Japan, 二回目

After landing in Haneda, I took the KeiKyu line to Yokohama.

Walking around in Yokohama. It was Saturday, I saw a lot of people fishing by the sea. Looks like it's quite a popular activity. It soon got dark and found a ramen shop near my hotel, I forgot to take a picture, but the taste wasn't what I was expecting.

Day 2 had an amazing weather. I actually woke up pretty early, but spent the whole morning doing laundary. Went to the Honmoku Sancho Park and Sankeien in the afternoon.

After this 15-ish kilo meter walking, my knee was hurting.

Since last night's dinner wasn't satifying, and I was in desperate need of a drink. I walked into this small restraunt just a block away from my hotel and they offered decent food. I don't even remember how much I drank. But that meal cost me almost 10,000 yen.

When you drink too much and the in coming morning when the alcohol level in the brain drops, you are awake. So yes, on the Third day, I think I woke up when the city was still asleep. When I saw the light throught the window of my room, the melody of Feeling Good by Nina Simone just popped into my head. It also rained a little in the morning, it was pretty chilly. Which is why I bought a jacket on my way to Tokyo. I didn't bring anything for this weather.

I only booked two nights' stay in Yokohama. So by noon, I needed to check-out. And this night, I would be staying at a hotel at Shinagawa SeaSide.

Since it was Monday, I wanted to avoid the rush hours. So I left Yokohama at about noon. Hotels in Japan often start taking check-ins at 3 in the afternoon. So I just left my luggage at the receiption counter and started my day. I went to Toshima 5-chome. A quiet neighbourhood. That's the only exact address I have of her over the years. Though she had moved out there for many many years. I just wanted to see what she had seen. Walking on the river side was calming.

Finally, some proper ramen.

Because I walked too much in previous days and my knee was not recovering fast enough, I only walked in the afternoon, started from Jiyugaoka (I forgot to take a picture, again). I heard this place a lot in a podcast, thought I'd be here personally to feel it. From there I'd do my routine - pick a direction, and start walking. Anyway, I ended up in Kawasaki. There I was tired and hungry, found a restraunt and stormed in. And again drank a lot.

Day 6, went to Kawasaki again. This time for the observatory at the city hall. Sadly the weather wasn't good enough to see Mont Fuji. In the afternoon, I got back to the city and went to Sony's headquater. I sat in the cafe for an hour waiting for a miracle. Something I could only pray for. The miracle never came, so I went to the headquater of my current employer. A lot old-fashioned compared with Sony.

Most part of day 7 was used to hunting anime locations. It was after I made that comparison of Garden of Words did I find out that I had chosen the wrong angle.

The park was beautiful though. And when it started to get dark, I stumbled to Toshima 5-chome again. I thought about climbing up to the 9-th floor but no, I didn't do it.

Last day. Last year I took a photo sunset in the west coast of Japan. I thought this year maybe I should take a similar one at Tokyo bay. But the weather was too cloudy, even if I had stayed on that bridge, there wouldn't be any visible sunset. Luckily, the route of my day formed a shape of heart.

There is this phrase I liked a lot.

Veni, Vidi, Vici.

I came, I saw, I conquered. How I wish I could say the same thing. I came (to your city), I saw (what you had seen), but I may never be able to conquer (your heart). 🥲

Veni! Vidi! Vici?