Waking up to the smell of the tatami room, the sounds of crows cawing, a cat screeching and the sunlight somehow seeming a bit more muted immediately put me in the mood to go out and explore this new and magical land. A land where amidst the rush of people heading to their own destinations, you can find a hidden oasis such as a temple or a garden where you can zen out, sit in the shade, and reflect upon the dualism of such a place.
Our Airbnb hostess, Sanae was one of the most kind and energetic people I have ever met. She wanted to get us started off with our day with a beautiful breakfast and by showing us some of the local sights before putting us on a bus bound for Shibuya to check out the the famous intersection where four crosswalks converge, and even though it isn't Abbey Road, we wanted to pose on the crosswalk Beatles style. Right before heading out of Setagaya, Sanae took us up to a viewing point where we could see Mt. Fuji-san as clear as day. She told us that it was the first day all year you've been able to see Fuji-san from the city, as the weather cooperated throughout the entirety of our trip.
Our next venture was Harajuku. I must say that visiting Harajuku is like visiting an enchanted fairyland where everything smells like cotton candy, waffle cones and strawberry whipped cream crepes...where you see girls dressed as dolls smiling and happy, and a baby carriage full of ten cats just hanging out...yes, you heard that right. But, it's a fun place that immediately brings you back to childhood happiness and innocence, as well as a Tokyo must!
Later that night, our hostess took us to an izakaya which consists of dining and drinking in an informal manner similar to a pub. There, we let Sanae order all of the food since she knows what she is doing! We tried everything... Delicious fried octopus, entire small fish in which Lynzie could handle, but I could only muster the head, and shark cartilage flavored with pickled plum. The dinner was lovely, as she invited some friends, one of which was a brilliant 19 year old girl named Rina who could speak English, Japanese, and is studying Cambodian so she can teach school children there as she travels the globe. This is why I'm in LOVE with Airbnb, you get to experience the locals and the culture.
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