Nov 17, 2024 – Tokyo, Japan

Strolled through the Imperial Palace garden, trying to sneak a peek at the palace itself. But surprise, surprise—the Emperor of Japan (yep, still a thing!) and his fam actually live there, so no VIP tours for us.


  • Lunch was at Ichiran, because science demanded I compare it to the NYC branch. Verdict? Still ramen perfection.
  • Next stop: Minato Science Museum. Entry was free, but we splurged on a fantastic planetarium show (JPY 1,300 for the three of us). Totally worth it—stars never looked so good.
  • Then it was off to Tokyo Tower (it looks a lot like the Eiffel Tower, just orange), where we went all the way to the top for some dazzling nighttime city views. Tokyo at night looks perfect.
  • Ended the day on a delicious note with dinner at Kuro Sushi, where conveyor belt sushi dreams came true. What a ride!