Backpack in Tokyo

Dear lovely reader,

Our second day of Japan was our second day in Yokohama Port. But the exciting thing was that Cassie, Angela, Rachel, Abby, and I were travelling 'over land' instead of 'on ship' to Tokyo. This meant that it was our responsibility to get to meet our MV Explorer in Kobe Port. So our plan was that we would travel from Yokohama -> Tokyo -> Kyoto -> Kobe. Four cities in five days seemed pretty crazy, challenging, but so much fun. And it really was J.

Day 1 of Tokyo (Backpacking):

When we walked outside Yokohama Port terminal, our job was to book our overnight hosts. You'd think we'd have that done by the time we arrived on land. But planning for foreign countries could be so last minute on Semester at Sea. Sometimes you can have no plans at all. You really just have to have a gut feeling of what you want to get out of a certain country and how much you want to budget for that country. And whatever floats, just go for it – because it's hard to explore the best options out there when the time between each port is spread out for classes and ship life.

Step 1: We booked our Hostel for our first night. We also booked our overnight bus for our second night. Rates were as low as possible, because when you're budget backpacking – you really can't explain J.

Step 2: Get to Tokyo!! We would a 40-minute train ride to Tokyo city. This was the first of many train/subway fare we would accumulate in Japan. It's a bit expensive, but unlike Yokohama, lots of destinations in Tokyo aren't in walking distance. But Japan's public transportation system, especially in Tokyo is just so organized and detailed. It really did take a while for me to process the system and get around. This is where brain power in a travelling group works best though. We all worked together to ask directions and to look at maps. If you ever feel at lost when you're travelling, it never hurts to ask locals. Even if they don't know, it's very much worth asking, my friends. The locals in Japan are very approachable and are willing to communicate and help with you, despite the language barrier. It took teamwork and a couple of train rides, but we finally arrived to our lovely and adorable little hostel in Asakusabashi district. Anne Hostel was my first ever hostel I ever stayed at. But my short-time stay there gave me energy to try to visit more hostels and try backpacking when I get older. It's such a fun experience to simplify your life to only the necessities and see how much fun you can have with only what you need. Anne Hostel had a warm and friendly atmosphere. The hospitality was great, handing us directions, providing free WiFi, while meeting even more friendly travelers all over the world at the hostel. The vibe there was just so great; definitely recommend it to anyone travelling to Tokyo, Japan.

All right, after we settled into Anne Hostel, we took a train ride to Shibuya, a district recommended to us to go where the 'kewl kids' hang. But when we exited the subway station, we ended up in a Korean district of Shibuya (lolol). It took us a few minutes to realize this when we saw that all the signage was in Korean. But isallgood and it didn't really matter when we were complete famished and sat ourselves down at a friendly and petite ramen restaurant. A little pointing, nodding, and a smile are all you really need when you want to order something at a restaurant in Japan. Oh but it doesn't hurt to say 'Osusume wa nandesuka?' or 'What do you recommend?' hoho :D. While we're on the subject, a few phrases for the first-time traveler in Japan that you can probably survive off of for a week's stay:

                Excuse me: Sumimasen

                Please: Kudasai

                Thank you: (domo) Arigato (gozaimas)

                Where is … X: X … wa doko deska?

                Station: Eki

                Toilet: Toyre

                Restaurant: Restoran

                How much?: Ikura deska?

                Delicious: Oishi

Even if you don't have the best tongue when it comes to languages, it really helps to learn a few local phrases for you as the traveler, as well as for the local you're asking. It really goes a long way because Japan is such a polite, clean, and orderly country. Every little bit of courtesy will show how you respect their home country. I've also noticed that when you ask directions (again with the courtesy thing), it helps to speak in a calm-mannered and soft tone to the local. If you're frantic when asking which train/line number you need to reach, the local is going to respond with almost a burden and you really don't want to do that to them. There are just so many nice locals there, I think it would just blow you away. And if you don't quite understand what someone is saying, don't get frustrated and try to look at your map again or ask someone else. I think like 40% of the locals can't really read tourist maps, because they're tourist maps haha.

