Japan

I’ve always known I’ll go back here, just not yet when…

 

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Table of Contents:

  1. Introduction
  2. Phase 2
  3. Best Hotels
  4. Form-sakes
  5. Vegan Restaurants and Shops
  6. Initial Images
  7. Tokyo International Airport
  8. Ancient Ruins
  9. Videos
  10. Playlist

 

 

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Introduction:

My first visit to this wonderfully polite nation involved a high-rise luxury hotel with a roller-coaster and other rides built inside it, a glowing-blue drink in a special restaurant with bay-windows out over the edge of its 40th floor overlooking all of Tokyo, a brief stop at a military base, and one of Japan’s signature ryokans.  THAT otherworldly/futuristic/high-end even in round 1 of this place?  Japan has set the bar high for itself, so I am really looking forward to the mind-blowing treats which will come next.

I kept a rude woman (the one I was unfortunately traveling with) from troubling a shop owner in the Shibuya prefecture (b/c she threw a tantrum when all he had done was politely decline her entry, he doing that based on / because of understandable cultural norms and local pressures), and narrowly avoided getting shanked by a Yakuza gentleman (who seemed to be using a donations cover-story to test if I was kindhearted… or gullible… or aware of his agenda/vibe, which I suppose was rather smooth of him… or whomever masterminded that).  I am sure these intelligent locals appreciated me getting a handle on the situation, keeping the peace, respecting their country/culture, educating/correcting an unruly foreigner, and donating to them even when I had such a tiny budget.

That bento box in the airport, and the tea-on-rice hotel-cafe breakfast, and the kaiseki later on, were particularly delectable.  I also want to mention/honor the restaurant we found in that tidy alley, with the shoes-lockers and digital-menus at the table in the private booths/rooms; impressive!  When the food is made with THAT much precision/expertise, you KNOW the area warrants/deserves MANY more visits.  My hat is off to those chefs!  どうもありがとうございます

I appreciate Every restaurant I got to dine at, so please know that I am thinking of you all, even if I don’t list each by name right here.

I also really appreciate the polite gentleman in the suit who simultaneously declined our entry (to a conference room or something which had been reserved for a family gathering) while bowing to us; such manners, such a good vibe, such a professional!  How I wish that Americans and Europeans and others would match your standard!  Very nice to meet you, sir.  Oh, and my thanks to the family for making sure to have such a person posted at the entrance, ensuring they and outsiders understood they had a reservation, keeping both sides informed and happy.

Train/Subway (which we used to check out a few different Tokyo sections/suburbs):  VERY easy to work with; even some signs in English!  Very clean and safe-vibing, too.
I was intimidated by the possibility of getting lost in one of the most populated cities on Earth, but this system made it a LOT easier to ensure that didn’t happen.
Don’t let the many colored-lines and station/stop/waypoint names overwhelm you!

Bus System:  likewise very easy to work with, clean, safe-vibing –and MUCH nicer than the U.S. buses I’ve been on so far

I made it to Mt. Fuji.  Next, I’ll make it up Mt. Fuji (and I might airship to its base to skip days of travel from an international airport).  Finally, I’ll meet the legendary ‘bird people’ within Mt. Fuji (if they’ll receive me) and the other great mountains of this elf-preserved land (and I mean that as a sincere compliment).

Speaking of making it to Mt. Fuji, another apology is in order; to the gentleman whose front lawn I approached when lost and still trying to figure out which building was the ryokan I’d reserved, please forgive my intrusion, and I hope you can chuckle about my confusion that day.

Finally, for now, let’s mention the swan-shaped peddle-boats you can rent and take out on the lake in front of the ryokan/s.  How cool!  Very Disney of you, but even better!  I am now reminded of the Tolkien stories/legends of the swan-boats one city/civilization of elves used.

