Blossoming Into Spring In Shinjuku!

Before we got there, one essential thing to mention that’s a crucial part of Japanese customs is train etiquette! It is VERY common to wear masks in Japan, as they don’t take spreading illness lightly at all. Another common thing is to not call attention to when someone is ill as well. So, as common as coughing and sneezing is during allergy season, there is no “bless you” said. As far as the train station goes, it can get complicated, but no need to worry! The system is simpler as you get used to it, and there’s an invention known as the internet and international data nowadays! Despite this, we ironically got on a ticket train (a rapid express straight to Shinjuku) and humbly apologized to the conductor. 

WOW. It was like Times Square stretching to every corner of the city (this is what many of the Tokyo cities are like). For the blossoms, walk-ins were timed toward the afternoon, so we had a lot of time to explore. We got to run around to see the giant mosaic Hello Kitty, the famous Godzilla creeping over buildings, and my personal favorite, MEGA Don Quijote! The best way to describe Don Quijote is that it’s an eighth-floored giant convenience store. I’d have to say that the group favorite, and a cafe we’d all recommend, is Dug Jazz Cafe. We were so enamored by the setting that we didn’t get any pictures; which just means you’ll have to see it for yourself! 

After some shopping, we visited the Hanazono Shrine. I advise that for respective reasons, please take off your hats when entering the shrine! There are numerous signs in shrines for foreigners to learn how to properly show respect to the shrine and prayer (which are all optional). This shrine in particular is known to have markets occur during the weekends, and we browsed the many antiques some sellers laid out. Something I recommend getting, both as a souvenir and charm, is an Omamori (or amulet) which ranges from protection of spirits, safety, and bounding to loved ones (or special someones even). 

Now, as we got through the lines of the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, we arrived at the blossoms! My heart was racing and my feet throbbing from walking, but the blossoms had boosted my spirits. Though late March is the typical peak season for viewing cherry blossoms, we were lucky enough that they were later this year! We had many photo opportunities as this National Garden had a cafe formed as a traditional teahouse, a Taiwanese pavilion perfect for sight-seeing, and PLENTY of space for picnic and resting. The cost of entry is 500 yen, and  student discounts! As we finished up taking photos, a great end to the blossoms was seeing a heron enjoying the water. This was probably my first time seeing one so close, and The Boy and The Heron definitely influenced me not to get too comfortable with it either.

Lastly, we all were hungry, tired, and craving something to eat. Luckily, we had this street food alleyway in mind. Another common misconception is that street food is still common in Japan, which is true, but not commonly traditionally served anymore. This alleyway was the next best bet as it was strictly for street foods like takoyaki, gyoza, ramen, and grilled dango. It might appear small, but many places in Tokyo are layered, and within this picture alone might be 20 restaurants stacked together! My last piece of advice is to be cautious if you have any dietary restrictions in Japan. I personally don’t eat pork, while one of my classmates is allergic to shellfish and nuts, and we’ve been having trouble finding places which might not cross-contaminate foods and be highly aware of hidden ingredients. I’d have to say a majority of ramen here is actually pork-based broth, as pork and chicken are the most common and cheapest meats here! Otherwise, we had a great dinner and, as always, were knocked out by the time we went home.