This blogpost covers the day of March 25st, 2023 while in Tokyo, Japan.
After having felt overly depressed from the night before, I woke up to rain at 6:40 AM. Woke up, cleaned my sleeping area, and packed to leave. I caught up on Twitter, Azur Lane, while having plans of visiting a nearby Cafe to connect with the locals. I checked out, even noticing an old Japanese lady (as one would find in Anime; Oba-san. Old lady, not elderly) catching a casual glimpse of one another. It was an interesting thought seeing such a lady in traditional wear at a ryokan. As for the receptionist (Elderly guy) this time they were happy about me checking out, even leaving. I simply kept to myself this time simply trying to be formally polite, leaving as quickly as I could for ‘Asakusa Tomorrow’.
I may or may not have been confused, especially with how I was carrying my luggage with me. I simply desired a more local, if equally foreign experience hoping to mingle with the locals before leaving for Fujikawaguchiko. I wasn’t pleased about the cloudy and rainy weather.
Related Blog Posting (Japan Travel):
[Day 1] – [Day 2] – [Day 3] – [Day 4] –
Asakusa Tomorrow:
I had to wait a bit to enter, even awkwardly lug around my luggage, now knowing I could have coin lockered my stuff. Even have the hotels hold onto it. I was in a rush, and on a mission. I needed to eat breakfast, even make my way to Shibuya, Shinjuku, and even the bus to Fujikawaguchiko.
(I was lost, I’ll explain this further below in its part).
I was constantly looked down upon for not drinking coffee, even sidelined all so slightly, so I was simply curious. I picked up coffee from the Japanese side of things preferring my coffee to be milky. Not sweet, just milky. Milky coffee, as I had experimented with various Sapporo and Japanese coffee instant coffee types.
I stupidly forgot my umbrella at the place, even stupidly and accidentally waving off the overly helpful staff trying to return my umbrella. I didn’t understand I had misplaced my umbrella. What an idiot I am.
It eventually clicked while venturing further causing me to head back. They instantly knew what I desired, handing me it. I thanked them. Awkward. I’m an idiot at times, people know this.
Side-note: The bottom of my umbrella was lost here.
Pffft. In hindsight, while typing this blog post up, you can see garbage having been left up behind the sign in the above image. Other people had been far ruder than I had been. I, at the very least, tried to be polite getting scolded for being polite in my own Canadian way. Shame. It’s a new day, a new adventure. I need to focus.
I’m a bit hurt I missed out on the fun, even while in Japan, having missed out on ‘Oshi no Ko’ and other Anime advertisements here. I missed out on the actual good times here. Instead, I had to deal with Demon Slayer and other Anime types. It still was a neat experience regardless.
It’s my screw up, and I’m both happy and frustrated at the same time.
I was basically going in a bit of a circle trying to make sense of everything. I hid behind some areas, circled around, stood in the rain like a weirdo, and just…… Tried to make sense of everything. I also had strong VRChat vibes from this trying to compare what I recallled from VRChat with the real world thing. The train prop, the various displays/booths, and etc.
To anybody thinking I should have taken a bus from Shibuya station to Fujikawaguchiko, you’re correct. I was following a video guide I made note of prior to my trip, hence why I took an unnecessary step going further than I should have. Shibuya to Fujikawaguchiko would probably have been easier for me.
If anybody read my Day 1 blog (actually Day 0), I wanted to make sure everything I did was correct. Everything was cemented down, and not left to chance. There was no room for improvising, even though I can now (after the fact) improvise.
Recalled a moment of a Youtuber named ‘Sora the Troll’ having been lost in either Shibuya or Shinjuku in a stream. I made it out, I however had an equally horrible moment however needing to find the bus port.
Where do I go, and how the hell do I get there?! HOW?!
With what I felt like was an hour, I finally asked the police for directions. They used their universal translator.
The funny thing is, I probably could have safely made my way through the station from one end to the other. I however recall JR ticket gates may have prevented my access needing to go around. As a foreigner this is a bit too complicated to me. I gradually became more aware on how to navigate these stations with time.
Had to wait an hour, or so. Even befriending someone briefly trying to also get to the same bus as I am, as had happened at Washington Airport for the flight to Japan. You make friends when in confusion.
