sam heart travel

Tokyo 2025: Day 8 - Lost in Translation, a Learning Curve   Tokyo, March 16, 2025 – 8:00 AM: The alarm blared, gently pulling me from a dream filled with ramen and robot restaurants. Today was the day – our departure back to Manila. After a quick breakfast of perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs and toast (a stark contrast to what awaited us back home!), I packed my suitcase, carefully arranging my souvenirs amongst my clothes. OOTD? Comfy travel attire – jeans, a cozy sweater, and my trusty sneakers. No need for high fashion on travel day!   10:00 AM: Check-out from our Airbnb was a breeze. We hopped on the train at Senkawa Station, heading towards Ueno Station to catch the Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport. Our Klook-booked tickets were waiting for us, and soon we were settled onto platform #6, ready for our journey.   The hour-long train ride was surprisingly peaceful. Despite my initial intention to soak in the scenery, the gentle rocking ...

Tokyo 2025 - Day 7: An Unexpected Encounter at Meiji Jingu Shrine   Our Day 7 in Tokyo started with a delicious lunch, followed by a trip to Harajuku. Our initial plan was to hit the shoe stores first, but as we approached Harajuku, Meiji Jingu Shrine unexpectedly caught our eye. We decided on a spontaneous change of plans – a visit to the shrine first!   The sheer scale of Meiji Jingu was immediately impressive. Despite the constant flow of visitors, it never felt crowded. The entrance and exit areas were incredibly well-organized, and the pathways were surprisingly wide, not paved but made of soft, comfortable pebbles. At the entrance of the Tori gate, we found information about the shrine's history, but we decided to save that for later, eager to explore the grounds first.   The first thing that struck us was the massive display of sake barrels – rows upon rows of them, each with its own story and significance. From there, it was a pleasan...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 3: Shibuya Part 1 – March 11, 2025   With our bellies happily full from that amazing late lunch, we had the afternoon free to explore Shibuya! Our first stop was Uniqlo. My goal? To find a warmer winter jacket for my mom. The one she'd packed wasn't quite cutting it. Uniqlo had some great options, but I resisted the urge to buy anything for myself. I'm already overloaded with clothes, and converting everything to pesos while shopping abroad is a major buzzkill. 😅 After Mom got her new jacket, we headed to the motherlode – the biggest Don Quijote in Shibuya!   This is where my money disappeared. The group split up, giving ourselves an hour and a half to conquer Don Quijote's five floors. Shopping spree time! Don Quijote is a treasure trove of amazing products at rock-bottom prices. It's easy to see why Japan is such a shopping paradise for Filipinos. Seriously, so many great finds!   We finally emerged around 8:00 pm, our bag...

Tokyo 2025 - Day 7: Shibuya Part 3 - A whirlwind of Shoes, Streets, and Sweet Potatoes!   Meiji Jingu Shrine completely captivated us; three hours flew by! That left us seriously short on time for our original mission: shoe shopping. So, after a fulfilling shrine visit, we set our sights on the nearest Onitsuka Tiger store – which, as it turned out, was in Shinjuku.   The walk to Shinjuku was a feast for the eyes. Luxury brand stores lined the streets, a dazzling display of high-end fashion. If you've got the cash to burn, Shinjuku is the place to be! The Onitsuka Tiger store itself was buzzing; people were practically scrambling for shoes! I opted to hang back while Badets navigated the shoe frenzy. Our rendezvous point with Kuya and Ate was Shibuya, so we decided to walk from Shinjuku.   The kilometer-long walk turned into an unexpected adventure. We found a quieter street, and suddenly, we were surrounded by upscale shops and opulent bou...

