# Day 5 - A day of sun ## Changed plans Our morning got off to a bit of a rocky start. After transferring to our next hotel, we were meant to be embarking on a day trip to a nearby mountain town called Nikko. However, when we arrived at the train station, tickets were sold out until much later in the day. We quickly pivoted, and since we happened to be in the neighborhood we’d planned to explore the following day, it was easy enough to simply swap the two itineraries. ## A walk in the park We first went to Sumida River Park, which offers great views of the Tokyo skyline, including a few notable landmarks like Tokyo Skytree. The picnickers were out in full force on this gorgeous sunny day, and the atmosphere was pure joy as we strolled along the water. ![[day 5 - 1.jpg]] ![[day 5 - 2.jpg]] ## Sensō-ji by day Next we returned to the Sensō-ji temple complex to take it in by day. The complex is quite vast, and we were able to explore many beautiful structures we had missed the night before. ![[day 5 - 3.jpg]] ![[day 5 - 5.jpg]] Just as we were about to leave, we noticed a Kabuki play about to begin, and decided to stick around. The performance that followed was unlike anything we had ever witnessed. While the exact details of the plot were lost to us, the wonderfully expressive and distinct music and dance styles were absolutely mesmerizing. ![[day 5 - 4.jpg]] <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXdeRGuvhIM?si=fRrDboH4YrDqWUvp" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> ## Exploring the Kitchen Town In need of refreshments, we stopped in at a cool little coffee shop named Sukemasa where the two baristas were dressed in ultra-chic denim kimonos. We next ventured over to Kappabashi, a long street devoted to all things cooking and dining. This area, known as “Kitchen Town”, is crammed full of shops selling everything from home wares to chefs uniforms, incredible high-end Japanese-style knives, and even the plastic food displays you see in restaurant windows. Lunch was at a place called Vegan Gyoza Yu, whose specialty is a rainbow plate of eleven gyoza (dumplings), each in a different flavor and different vibrant naturally-derived color. We weren’t sure going in if this trendy dish would live up to anything more than an Instagram gimmick, but the food did not disappoint! Each umami-packed gyoza flavor was more delicious than the last, some of our favorites being garlic miso, ginger miso, and kimchi. Sophia was also excited to have her first matcha latte of the trip, and this one came topped with a dollop of what tasted like liquid strawberry ice cream. Yum! ## Another walk in the park Our last stop was to Ueno Park, a massive park that houses several museums, zoos, temples, and shrines. This was clearly THE spot to spend a warm clear Saturday, and the park was full of both tourists and locals alike. ![[day 5 - 6.jpg]] ![[day 5 - 7.jpg]] ![[day 5 - 9.jpg]] ![[day 5 - 10.jpg]] After a long day in the sun, we wandered home for a quiet night in to do laundry and catch up on some business. As much as we’ve loved seeing the more official sights, one of our favorite things in Tokyo has been to simply walk around and take the city and its people in: the business men and women biking to work in their suits, the children’s baseball games, the tiny shrines and peaceful gardens tucked in among the modern skyscrapers around every corner. This city is full of delightful surprises, and they never seem to lose their magic. ![[day 5 - 8.jpg]] ![[day 5 - 12.jpg]] ![[day 5 - 11.jpg]]