Picture of Tokyo
Caption: Lost in Japan
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: I opened my eyes to a frosty morning in Nara. It was 5AM and I tossed and turned in bed for another 30 minutes before I resigned to the fact that I was still jet lagged. So I got up, showered, and decided to get an early start to the day. Traveling puts me outside my comfort zone and has helped me cultivate a taste for small pleasures. Being jet lagged and walking in an unfamiliar place at dawn has become one of the things I enjoy the most. Others include creating travel playlists on Spotify and enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee to warm my hands on a cold morning. So I put on some warm clothes, grabbed my headphones, bought a latte from Starbucks, and got lost in Japan; listening to my own soundtrack as I took one last stroll through the park before heading to my next destination.
Video of Tokyo
Caption: - Do you also enjoy creating the perfect travel playlist?
- Any “Terrace House” fans out there?
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: After bowing to the deer one last time, I took the local train to Kyoto before hopping on the Shinkansen bound for my favorite city in the world; Tokyo.
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: Don’t forget to grab an Ekiben before hopping on the bullet train.
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: My friend, Kohei, told me that he would be getting off work a little late. I decided make a detour and head to Hakone. It’s a town known for its hot springs and amazing views of Mount Fuji.
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: I had to transfer from Odawara station to Hakone station, then take a 1 hour bus ride to Lake Ashi in a mad dash to get to the Hakone Shrine before sunset. Luckily, I made it just in time.
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: Lake Ashi
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: It was a bit too cloudy to see Mt. Fuji, but the view of the lake was still spectacular.
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: The golden hour faded away and I needed to get back to Odawara station to pick up my bags and head to Tokyo in time to meet my friend for dinner. The bus ride was a little longer than I anticipated, and I missed the train. Luckily, Kohei, was also getting off work much later than he thought. So I had some time to walk around town and check out Odawara Castle. The logistics of traveling can be intimidating and frustrating. Travel isn’t perfect. You can’t be rigid. Like that Bear Grylls meme says: “Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.”
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: Odawara Castle
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: I finally arrived in Tokyo and Kohei welcomed me back “home” at the train station. We dropped my bags off at his place and went out to an izakaya to catch up. It had been 2 years since we last saw each other. I asked about his long hair; he asked about the freshman 15 I gained. Just like any great friendship, even though we haven’t reconnected in some time, whenever we see each other it’s like no time had passed at all. Our friendship is so durable that 5,000 miles of distance, grueling work schedules, and the adversities of life could never break our bond.
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: The next day turned into a rest day. It’s important to slow down and take a break once in a while. I was able to sleep in and finally got over my jet lag. I did some laundry and went out to lunch at my favorite restaurant in Tokyo...and maybe all of Japan. It also just happens to be right across the street from Kohei’s place. This restaurant makes the absolute best soba noodles. The buckwheat in their hand made soba comes from Hokkaido. Even though the Ramen game in the US has improved and is going through a bit of a renaissance, soba is severely lacking. I just can’t get anything like this at home. I look forward to this meal every time I go back to Japan.
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: In the evening, I decided to go to Asakusa; the first neighborhood I visited when I fell in love with Tokyo 4 years ago. After that, I wandered around one of my favorite trendy neighborhoods: Shimokitazawa. I stopped by a local tap house and checked in a few beers into my Untappd App before meeting up with Kohei for dinner. We had the most amazing chicken broth ramen. It was honestly one of the best meals I’ve ever had in Japan
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: Sensoji Temple
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: Nakamise shopping street
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: Shimo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: One of the best bowls of ramen I’ve ever had in my life
Video of Tokyo
Caption: The next day, I left Tokyo to cross something off my travel bucket list...
