Now, for the final stop on our Japan tour, we arrived in the one and only Tokyo. Tokyo is unlike any city I’ve ever experienced—it’s not just big, bright, and vibrant, but there’s a unique fusion of urban energy and tradition, balanced by an abundance of green spaces. You truly have to visit to understand what I mean. The fashion sense here is incredible – from urban, to preppy, you can see how individuals carefully craft their outfit choices and with great care.

This tech-driven metropolis with its booming business scene is a haven for city lovers. Tokyo boasts one of the world’s most efficient subway systems, a wealth of cutting-edge boutiques, a contagious energy, and a serene culture. It’s a city that never sleeps. Much like Osaka, Tokyo isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s crowded, loud, and undeniably busy. But the contrasts are what make it so captivating—towering skyscrapers stand side by side with quaint teahouses, and modern neighborhoods blend seamlessly with homely suburbs. There’s so much to see and do, it can be a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, we had a solid plan for our journey from Nagoya to Tokyo.

Tokyo Nightlife

Of course, we couldn’t experience Tokyo without diving into its vibrant nightlife!

We kicked off the evening with some karaoke. My friend and I found a local bar with a private karaoke room, and we sang our hearts out. Now, I won’t subject you to the details of our bad singing, but I’d highly recommend it as a group activity if you’re curious. While it was just the two of us, I’m sure it would be even more hilarious with a few drinks and a larger crowd.

After our impromptu Celine Dion moment, we ventured into the high-energy club scene. Now, I’m not typically one for clubbing anymore (maybe a surprise , maybe not), but we decided to check it out for the music, dancing, and overall vibe. Most people are respectful and its not like London where personal space isn’t a thing, but you do have to keep your wits about you – but that’s like all clubs. While it was fun to experience for the first time, I’m not sure how often I’d return or when.

Exploring, Wagyu, and Disney

After a night of music and dancing, we had a few free days to explore the city before some more friends joined us!

With a hop, skip, and jump, we found ourselves at Sensoji Temple, located in the Asakusa district. The temple is named after the goddess Kannon, the embodiment of compassion. As you explore the grounds, you’ll encounter landmarks like the Kaminarimon Gate, Hozomon Gate, and the main hall, along with a stunning five-story pagoda and plenty of beautiful shrines and gardens.

It was a rainy day when we visited, and the place was packed with people—some dressed in traditional kimonos and montsukis, others in more casual attire. As the oldest temple in Tokyo, it’s a must-see spot, and the surrounding markets are perfect for souvenirs. It’s easy to get lost in the sprawling grounds and crowds, which offer much to explore. Since it’s a top tourist destination, we made sure it was a stop we didn’t miss.

In between sightseeing and trying to get our bearings, we wandered through a nearby mall for some window shopping and found a quieter spot to relax before our dinner reservation.

Cooking our own food and more!

One non-negotiable experience, especially for meat lovers, connoisseurs, or just food enthusiasts, is undoubtedly Rokkasen. This well-known, high-end Japanese restaurant specializes in Yakiniku, offering a selection of Wagyu beef and more that you can cook to your liking. With a variety of price options, you can try different types, styles, and cuts of meat. My friend and I opted for the standard selection, which you can view on the website if you’re curious or need details on the options available. Apologies to the vegetarians and vegans reading this!

Now, I’m no gourmet chef—I’m a pretty decent cook, but nothing extraordinary—but it all comes down to how you like your meat cooked. We took turns grilling different cuts, vegetables, and more, while chatting the night away. The grill is designed with different sections for various types of meat, each requiring a different cooking time. We managed to cook pretty well, though, of course, some bits got a little burnt or stuck to the grill (clearly, we need more practice). Overall, we didn’t burn the place down, so that’s a win! It was a unique experience and one I’d gladly repeat, as the quality of the meat for such a reasonable price is hard to find.

You’re mostly left to your own devices, but the staff is available if you need help, and clear instructions are provided. Other than the unescapable stomache pain, had a fantastic time and would definitely love to return, hopefully when I’m feeling better. My friend isn’t the biggest meat fan, but she nonetheless gave it a go – so if you love beef or just enjoy great food, this place is for you.

After a couple of nights of recovering our livers and filling our bellies, we headed back to the hotel for a restful night before yet another big day ahead.

Tokyo Disneyland

Ahh, one of the happiest places on earth—Tokyo Disneyland. Like other Disney parks, it offers a variety of themed lands, each with its own unique attractions, shopping, and food. As a Disney lover, I was especially excited to experience this wonderland.

Compared to Hong Kong Disney, Tokyo Disney had a bit more to offer, with many more rides, attractions, and shops. You may or may not know, but the rides here, and especially the animatronics, are truly spectacular. They’re modern, advanced, and almost lifelike. The Beauty and the Beast ride, in particular, was fantastic. The way the animatronics move and are controlled isn’t clunky or obvious like some older rides; they flow smoothly, almost as if they’re alive. It’s hard to describe, but if you look up videos online, you’ll understand what I mean. Beauty and the Beast was by far my favourite—gliding around in a teacup while watching the story unfold was fun, immersive, and clever.

Of course, you’ll find classics like It’s a Small World, Splash Mountain, and Thunder Mountain. Unfortunately, Thunder Mountain was closed for maintenance during our visit, but I really enjoyed Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. The ride features Roger and Jessica Rabbit, where you sit in a car that spins, twists, and reacts unpredictably. It’s a chaotic, jolty ride, and I much prefer these types of wacky rides to the slower ones.

That said, I’m also a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion, both of which have great visuals and engaging stories. There’s so much to experience at Tokyo Disneyland, but keep in mind that each Disney park has many of the same or similar rides. So, if you can’t make it to Tokyo, you’ll likely find something similar closer to home!

As expected, the park was incredibly busy, so if you want to avoid long queues, I’d recommend using a FastPass. The food was pretty standard for a theme park, and the merchandise was decent. Of course, I ended up spending way more than expected, picking up gifts for my family and me as usual. We spent most of the day walking around, taking it all in.

Sadly, as the day drew to a close, my friend developed a terrible migraine and couldn’t enjoy Tokyo Disney as much as I had hoped. We ended up missing Tomorrowland and everything it had to offer. That said, we didn’t let it ruin the experience, as she couldn’t help being unwell. Like I’d mentioned before, I had my own stomache issues at dinner. We still ended the day on a positive note with the beautiful fireworks, which lit up the sky with Disney classics and vibrant colours. We cut the day short, so my friend could rest, but it was still a magical way to finish.

After two jam-packed days, we ended our Tokyo Disney adventure there. I’ll continue sharing more about the last days of our trip as we explore even more of Tokyo with a few additions to our crew!

Thank you for reading my post—I hope you enjoyed.

Until my next blog of intrepid tales on my trails…!