24 Hours in Tokyo: Lost in Translation… on the Metro

Usually, when I travel solo, I have an hourly itinerary that includes suggested sights and food stops as well as places I can stop to use the Wi-Fi and even a note of the number to the U.S. Embassy. 

However, on the heels of my very relaxing “no brain cells needed” Thailand trip, I decided to wing my layover in Japan back to Los Angeles. This was a mistake. I did not account for the fact that I was sleep deprived and probably slightly delirious. I was thrown by having no sense of the language which I usually get away with in places like Italy by knowing Spanish. I also had no sense of direction. I did enough research to know that to visit Tokyo, one had to register their vaccination card to be cleared to leave the airport. I guess I felt that was enough effort because that was all I did ahead of time. I also had a rough mental itinerary to take a nap in one of those hotels that are just pods which cost $20, then head to an Osen which is a bathhouse with a variety of warm pools with mineral water that also serves sushi. Yes, all I planned to do was sleep and lounge in a robe. 

I was debating my life decisions as I changed into more Japan appropriate clothes in the airport bathroom (it was 40 degrees Fahrenheit and I had just stepped off a plane from hot and humid Thailand) when I spotted two other Latinas also cleaning up. Just for awareness, if you spot someone changing in the airport it means that they probably don’t have a hotel so they’re probably just stopping through. The universe had delivered and soon enough, I was walking with four other Latinas who just happened to be on a layover from Thailand to Los Angeles. One of the women actually visited Tokyo before with her cousin and she was our de facto group leader in charge of navigating the public transportation and essentially our tour guide for the day. 

Yet that wasn’t exactly how it played out. Turns out, she visited a few years ago with her cousin who had done all the navigating, so we got lost. For two hours. We discovered the Japanese subway system is actually really confusing since they have different types of lines that might be heading in the same direction, but might have different stops. We spent the first hour enjoying the cultural sights of Tokyo from a metro car as we laughed at the absurdity and by the second hour I kindly took over directions. 

Within that time we bonded, swapped stories about the beaches of Thailand, and grabbed breakfast from a 7-11 kiosk that sold warm buns and tea from a refrigerator that kept packaged food warm. We eventually made it to Shibuya Crossing which is the world’s busiest intersection where thousands of people manage to make it across the street in the appropriate amount of time (yet we can’t accomplish that in LA). We hit up the Shibuya Sky Observation Deck which included passing through a few art installations as we headed to the top. We ended up at a popular ramen spot where we had the unique experience of placing an order for ramen through a vending machine that popped out a slip of paper, that reminded me of what you find in a fortune cookie, to hand to our host. He promptly delivered our respective steaming bowls. We peeked into storefronts that piled inventory to the ceiling and made our way through streets lined with electronic billboards, each with its own commercial or song blasting out at potential consumers. We topped it all off by splitting a green tea ice cream sandwich which was shockingly delicious and tasted like a matcha latte. At one point, as the sun started to drop down and winds started to pick up we realized we had run out of energy for navigating the shopping alleys of Tokyo. Our cell phones were also running dangerously low so we decided to head back to grab the luggage that we stored in the airport and pass through security. 

I spent the last three hours before I had to board my flight at the American Express Lounge. They had Japanese whiskey, sake, and a spread of sushi. This lounge also offered showers and changing rooms and even stocked skin care items in the bathrooms so you could do a whole skincare routine before you got on your plane. After missing out on my bathhouse experience, you better believe I took full advantage. 

Overall, my Tokyo layover wasn’t as all-encompassing as I would have liked, but I made great memories with fellow Latina travelers who rolled with the speed bumps as we made the best of it all. Will I be back? Of course. Next time I’ll have an itinerary (see below) in hand and a fully charged phone with Wi-Fi. Hopefully, my new friends will want to join me.

24 Hours in Tokyo – What I’ll Do Next Time

7:00 AM – Arrive at Haneda Airport and take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station.

8:00 AM – Start the day with a traditional Japanese breakfast at Tsukiji Fish Market. The market is famous for its fresh seafood, and you can try some sushi or sashimi.

10:00 AM – Head over to Senso-ji Temple, one of the oldest and most popular temples in Tokyo. Take a stroll through the Nakamise shopping street and try some local snacks.

Afternoon:

12:00 PM – Visit the Imperial Palace and Gardens, the residence of the Emperor of Japan. Take a guided tour of the palace and learn about the country’s history.

2:00 PM – Take a break and grab some lunch at Tokyo Station, which has a wide variety of food options.

3:00 PM – Explore the trendy neighborhood of Harajuku, famous for its fashion and street style. Visit Takeshita Street and try some crepes or sweets.

Evening:

5:00 PM – Visit Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest intersections in the world. Watch the lights and crowds from the Starbucks overlooking the intersection.

7:00 PM – Head over to Shinjuku, the entertainment district of Tokyo. Visit the Golden Gai, a collection of narrow alleys with small bars and restaurants.

9:00 PM – End the night at a karaoke bar and sing your heart out with your friends.

11:00 PM – Head back to Haneda Airport and take the Tokyo Monorail back to the airport.

This itinerary will give you a taste of Tokyo’s culture, history, and entertainment while accommodating for travel time to and from Haneda Airport. Don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking!