RAZZLE-DAZA – Pat-P Daza – The Philippine Star
October 20, 2025 | 12:00am
Last weekend, my kids, Gabbie and Paolo, and I flew to Tokyo, Japan for a quick weekend getaway — and it absolutely did not disappoint. The weather had turned pleasantly cool, a welcome break from Manila’s alternating heat and downpours. Except for Saturday, when it drizzled all day, the weather was ideal for walking, shopping and eating our way through the city.
The last time we were in Tokyo as a family was back in 2014, and though it’s been more than a decade, not much has changed. The city remains vibrant, clean and efficient — still bustling with energy and teeming with tourists from all over the world.
We stayed at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, a spot highly recommended by a friend. What I didn’t realize until we arrived was that it’s the hotel made famous by the giant, iconic Godzilla head perched on the eighth floor terrace. The Godzilla theme continues throughout the lobby, with displays and merchandise that delighted my son Paolo to no end. It was like watching him transform into a little boy again — completely captivated by the towering monster that had stomped its way through his childhood.
A delightful tonkatsu meal is always a must in Japan.
He was equally thrilled with the hotel breakfast, which was served at Sizzler, the American restaurant chain best known for its salad bar and steaks. But in Japan, even Sizzler takes breakfast seriously: there was a taco bar, and roast beef was part of the buffet! It became Paolo’s daily highlight.
The freshest assorted sushis.
More than the fun Godzilla touches and hearty breakfast, what made the hotel perfect was its location. Everything we loved was just a short walk away — from our favorite restaurants to must-visit shops. We indulged in sashimi, sushi, katsudon, wagyu steak, tonkatsu, tempura, ramen, and even my favorite egg sandwiches and onigiri from Lawson’s and Family Mart. Japanese convenience stores are truly in a league of their own.
A bowl of delicious ramen perfect for a rainy night.
Shopping and people-watching in Tokyo never get old. We loved seeing locals dressed in creative, playful cosplay — something the Japanese do with style and confidence. I made my usual rounds at GU for basic T-shirts, underwear and rain jackets. Of course, no trip to Japan is complete without multiple stops at Don Quijote, or “Donki” as it’s fondly called. Luckily for me (maybe not for my wallet), the Donki near our hotel was open 24/7, and I made several late-night visits just to browse and stock up. I walked away with bags full of my favorite shampoo, conditioner, toner, sunblock, serum, instant ramen, chocolates, snacks, salonpas and pasalubong for my staff.
Gyukatsu, a delicious Japanese dish, is made up of breaded and deep-fried tender beef cutlets and cooked on a small stone grill.
One of the unexpected highlights of our trip was discovering a new store called Seria. It’s a 100-yen shop (about 40 pesos), but it feels far more upscale than others like Daiso. Though smaller in size, everything was thoughtfully curated and beautifully displayed. I went a little overboard, scooping up pretty money envelopes, office supplies, Sanrio items, kitchen tools, stationery and even wooden coasters! Paolo, meanwhile, was thrilled by the wide selection of character-themed bath bombs — apparently, they’re all the rage among Gen Z these days. He ended up buying 30 pieces for himself and as pasalubongs!
My daughter Gabbie, ever the planner, came prepared with a detailed shopping list and itinerary. At the top of her list was Loft, a popular lifestyle department store that carries everything from beauty and wellness products to stationery and home essentials. For her, Loft was like Disneyland — her own happiest place on earth — and she happily spent nearly two hours exploring every aisle.
She also made sure we visited Takashimaya to buy her favorite matcha. Interestingly, there’s a limit of one box per person, so it worked out perfectly that there were three of us — we left with three boxes! Then came our traditional stop at Bic Camera, our go-to store for electronics. But this time, the visit was bittersweet.
Gabbie was heartbroken to discover that her beloved digital camera had suddenly stopped working. She had just used it the day before, and now it wouldn’t even turn on. I tried to comfort her by saying it was a blessing she found out while we were still in Japan — and not after we had flown home. But I completely understood her sadness. That camera, bought in 2020, had documented so many milestones and memories; it had been with her through both joyful and challenging moments in her life.
Thankfully, a kind and knowledgeable salesman helped her find the perfect replacement that suited both her needs and her budget. Just moments later, she and Paolo were already testing it out and snapping pictures and capturing new memories here, there and everywhere.
Let me tell you — when you have two Gen Z kids, you become both their ATM and photographer. But I’m not complaining. I truly enjoy their company (and I hope the feeling is mutual!). Our weekend in Tokyo was filled with laughter, great food, memorable finds and small but meaningful adventures.
It reminded me that these little escapes, no matter how short, mean the world. I’ll always treasure these getaways, and I look forward to planning the next one — hopefully very soon.
AloJapan.com