People, people, and more people – everyday life in Tokyo

The first item on the agenda took us today to Asakusa. More precisely, to the Sensō-ji Temple and the adjacent Asakusa Shrine.

And wow, was it lively. Around the temple, there was a state of emergency: an extremely large number of people, closed streets, numerous food stalls, and quite a few police officers ensuring order. It felt almost like a small food festival. The reason was quite obvious: New Year's. In Japan, the first shrine or temple visit of the year (Hatsumōde) is a big event, and Sensō-ji is one of the most visited places for that in the entire country.

For the actual praying, there was a huge line that moved surprisingly quickly. You briefly went in, prayed, and then were directed back out at the sides. Despite the good organization, it was just too crowded for our taste – so we didn't stay long and left Asakusa relatively quickly.

After that, we began the search for a place for lunch. Not so easy in an area that is simultaneously overrun by tourists and New Year visitors. On the way, we passed by an animal café – a floor with rabbits, one with hedgehogs, and one with cats on the top. Since you can't eat them, we moved on.

After a few street changes, we then clearly noticed that we had entered a neighborhood where more locals eat. There, we finally settled into a ramen restaurant – a very good decision. Ramen is always a great choice.

After the meal, we took a stroll through Ueno Park and enjoyed the good weather. Despite the season, it was pleasantly mild, and the park offered a welcome break from the hustle and bustle. Although it was busy there too, the vastness of the park did not make it feel overcrowded.

Next up was our first specialty coffee in Tokyo. A small, well-attended shop, short wait time – and then we first tried three different coffees (the third one came later). Definitely a highlight for the coffee nerd.

From there, we walked on foot to Akihabara. A bit of browsing through the shops, soaking up anime, electronics, and nerd culture, and later taking a look at the neighborhood in the dark when the neon lights really come to life.

At some point, it just became too much: too many people after an already very full day. So we hopped on the subway and headed back to the apartment.

On the way home, we quickly picked up a snack at 7-Eleven and first took stock at home: What have we bought so far? How much space is left in our luggage? And how many souvenirs could we theoretically still fit?

With the reassuring knowledge that there was still enough space for more purchases, we could end the day relaxed and go to sleep.