It’s a been a couple of weeks since I last posted here. Kind of lost the rhythm I had going for a while. Got distracted with work and life in general, but let’s finish the wonderful summer of 2023 in Korea + Japan strong.
Taking cues from the previous day, we decided to not have any plan in mind and just go with the flow. The day started in Shinjuku and with an early lunch at Kaijin which served a brilliantly simple fish broth ramen, served with chicken meatballs. Cartilage was included and the first time I enjoyed it.
We then stumbled upon a UFO catcher place and the kids wanted to go in. We explained mom and dad won a lot of small toys when we first visited (which the kids play with to this day), but that it’s become more difficult to win.
Three or four hundred yens later, we had an otter plush in our hands that was way too big for us to lug around all day let alone bring home. Lug it around all day we did, and it did make the trip back to Portugal squeezed into one of the bags.
Madalena loves it and often sleeps with it.
While visiting Kabukichō and trying to evade the scorching sun we stopped for donuts at a Krispy Kreme. Then across the street we spotted a karaoke place and figured the kids would love to hang out for a while and sing.
They immediately fell in love with it, sang their hearts out, and we had a blast.
Once we were replenished and rehydrated (beer counts, right?), we made our way by train to Shimokitazawa (also known as Shimokita) which we had never visited.
It’s a hip neighborhood full of activity, but it also so perfectly encapsulated our initial perception of Tokyo and districts like Jingumae and Sendagaya. Idyllic alleyways, tiny shops and family restaurants, an incredible peaceful energy in the air.
We wandered for hours and hours exploring the place. We got totally lost in it, in the best way possible. It’s just one of those places that doesn’t have to be that special to leave a mark.
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