Fuji & Tokyo, Japan (2)

The second time I visited Japan was in the summer of 2025. It was mid June. My trip began on the 19th. We took a very long car ride to Fuji Speedway. We stayed in the Speedway Hotel. The first night we were there, I ate a delicious wagyu steak. I did not do much in Fuji. We went out to dinner with my dad’s “friends” (very awkward). I had a very delicious bowl of donburi. I had also learned that my friend Jacquelyn was in Tokyo. And I was going to be in Tokyo. At the time, Jacky and I weren’t best friends. We were definitely good friends, as we lived in the same dorm the school year before, but we were not that close. Nevertheless, we made plans to hang out when I was in Tokyo. I was very excited. I just had to “survive” beautiful Fuji, all alone.

My mother had started to tell people about me taking Japanese in school. It was very awkward, as my Japanese skills were not at all as she was making them out to be. I had many conversations that ended in a すみません and Google Translate. The Japanese people still praised me because a brown girl being able to say お名前はアニヤです was impressive enough. The morning of the 22nd, it was time to go to Tokyo. I waved goodbye to Mount Fuji. By 6pm, due to some horrific traffic, I was in our hotel room. The exact same room as March 2024. We were greeted with a plate of fruit. My parents were going to dinner with their friend. Of course, an Indian restaurant. I forgot to mention my first time, but my dad had insisted we go to an Indian restaurant. Surprisingly, the server spoke Tamil (my mother’s… mother tongue). Cute bonding moment.

Anyway, I took the opportunity to walk around by myself. The streets were so lovely and empty at 8:30 pm. I went to 7/11 (a different one from the others that I visited) where I sat between a Japanese guy who kept staring at me in the reflection of the window and side-eyeing me if I dared to glance at him and a group of Chinese tourists (very cute girls). I ended my night at 9 when I returned to the hotel room and enjoyed a glass of peach juice and whatever sake the hotel had provided. Delicious. Sorry, mom and dad.

Then, it was June 23rd. The day I would hang out with Jacquelyn. We met up in Ginza 6 where I met her little sister, Elizabeth, for the first time. I also greeted her mother. The two of them departed and Jacky and I were left on our own. Jacky and I walked to Hooters Ginza. Yes. We went to Hooters in Tokyo. The woman who served us was very kind and served us both Long Islands that tasted like they were made with hand sanitizer. Day drinking at Hooters in Ginza? Sounds like the best f*cking day of my life. Afterwards, we had learned that another boy we were friends with (Jacky was closer with him), Thomas, was also in Tokyo. So we took the JR-Yamanote Line straight to Shibuya. It was not as easy as that. I did not yet have my Suica card on my phone, so we had to manually buy a ticket. And of course, the signage was ridiculously confusing. A kind Japanese old man helped us out though. Thank you for that. Anyway, we arrived in Shibuya and walked Omote-Sando. We stopped at the Diesel store and asked Thomas to meet us there. He rolled up on his stupid rental scooter. We had a lot of fun laughing at him. Thomas was fun to spend an hour or so with. We walked around till we found a cafe as Jacky complained of thirst. Thomas made me pay for him. I still hold a grudge for the 570 yen I lost. I suppose he made up for it by sharing his matcha vape with us (the same thing that gave me and Jacky cold sores…)

Jacky and I had been vlogging the entire experience. This was for my Japanese summer credit project. At about 5:30, we ended up in central Shibuya. One of my online friends whom I met through a k-pop trading Instagram account was in Tokyo (she lives in Washington, DC). I saw her in Onitsuka Tiger. It was a bit awkward, but we took a cute picture together and I interviewed her family. I haven’t seen her since and we don’t talk that often. Regardless, it’s still crazy what the world can do for you. 6 PM and we were hungry. We stopped at a FamilyMart and went to Starbucks to try the mango frappucino. We ate and leisurely made our way to Roppongi by 7:30. We took a detour to visit a little pet store. Smelled like shit (pardon my language. There is just NO other way to describe it). We had a plan. Don Quijote to buy a vape (don’t be alarmed, we learned later that it was 0% nicotine. Embarrassing). Then, try to get into a club just for a picture and leave. Jacky and I were bored right after that, so we went back to Shibuya and interviewed a plethora of people. By 10:50, my parents were wondering when I was getting back. I was at 25,996 steps. We took a train, then had to run across an entire station to get on the next train, then got off at the wrong station, so we shared a taxi to my hotel, then Jacky returned to hers. I only got back to my room at about midnight. I ended the night with 27,941 steps.

The next morning, I went to Ginza with my mother. We went to a nice cafe. She had a hot matcha whilst I enjoyed my youthful iced one. We took a gander at Chrome Hearts and she looked promisingly interested in a pair of sunglasses. However, we left empty handed. Jacky and I had made plans for our mothers to meet in the hotel bar. Elizabeth tagged along and I spent great time with the two of them. We took a lot of selfies together throughout the hotel and even went to the gym for a bit (just to mess around on the treadmills). We got permission to go out to 7/11 together. They gave me dorayaki. The next day I went to Akihabara alone and enjoyed browsing the shops. Then, we had to go to dinner with my parents' friends.

The 26th was my last day in Tokyo. I visited Jacky once more in her apartment. We went to Azabudai Hills and enjoyed Hojicha and Matcha. We tried a seasonal mango parfait and fruit sandwiches. Then, I said goodbye and hopped on a train to Shibuya. My only goal was Tower Records. I purchased a few things. Finally, my parents summoned me back to the hotel so we could leave.

A trip of independence and freedom. I had felt my first taste of adulthood, or so I thought. Being out late (and not getting reprimanded) was new to me. Being in a big, vast city with working public transportation and new people all around you? I knew right then as my plane took off towards Italy that this was my place. I needed Tokyo, and the city didn’t care about me. A city you really could just do whatever you wanted, because I’ll always be the foreigner anyway. It wasn’t about Japan. It was about Tokyo. Does that make any sense?

Anyway, below are my recommendations from this trip. I only have two. My apologies. I did not eat anything that delicious.

Nakamura Tokichi Azabudai (Japan, 〒105-0001 Tokyo, Minato City, Toranomon, 5 Chome−9−1 麻布台ヒルズ ガーデンプラザB B1F)
> The delicious matcha (and hojicha) place Jacky & I visited. I went there with my parents as well the next trip we took. Absolutely the best.

Sembikiya (Japan, 〒105-0001 Tokyo, Minato City, Toranomon, 5 Chome−9−1 Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B, 地下1階)
> Also located inside of Azabudai Hills, Jacky and I had our delicious seasonal parfait here. The vibes are very fancy, princessy. We did not fit in as we were giggling and laughing too loud.

Jacky & Anya!