My Tokyo, Japan Experience

The Spine Down
Jan 20
4 min read

Here are some of my highlights from my trip to Tokyo in celebration of my sister in law’s birthday!

First Class to Tokyo: A Whole New Standard

Let’s start at the top...literally. My first first class flight experience was to Japan and it was amazing. The service was great and the all-you-can-eat food and drinks were actually good. And I’m not talking about little snack packs—I’m talking salmon, mashed potatoes, green beans, breakfast potatoes, and omelets. There was also a great movie selection that you could watch alongside your travel partner, plus comfy reclining seats, a cozy blanket, and a real pillow. It was giving luxury!

Weather & Atmosphere: Humid, Breezy & Beautiful

We visited during June, technically Tokyo’s rainy season, but we lucked out with sunny, humid, and breezy weather.

Despite being such a densely populated city, Tokyo was surprisingly peaceful. People moved with purpose but didn’t rush. It was quiet, clean, and respectful in a way that I didn't expect.

Culture, Safety & The Vibe

Before the trip, I was a little nervous. As a Black woman traveling abroad, I was hyper-aware of how my Blackness might be perceived. I braced myself for weird questions or people wanting to touch my skin/hair. Thankfully, that wasn’t my experience. People minded their business and were in their own world which was nice.

Other small, but fascinating things:

No tipping!
They drive on the right side and and walk the left side.
The city was quiet. For how big Tokyo is, it never really felt chaotic.
All toilets have rinse and heating features.
Tokyo has over 14 million people and yet it’s one of the cleanest places I’ve ever been. No public trash cans, no eating on the go, and a sense of pride in keeping shared spaces clean.

Jet Lag Hit Different

Jet lag in Tokyo hit me like a truck. We were 13 hours ahead of our usual time zone, and my body didn’t know what to do with itself. The sun was up at 3 a.m., and as someone who never naps, I had to nap daily just to stay functional. It was a whole experience.

What I Ate & Loved

Pizza Pizza!

I did not expect for my favorite meal in Tokyo to be pizza. I had a simple margherita and pepperoni pizza at Pizza Strada, and it was amazing. Usually I’m a meat-lovers girl, but this Neapolitan-style pizza with its fresh ingredients, bubbly crust from the wood-fired oven and attention to detail, reminded me that sometimes less really is more.

Wagyu Adventures

Japan is famous for its Wagyu beef, and we tried it three ways:

Grilled Aging Beef Tokyo
Shogun Burger (a smashburger-style spot)
Ginza Steak (a 5A Wagyu tasting experience)

Each one was a delicious experience.

Soufflé Pancakes at Bills

Our first breakfast in Tokyo was at Bills in Shinjuku, where I had fluffy ricotta-style soufflé pancakes. Not as sweet as traditional ones, but incredibly light and satisfying. Paired with the best fresh-squeezed orange juice I’ve ever had and a smooth cup of coffee. Bonus: the restaurant had a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling bookshelf wall that made for a perfect photo op.

Sake Market Discovery

At Sake Market, you bring your own food and taste different types of sake. I discovered a new favorite: Umeshu Sangria, a sweet plum wine that I now need in my life on the regular.

Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience

We did the Gyokuro Course, where the tea was served different ways: hot, chilled with citrus, and even eaten as a salad with dressing. We finished with matcha and Japanese sweets. The entire process felt peaceful and intentional. I really enjoyed the pride put into the preparation and ritual of the tea making.

Fast Food

In Japan, KFC is a whole different experience. You order downstairs, then go upstairs to eat. It was packed and since you’re not supposed to eat while walking, we had to bring it back to the hotel. There are also a million and one 7 Eleven which were really nice and had a vast variety of snacks meals. I tried an egg sandwich which was very tasty.

Most Memorable Experiences

TeamLab Planets Tokyo

An interactive museum of digital art where we walked through water, wandered through mirrored rooms, touched living flowers, and played in light-based installations. It was like walking through a dream.

Asakusa Day

We also toured a Samurai & Ninja museum, where I shockingly hit a bullseye in the ninja star-throwing challenge. Who knew?

We visited the beautiful Sensoji Temple, wandered miles of market streets, and found an amazing secondhand shop where I bought a purse I adore.

Night Life in Golden Gai in Shinjuku, Tokyo

The best word to describe night life in Golden Gai in Shinjuku, Tokyo is compact. The streets were tight and the bars were even tighter where only a small group of friends at a time can go in a sit. It was pretty lively to be a weekday. Something also that stood out to me were the drunk businessmen in full suit and briefcase passed out in the streets. I was so shocked, but learned after looking it up this is a complex Japanese business drinking culture.

Godzilla Hotel

Walking the streets of Shinijuku, we walked past the famous Godzilla Hotel which has a giant Godzilla head on the rooftop and has Godzilla- themed rooms. We stopped in to check it out and dilcious midday drinks.

A Beautiful Encounter

One of my favorite moments was randomly meeting a Black American family living in Japan (mom, dad, and four kids). They shared their love for Japan, how safe they feel and enjoying their quality of life. Hearing their story was such a heartwarming, affirming moment.

Manga Store

It was exciting to visit a Manga store with anime items mangas. I even picked up a English manga copy of The Apothecary Diaries.

Sumo Wrestling Experience

To end our trip, we had front-row seats at a sumo show that was part education, part performance. I had a chick hot pot for the first time which was delicious. I got to learn the history, rituals, and rules of sumo in a fun, memorable way.