PART THREE | #23daysinJAPAN

Weekend alone in Tokyo!

Actually, this weekend trip to Tokyo was suuuuuper impromptu lol. I decided to go to Tokyo on Friday, booked the Airbnb during nap time on Friday, told Emma about it on Friday, and left on Friday evening. I wasn't planning to go at first, because, I didn't plan. lol. I guess I was tired from volunteer work and didn't have the mood to plan. I didn't know where to go, where to visit, what to do. I simply just went. 带着 "顺其自然" 的心态和两个包包, 自己一个人跑去东京。With data, Google Maps and Japan's crazy good public transport system, I can go anywhere in Japan HAHA 

You probably can't tell, but I did my makeup that morning TvT

By the time I reached my Airbnb, it was already quite late at night. Bought dinner from a nearby 7-11. Showered. Baaaad experience lol. I hated the bathroom. Too gross. After that, spent like an hour or so googling where to go hahahah last minute even during travels. The plan was to go to the famous Shibuya crossing and Harajuku/Shinjuku.

Morning commute vibes.

The Hachiko statue in Shibuya.

didn't expect it to be placed so..casually?

there were ppl sitting and waiting around it and I felt awkward to take touristy photos lol

it was like the locals 看惯了 and I'm the extra tourist hahah

I googled on "Where to enjoy the Shibuya Crossing" HAHA and a post said to eat the "Japanese pancake" while overlooking the crossing at Hoshino Coffee (星乃珈琲店). This cafe opened a branch at Midvalley too lol. It's yummy but it's too sweet for me as a breakfast hahah

Their pancakes are famous for their thick fluffiness

I was a bit disappointed because the crossing wasn't as busy as I had expected.

Probably because it was still morning and the 人潮 haven't arrived yet.

but still, it was a nice & lazy brunch.

This is a clothes shop that I kept seeing mentioned in those Tokyo posts.

but it's a designer brand or something :-)

So, I just passed by it. 拍照就好 hah

Found a nice leafy wall that would've looked really nice for ootd shots or portraits.

But, since I was alone. hah.

(why do I look so young srsly)

this was just a random shot I took while walking

but makes me realise that Tokyo is such a gem place to do street photography.

This looks so damn aesthetic, I'm getting makoto shinkai vibes HAHAH I found this place via google maps' recommendations HAHA searched it up and seems like it's quite popular wah. I queued and waited for like 20 mins outside the shop. 

 There isn't many seats inside, maybe 20 counter seats and that's it.

truly a small lil ramen shop.

 I got their famous yuzu ramen and BOIIIIIIIII

IT'S SO DAMN DELICIOUS!!!!!!!

Mellow but still flavourful omgoshhhhh too awesome.

Best ramen I've ever had, definitely.

It's located in a quieter street so I had to walk a few hundred meters to get here but it's WORTH IT.

otw walking back to the main street - Takeshita Street.

 Just snapping photos here and there because I thought it looked pretty hahah

One of the rare 全身照 from my entire trip hahah

Again, I was in a side alley, I think?

Back in the very busy and crowded Takeshita Street.

I saw someone posted about this lightbulb drink stall in Takeshita street and I decided, why not go and get it. (doing everything the internet suggests, huh hahaha) The dude at the stall could speak some English, I didn't check the price and just told him to give me what's the most popular one. BAAAAD MISTAKE. Then he asked me whether I want a decorative lightbulb to go with it or not. Me, being a tourist, agreed. ANOTHER MISTAKEEEE. In the end, this costed me more than RM40 weihhhhhh !!!!!! TTTTTTTT

 Doing it for the gram.

No other than that.

The drink itself is quite nice but it's NOT WORTH RM40 WTS.
Lesson learned. Even tho I'm a tourist, I cannot be a baller tourist for trivial stuff like thisssss. TT

By night time, my eyes were dying from the contact lens. (I was still using cheap & uncomfortable lens at that time.) I HAD to go back to take out the lens. This flower shop and the florist just caught my (tired & irritated) eye as I was returning. (Again, LOOKS LIKE MANGA wts neighbourhood flower shop omgosh) 

I found a really nice and affordable dumpling place on google so I went out again.

Late night dinner cuz it was like 9pm.

tbh I don't remember why I wore mask. was I cold? :o

The well known Ikebukuro Station, known for how big the station is. I cancelled my dumpling dinner because I couldn't find it haihh and ended up eating udon & soba somewhere, I think. When I went back to my Airbnb, there was a guy with luggage standing outside. Turns out, he's Taiwanese and he couldn't figure how to open the door (cuz sameeee). Dad freaked out about this ahahah. I didn't shower because (1) the lights in the bathroom broke, (2) it's so disgusting that I can't stand it hahaha Day one endddd.

Day two. Did my makeup only to cover up with glasses lol. My eyes couldn't take the awful lens anymore. I had to check out so I packed up my things and headed for Ikebukuro. I really dk where to go on such short notice hahahah I went there because there was a few shops I wanted to check out.

simple onigiri breakfast.

I put my bags in the lockers in Ikebukuro station (there's a lot) and just walked wherever. I really didn't plan that day hahah. First "landmark" I see is the huge Don Quijote in front of the station. Um, a lot of ppl say they bought many things here but I didn't buy anything at all. idk the place is too crowded. 

Anime fangirl mode activated HAHAHA

Animate sells anime merchandise but it's like catered more for females.

tbh everything is so priceyyyy

I had to choose everything carefully TTTTT

But still, still very excited to see all those merchandise!!

Got these two ahhhh 💕💕
I also like the fact that I visited both those landmarks in the keychain yay:
Hachiko statue and Asakusa temple (which I visited in the following week)

sadly, I couldn't find any good Naruto or Ghibli merchandise here :/

 more streets of ikebukuro

Shopped around until late afternoon, then it's time for me to go back to Sano. Problem is, I got lost :-) so freaking frustrating. I couldn't find the locker I put my bags in............ I spent 45 mins just walking and trying to figure out wth is the locker. The station is way too big laaaa some more, it's connected to a shopping mall and the amount of entrances and exits is justtttt. so frustrating hahaha. But I got back safely la. Had to walk 20 mins back to Emma's house TvT 

My 战胜品s from Tokyo yayyyy my proudest purchase is that white skirt & belt. I got it from a shop in Takeshita street for like RM16 cuz it was the last piece HA weekend alone in Tokyo ends here. Next part will be about my quiet Sano life again hoho

END
끝