Day 4

 

Today was one of our larger group outings. We took the train to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy, so we didn’t get to see Mt. Fuji from the observation deck, but the view of the city was still impressive. Inside the building, there was a small gift shop selling traditional Japanese items. I ended up buying a set of bookmarks with Japanese kanji—though in hindsight, they were a bit pricey. Still, the store had a calm and welcoming atmosphere that made it a nice place to browse.

After visiting the government building, we headed to Takeshita Street, which is famous for its vibrant and youthful energy. Once our TNCIS group was dismissed, a few of us went to grab lunch. I picked up a bento box that was beautifully packaged, almost like a gift. It really stood out how much care goes into presentation here—it makes even a simple meal feel special.

Later, I broke off from the group to shop for souvenirs for my family. While exploring, I unexpectedly wandered into the Sanja Matsuri festival. The area was packed with people, and the energy was incredible. I got to sample some delicious street food from the vendors set up around the shrine. The festival atmosphere, with music, crowds, and food stalls, made it one of the most exciting parts of the day.