 

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Phase 2:

This is the time of my more-intensive studying of this country; I’m amassing a list of all its most-interesting ancient sites, its finest vegan eateries and spas, and whatever else might make for the finest itineraries once I’m able to return.  I have become VERY interested in MANY places back here in this storied land.  They’ll have to somehow guarantee me no fake-plague annoyances (mask-tards, temperature checkers, etc.), though…

I’m sure my first return (2nd visit) will include some of the finest geishas and nyotaimori (preferably ALL meals served this way, though I understand that most establishments just don’t offer it –so maybe I’ll have some of my Japanese-formsake ICVs help us out –and I’m always open to having this in my hotel rooms, if that helps, or at least reserving a private/VIP room in any establishments which have such).  AN IMPORTANT NOTE HERE:  IF YOUR ESTABLISHMENT OFFERS THIS FORM OF MEAL PRESENTATION, I REQUEST TO PRESCREEN/PREVIEW THE MODELS BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO MAKE A RESERVATION.
My third?  I’ll enjoy all of Japan’s best (not just SOME of their loveliest escorts/hostesses and SOME of their high-end hotels) and invite many of them to Inisfree.
This should be interpreted for what it is; NOT me being greedy, but doing my best to make up for nearly two decades since my first visit, I now trying to meet, get to know, honor, and give my business to as many good Japanese citizens as possible, and this time without any evil moron travel companion like last time.  (My sincerest apologies for that cunt, by the way!  申し訳ありません)

17 Earth-years is quite a while between visit one and visit two, but I’ve been unbelievably busy, and they say the best things come to those who wait.  I suspect I’ll be able to make personal-airship and portal-based visits much more regularly in the years ahead.  I sure hope so.

My overall thinking is that the next trip, like most of my 2nd-rounds to anywhere, should be MUCH longer, allowing for MUCH more sampling, orienting, and zeroing in, and I should maybe go by myself (another effective approach and Phase 2 theme/trend), not at all hurrying through like I was during rd1.  This 2nd time, I’ll take my time at each stop, learning more of the language, making friends for the first time, hopefully seeing that train-agent hottie/ten again, and so on.  I’ll probably want an extended stay (a couple months?), thus whatever visa or visa-equivalent they offer.

Also, I don’t want to take a bus from the big city to the Fuji area, even though the bus was reliable, the driver drove very well, and I don’t really have any complaints about the whole process; I’d like a more personalized and non-group experience, this 2nd time around.  It doesn’t have to be worshipful to me, rolling out a red carpet, but I’d at least like occasional local-air transport; a helicopter or something, and a high-end highway-vehicle (if not a limo’) the rest of the time.  Not to be spoiled; I’d just like to sample other transportation businesses/options –and higher tiers of catering/service.

Maybe I will have pleasant meetings with the man destined to earn me appointing him as the modern secret king of this land.

I’d like to visit all the 8 regions and 47 prefectures this 2nd time.  Last time, it was basically just Tokyo to Fuji and back, which was still an amazing and worthwhile trip, 100%, but you know me; I love learning as much as I can, and making every trip count, since I don’t always know when or even if I’ll get to return.  Let’s hope this feat (orienting to the rest of Japan) miraculously manifests!

I’ll probably have a spare pouch for donations in case anyone approaches me like during rd1; no more feeling caught by surprise, unsure if I even had loose change handy.  …In fact, I’ll ask citizens for suggestions about which charities and other organizations to donate to, maybe even in advance, but certainly to those which resonate with me after I meet one or more of their representatives in person.  Does that sound better?

I am not expecting an invitation for rd2, but I certainly hope I demonstrate enough good manners to the Japanese people during rd2… that they feel like inviting me back for rd3 and more.

I’d also like to get some clothes made in Japan, and not just the world-famous style of robe most tourists make sure to get; I’m talking about masculine fashions of multiple other types, such as a business suit, casual clothes, and other things which might strike me as fitting.  If you have recommendations for styles, brands, stores, or tailors, I’m all ears/eyes.  I might budget several hundred for this –then much more for rd3/+.

