I know what you are thinking: a week in Japan is definitely not enough, especially considering the flight hours, which take away almost two days.
Unfortunately, those were the maximum days off I could take from the company I was working at the time, and the 700€ round-trip flight was too convenient to pass.
Japan had fascinated me for some time, so I decided to go for it (a bit of a crazy idea) and take off with a friend, without thinking twice.
DAY 1
Luckily, it was an overnight flight. We left Rome in the evening, had a layover in Abu Dhabi around 1 AM, and landed in Japan with a few hours of daylight still ahead of us.
It’s raining. We calmly pick up our luggage and take the train to Koenji, the area that will be our base for the next few days. The train immediately impresses us: spacious seats, impeccable cleanliness, and seating that automatically rotates in the direction of travel. No classes, just order and functionality. It’s another world.
When we arrive in Koenji, the rain is light, and we can walk around without umbrellas. The atmosphere is exactly what we dreamed of: bright signs, moderate skyscrapers, life everywhere.
We get lost while looking for our hotel. Two young men who don’t speak English walk us all the way to the entrance. A good kilometer out of their way. Without hesitation. Simply kind. We naturally thank them with a bow.
This is the moment when I really realized that Japanese people speak very little English, even in big cities like Tokyo. Fortunately, despite the communication barrier they are always kind and ready to help you if you need it.
We drop off our suitcases and head to Asakusa, where we visit the Senso-ji Temple. We pass under the giant red lantern of the Kaminarimon gate, surrounded by crowds of tourists and the scents of street food. The temple welcomes us with its quiet, captivating spirituality. We’re already immersed in the soul of Japan.
Dinner at McDonald’s: 900 yen each. I know it’s not the best thing to eat in Tokyo, but we were extremely tired and just wanted to fill our bellies before collapsing in bed, overwhelmed by jetlag.
DAY 2
It’s Sunday, and there’s only one goal: Harajuku. Only today can we witness the famous cosplay spectacle. We get off at Shibuya and continue on foot. The distance is misleading, but we arrive quickly, passing shops that empty our wallets with outrageous gadgets.
The crowd is incredible: kids dressed in crazy outfits, over-the-top looks, fluorescent hair. Tokyo really feels like a pop dream.
There are so many people and it is almost hard to walk. We decide to head toward Shinjuku, crossing a quiet park with wooden gates that look like they come from another century.
Then, off to the Metropolitan Government Building. A breathtaking view, some stunning pictures and back to our hotel.
DAY 3
Today it’s the Imperial Palace day. We take the metro to Ginza, the district of boutiques and skyscrapers. It’s not easy to find our way: the streets have no names and asking for directions is quite useless since they don’t understand us.
After a few lapses and several wrong turns, we finally find the entrance of the Imperial Gardens.
We stroll among moats, neatly pruned trees, and silence. The palace is barely visible, but it’s enough to make us feel like we’re part of another world. An elderly man starts speaking to us: he speaks decent English and loves Italy.
We reach Tokyo Tower in Roppongi, but we skip going up. We’ve already seen Tokyo from the top and want to save the ticket money.
DAY 4
For day 4, we decided to return to Shibuya, this time to really experience it.
The chaos, the lights, and the city’s iconic crossing. It’s the beating heart of Tokyo. We visit stores and little restaurants, amazed by the nostalgic frenzy of a city that seems straight out of a video game.
We do some shopping and pick up a few souvenirs, and the hours fly by.
Remember that in Shibuya and all over Tokyo, there are designated smoking areas. Smoking on the street is forbidden, and eating while walking is considered rude.
Don’t act like the kind of tourists featured in this list of the 10 countries exporting the worst tourists in the world.
DAY 5
Day 5 is totally devoted to Akihabara, the technology paradise of Tokyo.
Among skyscrapers filled with electronics and endless shelves, we spend hours among gadgets, robots, and flight simulators.
It’s like entering a playground for young and old, you can find literally everything. Comics, all kinds of things from your favorite anime, vintage video games, and some things you didn’t even know existed.
DAY 6
We get up and get ready to visit the Tsukiji Fish Market. We thought it was closed to tourists, but we discovered we could wander freely, except in the auction area (although it would have been very interesting). It’s a maze of stalls, carts, giant fish, and intense smells.
We have breakfast with tuna sashimi, roasted eel, crab, oyster, and tempura shrimp. Unforgettable.
Back in Koenji, we see a group of children in uniforms playing silently in an elementary school. I have never seen children playing so quietly. Almost surreal.
Dinner was in a cozy, authentic spot, one of those tucked away from the tourist zones, with no English menu and lots of guessing involved. What did I eat? Only God knows!
DAY 7
It’s time to get ready to travel back home. Just enough time for one last Japanese breakfast with a melonpan with matcha ice cream.
The train is waiting, and we don’t want to be late, especially since navigating Tokyo’s massive stations can be pretty tricky.
Luckily, on the flight back we have the middle seat empty. We followed my usual trick for increasing the chances of that happening.
During the flight, I think back on it all: the kindness of those who helped us, the profound respect you can feel everywhere, and everything that is different from our European cities.
I feel small. I return to Europe with a lingering sense of chaos. Vast spaces, yet somehow empty. Noise without harmony. Japan left its mark on me, and an overwhelming desire to return.
Spoiler alert: I did go back. But this time, not as a tourist. I returned as a resident.
But that’s a whole different story, one I’ll tell you in another article.
