservation to Starbucks so I got to go in, had a cocktail for breakfast with a coffee and made my way to Yokohama.
First stop was the Cup Noodle Museum, made a booking to make my own cup but they didn’t have a slot until 4pm – 5pm….
I had tickets to go to the platform for the Gundam at 4pm so I booked 5pm for the Cup Noodle experience.
Went to the Gundam Factory, took some pics but dropped my film camera, somehow the links came undone and it fell. I had used 1 roll of film to take average 3 photos a day for the trip..i had taken 35/36 shots when it fell. In the moment I tried to wind it after the winder was bent and snapped the film inside in half.
Anyway, when the Gundam viewing thing ended at 4:50…I had 25mins to run to make a 29min walk on Google Maps. I made it at 5:18. And had to think of an idea of what to draw on the Cup.
Day 9.
“Relax” Day. This day was originally planned as a spare day to chase Sakura, had I not been lucky I would have used this day to head north to find Sakura. But seeing I had caught loads then the plan was then to take it easy, doing some light shopping in Tokyo.
As most stores don’t open until like 11am in the morning I went to this infamous spot where a tunnel, a bridge, and a station all can be seen in the same frame. The sun also rises right in this direction so had I been early enough it would have looked amazing.
Then went to Akihabara, then Ochanomizu to see some guitars.
Then went over to Shinjuku and then Shin-Okubo to check out Korean town. Then I had to pop back to Sensoji for something before going back to Shibuya to Nintendo Store and Pokémon centre.
Overall the trip was great, some disappointments like not seeing Mt Fuji with Sakura like I planned, I was about 7-14 days too early for that. However, I caught it in Matsumoto and Kanazawa which was great. I got some good pictures, ate a LOT of sushi, not enough ramen and too much food from the Kobini.
A couple of observations:-
This time round it seems all the Japanese people thought I am also Japanese. I swear this didn’t happen before. This started at Heathrow airport when I went to baggage drop, I was just looking aimlessly where the ANA counter was when one of their staff came up to me and started speaking Japanese…And then in Japan everyone spoke to me in Japanese in the first instance.
A lot of places now take cards, VISA, Mastercard, Amex etc. The machine however that does the contactless….slightly different looking than ours, it’s like a box with clear glass panel thing. Some stores don’t have contactless and need to stick the card in for Chip & Pin, a couple of places didn’t even need that! Just stick the card in and money was taken. Very 2000’s tech. but at least, you can get by in Tokyo cashless in the majority of cases if you don’t go to small restaurants.
Still very few bins anywhere, that hasn’t changed. I notice a lot of taxi has swapped over to London Cab style, didn’t take any but the older Toyota ones are being replaced with these newer designs.
This trip total of 11 days but I landed in the evening and left on the morning on either end meaning I only had 9 full days.
The itinerary were split into 3 phrases as follows:-
3 Days in Tokyo
3 Days backpacking through Matsumoto -> Kanazawa -> Kyoto
3 days in Tokyo
The aim of the trip was to get photos of the Sakura season, photos of life in Japan and eat lots of food. In total, according to the watch I walked as much as 25km a day, as little as 15km, total over 170km so 100miles. Somehow I gained 4lbs when I weighted myself. Lol
Before I start talking about the trip, I want to talk about the basics for travelling in Japan in 2023.
Data plan – There are loads of options, Pocket Wifi, where you rent a little portable wifi thing. The good thing about them is they have unlimited data, they are quite fast, and multiple people can connect to one. If you have more than 1 person in the group, this is the best option.
The 2nd option is to get a physical sim card, either order one before you leave or buy one when you arrive.
The 3rd option is e-sim. I used a company call Airalo, it cost £20 for 30 days of data with 20G. I ended up using about 7.5G in 10 days which was plenty. However I did switch off background app update, to prevent hundreds of mb to be used.
I’ve tried all 3 options over the years, I think the e-sim is the best one if your phone can do it. You can set it up before you leave, leave the phone line switch on, point the phone’s data to the Japan sim. Speed isn’t amazing, about 3mbps but it is fast enough for even YouTube on the go, got connection absolutely everywhere. No need to return the pocket wifi and no extra piece of hardware to carry and keep charged.
