Well, I suppose the first thing to do is wish you all a very happy New Year!

The Christmas season is always a whirlwind—busy, chaotic, and full of noise. I hope it’s been a great start for those of you reading, 2025 already! How time flies.

And it certainly has since I last left off… But as we all gradually ease back into our routines, let me take you through the final days of my time in Tokyo. The trip has been packed with activities, navigating through the city, and, of course, discovering new locations.

After a rather eventful (and somewhat unsuccessful) day at Tokyo Disneyland, we welcomed some new arrivals into our group. A few more of my friends had joined me for the journey! Having already spent a couple of weeks in Japan, I went to pick them up at the station since they arrived pretty late at Haneda Airport. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, they finally arrived!

We had a big group hug, slowly made our way to the accommodation, and dropped off our bags. By 3 AM, in a completely delirious state, the idea of heading to a 7/11 and hopefully finding Don Quijote seemed oddly appealing. Personally, I was the tired, grumpy one, longing for sleep after a long day, but since it had been a while since any of us had been in Tokyo, I decided to tag along.

Now, if this were London, I’m pretty sure we’d have either been stared at or would have had to be extra cautious. Four girls walking out at 3 AM? Unheard of! But in Tokyo, it was surprisingly safe, more so than we expected. Now, I’m not suggesting this is something every traveller should do, but it was a spontaneous adventure we couldn’t resist. The girls were excited to experience a 7/11 for the first time, and with snacks in hand, we wandered back through the streets of Tokyo, anticipating a big day ahead.

Go-karting

Now, if you’ve heard anything about Japan, you’ve probably heard of this one…

This had been booked for a while and was one of the activities we were most excited for. A couple of tips:

• You’ll need a full driver’s licence (and an international one).
• Make sure to pre-book and do your research, as there are different companies offering various routes.

We followed an instructor and drove either in pairs or single file through the traffic, picking up speed when we could. The whole experience was absolutely exhilarating. The speed, the freedom, and the sights were truly unforgettable. While we obviously couldn’t race like in Mario Kart, there were moments when we could really push the pace. Weaving in and out of traffic added a thrilling element, though we still had to stick to the rules. The passenger princess rode on the instructor’s quad bike, filming us as we drove. It was an experience unlike anything I’d ever had before, beyond just bumper cars or a closed circuit.

It was hilarious to see the reactions of people on the pavements as we zoomed by—some waving, some snapping photos, and some even judging. The whole spectrum of responses was fantastic. While it may be a typical tourist activity, I honestly recommend it.

A few things to note: you’re not allowed to film while driving due to the law. You can only film when stopped or at a red light, and the company will immediately confiscate your go-kart if you break the rules. So, if you’re thinking of being a rebel, I’d suggest you think twice! But if you decide to be rebellious, I would proceed with caution or don’t get caught… – but you didn’t;t hear that from me.

I’d say we drove for about an hour and a half, and if you decide you’d like to give it a go, the website I looked into was Monkey Kart. The entire experience was smooth, safe, and efficient. All the information you need is above, and the team is very responsive, which made the whole experience even better.

Shibuya crossing and sky views

We ended our day with some food and a visit to the famous Shibuya Crossing. To be honest, it was a bit underwhelming—it’s smaller than you might expect and, at the end of the day, it’s just a crossing. I don’t mean to take away from its allure, but the hype doesn’t quite match the reality. Seeing it at night was cool, though, and exploring Tokyo with its neon lights reminded me of Osaka, just on a larger scale. That said, I can understand why it’s iconic, but for me, it didn’t quite live up to the excitement. After taking in the view from a rooftop, we decided to call it a day, reflecting on our exciting adventures and giving the rest of the group a chance to recover from jet lag.

Last Few Days

As the last two days of my trip in the wonderful Japan approached, I couldn’t help but feel a bit sad at the thought of leaving. It was also my friend’s final two days before the rest of us moved on to our next destination..

The next day we made our way to TeamLabs Borderless, the interactive museum is filled with lights, effects, and sensory pieces of art to admire. There are two locations in Japan, and from what I’ve heard, the one at Planet is supposedly better. But that didn’t matter, as we thoroughly enjoyed this one, which had multiple rooms where art meets technology in a bright and beautiful way. You can experience rooms with dangling lights, as well as a light show projected through steam. It’s not your typical art gallery, and for a first-time experience, I really enjoyed it.

A little tip: I’d recommend wearing trousers or shorts since some rooms are mirrored. I wore a skirt that day, so I had to avoid certain rooms. The staff do offer a black robe to cover yourself, but it can be a bit awkward when you’re trying to immerse yourself in the experience.

