A Random Saturday in Tokyo – Part I

Today, I chose to just be In Japan

I just had a delicious hot Katsu Sando (Pork sandwich) and I’m reminded of how there’s great food everywhere in Japan and my whole meal and drink cost less than $10 (long live the lunch set!). As my time in Japan winds down, I find myself fighting with myself on how I want to spend the little time I have.

I want to just walk neighborhoods with no plan and pop into places that catch my attention. I want to explore the neighborhoods in my ‘Tokyo Walks’ book. On the other hand, there are places and experiences that are high on many lists of things to do in Japan. 

Today, I chose to just be in Japan. I’m having my routine Saturday in Tokyo which involves cleaning, pilates at 9am, paying bills online, and going to one of my favourite cafes to drink tea, have a  delicious pork sandwich (I need to learn how to make these because I am obsessed), journal, and write on my blog while jazz records play in the background. 

For me, a place becomes home when the routines bring comfort and grounding. When unintended participants become part of the routine. Like the lady at the clothing store across the street from my pilates studio, or the two ladies and gentlemen at the Starbucks in my office building who know my order – Grande Matcha Latte – Take out, or the older lady at my regular grocery store who knows that I always bring a carry bag. Tokyo has become home.

It is nothing groundbreaking, but it is grounding. I LOVE this routine, and I love this life. As times and seasons allow, this tradition – or something along these lines – I created in my Tokyo season and I hope to carve out for the rest of my life. 

When I first wrote this, I didn’t intend to publish it publicly. I sent it to my newsletter crew a few months ago and kept it close. But I changed my mind. Because this Saturday — this ordinary, grounding, jazz-record Saturday — deserves to be an ode. To Tokyo. To this chapter. To the routines that quietly become home.