Last Days in Tokyo

Good Morning from Tokyo! Today is my last full day in Japan! While I don’t have anything specific planned for today I am keen to get it going. And there’s no better way to get it going than to wake up to a view like this!

After getting myself ready, I head down to one of the on premise dining options, Cerise, where they serve breakfast. As a Hilton status member, I am entitled to free breakfast during my stay. This is a great way to offset some costs and with a venue like Conrad Tokyo, the food options are pretty good. There is a fairly extensive buffet, and an a la carte menu too. Because most of my tentative plans today revolve around food. I order a crab benedict off the a la carte menu and limit myself to a few odds and ends from the buffet.

Shinjuku

After breakfast I head out to the Shinjuku area once again. I intend to “right a wrong” I committed during my first few days in Tokyo. Recovering from food poisoning, my appetite didn’t feel up to some of the richer flavours at Shin Udon during my first visit. So seeing as I am feeling much better, I did want to give them another shot. So I head there first to make sure I can get a ticket securing my place in line.

Since it’ll be a little bit of a wait, I decide to take a stroll around Shinjuku. One of the things I wanted to see is the Hotel Gracery. It’s a Shinjuku hotel that has a Godzilla head “peeking” over the top of it. It’s totally random, but also feels “totally Japan”. So since I’m in the area with time to kill, I decide to seek it out! The area around the hotel is a bit of a “red light district” And so scattered among some of the more risky establishments are random ones like dog cafes! Sadly, I decide not to visit but having seen them in other videos, I wouldn’t be against paying a visit in a future trip!

Udon Shin Part 2

Soon it’s time to head back to Udon Shin and give their signature dry noodle a try. I’m very happy I came back! While my first experience with this restaurant is good, this dish really makes the visit unique and tasty! Along with the hot butter udon I also order an eel tempura and both taste outstanding. If you’re able to handle the wait, it’s worth visiting at least once!

Miyashita Park

After lunch, I make my way over to Shibuya. In Shibuya is Miyashita Park. What’s unique about this park is it’s raised above the ground (and even the train tracks). It reminds me a little of New York City’s Highline but not as long. On a sunny day (which it is today!) It looks to be a great place for locals (and visitors) to hang out! As busy as Tokyo can be, it is kind of nice to be slightly “away” from the hustle and bustle. Even though you can hear the traffic and trains below. And see all the surrounding sky scrappers. The park itself is a cool green space that can be a little bit of a respite. Even so, it is a busy park with lots of people just chilling. You can also find all manner of activities including rock climbing and skate boarding in their very own skate park.

Chilling

After Miyashita Park, I make my way back to the hotel. Having such a nice place to retreat back to is certainly a blessing. And I’m content to enjoy the spectacular view of Tokyo Bay from my room and simply chill. I end up putting on a movie and diving into some of the snacks I’ve picked up over the past few days. After a few weeks of exploring, I’m happy to just unwind, enjoy the view and simply feel grateful to be able to visit awesome parts of the world!

Ginza Afternoon/Evening

After spending most of the afternoon in my hotel, I decide to wander out into the early evening of Ginza to get a final few glimpses of Tokyo. Similar to Miyashita Park, there are moments whilst walking through Tokyo that feels very peaceful and in many ways paints this very wacky city in a different light!

Ginza Kagari Part 2

With Ginza Kagari giving me such a wonderful experience during my first visit. I decided to walk by and scope out the line on the off chance it isn’t busy. To my surprise the line actually looks smaller than my first visit. So I quickly decide to make this my last dinner spot for my Japan trip. After a short twenty minute wait, I am seated and I order their truffle chicken soup with wontons and it did not disappoint! I really do think this place can make a case to be my favorite meal of the trip.

Back to the Conrad

After a very satisfying meal, I again head back to my hotel. I make a visit to the lounge again for another night cap. It’s a little busy tonight so I don’t get one of the coveted window seats, but I’m still satisfied to enjoy a tasty beverage, the ambience of the live music and just remembering all the great experiences of the past few weeks. I spend some time to confirm my transit and airport details for tomorrow as I will be heading home tomorrow. Eventually, I finish my drink and I make my way back to my room.

Bath!

As my last indulgence in my room I take advantage of the windowed bathroom and decide to take bath! I get it all setup and with the way the AV works, I even get to soak while enjoying a movie! I don’t normally take baths at home, so this feels like a little departure from the norm and a very relaxing one as well.

After bathing, and feeling very loose, I settle into bed. Tomorrow I will be checking out and heading to the airport for my flights home. The first one being in ANA first class!