Today marked my last full day in Japan, a bittersweet finale to an incredible journey. I left the day’s schedule deliberately open, giving myself the flexibility to soak in every last moment without the constraints of a fixed itinerary. My morning began with a reservation at TeamLab Planets, a mesmerizing exhibit that promised a blend of art and technology—a fitting start to the day. The experience would deposit me near the iconic giant Gundam statue, a symbol of futuristic innovation that has long captured my imagination. With only these two anchors, the day was wide open, and I was eager to see where it would lead me.
I woke up early, as had become my routine throughout this trip. With TeamLab Planets just under two miles away and the morning weather invitingly beautiful, I decided to forgo the subway in favor of a leisurely walk. My path took me across the scenic Sumida River, where an unexpected but familiar sight caught my eye—a Denny’s, just like back home in the United States. Curiosity piqued, I ventured in to see how this American diner translated in Japan.
I ordered eggs and bacon with a side of green tea. The eggs here were noticeably richer than what I’m accustomed to in the States, and the bacon was an interesting hybrid between the crispy slices I was used to and thicker cuts of ham. The meal was delicious and provided an excellent opportunity for people watching. The restaurant was bustling with more elderly patrons than I had observed elsewhere on my trip, offering a slice of local life that was both familiar and distinctly Japanese.
Resuming my walk to TeamLab Planets, I encountered an intriguing local practice that piqued my curiosity. Along the streets, I noticed several houses with plastic water bottles lined up along their fence lines. Unsure of the purpose behind this peculiar sight, I paused my journey to look it up. It turns out, this is a common belief in Japan: residents place these bottles near fences to prevent cats from entering their property or marking their territory. This simple practice added an interesting cultural note to my morning stroll, blending the everyday with the unique in typical Tokyo fashion.
Upon arriving at TeamLab Planets, I was immediately struck by the diversity of the crowd. Until this point, most places I had visited were predominantly frequented by locals, but here, it seemed like a gathering of the global village—gaijin like myself mixed with people from all corners of the world. The blend of different languages created a vibrant, international atmosphere that was a stark contrast to my other experiences in Japan.
After a twenty-minute wait, I entered at my ticketed time. TeamLab Planets offered a strange and uniquely immersive experience. The exhibition, known for its interactive digital art, enveloped visitors in a world where art and technology merge in unexpected and mesmerizing ways. The first room at TeamLab Planets was cleverly designed to introduce visitors to the barefoot experience. As I began ascending a shallow ramp with the gentle flow of water cascading down its surface. It was only about halfway up that I realized the water carried a slight soapy scent—I was washing my feet in preparation for the journey ahead!
Leaving TeamLab Planets behind, I hopped on a train and headed over to see the giant Gundam statue in Koto City. The sight was spectacular—the statue loomed impressively, capturing the essence of the iconic series. Even though I’m not the biggest Gundam aficionado, I’ve always appreciated the games and anime tied to the franchise, making this visit particularly special.
The crowd here was predominantly Asian tourists, quite a shift from the international mix at TeamLab. Wanting to capture this moment, I approached a bystander and asked in my best Japanese if he could take a photo of me. To my amusement, he responded in perfect English, “Oh, I don’t speak Japanese. I’m from Malaysia.” We shared a laugh over the mix-up before he graciously agreed to take my picture.
Post-photo, I wandered into what seemed like an inevitable encounter in Japan: another shopping mall. It housed a massive Gundam store where I couldn’t resist grabbing a few souvenirs for myself. After some more exploring, I made my way to the food court and settled on a 肉 bowl— a delicious serving of ramen loaded with tender slices of pork, a perfect meal to fuel the rest of my day’s adventures.
After exploring Koto City and a brief stop at my hotel to offload my new souvenirs, I ventured out again, this time to Ryogoku, the sumo district of Tokyo. Ryogoku is steeped in the history and culture of sumo wrestling, and one of its charming features is the statues dotted along the streets. Each statue represents a famous sumo wrestler, and I found myself pausing at each block to capture photos of these iconic figures.
Getting to the 7th statue in my journey there was a small group of people posing for a photo in front of the status. I waited to pass, not wanting to intrude, but they soon spotted me and waved me over. One of the group members, who spoke English, shared that they were work colleagues gathering for the first time since the pandemic. They invited me to join them for some beers by the river, an opportunity I happily accepted. We spent an hour or two sharing stories and photos, me using my broken Japanese and letting one of their group members to fill in.
After an hour filled with conversation, friendly arm wrestling competitions, and plenty of laughter, we prepared to part ways. However, two of the gentlemen from the group had other plans—they were off to explore some local bars and invited me to join them. Eager to dive deeper into Japanese nightlife, I accepted their invitation. Over the next few hours, we bar-hopped across the city, sampling an array of Japanese bar snacks. To my surprise, pickled octopus turned out to be delicious!
Throughout the evening, I made good use of my basic Japanese skills, while my new friends reciprocated with their English. This language exchange added an extra layer of fun and challenge to our interactions. As the night drew to a close and we headed to the train station, one of the guys paused to ask if I had ever tried Taiyaki. When I admitted I hadn’t, he promptly jumped ahead of a line of eight people to buy us some of the fish-shaped treats. At the moment, I was taken aback by this breach of what I perceived as typical Japanese etiquette. However, a friend later explained that this wasn’t just about breaking the line—it was about seizing a moment to enrich my experience, a gesture highly valued in their culture.
Weary but fulfilled, I stumbled back to my hotel after a night that had surpassed all expectations. It was my last night in Japan, and the bittersweet feelings were inescapable. As I lay in bed, I reflected on the day’s events—from the digital wonderland of TeamLab Planets to the impressive Gundam statue and the spontaneous experiences with new friends. Each moment had added layers of depth to my understanding and appreciation of Japanese culture.
The day had started with a solitary stroll but ended with shared laughter and unexpected adventures, highlighting the unpredictable beauty of travel. Trying pickled octopus, learning more about local customs, and ending the night with the sweet taste of Taiyaki—each experience was a reminder of the generosity and warmth of the people I’d met.
