Spoonful of Earth
Discovering the world, one spoonful at a time
Thanks to my extended visit home, I was able to spend a few days in Tokyo with my parents.
This was my first time in Japan. It's a neighboring country we share such deep history and cultural ties with, yet I'd never set foot there until now.
What made this trip even more special was that we were retracing my parents' honeymoon route. We planned to fly to Tokyo then take the train to Hakone, a popular vacation spot known for its stunning views of Mt. Fuji, sulfur mines, and relaxing onsens.
We arrived at Narita airport early in the evening and hopped on the airport limousine bus to our hotel in Odaiba, a vibrant waterfront district in Tokyo. The bus ride to Tokyo was so peaceful. No one was in a rush on the road, everything was very orderly and calm. Even as we entered the city, it was quiet and cozy.
After checking in, we went straight to dinner at this Shabu-Shabu place. The food was decent, though I found their one-drink-per-person rule odd. They wouldn't even bring water until we ordered a beverage. Umma (my mom) was mildly annoyed that we didn't use the leftover broth to make porridge, as is customary in Korea.
After dinner, we strolled along the waterfront park next to our hotel. The skyline glittered in the distance, its night lights reflecting beautifully on the water.
Our hotel was very nice; probably the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in. It was the type of hotel that had white pajamas laid out for each guest. The room came with a stunning view. It was a shame we only had one night there. Still, I made the most of it, curling up in the plush bed with its crisp linens in my clean pajamas. I drifted off quickly, letting the exhaustion from the day melt away into a deep, restful sleep.
