> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://suz.id.au/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # First few days in Tokyo - URL: https://suz.id.au/first-few-days-in-tokyo/ - Published: 2026-10-11T13:05:18.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-11T13:05:18.000Z - Author: Suz We made it to Tokyo a few days ago! I was a bit worried about flying Qantas cos they seem so unreliable nowadays, but it arrived 30 mins early! We are staying in Shinjuku very close to where we stayed when we first visited Japan 15 years ago. It has changed a lot since then, and Shinjuku station always seems like it’s under construction. We took a train for the airport and were feeling cocky about navigating the station cos we’ve done it so many times, but of course we got horribly lost in the maze under the station. We checked into our hotel then headed off to find an izakaya for a late night snack! Found a cool one in a basement and tiredly ordered what I thought was a normal lemon sour (my fav drink order in Japan) but it was literally a whole lemon stuffed in a glass. Mm lemony! ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9815.jpeg) The next morning we wandered over to find a Komeda’s Coffee, as I had heard that their morning set was good! ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9816-1.jpeg) Shinjuku is grimy but there’s interesting details hidden around I got an iced coffee with bread and red bean paste. Unfortunately finding alt milks seems to be pretty non-standard in Japan, even soy milk which is surprising. But I did my best to practice my Japanese to try to ask for it, and when I was politely rejected I rolled the dice on the lactose intolerance and won today, hooray! ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/image.jpeg) We then headed to Yokohama for the day because there was a jazz festival around the red brick warehouse area. When we got there, there were tons of people walking there and lots of stalls so we assumed it was the jazz festival. But it turned out to be two separate events: a ticketed sweet potato festival and a dog market. There were hundreds of little dogs all dressed up and in prams! So to escape the crowds we grabbed a beer on the balcony and watched the dog people from above. ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/image-1.jpeg) ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9834.jpeg) ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9830.jpeg) We then enjoyed a family restaurant (Jonathans) and headed back to the train station past some lovely pastel theme park rides. I love that Japan isn’t afraid of using pastels in construction! ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9837.jpeg) Before heading home I checked out the handmade jewellery floor in Tokyu Hands and bought some interesting pieces. ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9856.jpeg) There are two more cat bread earrings but I was wearing them hehe We then had dinner at a nice (but smoke-filled) izakaya in Shinjuku before heading off to check out Omoide Yokocho, which is a narrow strip of tiny bars next to the train line. I had just read a book about these kinds of built up streets in Japan so it was interesting to check them out after having a bit more of the history and how they operate. Henry and I have been to Japan so many times but haven’t been there before. Anyway turns out the vibes of it being a massive tourist trap nowadays is correct lol, it was packed to the brim with tourists, a lot of them very obnoxious. We did get in to a bar, clambering 3 levels up narrow stairs and over other patrons, to sit on a questionably constructed balcony. Somehow we had one drink each and it nearly cost the same as our izakaya dinner and multiple rounds of drinks! I can tick it off the list as having done it I guess! ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9843.jpeg) ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9844.jpeg) Brock enjoying the vibes ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9845.jpeg) The next day we had a nice Japanese breakfast. All of this for about $5.70! ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9847.jpeg) And then headed off to Asakuka for the main event of the day (for me) a cat themed handcraft market!! ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9854.jpeg) ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9853.jpeg) The ticket you receive to enter was this fan with a cat bum I bought many things and chatted to some nice people! One of the ladies I bought something from liked my tomato dress from Variety Hour so drew a cute thing on one of the boxes 💕 ![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/10/IMG_9855.jpeg) Some of the items not including secret gifts for others Wrapping up here, trying to chunk the blog so it doesn’t get too overwhelming to create! 📚 The book I mentioned was Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous CityBook by Joe McReynolds and Jorge Almazán