Yesterday, I hit a mini-milestone: I’ve accumulated 1,000 followers on one of my accounts on X (formerly Twitter). It took me three years to get here, and I’m genuinely happy about it. Back in early 2022, I wanted a forum to talk about my neighborhood and possibly connect with local people — but I didn’t…
Category: Tokyo
Navigating Tokyo’s Roads: Bicycles, Scooters & Cars
I was on my bicycle on the way home when, to my surprise, a guy riding one of those LUUP electric scooters tripped and fell in the middle of the road. Luckily, there were no cars around. I asked if he was alright, and thankfully, he said he was fine. I couldn’t help but think…
Resting Sad Face: A Tokyo Train Story
A friend visiting from Hong Kong and I were discussing his observations about Tokyo. He used to live here before moving to Hong Kong, and one thing he pointed out was that people on the trains here look sad. This was interesting, as it wasn’t the first time I’d heard this—I’ve seen similar comments on…
Cherry Blossoms: Been There, Snapped That
It’s that time of year again—cherry blossoms are popping up in every conversation, and Tokyo’s big sakura spots are packed with tourists. Domestic ones, sure, but lately, way more international folks too. After living in Japan for about a quarter of a century, we’re at the point where it’s just normal. Our cherry blossom pics…
Gyukatsu Ichi Ni San: Seven Years Later in Tourist-Filled Akihabara
I had a day off work, so I decided to visit Akihabara. I was still on the lookout for a new TV, so I figured I might as well head to the epicenter of Japan’s otaku culture to check out some of Tokyo’s biggest electronics shops. I used to frequent the place, too, so it…
A Day to Myself: Yoshinoya, BicCamera, and Takanawa Gateway
The other day, my wife attended a full-day kyudo event, so I had the day to myself. I could either stay home and do nothing or go outside and be a little more productive. I had to admit, the former option was very tempting, but I had a dentist appointment at 2 PM, so I…
Four Years Later: Was Buying a Home in Japan the Right Choice?
Four years ago, we decided to stop renting and finally buy our own place. For the longest time, we thought we’d be renting for the rest of our time in Japan. We didn’t want to be tied to a multi-decade mortgage. We didn’t even apply for permanent residency because we believed only people applying for…
Enjoying a No-Plan Birthday Vacation at Home
For my birthday, I took the week off from work but didn’t make any plans to go anywhere. Aside from my actual birthday, my wife was working throughout the week, so I basically had the whole time to myself—except for when she was working from home and we could grab meals together. This isn’t the…
Katsuretsu Yotsuya Takeda: A Birthday Lunch Worth the Wait
Katsuretsu Yotsuya Takeda is one of our favorite restaurants in Tokyo, so when deciding where to go for my birthday lunch, this was an easy choice. The restaurant opens at 11:00 AM, so we planned to arrive a bit early to ensure we were among the first in line. Since it was a weekday, we…
Why We Don’t Own a Car in Tokyo (And Don’t Miss It)
We sold our last car in 2013, thinking we might miss the convenience. Over a decade later, we haven’t looked back. Living in Tokyo, we’ve found that owning a car just isn’t necessary—and in many ways, it’s more of a burden than a benefit. Getting Around Is Easy Without a Car The train station, which…
Discovering a Great Tempura Spot in Musashi-Koyama
The other day, I visited Musashi Koyama shopping street, in Shinagawa Ward of Tokyo. This is a long covered shopping street with many restaurants, shops, and cafes, and is maybe one of my favorite shopping streets in Tokyo. It kind of reminds me of the big shopping streets of Osaka, but at least for this…
A New Landmark in Nihonbashi
The Nihonbashi area redevelopment is progressing well. The plan is to eventually redevelop the area around Japan’s famed bridge, even moving the much-despised overhead highway underground to bring back the bridge to its former glory. The riverside will become a more pleasant and more sunny place, surrounded by office buildings, shopping centers, cafes, and restaurants….
Enrico in Tokyo 