Tokyo Tower 2.0 →

2.0 doesn’t really mean the version of Tokyo Tower, I just use it to imply that it’s my second time visiting Tokyo Tower. I first went there with my family in 2017 for vacation. That time, Tokyo Tower didn’t feel so special to me since we also went to other high-level spots that can make us see similar views from above. However, this time, it feels different. My friend and I arrived exactly during sunset, and lucky for us, the weather was very clear that we could see Mount Fuji, Tokyo Skytree, and then the sun setting down behind the mountains. It was a very beautiful scenery. In addition, during the night view, there were some snow projections and decorations that weren’t there when I first time came. Turns out, Tokyo Tower had just finished renovating on July 2019. Overall, the experience was exceedingly fun and the views were spectacular.

Winter Dusk →

Yesterday, when I was walking home from school, I saw the sky was very clear and beautiful in Nakano area. I took a photo of it with my phone, and fortunately, in turned out to be amazing. Since it’s entering winter, the dusk starts at around 4 to 5 PM, in which it usually starts around 6 in summer. Not only that I was able to see the sunset, the sky was also very clear that the unique shapes of clouds were enjoyable. Walking doesn’t feel tiring at all if you have a good time like this, especially also because the wind is refreshing.

Tapioca Fever →

Recently, in Japan, there has been a trend that goes around the society involving not only teenagers, but also adults and children. Tapioca, or bubble tea, or boba tea - whichever you would like to call it - is a drink that has edible chewy black balls in it. The drink can be in any form: milk tea, chocolate, coffee, tea, etc. Tapioca has actually been in Japan and many other countries for many years now, but for some reason, the trend is suddenly high these days. A week ago, I tried a new tapioca in Nakano. It was just open not long ago, and since I live near there, I felt like I have to try it. It tastes pretty good, and it costs around 400-600 yen. I tried the chocolate flavor, and my friend tried the seasonal pineapple flavor.

Halloween Like None Other →

Happy Halloween, everyone! It has only been a day after the actual Halloween day, but Halloween celebrations has been done in many places since weeks ago. To be honest, we don’t really celebrate Halloween in my country so this is my second time celebrating Halloween in Japan! My friend and I went to Ikebukuro on the 26th of October, the first day of 池ハロ (IkeHaro = Ikebukuro Halloween). IkeHaro is an annual event that is held usually during the weekend before Halloween. Since Ikebukuro is a famous place for Japanese pop culture like anime, manga, games, and many more, the costumes people wear are usually not scary costumes but cosplays of certain characters - very different than the Halloween parties in the Western, or even other cities in Japan. As a fan of Japanese pop culture myself, I recognize some of the characters and took pictures with them. Even though it was super crowded, we had so much fun! If you have any interest in Japanese pop culture or even cosplaying itself, IkeHaro is a must-visit annual event.

First Time in Yokohama

On May 2019, I went to Yokohama for the first time with my church friends. We had a teen camp where we learn about the bible together as well as having fun. The weather during that time was still pretty cold, so some of us wore our winter coat. Yokohama is located near the beach, and it is also my first time going to a beach in Japan. From the building where we stayed, it only took 5 minutes of walking towards the sea area. We can also see the amusement park located at the opposite side of the beach. It was a very beautiful scenery, especially during sunset.

Hanami in Shinjuku Gyoen

Spring season in Tokyo is the BEST. Wherever you go, colorful flowers always accompany you. I went to do hanami, a common Japanese tradition to appreciate flowers during spring, mostly sakura (cherry blossom). I did various hanami in different places, yet Shinjuku Gyoen is the only one that completely captured my heart. The breathtaking scenery was not made up of only the sakura trees, but it is the combination that completed each other and made it unforgettable. As you can see in the picture, even the calm lake can look so beautiful, reflecting the ray of dusk. Well then, now you already know where to go during spring in Tokyo!

SUNSET IN SHINJUKU

Yesterday, I went to Shinjuku. I visited Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. On the 45th floor, I watched the sun going down. I stood next to a tourist. As any tourist there, he tried to capture the beauty of the city. It was very cold outside, but the sunlight made Tokyo look warmer.