Okay where was I… oh yah Shibuya. After we had lunch, I think Shibuya wasn't exactly what we were looking for in terms of maybe a night outing. By that time, maybe 4pm, the sun was starting to set and we really wanted to see the dazzling lights and tall buildings that Tokyo is known for (almost like a simulation of Times Square). Anyway, we took the train to Akihabara district, known for its Electric Town and 'big night lights.' When we arrived in Electric Town, we saw crowded streets, giant lights and signage across the many man high-rise buildings, many of these buildings were arcade centers, shopping areas, restaurants… BINGO :D. We did a fair share of roaming around and following where the lights caught our eyes. It was absolutely amazing to be in the center of all this interaction. Mind that I come from a suburban town, and I definitely wasn't in the OC anymore. It's quite amazing to see how much lights can make a person feel big, small, and special all at the same time. 

Afterwards we took a train ride back home. If you haven't noticed, train stations and subway stations in Japan are one of the best networking transportation systems I've ever experienced. They can take you anywhere in a short time for fairly cheap. It took me a while to realize this but the destination you want to get to on a train (may it be 120, 140, 210, 390) is also the amount you pay for your ticket there. Uhhh BRILLIANT !! To end the night we drank some wine coolers and had some tempura chicken rice bowl at a restaurant called Katsuya. T'was sooo gooood!!! >.< I love how easy it is to sit down at a restaurant in Japan, have great service, unlimited tea, great food, and pay at an individual price. Not stuck in a four person booth, and all paying with $20 bills, and getting change back and splitting the gratuity/tip, etc. Mang once you eat in Japan, you can't go back haha.

Day 2 in Tokyo (Backpacking):

The morning of Anne Hostel, we woke up to the smell of sweet fish… actually not really. We woke up early and eager to see the Tsukiji Fish Market. A couple of trains here and there for 210 yen total got us to the famous, and wonderful Fish Market. Mind I love fish. Lovelovelove fish, the smell of it, catching it, gutting it for bait. And I have never seen so much interaction around fish. Every corner you would see, you could see how hard everyone was working and doing what they do best. I thought it was really interesting to see how familiar and friendly the locals were with each other. It reminded me almost like a swap meet back at home. But it was really refreshing to be around the locals in a wonderfully different and intimate network other than walking past them at the station or eating around them in a restaurant. Within the market, you could also find boxes of the reddest and juiciest strawberries you will ever taste. Strawberries were in season and at its best in Japan – well grown and ready to eat.

After spending a few hours at Tsukiji Fish Market, it was time we had breakfast at Anne Hostel – unlimited well-done fried eggs, boiled eggs, and delicious toast over berry jam and margarine. Something about the morning setting in the common room, watching a Miyazaki film, having breakfast and tea, and having talk with fellow voyagers or backpackers or travelers – something about that whole setting made me feel warm, homey, and just happy to be there. We grudgingly checked out at Anne Hostel, where we left Kazu, our kind and amazing hostess, a note expressing all our gratitude. We really wish we could have stayed longer. But one night a day was just enough to understand how wonderful Anne Hostel is and how much kindness there is in any part of Japan.

Harajuku/Takeshita Street was our next stop, with the help of a few train stations. It literally is just one street down full of high-rise and tight shopping outlets, ramen/sushi restaurants, and crepe booths. The two main colors of lights I saw were pink and white. You could make out the population as mostly young couples and folks walking down the street with us. Takeshita Street seemed like it was in its own little bubble, where all lights, music, and crowds could fit. We went inside a Daiso, call it almost a 99 cent store in Japan, only just a tad more expensive and higher quality. If you had no control, you could literally  I had a great bowl of ramen to end another long night in Tokyo, where Abby also taught me how to fold a crane haha. I noticed that at restaurants, the locals don't usually talk a lot while they are eating or even after they are eating. It's very much sit, eat, pay, and bounce. It's pretty interesting to contrast that with how Americans like to chill out and talk after they eat, probably busy trying to split the bill haha. But it's just very easy and casual to have a bite in Japan – no worries or hassle J.

We had to leave some cushion time in order to catch our overnight, 10-hour bus ride to Kyoto. So after some light shopping and eating, we took a train to Tokyo Station to meet our pink Willer Bus. It took us about three locals to get to our lovely bus. About 90% of the locals know what you're talking about when you are asking for directions. But always account for variable change . By the time we hopped onto our bus, we propped down our chairs, kicked off our shoes, and tried to get as much shut eye as we could. Good night, to this blog and good night, to Tokyo. I'll see you lovely reader on my next blog, Kyoto, Japan. Thank you for reading!

All love and hope,

Kimmy

"Not all those who wander are lost."

– J. R. R. Tolkien