Alone in TOKYO πΌ and Kamakura π | JAPAN Diaries π―π΅
[Music] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Music] good morning guys I’m starting this day off by queuing at one of the most popular coffee shops in Ginsza Bongen Coffee It is well known among both locals and tourists and there is often a line especially on weekends and holidays Queuing is a big part of Japanese culture reflecting their respect for order and patience and over time I came to appreciate it What I was curious to try was their matcha espresso and it did not disappoint I waited over an hour for my drink but honestly it was worth it The flavor was unique and unexpectedly delicious I actually regretted not ordering two instead of just one Since I was staying in Ginsa I thought it would be a shame not to explore a bit Ginsa is one of Tokyo’s most iconic and refined neighborhoods known for its luxury shopping fine dining and elegant atmosphere It’s polished and calm wide clean streets graceful storefronts and a cinematic glow after dark I wasn’t planning on any shopping this time This trip wasn’t about that for me but I wanted to walk through the area and feel it for myself Of course Ginsa has no shortage of designer boutiques and sleek shopping centers And while a previous version of me might have been drawn to all of it today I feel less pressure to impress anyone Yes I enjoy nice things I still own a few designer pieces But more and more I find freedom in stepping away from that lifestyle It’s become more about the quality of the garment than the name on the tag And that shift makes me happy Nowadays my joy comes from having a healthy lifestyle eating food that nourishes my body and taking care of my mental and physical well-being I still love wearing beautiful clothes but it just means something different [Music] now For lunch I went to a soft in Ginsa a vegan restaurant that blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with creative plant-based dishes I ordered the bento box and the presentation was absolutely beautiful They are also known for their vegan fluffy pancakes which I didn’t get to try because I was already so full Next time I’m in Tokyo I will definitely come back I had to add my name to a waiting list and the wait was around 30 minutes [Music] Also I wanted to quickly show you where I stayed This was a very basic hotel in Ginsza The room was small which is common in Tokyo and the ceiling was so low it felt a little like being on a cruise ship but it was functional and comfortable totally fine for me traveling solo One more place I really wanted to show you is the Okuna Building A fascinating mix of early 20th century architecture and contemporary art It was built in 1932 and originally served as a luxury apartment complex called the Ginsa Apartments Today it stands as one of the few surviving examples of early modernist architecture in Tokyo The building still has its original manually operated elevator which feels like stepping into a time capsule Now the Okuna building is home to antique shops on the ground floor and small art galleries and creative studios on the upper levels This is a gain area and this building is so old It’s 91 years old before World War II and but still standing it because it’s a very high quality uh building So maybe you come Yes This you are maybe first time to come here Yes First time Yeah Nowadays uh maybe 80% foreign people come here So it’s very famous Yeah it is So it’s I can see it Yeah Yes Yes you Thank you so much Open the [Music] door [Music] [Music] Foreign speech Foreign speech [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat Heat [Music] [Music] Thank you [Music] [Music] Heat Heat [Music] [Music] Hi everyone I was so looking forward to this trip Kamakura is one of those places in Japan that’s not only rich in history but also full of soul Located between forested hills and the ocean it has a dreamy small town feel just about an hour south of Tokyo I started my morning by popping into one of the local cafes And this one had that Japanese water table concept where you place your tray directly on the water It was a weekend and the main attractions of Kamakura felt very crowded I wish I had more days on hand and if I did I probably would have planned better and come here on a weekday I’m not sure it would make a huge difference but still if you get the chance to visit on a weekday I would definitely recommend it In that moment I realized this wasn’t really how I wanted to remember Kamakura So I left the site and how surprised I was to find that once you leave the touristy places Kamakura shows you its magic The streets were quiet and the atmosphere felt so peaceful that it was hard to believe what I’ve just experienced a few minutes earlier While wandering the streets I somehow ended up close to the shrine and I simply loved it there It was so quiet with hardly any people around Maybe because it was still relatively early in the day but either way I got lucky to have that place almost all to myself Here you walk through a tunnel of red to gates that goes through a serene forest path creating a