Tokyo 2025 - Day 7: Sukiya and Harajuku Adventures!   Day 7 in Tokyo dawned, and our group faced a split decision. Kuya and Ate were off to meet a student in Shibuya, leaving Mader Earth, Badets, and me to conquer Harajuku's Onitsuka Tiger stores. The morning unfolded in our usual relaxed rhythm: a leisurely breakfast, a refreshing bath, and the all-important OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) selection. Kuya and the others zoomed off first, leaving us to follow at our own pace.   Our stomachs rumbling, we knew a hearty lunch was essential before tackling the Harajuku streets. Badets, ever the resourceful one, had spotted a gem near Senkawa Station: Sukiya. This wasn't your average hole-in-the-wall; it was a delightful blend of quaint charm and high-tech efficiency. Imagine this: a cozy, intimate space run by a single cashier who also acted as the server, creating a personal touch. But here's the twist – the ordering process was entirely digital! Each t...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 6 – Tokyo Skytree & Roppongi Hills – 03/13/2025   Okay, so after that epic Gyukatsu lunch (you'll hear more about that in another post!), we actually had a booking at Roppongi Hills at 3 pm. Unfortunately, things didn't quite go to plan, and we missed our reservation. It was cancelled as a result, which was a shame, but hey, that's travel sometimes! Roppongi Hills is definitely on the list for next time.   After lunch, I had to separate from the group since I had a meeting with a friend around 8 pm. This gave me a chance for a solo adventure, and I decided to explore beyond the usual tourist hotspots.   Following Google Maps (bless its little digital heart!), I set off on my solo adventure to Tokyo Skytree. This was my first time walking alone in a foreign country after leaving the main tourist areas, and it was surprisingly liberating. The walk itself was an adventure. I passed some seriously cool buildings, gorgeous lan...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 6 – Asakusa Gyukatsu – 03/13/2025   Okay, so picture this: we're in Asakusa, having just spent the morning getting delightfully lost in the maze of shops surrounding Sensoji Temple. It's almost 2 pm, and our stomachs are rumbling louder than a Tokyo rush hour. We're famished! My brilliant suggestion (if I may say so myself 😉) was to revisit Asakusa Gyukatsu, the place where we'd had that incredible Katsu experience on a previous trip.   Little did we know, our hunger pangs were about to be tested. The line snaked around the block! Seriously, the wait time was estimated at a whole hour. But hey, when the food is this good, a little wait is totally worth it, right?   While we queued, some of us indulged in a bit more souvenir shopping (you can never have too many quirky Japanese trinkets!), while others took another stroll around the vibrant Sensoji area, soaking up the atmosphere. Finally, at 3 pm, our moment arrived! We were seated.   The re...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 6 – Senso-ji Temple – 03/13/2025   Senso-ji Temple – chaos! Seriously, the crowds trying to snap a pic of that iconic red lantern (Kaminarimon) were insane. I mean, insane. Forget about any peaceful "me time" with the lantern – that wasn't happening!   This was actually my second visit to Senso-ji. My first time was at 9 PM – most shops were closed, and only a handful of tourists were around. It was magical, a completely different vibe. Seeing it during the day? Now I understand why some people prefer the wee hours! Each time of day has its own charm, definitely pros and cons. Evening means fewer crowds, but daytime is buzzing with activity.   Senso-ji is pure tourist central – shops and food stalls everywhere! We sampled some flavored nuts, strawberry crepes, and more… but we still had to see the temple itself, of course. There's a lovely washing area where you cleanse your hands and mouth before entering – a nice tou...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 6 – Asakusa – 03/13/2025   Our sixth day in Tokyo was another whirlwind! My body is definitely feeling the effects of five days of exploring, but the magic of Tokyo keeps me going. We took our time this morning – breakfast, shower, outfit selection – and by 11 AM, we were ready for Senso-ji Temple.   We chose Iidabashi Station, which turned out to be much further away than necessary. The station itself was an experience – "disaster-proof" but also incredibly dry underground. But hey, it added to the adventure!   Emerging from the station, we were immediately captivated by the Tokyo cityscape. On our way to Senso-ji Temple, we couldn't resist stopping for countless photos in Asakusa. If Shibuya is all about trendy fashion, Asakusa offers a delightful step back in time, with incredibly cute clothing everywhere. I couldn't decide where to look first! The Tokyo Skytree in the distance, the shimmering Sumida River, the elegan...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 5 – Tokyo Tower – 03/13/2025: A Nostalgic Nighttime Visit   As the sun began its descent, painting the Tokyo sky in hues of orange and purple, we finished our delicious sushi dinner in Shibuya. To cap off our day, we headed to an iconic landmark: Tokyo Tower. This wasn't my first time visiting – I'd been here before – and the feeling was just as magical as I remembered.   There's something undeniably nostalgic about Tokyo Tower. It holds a certain charm, a timeless quality that transcends trends. Maybe it's the whimsical notion that Cardcaptor Sakura herself is sprinkling magical memory cards all over the structure! ✨ Whatever the reason, it evokes a sense of wonder and a touch of childhood fantasy.   We'd booked our tickets in advance via Klook, snagging them for a reasonable 2000 JPY (approximately 700 PHP). The tower is instantly recognizable, a striking beacon against the twilight sky with its distinctive red and wh...

Tokyo 2025 – Day 5 – Sushi Go-Round Restaurant – 03/13/2025: A Conveyor Belt Sushi Adventure!   With our new eyeglasses safely secured, a serious case of hunger hit us. And what better way to satisfy those rumbling stomachs than with a conveyor belt sushi experience? We were perfectly positioned in Shinjuku, an area brimming with culinary delights. After a bit of searching, we stumbled upon a fantastic sushi go-round restaurant right in the heart of Shibuya.   This was my first time experiencing a truly authentic conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Japan, and let me tell you, it was an absolute delight! While a bit pricier than some of the more popular chains like Kura, it was still incredibly affordable, and the quality of the sushi was outstanding. The freshness was undeniable, and the taste was exquisite.   What really set this place apart was the open kitchen concept. The chefs were right there, preparing each plate with precision and care, ...