Day 6

 

This morning, I started the day by visiting a new coffee shop I found on Yelp. It was about a 20-minute commute from our place in the Ueno area. Even though the reviews were just average, the coffee ended up being really good. I’ve noticed that a lot of places here surprise you in a good way—even those with lower ratings often exceed expectations.

After coffee, I joined the group for a traditional tea ceremony followed by a walk through historic gardens. The ceremony was peaceful and calming, and being surrounded by nature made the whole experience even more special. So far, this has been my favorite group activity—it offered such a genuine connection to Japanese culture and tradition.

Next, we visited the Tsukiji Fish Market, where I got to try grilled eel and fresh sushi. The market was lively and full of energy, with so many different vendors and food options to explore.

Later in the afternoon, I split off from the group and visited the Tamagawa-Daishi Underground Temple. It took a bit of effort to find since it was tucked away, but once I got there, I was glad I made the trip. Going down into the dark underground tunnel alone was a little eerie, but it made the visit feel even more personal and reflective.

To end the day, I met up with a few friends at the Sanja Matsuri festival. It was packed with people, but the energy was amazing. We tried different street foods and enjoyed in the festive atmosphere.

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