A day in shibuya

The curse is broken! Cheers to sleeping and waking up at a reasonable time! 

After we got back from our guided tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone last night we were definitely tired, but we stayed up and out in first Shinujku City, then in Ebisu at a quaint and super tasty cocktail bar. Didn't go to bed till 10:30 like normal adults and (mostly) slept through the night! Look at me, I'm assimilating. 

Today was a great day. Our plan was to spend the day in Shibuya, which has been likened to Times Square of New York City. They have a laundry list of shops, famous cafes, and bars we were really excited to try out. Because its officially holiday for a lot of locals, many shops and restaurants didn't open until 11AM. Knowing this, Chris and I took our leisure time getting out to Shibuya and enjoyed some coffee and reading in our hotel room (which I low-key loved). 

First stop was a famous pancake place called Flippers, home to Kiseki pancakes which are the fluffiest pancakes I've ever seen/had. Just waited a causal 80 minutes to be seated and served at this restaurant, but I will say it was worth the hype. The staff was also extremely attentive and detail-oriented, even for having a line out the door and around the block all morning. Would highly recommend! 

Next, we indulged in some retail therapy. I've realized in Tokyo you can spend HOURS shopping, there are just so many stop-worthy shops. Wholesomely, for us, when looking for a restroom, Chris and I stumbled upon a Pokemon Center and a Nintendo Store. Being the nerdist of nerds, we spent way too much time and yen there. But, as the greats say, no ragrets. 

One of my favorite parts of the day was wandering through Yoyogi Park where we saw a lot of families on casual strolls, folks playing friendly games of badminton, and dog parents walking their adorable puppies. It reminded me of a combination of Zilker Park in Austin, the Public Gardens in Boston, and Central Park in NYC. You could just feel everyone enjoying a slice of nature in the center of a metropolitan city, just like we do in major cities at home. 

From there, Chris and I tried our luck at The SG Club (thanks AGAIN for the wonderful rec Divya and Sheel). We managed to get a table right at the bar and have some of the best cocktails. The SG Club was at one point voted one of the Worlds 50 Best Bars, so we were very fortunate to get a seat. The bartenders were super knowledgable and made each cocktail to perfection. They also added a Japanese twist to some traditional cocktails which was delightful.

And of course, we ended the night with some delicious ramen. I swear we're on the hunt to try as many ramen spots as we can before going home. I know this might sound a little strange, but I noticed I love the focus everyone has when eating at ramen restaurants. I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that you basically have to lean into your bowl to avoid splatter, but I've noticed here everyone is pretty quiet and focused on their meals throughout (other than the occasionally slurping which is actually encouraged). Anyway, I just feel like it's a pretty intimate meal between an individual and their food, and I love it. 

I probably enjoyed this day so much because it started and ended with some incredible noms. Sorry, not sorry.