Making Each Day Count

I flew to Tokyo again in early April for a business trip. Unlike my leisure trips where I usually plan things out, this one was mostly going to be about work, with only a few free hours at night to explore. Still, even short evenings in Tokyo always feel worthwhile to me.

I would arrive via Haneda Airport and made sure to grab a window seat on the plane because I was hoping to see Mount Fuji from above. Unfortunately, the clouds had other plans and the view stayed covered the whole time. No Mt. Fuji sighting for this trip.

Immigration still had a queue, but compared to my previous visits it moved much faster, which was honestly a relief after the flight. Once I got out of the airport, I headed straight to the train station for the ride to Ginza. One thing I really appreciate about Tokyo is how easy it is to get around. A little over half an hour later, I was already near my hotel.

For this trip, I stayed at Hotel Abest Ginza Kyobashi, which was conveniently just a short walk from the station. Luckily, I had packed my foldable umbrella because it was lightly drizzling when I arrived. While walking to the hotel, I spotted a few cherry blossom trees already in bloom. I made it just in time for sakura season.

The room was pretty much what you would expect from a Tokyo business hotel. Small, simple, clean, but comfortable enough for a work trip.

By the time I finished unpacking, it was already close to dinner, so I opened Google Maps and searched for the nearest unagi restaurant I could walk to. Of course, no trip to Japan would be complete without an unagi meal, so best to have that done asap.

That evening, I found Sumiyaki Unafuji Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Store and walked a few thousand steps to get there. It was definitely worth it. I ordered an unagidon, which is grilled eel served over rice with a sweet savory sauce, and it was absolutely satisfying after a long travel day. That is honestly one of my favorite things about business trips in Tokyo. I usually do not make detailed food plans. I just wander around after work and end up discovering places on the spot. I headed back to the hotel with a happy tummy and got ready for the next three work days ahead.

Most of the trip was spent in meetings and catching up with colleagues, but during the evenings I still managed to walk around Ginza a bit. Even with no real itinerary, Tokyo somehow always gives you something to enjoy, whether it is the quiet side streets, the convenience stores, or simply seeing the city lights after office hours.

Time flew by and then it was my last day in Tokyo. Some colleagues and I went out for lunch at Chirihama, which has become our usual fish restaurant whenever I visit. This time I had a chirashidon, a bowl of sushi rice topped with assorted fresh sashimi and seafood. Simple but really good.

After lunch, we took a different route back to the office and passed through Hatoba Park and along the Sumida River. The weather that day was sunny, which felt completely different from the drizzly afternoon I arrived. Seeing the cherry blossom trees by the river made the walk even more relaxing.

At around 3 PM, I took an Uber to Tokyo Station to catch the Narita Express going to Narita International Airport.

I realized it had already been more than a year since my last business trip there. It was nice seeing colleagues face to face again, enjoying a few quiet evenings in Ginza, and catching sakura season, even just briefly.

Sometimes that is enough. A few walks after work, good food, cherry blossoms, and familiar streets in Tokyo.