On Japan

I went to Japan for the first time on June 18th 2026. Usually most people are excited to go to Japan or have dreamed about it for many years after consuming some sort of Japanese media, anime etc.. I was largely indifferent in the lead up to the trip which I only booked 6 weeks prior. The primary motivation to going was to visit an old friend I dated during COVID for almost a year before she moved to Tokyo. For that reason my emotions were a mix of apprehension and excitement.

I started the trip out in Tokyo. The hotel I stayed in wasn’t great but it was cheap for Tokyo at around €100 a night. I went to Shibuya since I arrived in the afternoon and had dinner with Vera in a traditional Japanese restaurant where we sat on the floor. I could get used to that for meals. There’s something peaceful and grounding about sitting on the floor despite the initial posture challenges to remain upright for a prolonged period. We ate a mix of Japanese food that was all new to me. Most Japanese restaurants outside of Japan focus on sushi and ramen so I expected that was a large part of their diet, but I soon discovered their cuisine was so varied.

It’s kind of surreal seeing someone you care about after five years. Somehow we quickly fell back into how we were back then after the initial shock feeling wore off.

The next day I went to Roppongi and did the city view experience. Sadly the weather was largely gray but the views were still great. For lunch we had some pork cutlet that was outstanding.