It’s a relaxing place to visit when it’s quiet, and each room offers something unique. At around £25 (or the equivalent in your currency), it’s a great way to spend a rainy or cold afternoon. That said, once you’ve been, there’s no need to return immediately, as it’s not somewhere you’d necessarily revisit often. But, as I mentioned, it’s a different and refreshing activity if you want to try something new.

Last couple of days

For one of my friend’s last days, we wandered around the city and strolled through the park of the Imperial Palace. It was bittersweet, reminiscing about all our funny moments, but also feeling sad that the trip was coming to an end. We took in the lovely scenery, taking it easy before my friend’s long and sluggish journey home. After endlessly wandering and enjoying the day, we headed back to grab her luggage and, this time, made sure we were going to the correct airport. I was determined to get her boarded with all her things. It felt strange to greet a friend in another country, and even stranger to say goodbye. But I knew I’d see her again when I got home, so after a big hug, some tears and waves goodbyes, she headed through security and I returned to the others to get my own packing done.

My final day was pretty much a repeat of the day before. While the others headed to Fuji, I was feeling unwell and decided to take a few extra hours to rest. At this point, I’d been on the go for a month with little time to recalibrate, so after packing, I did some more wandering, waited for my friends to return, and ended the trip by cooking some more Wagyu beef.

Once we all finally managed to finalise our packing and get to bed, it was the awful two hour trek to Narita airport to catch our flight.

Japan: Final Thoughts

It’s hard to summarise my experience of Japan, as there was so much I did and saw. But as a country, it’s easily one of my favourite destinations—possibly the favourite I’ve ever been to. With its rich culture, polite society, and endless places to discover, you’ll never get bored here. Now, I know every country has its flaws, but Japan really does have something for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of the quiet countryside or the hustle of the city, you can honestly experience it all, especially across different seasons.

It’s not the cheapest place to visit, and you’ll need to prepare for early mornings and a fair bit of walking, but if you’re determined, you can easily fit everything into your itinerary. There are, of course, some downsides—like the crowds of tourists and busy commuters—but that’s a given in most countries. What’s more disappointing, though, is how some areas have been over-commercialised, especially with TikTok and social media having a major impact. I’m not one to gatekeep, but one thing I’ll make sure to do when I return is visit lesser-known places, like Katsuoji Temple. It was a random find and one of the highlights of my trip, as it wasn’t swamped with tourists.

Tips:

A couple of recommendations that I’d offer are as follows:

• Cash: Many local stores or restaurants will only accept cash, so keep that in hand
• Suica, ICOCA or others similar: This will be a life saver for you on the metros and other Shinkansen if you don’t want to waste money on taxis. – You can either buy online or at the stations. As mentioned previously, I used ICOCA – which I could use everywhere in the country.
• Google translate: This is a true lifesaver when you aren’t able to communicate with nationals
• Google maps : Now this is a funny one – It was either in Japan pr the next country I went to that maps didn’t work for me – so in case you have problems like myself then the Japan travel app – is very handy to use or Naver Maps.
• XE Currency converter: Either this or another currency exchange for obvious reasons

These are only a few of the apps that saved me whilst travelling, but if you need anymore I’m sure there are plenty of influencers that will bombard you with their travel tip videos!

Activities

There are so many shrines, temples, and traditional streets for you to immerse yourself in. Not to mention, the natural beauty of Japan is truly mesmerising, with a variety of ecosystems to explore. The cities are vibrant and exciting, while the countryside offers peace and hospitality. The language barrier can be a bit of a challenge, so I’d recommend learning a few key phrases or having a good translator app on hand. That said, if you plan ahead, you’ll be just fine!

Food

Japan has so much food to explore, and while I haven’t been entirely thorough in sharing everything I tried, sometimes the best experiences are those where you surprise yourself! If you love fried food or Japanese cuisine in general, you’ll thrive here. Perhaps it was my own fault or lack of searching, but if you’re a picky eater who prefers Western food, I’m not sure how successful you’ll be in smaller towns or the suburbs. Of course, there’s always McDonald’s and KFC, but who eats that regularly?

I absolutely loved the food here, but a word of caution if you’re a fan of pasta or burgers: you might struggle a bit to find those options. Who knows, maybe you’ll come across more choices than I did. As for must-try dishes, the classics are a must: Kobe beef, Okonomiyaki, Yakitori, and of course, Wagyu. Each of these dishes has its own unique flavours and textures that you’ll want to discover for yourself.

I’m already excited for my next trip to Japan, especially to explore more of the north or the islands. I can’t recommend the country enough—whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, it’s a place that offers all the aspects of a dream vacation. I have big plans to return, and I’m looking forward to the future.

As we headed to Narita Airport for our flight home, I felt a twinge of sadness at leaving, but also excitement for the next adventure that awaited me.

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

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