On the way to Akasaka

I woke up pretty relaxed at 6 AM and saw the sunrise. Then around 9:00 AM I took the bus from the hotel to Narita Station.

In the sleepy little town, I boarded the train towards Tokyo Akasaka, where I will stay for 3 nights in a capsule hotel.

During the ride, you can see small clusters of houses, and what stands out are the many orange trees; almost everyone has one.

The ride continues, and more and more people get on. At first, I was almost the only one, but soon the train is quite full; luckily, I can sit.

Upon arriving in Akasaka, I come out of the station and am enchanted because all around, dressed-up young people are bustling about, and the Biz Tower is currently hosting an exhibition on the imaginative adventures of the wizard from Harry Potter.

After storing my luggage at the station, I set out to explore the area and end up in the judicial district between the Imperial Palace, which I can only view from the outside (no tickets pre-booked), and the sea of concrete and steel of the judicial district. Policemen with batons and grim faces are everywhere, and many black limousines are driving in and out of the skyscrapers of the police apparatus.

After a walk of about 15 km, I head towards the hotel and check in.

I enjoy a warm shower and go out to eat; the night is going to be hell. I cannot sleep and am exhausted from the second night with little rest.

Despite the earplugs, it is hardly bearable; it is loud, warm, and stuffy.

I thought if I stayed quiet, I wouldn’t disturb anyone. Inside, I am torn apart and curse every person in this dive. I keep checking the time: 2 AM, 3 AM, when will morning finally come! At 4 AM, I manage to get some sleep. At 5:30, finally, I get up, take a shower, and a guest is surprised to see a foreigner awake so early; I greet him and enjoy the water.

I make my way to get something from a supermarket and eat it on-site, then I see that eating on-site costs 2% tax. I apologize to the employee, who smiles at me and wishes me a nice day.

I sit in a park and book a new hotel. After taking a few selfies, I notice that my eye hurts; it is swollen, and a stye is sticking out of my eyelid.

I head towards Tokyo Akihabara; although no stores are open at 7 AM, it is nice to walk and clear my mind.