It Took You Seven Days | Tokyo, Japan

A year after my first trip abroad, I am thinking if it’s too late to write about it... but nah, this is the right time to share my travel experience in my dream-country-to-visit-since-I-was-a-kid: Japan.

It is a preconceived notion that visiting Japan could make you broke. Nonetheless, you could make it happen if first, you’re not maarte (finicky) and second, if you’ll not miss the flight back to your home country and purchase another ticket (Like me. Hahuh! Kids, don’t try this.)

Someone said that I should at least visit one visa-free country for my visa to be accepted. I heard this after I clicked the round-trip payment for Manila-Narita, Narita-Manila. I stared at my flight itinerary and prayed to God hoping that it’s not true. I only have money to travel because it was accumulated from two consecutive years of bonuses and savings. Yes, I did not buy any smartphones or any trends whatsoever. Plot twist, I just bought my first smartphone after I received the 15 days Japan visa. All glory to God!

I’m not gonna tell you how to prepare your visa application because it’s already available on other blog sites and Japan embassy website. Thanks bloggers, you’re all helpful.

First timers alert! When you’re planning the itinerary, be ready for long walks and complicated train systems. Tokyo’s subway and train systems are great. It’s clean, organized, on time, has comfortable heaters and waiting areas, personnel are approachable... ahh! I’m now longing for it! But, we’re not familiar with these kinds of subway and train systems that’s why it’s complicated. You have to triple check the station, platform number, time of arrival, exits, etc. You may include the transportation rates in your itinerary; use Google maps as reference.

Ideally, you may wander around 3-4 places a day. Make sure your desired destinations are situated near each other to avoid strenuous transfers and expensive transportation fees.

Day 1

Teary-eyed, I met three Filipinas in Narita Airport train station. They gave me some Japanese snacks as my lunch and introduced me to the Tokyo Subway map. Despite their efforts, I still can’t understand it. I happened to reach the end of Asakusa line which is the Haneda Airport. Ugh, Mita station, where art thou?

Thankfully, there is a lot of free WiFi in Tokyo. I downloaded apps to connect to it; just don’t forget to bring your charger and power bank.

I met my Sputnik (traveling companion), Marfe, in Mita after 3 hours of figuring out why I am dim-witted. Haha! We decided to head first to any food store in the Korean town of Shin-Okubo. We’ve tried Yakiniku in a pub resto. Rice nalang kulang.

We saw a grocery store after our meal and bought pasalubongs there. Japan's Nissin seafood cup ramen is the best!

I haven’t tried to ride the bus or taxi in Tokyo. We stayed in Setagaya where our Airbnb host, Mr. and Mrs. Okura lives. We booked the place before applying for a visa because the address is needed in the application form. It costs Php 600 per night for 2 with hearty Japanese breakfast, toiletries, traditional futon bedroom, WiFi, tv, unforgettable stories, new Japanese friends and a surreal experience.

Let’s be optimistic, but in case your visa might not be accepted, you can opt to cancel your Airbnb if the host allows it.

Day 2

While Marfe was snoozing (snoring rather hahaha)... I went outside to capture Tokyo’s morning habit.

I didn’t care if I was freezing in my pyjamas. The sight around Setagaya was worth it. I assumed I would see Mt. Fuji from Tokyo. It is a whopping mountain, after all. I never thought that it's a rare sight. Uncle Okura told me that there's a bridge outside the apartment where you could see Mt. Fuji.

In the Setagaya neighborhood, oranges are all over the place. Hihi. I want to get some but they’ll think that I’m a thief. There was road construction nearby... three days later, I checked it aaaand it’s already done. Envy! Envy!

I also saw children independently take subways and run errands. My inside was screaming “Kawaiiiii! They’re too cute; their cheeks are fluffy red and their uniform... ugh. I want to bring them in the Philippines. Haha!”

Anyway, we were excited to see Sakura flowers so we headed to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. We payed respect at the Torii gate entrance, the largest in Japan. We saw the first Sakura tree in the vicinity. We picked up a few petals on the ground and kept them in a notebook.

As the name suggests, Sacred Pond Garden is serene, we just stayed there for about an hour, munching the 800 yen worth of McDonald's meal.

In early March, most of the flowers were not blooming yet. Nevertheless, we saw some Sakura trees in a lane somewhere in Odaiba. The prefecture has a long stretch of highways and a wide array of bridges surrounded by a bay. Marfe and I coined a term “Odaiba-level” because the wind there was the coldest, strongest we experienced in our lifetime. Despite that, we still managed to take Instagram-able photos with Diver City Tokyo Plaza’s Gundam robot and Tokyo’s version of Statue of Liberty.

Inside Aqua City Odaiba is the Takoyaki Museum.

Day 3

Mind you, I don’t cosplay, I don’t go to conventions, I don’t obsess over maid outfits but I don’t shun the truth that I am interested in manga and anime. That’s my personal meaning of Otaku. If someone would ask me if I am an Otaku, I certainly am.

So, I sought out stores up to their basements in Akihabara to purchase anime merch or manga. You’ll be beset by loads of anime that you’re not familiar with. The oldie but goodie Dragon Ball are still there, but the prices are way too high for a kuripot like me. We ended up at Duty Free store and bought memorabilia as well as art supplies.

We ate a Japanese version of curry for lunch and tasted Hokkaido rice.

Ramen Museum was our next and it is located at Shin-Yokohama. It is the first food-themed amusement park in the world. Admission fee is 310 yen. The ambiance will bring you back to 1958 Shitamachi town when the first instant ramen was invented.

