Day 2

After a night that felt like "Lost in Translation" but, you know, minus the bar romance, I woke up ready to tackle more of Tokyo.

First stop: the fish market—apparently the oldest in the world(!). There's a new one outside of Tokyo now, so this one's not as massive, but it still has that old-school charm... and the smell to match. For lunch, I decided to give the fish a break and opted for classic Udon noodles instead—delicious!

Afterward, I wandered through Ginza, the fancy area with all the posh shops and mega department stores. Honestly, I’m still amazed by how many people can afford all those Chanels, Diors, and Louis Vuittons—and not only that, they actually wait in line for it! Patiently! In the midst of all this high-end retail therapy, I stumbled upon my favorite tea shop, Mariage Frères. Naturally, I had to stop for an afternoon tea and do some people-watching. Elderly ladies meeting up for gossip—no idea what they were saying, but body language is universal, right? 😊

After a quick pit stop at the hotel, I braved rush hour to buy my onward train tickets. To my surprise, I did pretty well (assuming I actually end up where I intend to go on Thursday, fingers crossed). Feeling confident, I stretched my comfort zone and took the metro to Omoide Yokocho (or "Memory Lane"). Picture a maze of narrow alleys softly lit by traditional paper lanterns, with cozy little restaurants squeezed in every corner. It’s a popular, laid-back hangout spot. After some tasty sake, I somehow managed to find my way back, much to my own amazement. Slowly but surely, I’m finding my groove here.