surreal and enchanting experience [Music] Numerous fox statues are scattered throughout the shrine grounds adding to its mystical charm I liked it so much I wanted to stay longer but as it was nearing 2:00 p.m I thought I should head out and explore the rest of the town and find somewhere to eat [Music] [Music] Guys I’m so glad that I found this gem of a place I simply love it and the atmosphere is just so pure and welcoming and calm and it is just you know an island of serenity in Kamakura Not to say that Kamakura is a noisy or something but today is Saturday and um there are so many people out here uh in the streets that I found it really overwhelming Nevertheless I really love the place you know I really love this city and if I get a chance on this trip I will try to come back here again another day but probably on a weekday Uh but yeah it is just you know it is such a peaceful place and I’m so glad that I came across this uh restaurant I uh well it’s not that I bumped into it I found it on Google Maps along with some other uh vegan restaurants in this area and it is located just like 5 minutes walk uh from the big Buddha and um yeah I initially I wanted to visit the big Buddha but when I approached the entrance I saw that immense amount of people and I was just like no no no I have to you know I have to uh just sit down and wait it out for a bit Maybe it helps you know I don’t know We will see later I will try to come back there in like an hour or something Um and it’s good because I felt a bit exhausted because of walking Uh and yeah uh I think it’s a good idea that you know I decided to sit down right now It is so beautiful here But I just can’t I just can’t There is also a place to sit inside and it is all tatami mats and you have to remove your shoes at the entrance and you walk you know with your socks on and then you sit um on the floor and dine on the floor and then I saw when I entered I saw this uh Thank you so much my food came Thank you so much It’s this one is a traditional Japanese uh house It’s almost 100 years 100 years old Yeah Just renovated the kitchen area and as a place is almost original Finding this place was such a blessing It’s run by a group of women and they use locally sourced ingredients some of which I’d never tried in my life The flavors were very different from what I’m used to and I’m so glad I chose to sit outside This is a pumpkin soup and it tastes divine I’m sure the indoor experience would have been great too but there was just something about the breeze and the energy in the air that made the whole moment feel absolutely perfect [Music] [Music] You’re doing well [Music] I don’t know [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Please [Music] You are [Music] [Music] [Music] The beach was calling me so I searched for a good sunset spot nearby and found one I took the Anoden line train to get there If you’re someone like me I think you will really enjoy Kamakura Actually I think it’s impossible not to fall in love with this place It ended up being one of my favorites in Japan [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Yeah Heat Okay [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat Heat [Music] [Music] My stay in Tokyo has come to an end And here I am at Haneda airport about to board my flight to Okinawa While sitting there I was thinking about this 4 days I already spent in Japan I was trying to understand how I really feel about the place Of course I anticipated Tokyo to be crowded like any major city And even though I was mentally prepared it still overwhelmed me at times But at the same time I really enjoyed it Nowadays I’m more of a nature kind of girl So maybe that’s why I felt a little out of place at moments But at the end of the day it’s all about what season of life we are in at the particular moment Sometimes we are drawn to the energy of the city Other times we crave stillness space and simplicity And that’s okay I will be back in Tokyo later during this trip so we will have more time to explore it together At this moment I’m just feeling grateful for the experience and looking forward to what’s coming next From the fast pace of Tokyo and the nostalgic calm of Kamakura I was now heading towards sunshine slower days and the sea Even before landing I had a feeling Okinawa would shift something in me There is something healing about islands Maybe it’s the salt in the air or maybe it’s just the way time feels softer Either way I couldn’t wait to arrive [Music]
Hey everyone,
Today weβre exploring some of Tokyoβs coolest districts and taking a relaxing day trip to Kamakura. Weβll visit beautiful temples, serene shrines and enjoy the charming beach town vibes.
Enjoy watching!
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
0:59 Morning in Ginza
03:18 Bento Box For Lunch
04:05 Where I Stayed
04:27 Okuno Building
06:14 Shinjuku Gyoen National Park
08:19 Shinjuku By Night
09:41 A Day Trip To Kamakura
11:09 Sasuke Inari Shrine
12:57 Lunch at Cotonoha Cafe
16:57 Hasedera Temple
20:34 Enoden Train
21:03 Shichirigahama Beach
24:04 Okinawa, Here I Come
1 Comment
Beautiful!