On the Shinkansen now if you have luggage on the LARGE size, then you need to book the spaces at the end of each carriage for free, or face a small fine (or fee, its in the tens, not hundreds of pound). But the overhead spaces will fit all carry on luggage, or even some check in luggage, provided you can lift it up over your head.
Overall I think I did the one thing that I advise people not to do, which is to pack too much in.
On paper, it doesn’t seem like I packed too much in as I had 6 days in Tokyo, but what happened was in the moment, I always wanted to go to the next place, and I didn’t really have a rest day. I knew I would walk a lot but over 100 miles was unexpected. Although to me, that would be a waste of money to go all the way there to “rest” in Japan.
I would probably have liked to spent another day or 2 in Kyoto, there is never enough time for Kyoto. I would have liked to have spent more days without an aim, just picked an area and linger, but again, that seems like a waste to me. As every day I had a target, a photo in mind, a place I need to be at X o’clock, either to make the dinner reservation, to make the sunset hour at certain spot, to get to a place before it shuts. Less of that would have been ideal but it is very difficult to do, at least once I am there in person. It’s a mindset I need to get out of, but then again, I enjoy it so I don’t know!
------------------------------------
The long version below….
To get around
If you have an iPhone, go to the Wallet and add a travel card, call Suica
You can link it to Apple Pay, then you can top up the card on the go. This is used on all transport in Japan. Although Suica is technically only can be purchased in the Tokyo region, it works all over. I used it on the bus in Kyoto, or pay to enter temples in Sendai.
Other places and companies offer their own version of the card, in physical form, but Suica is AFAIK, the only digital one. There is an Andriod version, but you will need an app in Japanese and it is tricky to set up and might actually need a Japanese phone.
Otherwise, you can purchase these IC cards (what they are called), like Oyster cards, from machines for 500yen, refundable when returned. The problem with physical card is you can only top up at the machines. With the Phone I can top up on the go.
JR Pass, about £200 for 7 days. ONLY worthwhile if you are going on the bullet train, and only really more than twice, depending on distances. Use the link below, put in your travel plan and see if the total cost is worth getting it. I normally get it when it breaks even. Because then I will use it on the JR subway in Tokyo, like the Yamanote Line (Circle Line in London), and a couple of lines. So to save a few quid here and there. Remember though, they only issue the JR Pass once, need to be picked up in person and if lost, tough luck. You cannot get another one, even with proof of purchase, no matter how hard you beg.
https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
The site I get it from is the official one, which actually cost about £30 more than getting it through an agent. However, if you get it from an Agent, they post you the voucher to exchange for the pass when you get there, which cost like £14 for postage! So the price difference is about £15. With the official site you get emailed the “voucher” and you can show the email to the JR counter in Tokyo to exchange for the ticket, so you don’t lose the voucher or “forgot” to bring it with you.
The biggest benefit with getting it from the official site is you can reserve your seats online. Order your JR Pass in the 30days leading up to it (max 90 days), and within the 30 days you can reserve your seats online. Otherwise you have to either go to one of those ticket machines or go to the counter. Whereas I did it all before I left the UK. When I went to pick up the JR Pass, I also picked up all the ticket reservations tickets (which you don’t really need in all honesty)
https://japanrailpass.net/en/
Apps to navigate
Google maps – remember to use filter to filter out transport that you don’t want to use.
Navitime – Remember to use the filter for JR Pass as the JR Pass is not valid for the 2 fastest Shinkansen.
Day 0
The first evening I went to Nakameguro but it was a bust as it wasn’t lit as well as I hoped and I didn’t have my tripod with me.
Quick stop to say hi to Hachiko
Day 1
Today’s itinerary started off with Gotokuji, the cat temple. The reason being that Japan doesn’t really open until 10am at the earliest, or 11am for most places. So for the first few hours in the morning, it’s actually best to go to temples or shrines
I found a cat in Gotokuji (Cat Temple) so I guess i found god.
