Tokyo was a disappointment — there I said it. Tokyo was my last official stop in Japan, and I had high expectations for the city seeing how Singaporeans flood to Tokyo ever so often during the holiday season. However, Tokyo was underwhelming to me in ways more than one.

Japan is almost synonymous to Tokyo, and rightfully so too. The capital of Japan, Tokyo is the life of the party, where the action of Japan lies. Ironically, for the same reason, this is why I don't like Tokyo. Tokyo reminded me too much of bustling Singapore. Commuters rushing from station to station, people running all over places to get work done. No one has the time to stop and chat, or help a lost tourist.

Compared to warm cities like Kyoto, Hiroshima or even Osaka, the citizens of Tokyo are cold and aloof — much like urban Singapore. A lot of Tokyo citizens can speak English or Chinese, but would rather not because stopping for a minute takes up too much of their time when they could be doing something else for themselves.

I'm guilty of that too in Singapore. You don't see me helping lost tourists often because I'm always in a rush. Travelling my next meeting, work, meet my friends etc. Since my return from my Japan solo travel, I made it a point to try helping lost tourists as much as I can even with my poor sense of directions.

The detachment of Tokyo was only magnified after I witnessed the majesty of Hakone and Mt Fuji, but I was determined to make the most out of Tokyo since I already travelled there. I checked out of Tokyo Imano Hostel early in the morning at 10am, and was disappointed to learn that they couldn't keep my luggage for me.


No worries though, because Japan is filled with lockers catered towards tourists or business travellers that can fit your luggage! I carried a 28-inch luggage with me and never had a problem finding a spot although some forums I read online warned that it might be harder to find locker space for a 28-inch luggage.


Locking and making payment for your luggage locker is easy too. Just fit in your luggage, lock it, proceed to make payment at the machine and you're done! You'll be issued a receipt with a QR code. To retrieve your luggage later on, you just have to scan the QR code at the machine and your locker will be unlocked.

Took a photo of where I left my receipt because I'm known to be muddle-headed

As there are masses of lockers available around every station, especially major train stations like Shinjuku, I always made sure to take photos of my surroundings after locking my luggage. If I were to forget which locker spot I left my luggage, I could easily get directions with these photos — beats trying to overcome the language barrier with sign languages or a vague description.



After locking my luggage, I made an impromptu trip to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in spite of the fact that it was right smack in the middle of Japan's winter and nature was presumably at the peak of its gloom.


Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is so humongous that it has three gates: Shinjuku Gate, Okido Gate and Sendagaya Gate. I got lost trying to find the gate that is nearest to Shinjuku train station as some parts of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden was under renovation.

Tip: Load Google Maps wherever you are, key in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's address and let Google Maps lead you to the nearest gate.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Address
11 Naitōmachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0014, Japan

Opening Hours
9am to 4:30pm (last entry at 4pm)

Admission Fee
Adults: ¥200
Students: ¥50
Children: Free

Telephone Number
+81 3-3350-0151




I imagine Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is Mother Nature's source of pride, a piece of real art in Spring, during the cherry blossom season. However, during winter Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is bare and barren, with only a bit of greens around the garden. The garden itself lacks people — both locals and travellers alike — too.



Found a quiet spot with some greens to prop my camera to take some outfit photos. But by then, I had already spent a week sleeping on less than 5 hours a day and my exhaustion is evident from my lackluster eyes. 10/10 would not reccomend anyone travelling to Japan to rush through their itinerary!

My smiles looked so forced and my eyes tired that I gave up in the end and decided to not face the camera.

NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, the third tallest building in Tokyo

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Japan Solo Travel (January 2017)

Tokyo Summary and Getting Around Tokyo | Tokyo Imano Hostel Review | Tokyo Pokemon Centre & Shibuya Crossing | Tokyo Lockers and Shinjuku Gyoen Garden | Tokyo Harajuku (Shopping, Food, Daiso) | Tokyo bills Omotesando (Tokyu Plaza)

Hakone One Day Itinerary | Hakone Tozan Railway and Cable Car | Seeing Mt Fuji at Owakudani | Hakone Ropeway and Sightseeing Cruise | Trekking to see Hakone Shrine and Mt Fuji

9 Hours Narita Capsule Hotel Review | Tokyo Narita Airport