The Saga Begins!
Temperature - 34 Degrees
Location - Shinjuku, Tokyo
Food consumed - Ichiran Ramen/ Lawson trip!
The whirlwind has touched down; I've arrived in Tokyo and am in complete awe. I can hardly believe I'm here, in person.
My first introduction to Tokyo was at 8 p.m. The adrenaline kicked in, but the lights of the city greeted me. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Having seen it from online posts and 2nd hand accounts, I was ready to be underwhelmed or at the very least, grateful to be flying out in a few days. Yet Tokyo has a beautiful charm that is rare for a capital city, I have gone on record to say I dislike capital cities entirely. However, I was happy to see multiple green spaces and wide streets. Unlike London which always feels very cramped. My first outing into the Tokyo heat was a small journey to the Konbini, however it was very enjoyable. The Cicadas were as loud as I had been warned. The city was buzzing, the lights shimmering as far as the eye could see.
Staying in Shinjuku, I was within walking distance of several places I had longed to visit. My first stop was at Lawson, where I purchased some drinks and a late dinner. I have been overwhelmed with how friendly everyone is. From the Konbini clerks to the Uniqlo gentlemen who helped me check out and set the machine to English.
Everyone has been very accommodating. That famous hospitality shining through. Being slightly jet-lagged and overwhelmed, I left my bag in the dining hall. I went back very quickly! A very friendly hotel worker happily helped me look, he was very happy when I noted my bag was still where I had left it. A welcome experience for someone currently trying to process everything that is going on in my life.
My first bucket list tick goes to Ichiran. Many years ago I watched Mike Chen visiting Ichiran and having an amazing experience. He later revisited and filmed behind the scenes of how they ran. I was in awe. Not only was the food good, but the way it ran was perfect for a slightly jet-lagged Becca who didn’t want to deal with a language barrier that night. You enter pay on a machine which can be set to English and select your meal. Once seated in a cute little booth the server whisks away your tickets and the curtain drops!
Sometime later, the curtain rises to reveal an amazing bowl of ramen! The great thing is that you can customize everything, from the richness of the broth to the amount of garlic. You can build your ramen just the way you like it. Being someone with an unhealthy obsession with garlic, I always choose the highest option for garlic.
The food was amazing, and the broth was mind-blowing. I finished it off very quickly.
So far, I haven't experienced much, but I am very pleasantly surprised. In Tokyo, not knowing Japanese hasn’t been an issue. The heat is certainly a challenge that I will be working on, but my story has started.
I will be flying to my prefecture in 2 days, leaving the vastness of Tokyo behind. I am nervous about what awaits me, but very excited to see what rural Japan offers.
