Search

Exploring Tokyo's Delights: Sushi Adventures, Pokemon Quests, and More!

LauraTjam
Sep 12, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Feb 17

Today was a delightful day filled with exploration and relaxation. The morning began at slow pace, with some extra rest and slowly getting ready process. I must admit, I was quite tired from two consecutive days of exciting adventures. Our journey began at 10 a.m when we strolled over to Ueno station, a pleasant 33 minute walk away. Along the way, we encountered many convenience stores, including well-known names like FamilyMart, 7 Eleven, and Lawson. These stores appear to be conveniently scattered on every street and corner – it's quite impressive! You could practically indulge in a tasty snack every five minutes. What a treat!

Our journey brought us to Ueno station, where we found the nearest JR office to exchange and activate our Japan Rail Pass ticket. Oh, yes, the Japan Rail Pass is an absolute money-saver for your travels. With this pass, you gain access to all Shinkansen (Bullet trains) and the JR line, all with just a single pass! You can choose between 7, 14, and 21-day passes, and for our convenience, we opted for the 7-day pass. It's important to note that this pass is exclusively available to foreign travelers exploring Japan. Unfortunately, the prices for this pass are set to increase in October 2023, but even with the price hike, it remains a worthwhile investment if you plan to explore Japan. To put it in perspective, a Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto can already set you back around €90, whereas the 7-day pass cost us €190 per person. The savings are undeniable!

You know what adds an extra layer of fun to your vacation here? Collecting station stamps, known as "Eki stamps." Every station, metro, subway, and even some post offices have their unique stamps waiting to be discovered! All you need to do is locate them – usually, they're situated near the ticket office and entry gates. If you ever find yourself in Japan, consider purchasing a stamp book or bringing along a small 80-gram paper notebook, and you're all set to embark on this enjoyable collecting adventure. It's a delightful activity to enhance your travel experiences in Japan!

Eki stamps collecting, 2023

After successfully activating our Japan Rail Pass, our next exciting mission was to visit the Pokemon Center Tokyo DX – yes, another Pokemon store! You'll definitely be hearing more about my Pokemon adventures because I'm a dedicated Pokemon enthusiast. To fuel up for our adventure, we wandered through the vibrant streets of Akihabara in search of some delicious food. The options were plentiful, making it quite a challenge to choose. Ultimately, we settled on dining at Jonathan's, a restaurant resembling Denny's, offering a delightful blend of American and Japanese cuisine.

Jonathan's coffee and restaurant, 2023

On the hunt for the next Pokemon Store, we quickly realized it was a bit farther than we anticipated for a relaxed stroll. So, we hopped on the Ginza line headed towards Nihonbashi, a mere 3 stops and a 5 minute ride away. By the way, Tokyo has an impressive skyline with its towering buildings – it's truly mesmerizing, as you can see in the picture!

Nihonbashi, Tokyo, 2023

Upon arriving at the Pokemon Center Tokyo DX, we were greeted by the sight of walls adorned with captivating Pokemon wallpaper, making quite the impression. As expected, this store was bustling with activity, but it offered a different array of merchandise compared to the previous one we visited. Our luck seemed to be in full swing because, right at the checkout, they restocked the highly sought after Pokemon 151 cards! These cards have been selling out everywhere, and this marked our fourth attempt to find them. Each person was allowed to purchase up to five packs, and I couldn't be happier that I managed to get some.

Pokemon Center Tokyo DX, 2023

For dinner, we took a relaxing stroll through Asakusa in search of a charming Japanese restaurant, and we stumbled upon a sushi belt restaurant. These are also known as Kaitenzushi, where you sit next to a conveyor belt carrying plates of sushi, and you can simply grab whatever catches your eye. Since we'd never experienced this before, we decided to give it a try, and oh my goodness, it was an absolute delight!

We had a bit of a secret agenda too; we wanted to compare the quality and price of sushi in Japan to what we're used to in the Netherlands. To be completely honest, the sushi in Japan surpassed our expectations. It was incredibly fresh and bursting with flavor, a true culinary experience. When we compared the cost and the amount we consumed to our usual go-to, SushiPoint Groningen, it turned out to be around the same price. We paid ¥7804, which is approximately €49, for 38 pieces of sushi and two bottles of sake. This might be attributed to the fact that the Tokyo area tends to be on the expensive side. This was the most expensive place we've dined at as of yet.

Sushi go-round restaurant, 2023

What a wonderfully adventurous and delicious day it has been! We've enjoyed aimlessly wandering and savoring delicious food. Now, we're back at our hotel, getting ready to pack our larger bags to have them shipped to our next hotel in Osaka. It's incredible how convenient this service is here! Our next stop is Niigata, where we'll be staying for one night. Tomorrow holds the promise of new adventures, and we're eagerly looking forward to discovering what Niigata has in store for us!

Adventure is out there🌟