We ordered ramen through a vending machine. There are nine ramen shops, each featuring a ramen dish from different regions in Japan. Gluttonously, we planned to try everything but a bowl of it would make you full. For dessert, we tried the Hokkaido ice cream that I’ll never forget.

It was 12 in the morning at a train station bound for Setagaya, and we’ve just finished the spree that day.

Day 4

Out of indolence, we woke up late that day. We were going to attend the worship service at Every Nation Tokyo Shibuya. I am bad at map-reading especially when it’s my first time to roam around a place. So Marfe did all the navigating after I made her suffer on foot which dismayed her for about three days. Gomennasai.

Thankfully, the service had just begun when we arrived. My heart was grateful to the church of Every Nation Tokyo. We sang Homare Sambi (Blessing and Honor) at the top of our lungs, praising God for every blessing that He has been giving.

After the service, we were hungry as usual. We saw a Korean resto and ate samgyeopsal (really? in Japan? Haha) given that we didn’t like sashimi and wasabi.

Shibuya is famous for three things: shopping, ped xing and Hachiko.

For you to get pro-level Humans of Shibuya photos, you need to order your drinks at Starbucks overlooking the busiest Shibuya crossing. I tried the hot, Sakura-flavored soy milk latte.

The intersection is heavily decorated by advertisement posters and led video screens of the JPop entertainment industry. I have LSS for Moana's song (Japanese version) because it keeps on playing on giant screens.

We checked the department and fashion stores like Tokyu or Seibu but the prices of clothes were waaay beyond our budget (again). Because of our frustrations, we discovered a second hand store. Too bad, I forgot the name.

Day 5

TV host Drew Arellano said that if you visit a place, you have to include the public market in your itinerary. Everything's there: culture, food, tradition, people, etc. And I agree with that, he's right. It was raining that day and the smell of fresh fish clung in the cool air. Gloomy weather, indeed. Tsukiji, being the world's largest market, is clean and organized. Sushi counters sprawled there, but we preferred to taste some fish delicacies at its Jogai or outer retail market.

History is what I always seek whenever I visit a certain place. I really want to watch a sumo fight but we stumbled upon a Kabuki theater play. Sumo or Kabuki? Maybe I'll watch a sumo fight in Osaka or Kyoto someday, I thought. We purchased 1,800 yen worth of Kabuki play with subtitles! Haha.

When I was in secondary school, I remembered how fascinated I was when I first learned what Kabuki is, including Geisha and Sumo. It gave me the chills because I can't believe that this will actually happen in my life. Who would've thought, I was a mere peanut seller back then.

Day 6

Marfe's flight to Manila was a day ahead of me. As a sign of appreciation, we've decided to cook Adobo for Uncle and Auntie Okura. I was the one who did the cooking. Little did I know that the meat we bought is salty. I'll definitely learn how to read Nihongo! Epic fail! Please, I'll just let you guess what happened next. I was too ashamed. Haha!

As I bid goodbye to Marfe, I was worrying if I could survive a day without a Sputnik. That day, I purchased a ticket to Tokyo Skytree. The solitude I had back then was really therapeutic. I was smiling crazily, thinking that I have to mentally take a picture of this moment. I should not forget how the sun kissed my skin and how the cold wind prevented the heat from reaching my dermis.

It felt like you're on the top of a mountain inside the Tokyo Skytree. You'll have a 360° view of the city. I saw the Skytree in one of the Detective Conan movies/episodes. It seems like the Skytree is a favorite destination for couples. Deep sighs* Someday, Gel, someday... I'll again visit the Skytree with the one. Landi!

Ueno zoo was my next stop. I have been watching panda videos as a form of relaxation. They're so fluffy, I want to hug them the moment I saw them! But I don't want them to go extinct at the same time. It was my first time to meet most of the animals in the zoo... the penguins, sheep, kangaroos, to name a few.

There's a Book Off store near Ueno zoo. I heard that it's a second-hand book and music store. I stayed there for 3 hours. I didn't want to leave, really. I bought art books, manga and One OK Rock album.

Day 7

I woke up early enough to prepare for my flight, I believed.

Remember what Uncle Okura said? I finally found the bridge where you could see Mt. Fuji! I was searching for it since day 2 and I saw it right before I was about to leave Setagaya. Thank you, Mt. Fuji! I believe you heard me.

I prayed to God that He'll let me stay a little longer... maybe, a day? I want to live in Japan! I guess, next time, I have to be careful about what I wish for. Haha! I entered the wrong train platform in Setagaya station and realized that I was 30 min. late for boarding time. I felt like I was an abandoned, lost kid. I searched other airlines with flights going to Manila but the fare was twice the amount of round-trip tickets I bought in Cebu Pacific. I couldn't forgive myself back then until someone cheered me up and gave Jake Gyllenhaal movies to kill time. Thankfully, Narita airport's lounge for travelers is complete with WiFi, chargers, beds, security, restroom and shower. I stayed there for 24 hours and chit chat with foreigners.

I ate the cherry blossom flavored mochi that Uncle and Auntie Okura gave. (I want to share it as pasalubong but ended up as my snack) If I didn't have a lot of baggage back then, I would've wandered around Narita.

Day 8

My breakfast meal was around 200 yen only, the cheapest but sulit meal in Yoshinoya (Narita Airport branch). Since then, it is my favorite Yoshinoya resto so far. I didn't have enough yen so I should depart for Manila this time.

All in all, I spent Php 30,000 for a week in Japan (minus the epic airfare to Manila, you know)

By the way, you'll survive if most of your meals will come from Sebun Erebun (7/11) or any convenient stores.

This is the right time to share my experience because I don’t have work to do.

I'm not gonna say sayonara. But see you again soon, Nippon.

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