We most likely conversed about where we are going, where we were from, and how they were most likely from Philippines, or something like that. A mix-race couple with a Japanese wife. Memory is far too hazy to note clearly. I failed to note this part in my travel journal. I however am aware I had a conversation with them. I however do vividly remember noting how I desired to see Mount Fuji, something they knew I wouldn’t be able to see with the cloud cover. I noted I was praying for a chance the clouds would break, it never had.
(They’re in the below image under the horizontal B4 sign; One facing the other. Left of the woman in orange.)
I tried to cleverly stick my umbrella with my luggage, was told off for it. Was told to hold onto it instead, so I did. Shame. It is what it is, I won’t be doing that again.
Because of me now having been in a Japanese bus traveling to Fujikawaguchiko I now tear up when an Anime shows these similar scenes is from the anime – Tonikaku Kawaii – when they both travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, and then Nara. I tear up from nostalgia alone. Another recent Anime named – The Dangers in My Heart -, or ‘Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu’ nearly brought me to tears from how close it was to my experience in Japan, and because of it’s story.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO JAPAN!
I also had a lone seat (Nobody sat next to me.), to which I hooked up my power bank while playing a tiny bit of Azur Lane. As was the case in Vancouver, I had to constantly exit out of Azur Lane to make note of the scenery to which I simply spaced out admiring the scenery. Too busy admiring the scenery.
At this point I was thinking how neat it was being away from my workplace. It was under a certain amount of stress while I was in my own heavenly bliss. Sure, I screwed up. It however felt heavenly while being in Japan. I was finally my own human self in Japan, something I was unable to do in Canada. I was an actual human, for once, and again.
Seeing more traditional and rural areas really brings me back to what I’ve seen in various video games, VRChat, Anime, and other places. My connection and admiration now tends to be solely from VRChat, though with a touch from Japanese made games.
Japan is gorgeous.
(Side-note: Looking at these images makes me highly nostalgic to the point it nearly pains me. It reminds me of ‘Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu’ when the main character went to Akita. Any slice-of-life, or romance-comedy anime always hits me hard for its relatability.)
I eventually stopped. I short-circuited, overwhelmed by Japan’s beauty. Even going through various areas, even through an amusement park before reaching Kawaguchiko Station.
Met up with the foreigners I met at Shinjuku. We simply happened to walk the same way while trying to make sense of where I needed to go.
I believe Japanese people won’t understand how good they have it with these 7/11s. They may consider it a standard asset (taken for granted), they’re like a restaurant when compared to Canadian conbini’s. Japanese Conbini are so handy they outshine Canadian ones by a far margin. They’re like mini grocery stores, something Canadian conbini’s struggle with I’m willing to believe. Especially from my quick Google search, even American conbini’s are even superior to the Canadian types. Well, unless it’s British Columbia & Toronto, otherwise Canada suffers as a whole in the conbini department.
You won’t ever find properly made sandwhiches, bento boxes, prepared noodle soups, onigiri, proper drinks, and a mini grocer in your Canadian conbini. These conbini are heavenly!
(Again, unless it’s Vancouver or Toronto, or America in general)
It makes me wish Canadians weren’t so lazy, also desiring to see these spammed in Canada in the way you see them in Japan. One in every other block with actual products you ACTUALLY need.
I bought a fair amount bringing it back to where I was staying. I was overly hungry bringing it all back to the hostel I was staying at.
I eventually fumbled my way into my room, fearful I had to sleep with another person. It was me, and only me. Nice! It however was overly awkward how I had to register, was assigned my room, even fiddling with what my code was for the room. The door locks were overly funky making it weird. 30 painful minutes trying to register while trying to obtain my room code, assuming the code displayed was an example, not the actual one. Damn it……
Those door locks need to be violently pressed making an overly loud noise alerting everybody in the hostel you’re trying to get into the room. I started pressing it lightly, then firmly, and then harshly pressing the buttons as they were desired. I simply left it unlocked while there, locking it fully only when I left.
