Tokyo Day One:
As we set out from our airbnb, our first stop was the teamLab borderless art museum. Wow is it the most incredible art museum I've ever been to. The art comes from projectors and moves all over the walls, floors, and ceilings. There were walls of sunflowers and forests of lamps. I jumped on a trampoline and created supernovas, laid down on a floating nest, rock climbed and made music, floated with butterflies, and watched the rain fall from thousands of LED string lights. My favourite rooms were the forest of lamps and the crystal world. The entire museum was just simply captivating and brilliant. We were there four hours and still didn't see everything. It was magical.
Afterward we went to Shibuya–the Times Square of Tokyo. Every time the crosswalk turns over 2,000 people cross the street—and we were some of them once! We ate conveyor belt sushi that comes right out to your seat. While the rest of our group went to the Robot Restaurant after sushi, Sean and I found the cutest little Irish pub. When the robot restaurant show was over, we all went to karaoke. We rented a private room and sang our hearts out. And then to finish off the night we caught the very last train back to our airbnb and tried (to no avail) to figure out the hot water.
Tokyo Day Two:
We got a bit of an early start this morning with breakfast at Happy Pancake. Imagine gigantic, fluffy pancakes covered in chocolate sauce and granola—I know, I know. Afterward we ate lunch at the Kawaii Monster Cafe. Kawaii is such a cool concept in Japan. Its a rebellion against the objectification of women by dressing cutesy and adorable. Afterward, Sean and I accompanied our good friend Meriel to look for her phone which she had left on a subway the day before. And as a testament to the kindness and politeness of the country of Japan—someone actually turned in her phone when she left it on the subway. We couldn't believe it. We spent a couple hours adventuring the subway systems of Japan and finally got her phone back—it was an awesome moment. After our adventure we went back to the airbnb to eat gummy bears and watch the Secret Life of Walter Mitty (aka my perfect evening).
Tokyo Day Three:
We got up early and rode the bullet train back to Kobe. We stopped again in Chinatown to soak up what we could and then went back to the ship!
Japan was so incredibly amazing. The culture and the people are so kind, the history is incredible, and the sushi can't be beat!
Some lessons I'm taking home:
- Taking my shoes off when I come in the house—it makes so much sense! You never lose them and it keeps your home clean.
- Wearing a mask. Now, this was much more prevalent because of the coronavirus, but I also kinda like the concept of wearing a mask when you're in close quarters with people (like on a plane or train). No, it doesn't protect you from much, but it does make you feel cleaner.
- Being quiet on the subway train. It was eerily quiet every time we got on the subway because people here just respect each other and are considerate with their voice level in public areas. My friends and I were often the loudest people in the room.
- Plans are made to be changed. I've learned not to be so strict with the plans I make in each country and that the best places you go to are usually the ones you find accidentally.
Sayonara,
Lar
Check out the video my friend Angie made of our travels in Japan! (I come in around Japan.) Just copt and paste the link to get to youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LrdU0I14AQ
Pictured below: Sean, Meriel, and me at a vegan ramen restaurant; me in the crystal world at teamLab borderless; and our group at the Kawaii Monster Cafe
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