Japan 2020: Tokyo's Asakusa and Shinjuku At Night

I finally get to visit a landmark that’s always been on the bucket list. Time for a stroll through Tokyo’s Asakusa district!

But first, a quick detour into the first depachika I laid eyes on: the compact, cheery Tokyu Food Show, steps from Shibuya station.

Exiting the station at Asakusa, I turned a corner and started to walk. In my head, alternate Tash has always existed, and she very likely lives in Tokyo. There are few things I prefer over living in the worlds of Haruki Murakami novels and Studio Ghibli films. I’ve always thought of myself as having that determination in Shizuku (from Ghibli’s “Whisper of the Heart”) mixed with the pensiveness of Toru (from Murakami’s “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle”).

Walking around Tokyo, pondering life’s questions, it all adds up…to finding the perfect capsule toy, or gashapon (ガシャポン), to bring home as pasalubong. Vegetable shaped kitty hats!

After stepping through the Kaminarimon, also known as the “Thunder Gate” into Sensoji Temple, the Nakamise Dori (shopping street) greets you. There’s so much to see!

I could spend many, many hours walking around.

As soon as I hit the restaurant row, my nose grabbed onto something delicious. Man, that croquette was amazing. Orderly but busy lines are the best! I remember seeing a tarnished layer of oil in that tiny shop with a single exhaust fan. I don’t know how a fried patty of beef and onions tastes so good, but I would scarf down a half dozen of those easily. For now, the perfect snack!

After a little postcard shopping I hopped back on the train towards Shinjuku to meet up with the group for dinner - and my first taste of Tokyo at night.

What an epic first day! And I forgot we took this shot - right as Godzilla crept out.