Even briefly conversed with a foreigner who was beginning to check in who claimed she stayed in Japan for around a decade (10 years) relating to teaching, and such. From the Americanized Philippines, or she appeared that way. She was proud, even assisting her registering her room. Everything became awkward once she noted she was in Japan for 10 years, and how I wished it was possible for me to do the same. Things became quiet, she wondered off, and was overly loud and obnoxious on the phone the rest of the night. Could hear her laughing, gossiping, and other loud behaviours.
Off on my Adventure! WOOOO!~
Probably 20 minutes later I was later off on my adventure. I couldn’t sit in the hostel while raining. I had to do something while in Japan. I had to go. Off on my adventure! I came for Mount Fuji, let’s see if I can. If not, let’s obtain something worthwhile of the location I can capture as a backup.
I’ve tried conversing with friends via Discord, such as my friend from Vancouver, and another from Midnight Haven we were noting in meeting up in Tokyo. The person from ‘Midnight Haven’ showed interest in meeting up, hence we were talking while I was traveling, even as far back as Hibiya park, and even prior to the trip. They felt disconnected, yet interested.
Basically, I was the only one happy about my trip while other people were putting up with my hype. Tolerating me, or pushing me to the side as if I’m some idiot, or something. I openly admit I felt lonely, even wishing (on numerous occasions) I had a proper partner in crime. Life is a pain.
I even started fiddling with Youtube, Twitch, and Twitcast while up here, Livestreaming from up here. I tried speaking both languages with the little Japanese I knew, even testing what I knew. It was goofy, yet I had fun.
While up here I kept hearing certain types of siren noises, almost as if it came from a siren game. Possibly the nearby amusement park, or something. Also, it was awesome hearing the train crossing sound from up here. I kept hearing weird sounds, something I forgot to make note of.
I had decent interaction on my Twitcast channel. I was gifted cookies and such in the Twitcast. Sadly, the connection abruptly cut off in a very suspicious manner, probably from the height of the mountain. It made no sense to me. It abruptly cut off for no reason.
It was clear at this point it was going to be impossible to stream in Japan if I was going to be taking pictures every few feet. I needed a secondary streaming device, or something. I stopped my streaming.
I missed my perfect chance to visit a rabbit shrine. I’m a rabbit in the Chinese zodiac, even traveling to Japan in the Year of the Rabbit. I’m happy, and proud, hence these blog posts. I wish I noticed the rabbit shrine earlier.
After having been satisfied with my view up here I started to head back down.
I was even loosely reminded of the time a guy died live on stream on Mount Fuji. He slid to his death in a similar manner to how I kept slipping and sliding on these pathways. I was also not that far away from the infamous Suicide Forest, something I’ve even noted [in this blog post].
I’m aware it’s all one single pose. Need to take multiple images making sure at least one is perfect.
Little did I know it was actually becoming dark. I packed up, now rushing to make it back to my hostel.
I had an self-related inside joke noting Mount Fuji was overly shy, refusing to show herself to me. Nothing wanted to be seen on my flight, nor here, or on other occasions. Mount Fuji refused to show herself to me, except for that “one time”. ONE TIME! I was proudly sharing it on Twitter. You’ll see in a later blog posting, if interested.
Intermission:
Briefly pondered where to eat, looking around at mostly tourist trap areas. Left my hostel (accidentally without my wireless wi-fi gadget), making my way down to – (Izakaya Naga Masa) – hoping to have some local treats. For one, I was rejected for it being reserve only, even heading back for my wireless gadget. Everything was awkward, even how I left my hostel with a Japanese girl smiling at me with nothing said.
Instead, wandered my way over to Tocoro Bar & Dining for a meal. Didn’t know what, it was simply an “you only live once” type of move. I needed food, and local ones at that.
I felt way out of place. Everything was awkward, yet I needed to eat. It was too “hip” for me.
I most likely finished eating what I bought from 7/11 when having returned to my Hostel. Even used various conbini wipes to clean off my shoes outside of the front lobby.
I settled in, played ‘Living Together With Fox Demon’ on my Steam Deck. While doing that, I was also trying to figure out what to do into the next day over. The blankets were overly warm, the air conditioning was going on and off, and the lights thankfully could dim in a specific manner I desired. A night is a night, time to relax.
People were overly loud at 4-6 AM. Showering, getting ready, etc. I slept semi-peacefully.