I was so early I was the only one there for about 15mins, then I nipped over to Nakameguro River, a popular spot for Sakura in Tokyo, a river lined with over 800 trees either side for about 2km. The plan was also go to Starbucks Roastery but it was so busy they operated a QR code virtural queuing system and I didn’t have time to linger around so I left and went to Ghibli Cream Puff place call Shirohige’s cream puff. Technically, this store isn’t an official Ghibli store or any way associated with it, but the lady that owns it is a family member of Hayao Miyazaki so it has an unofficial approval and why it hasn’t got shut down.
They are famous for 1 thing and it’s their Totoro looking cream puffs, I got it and made my way back to my hotel room as I wasn’t planning to eat 2. (This is where I had my first of many accidents with my camera, first I dropped it and broke the filter on the lens)
After that I realised I haven’t eaten anything so stopped over at Family Mart for some fried chicken and Nikuman (Pork bun). I also went back to the hotel and near by JR Office to pick up my JR Rail Pass and got some pilers to get the broken filter off the camera.
In the afternoon I continued my Sakura seeking mission and went to Shinjuku Gardens.
People tend to gather under the tree and use the flowers as backdrop for their instagram pics.
The last place to stop off before dark was Chidorigafuchi Park for more Sakura. Then somewhere along the way I realised I noticed the eye piece on my camera was missing so headed over to Yodabashi in Akihabara to get a replacement. Funnily enough Eye-Piece when said slowly in Japanese, the guy understood me perfectly. It must be the same word in Katakana.
Then for dinner I had made reservation at a Omasake place, 26 courses of hand made sushi.
Day 2
Today’s mission was try to see Mt Fuji. So I took the train at like 7am to Fujiyoshida, where I previously took this photo.
Except this time I wasn't so lucky, also the place is now a tourist magnet! It was so busy with foot traffic there is enough people to sustain this coffee shop across the street.
(the day after it was great clear!). Also, the Sakura isn’t ready, it was probably about a week too soon for this place.
Found a shrine nearby
So I made my way to the famous Chureito Pagoda, even though i know it will be cloudy.
Also, the Sakura isn’t ready, it was probably about a week too soon for this place. So by about 1pm I decided to head back to Tokyo. In the evening I just went to Sensoji Temple (packed!) and did light shopping for some Ghibli Art books.
Day 3
Today’s mission is leave Tokyo for a day trip to Enoshima. A little island off the coast. A popular family day out spot for the locals.
It's a fun little island to browse, just a couple of temples, a garden, a viewing tower and a cave.
This loop thing, you have to go through it like 4 or 5 times in certain directions for good luck
There is a rocky side of the island where there is an ancient cave and also people taking selfies and fishing.
The cloud cleared just in time for sunset. You can actually see Mt. Fuji from this far away.
Day 4
Today’s journey starts from Tokyo -> Kami Suwa -> Narai-juku -> Matsumoto
A very long day today, sakura outside the hotel are all but finished.
First stop is nothing more than to satisfy my curiosity of seeing this shot of the Anime Your Name in real life.
Just a brief stop before heading to the station, came across this monstrosity of a building with a Lawsons in lol
Random thing i saw at a train station waiting room, which has a ramen store, but no direct seating so people sat and ate noodles in the waiting area.
Then I took a local train to Narai-Juku. The attraction to this little town, or village, is this is one of the old, existing Postal towns that back in like the 1800’s or before, the Japanese, mostly Nobles and Samurai took on the route between Kyoto to Tokyo on foot and they travel through the mountains and stop over these places to sleep.
It is nice that it is still VERY much untouched by modern society bar the gift shops selling trinkets to make ends meet by the locals now. There are no convenient stores in the village and no chains to be seen anywhere. After about 3hrs I got to the train to Matsumoto.
After that I headed to Matsumoto for the night, there was only 1 thing I wanted to see in Matsumoto and it is the castle. I heard they lit it at night and they did and it was PACKED!!!
On the way I took one of my favourite photo. The Sakura here is still in full bloom.
Day 5
In the morning I went to check it out again in the day light for sunrise before head off to Kanazawa.
I just love this little path by the river to the castle.
The mountains in this area are very impressive.
Kanazawa
After checked into the hotel i went to the local market for lunch and check out this market. It's on all the guidebooks, but IMO it's okay, same as most other Japanese market really but it's less for tourists, and i would say most of it is for locals shopping, lots of seafood to be sold here.
