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[S-series] Tokyo-Hakone Travel Journal Part 1: Arrival in Hakone and Odawara Castle
[S-series] Tokyo-Hakone Travel Journal Part 2: Exploring Hakone 1/2 – Sengokuhara, le petit prince museum, owakudani black eggs (Image-intensive!)
[S-series] Tokyo-Hakone Travel Journal Part 3: Exploring Hakone 2/2 – Sightseeing boat, Hakone Shrine, baby wishing tree, (Image-intensive and excess words!)
[S-series] Tokyo-Hakone Travel Journal Part 4: Going back to Tokyo, Ichiran Ramen, Cat Cafe Calico and Sensoji!
Watch our Vlog Day 1 here:
Hi
Here comes the last day of our trip to Japan. Its the last day, so its gotta be the most boring day of this trip. We were already feeling the ache of leaving a place we liked so much but have no choice because we belonged somewhere else. Sad truth.
Anyways, we check out of the hotel early, took us some time to drag our luggage in light rain and find that elusive XL locker at the nearby train station. After that, we only have half a day left before we have to be at the boarding gate for our flight home to Singapore. Depressing.
HARAJUKU – SHIBUYA
We went to Harajuku and just started wandering around that neighbourhood.
After walking pass some hipsters and hipster shops, we saw these happy wall plugs…
…in this coffee place. This photo is bad at representing the coffee place, well I didn’t have the right lens on my camera at the time and the cafe was crowded inside, so we only took pictures outside. Its called ‘The Roastery’ by Nozy Coffee and its the best flat white I had during this entire trip.
Then I thought this industrial warehouse was a nice backdrop and made Claire go up to pose for a photo, in full view of the crowd plying the streets below. #YOLO
Then as we went on walking, we realize we were quite close to Meiji Jingu. So might as well have our lunch on-the-go there.
YOYOGI PARK – MEIJI JINGU
We’ve been here before the last time we visited Tokyo, and this time is not unlike the first time to me. Walking under this giant Torii Gate into the sacred grounds of Yoyogi park is like entering a different world..
the paths were all shaded under ancient trees and often shrouded in mist adds a deep sense of mystery as we make our way to the Shrine complex..
Before we enter the shrine, we’ll have to cleanse ourselves. Well I didn’t change my religion to Shinto, but we just thought we’re guests in the country so we should show our respects to the Gods they believed in. Basically I just wanna blend in and stay invisible.
Didn’t manage to take any amazing photos here, well I’ll just take a shot of us writing an “Ema”, just like what we did back in 2013.
We’re basically retracing what we did in Tokyo a few years back. It was kinda my thing, I’m emo this way. A lot of things happened after that trip and now everything is as stable as it can be, with annoying Claire beside me all the time. I am content.
Is that olive? I’ve no idea.
Then we took a quick wefie when no one is looking along this secluded path, and went off to more random places this city has to offer. Night is closing in real soon.
SHINJUKU
We walked all the way to Shinjuku, took a bit of time. We found Blue Bottle Coffee, one of the more popular cafe chains here, I remember my fellow coffee-loving-colleague bought me a bag of beans from the US, that was really nice. Oh but that was after this trip, if not I would have done the same. Such a nice gesture.
Well, I was getting really tired so I didn’t take much photos now. We just kinda walk around aimlessly, then take the spanking airport train to Haneda Airport..
See what’s written on our faces? The unwillingness to leave.. and go home..
HANEDA AIRPORT
Here’s our last shot, after buying some souvenirs from the airport retail areas, right before they close.. Some display commemorating something I don’t know what. At this point we were just simply depressed. Japan has to be my top travel destination. I haven’t been to any European or American places but I always wanted to visit Japan, and visit again, and again and again and again..
The rest of the night was spent on the plane, then arrive is scalding hot Singapore, went home, washed up, on the air-con and went to bed.
Good night people. Farewell Japan, till we see you again.
Simon Tey
