So here we are in Tokyo once more. We first came to Tokyo & Japan in September 2005. That’s 20 years ago folks, my how time flies. It was the first place we ever visited overseas and it blew our minds and changed our lives forever. This trip is our 9th trip to Japan over the 20 years – although we missed Tokyo last time and we haven’t been here since 2019. It’s good to be back.

We flew direct to Tokyo with ANA and enjoyed their Pokémon themed safety messages. The flight was overnight and we had hoped to get some sleep so we would be fresh to explore when we arrived in Tokyo in the morning. No such luck. Neither of us slept more than maybe an hour, max. Oh well, such is the travelling life.

We were starving when we landed in Narita and had planned for our traditional “onigiri and can of coffee at the airport” breakfast. But there were no canned coffees in sight and the onigiri looked average so we got on the Skyliner train instead and headed to Ueno.

Once in Ueno, we grabbed some bento from our favourite shop (yes, there was some major choice anxiety involved) and headed up to Ueno Park to chill and have our breakfast/lunch. We couldn’t check in to our accommodation until 3pm so we didn’t need to rush.

As we started eating we were informed that an episode of The Tweedy Show had just begun – Jeff Tweedy from Wilco and his family did an instagram live show every night during Covid and it became a thing and Wilco friends from all over the world watch it and it’s great and it’s really too hard too explain, but there you go. So we tuned in whilst we ate our food.

Then we continued to listen/watch and had a wander around Ueno Park. We were quite tired and it was all quite surreal.

Tweedy Show finished we headed back to Ueno Station where Blainie wanted to buy some glasses – which she did. Eye test and all and glasses delivered within 2 hours. Look out for them in upcoming blogs.

Before I collected those glasses we wandered around Ueno a bit and revelled in nostalgia and took some random photos.

By now it was close to check-in time and our energy was dwindling so we got on the subway and headed to Andon Ryokan in Minowa. We have stayed here every time we have been to Tokyo. It’s good to be back.

Then, Power Nap before heading off for an evening walk to Asakusa. The plan was to get dinner at an onigiri place that we like. Just as we were nearing it, we realised that it was closed.

Instead we had a wander around, got incredibly hungry before heading back towards Andon and going to Toybox ramen for dinner even though we vowed never to eat ramen when we are this tired.

The ramen was good. No photo because we weren’t allowed to take one.

Overall a good first day in Tokyo despite lack of sleep.

It’s nice to be home.

*edit* after writing this blog we went to a nearby sento for a bath. It was good. Obvs no photos because duh, it’s a public bath. Then ice cream from the 7/11 before watching some Japanese TV and falling asleep by 9:30pm.