This Waygu sushi was delicious though.
First evening in Kanazawa was nothing more than checking out the old district that is similar to Gion in Kyoto, the area is where 90% of Gold in Japan comes from so you can get a lot of Gold related stuff, cheaper than elsewhere. You will find fold in pretty much anything, including an ice-cream….this is where I can say, my poop is made of gold, after eating this.
Kanazawa is famous for their gold, they put it on everything.
The city gets pretty dead after 6pm, practically everything shut except some restaurants, or Izakaya.
Day 6
In the morning went to check out the castle and the garden.
Caught a wedding shoot in the garden.
After checking out of the hotel I headed to Kyoto, my mission for Kyoto was quite simple. I had been here 4 times before, everytime I came the platform in Kiyomizu Dera was under reconstruction and last year they reopened it so I wanted to see it without the scaffolding.
Kyoto
This is the platform where the legend goes that if you can jump off and survive....one's wish will be granted....
Starbucks...
I did wanted to go to the largest Pagoda in Japan to see the night lit up garden but i was too late.
Day 7
This next morning I decided to walk and explore the east side of Kyoto, main route was Philosopher’s Path. Lots of tourists.
saw more wedding photoshoots
or Instagram photos...
These are the steps Scarlett Johansson walked over in Lost in Translation.
Day 8
Yokohama Day.
In the morning I made reservation to Starbucks so I got to go in, had a cocktail for breakfast with a coffee and made my way to Yokohama.
First stop was the Cup Noodle Museum, made a booking to make my own cup but they didn’t have a slot until 4pm – 5pm….
I had tickets to go to the platform for the Gundam at 4pm so I booked 5pm for the Cup Noodle experience.
Went to the Gundam Factory, took some pics but dropped my film camera, somehow the links came undone and it fell. I had used 1 roll of film to take average 3 photos a day for the trip..i had taken 35/36 shots when it fell. In the moment I tried to wind it after the winder was bent and snapped the film inside in half.
Anyway, when the Gundam viewing thing ended at 4:50…I had 25mins to run to make a 29min walk on Google Maps. I made it at 5:18. And had to think of an idea of what to draw on the Cup.
Day 9.
“Relax” Day. This day was originally planned as a spare day to chase Sakura, had I not been lucky I would have used this day to head north to find Sakura. But seeing I had caught loads then the plan was then to take it easy, doing some light shopping in Tokyo.
As most stores don’t open until like 11am in the morning I went to this infamous spot where a tunnel, a bridge, and a station all can be seen in the same frame. The sun also rises right in this direction so had I been early enough it would have looked amazing.
Then went to Akihabara, then Ochanomizu to see some guitars.
Then went over to Shinjuku and then Shin-Okubo to check out Korean town. Then I had to pop back to Sensoji for something before going back to Shibuya to Nintendo Store and Pokémon centre.
Overall the trip was great, some disappointments like not seeing Mt Fuji with Sakura like I planned, I was about 7-14 days too early for that. However, I caught it in Matsumoto and Kanazawa which was great. I got some good pictures, ate a LOT of sushi, not enough ramen and too much food from the Kobini.
A couple of observations:-
This time round it seems all the Japanese people thought I am also Japanese. I swear this didn’t happen before. This started at Heathrow airport when I went to baggage drop, I was just looking aimlessly where the ANA counter was when one of their staff came up to me and started speaking Japanese…And then in Japan everyone spoke to me in Japanese in the first instance.
A lot of places now take cards, VISA, Mastercard, Amex etc. The machine however that does the contactless….slightly different looking than ours, it’s like a box with clear glass panel thing. Some stores don’t have contactless and need to stick the card in for Chip & Pin, a couple of places didn’t even need that! Just stick the card in and money was taken. Very 2000’s tech. but at least, you can get by in Tokyo cashless in the majority of cases if you don’t go to small restaurants.
Still very few bins anywhere, that hasn’t changed. I notice a lot of taxi has swapped over to London Cab style, didn’t take any but the older Toyota ones are being replaced with these newer designs.
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