 

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Best Hotels:

  1. Shinagawa Prince:  reasonable prices, impressively tall structure, immaculate hallways and other areas, dolphin show, roller coaster, and incredibly fluent/helpful/understanding staff at the front desk, etc.
    BUT I am NOT planning on staying here during rd2 of this nation, only b/c I want to try as many hotels as posb., so the Shinagawa Prince might be booked for rd3 or another visit.
  2. whichever ryokan that was across the lake from Mt. Fuji in 2009:  reasonable prices, gorgeous classic exterior and interior, easy/convenient check-in desk, my given-surname in Japanese script outside the suite door –what a heartwarming touch!, immaculate room/suite, stone-lined bamboo-faucet bathtub, clean/fresh robes, breathtaking views –and from the rooftop!, exceptional traditional local cuisine (kaiseki) –which made me feel healthier and more alert/aware within minutes!, very pleasant server/hostess, walking-distance to numerous attractions.
    SAME for this hotel; I’ll try other ryokans during Japan-visit #2, then probably return to this one at some point.

more TBA…

will probably start by Googling all the 5-star (and 6-star?) ones, as well as the most-expensive ones, then decide from there –though if the chronic-liar always-annoying evil-minded humanimals pull another fake-plague propaganda-campaign, I’ll just be staying in the wildernesses and my own airship/s

 

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Form-sakes:

  1. the kajira-like exotic non-Asian mermaid-hairstyle mocha/tan brunette waitress in a nice white feminine dress-shirt in Luxe Dining Hapuna, seen from my hotel window several+ floors up
  2. the female agent who boarded the train/subway car booth/room with that guy; like J.C.’s wife, but WAY hotter –and curiously VERY similar facial structure to the Famous Dave’s waitress/hostess
  3. the gambling machine backlit art/cover/photo blonde Asian kajira-like hottie w/ a face similar to Beyonce’s
  4. more

 

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Vegan Restaurants and Shops:

Daigo 

images TBA

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some of Tokyo’s many great vegan places:

  1. Hatoyas: fruist sandwiches
  2. Matcha Trip: history of matcha making, tea farming, 12 types/samples, how-to prepare; hands-on
  3. Vegan Gyoza: 11 different types, colorful, in wood cylinders
  4. T’s Tan Tan: ramen
  5. Miyano-yu: matcha, and a tofu-making class here?
  6. Te cor gentil: vegan bakery
  7. Ruru Cafe: illusion of drinks floating on water
  8. Izakaya Masaka:
  9. Vegan Marshmallow: MANY treats; budget for dozens?
  10. Wabi-Sabi: little cafe, matcha
  11. Vegan Ramen Uzu Tokyo: right outside teamLab Planets TOKYO
  12. Ain Soph: tofu quiche, and known-for pancakes

and I will plan an itinerary allowing me to try the ENTIRE menu at EVERY vegan place in Japan (a new SOP/aim for ALL my upcoming (in 2026 and after) expeditions!

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more TBA

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as of 2026 June 18 Thursday:

  • 5,478 vegetarian listings
  • 852 vegan listings
  • and to try the entire menu of each… would mean a small bite/spoonful of each item, sharing with ICVs and/or new friends/lovers… at the rate of maybe 10 restaurants per day (since I’m only allowing myself one bite, or a half bite, of each item (thus a mid-size snack, not a full meal, even when sampling each restaurant’s entire menu in one sitting), and leisurely travel between them; plenty of time to stroll, chat, make notes, take pictures/videos, sightsee, try things other than food/drinks, etc.)… so maybe 852/10 = 86 days; 3 months in a row, or spread out over multiple week/s-long trips
  • and I’ll want to try these things in person there first, and only After that… either fly some of their chefs to Inisfree, or have ICVs recreate their culinary masterpieces in Inisfree, not to steal anything from them, but to honor them when making new-favorites as snacks just for me when I’m not always able to revisit Japan right when I crave those things

 

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Initial Images:

(until my photos of expeditions to this land are uploaded here, see this album)

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Tokyo International Airport:

It’s a nice-looking place, and quite clean and orderly, but it’s a little busier than I prefer, so hopefully the Japanese will give me another option for my (2nd) international arrival and departure (and better and better options for later trips here).

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Ancient Ruins:

  • various megalithic remains/sites, mostly on land
  • possibly Mt. Fuji itself; another “volcano” that may actually be a pole-shift mud-flood buried/covered megastructure/pyramid
  • whatever accidentally/intentionally detonated, later blamed on the USA’s first use of nuclear weapons on enemies, or whatever was at/under those spots/areas (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) that might still be serviceable/usable
  • Yonaguni

more TBA

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Also see:

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