Tokyo in April

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What a treat it was to go back to Tokyo in April after having just been there in January. Alex went for work, so it was a bit of a last-minute trip that we hadn’t originally planned on. I invited myself along, and while he worked long hours every day, I had lots of time to stroll around on one big side quest. I had already done all of the main things I wanted to do the first time around, so this time I went off on funny solo excursions like taking a train to Yokohama just so I could visit the Cup Noodles museum. It was great. What a wonderful, leisurely way to indulge in this bonus trip.

Alex had business class seats but I just had economy. Don’t worry, we traded seats on the way back, which was arguably the better leg to be in business class. I started knitting a baby romper from nothing at the beginning of the flight, and look how much I had completed by the end! (I slept too).

Greeted by Mr. Ohtani at the airport.

Since we were arriving at the end of cherry blossom season everything was a bit overbooked, so we stayed at the Prince Park Tower in Shiba Park and later moved over to Tokyo EDITION at Toranomon.

Our first sakura sightings, right in Shiba Park.

And the first dinner, perhaps not what you’d think, but it was delicious! Pizza PST. Very small, super popular. We were lucky to sneak in at the counter.

Breakfast buffet with a view! Both western and Japanese options.

Then we went to Shinjuku Gyoen for our photo session with Eriko. So lovely. We arrived early before all the people descended upon the place. And although the blossoms were past peak, plenty of trees were still in bloom and we got to enjoy the falling petals and the grounds carpeted in pink. Really magical.

Afterwards, Alex had to go to work, so I embarked on my solo adventures. First, Ichiran – a perfect solo dining experience, slurping away in my little cubby, and actually I got to skip the whole long line since I was just one person.

Next, I found this huge gem of a fabric shop, and I somehow walked away with only two fabrics and some buttons, despite perusing everything for over an hour. I got the yellow bunny fabric on the left and the peach sweatshirt material on the right. The yellow one I just finished the edges and it’s now baby’s bunny blanket. And the peach one I made into a hoodie romper that is still too big for her. One day I will have to share the very extensive wardrobe I ended up making before she even arrived.

The visual overwhelm of Tokyo. Kind of great.

Next I visited a sports store. I was considering getting some Yomiuri Giants gear in anticipation of going to a baseball game later in the trip, but I didn’t find anything worth getting. The majority of stuff was American teams and not really cheaper than buying it in the US.

Dinner back in the basement of our hotel! Traditional Japanese, on tatami mats.

The next day, I had booked myself a prenatal massage over in Daikanyama. I took a bus to get there and had brunch at Garden House Crafts. Brunch was great! The massage was only ok.

Then I took a train out to Yokohama just so I could go to the Cup Noodles Museum.

Pretty amusing! I wouldn’t go out of your way to come here, but when it’s your second time in Tokyo and you have all the time in the world, it’s great! Did you know Cup Noodles were invented by Momofuku Ando, who was actually Taiwanese? Pretty great.

Then I got to decorate my own Cup Noodle to take home.

Drew some designs on the outside and picked my own toppings for the inside! I forgot to take a photo of the fun inflatable shoulder bag that you get to put it in so that it doesn’t get crushed on the way home too. Pretty iconic.

Morning in Shiba Park.

Wearing our cherry blossom hats from Alex’s friend Kristen who works for the Washington Nationals!

Took a short subway ride over to the Imperial Palace, a very popular running route. Alex ran the perimeter while I wandered the neighboring Hibiya Park. Love a quiet morning moment in Tokyo, insulated from the bustling city that surrounds the park.

We had breakfast at Australian brunch spot Bills. Love the souffle pancakes and their soft scrambled eggs. Then Alex went off to work again and I went shopping! Bought some small trinkets at Itoya, the seven-story stationery store.

Took an afternoon tea break at Higashiya Ginza. Went up the new Sony Park structure, but there wasn’t much to see there.

Shoe shopping!

Met up with Marisa & Greg, who were also visiting from the Bay Area. We had soba for dinner.

Then Alex joined us at the Ginza Music Bar for drinks.

Japanese breakfast, ordered as room service. Pretty great. So much food.

Time for another solo excursion! I took the train out to Tennozu island just to visit an art supply shop. I accidentally got on an express train and went over to Haneda Airport first, but it wasn’t too long of a detour, haha. Anyway, lunch was baked goods from breadworks.

The aforementioned art shop, PIGMENT. So beautiful! I was overwhelmed by the selection and too shy to talk to a person, so I didn’t end up actually buying any pigment, but I enjoyed looking at everything!

Got to put my new Hunter boots to use right away, as it was raining all evening. I ventured out on foot to this wonderful little soba shop and had a solo duck soba meal.

Blue skies by morning!

Alex ran into an old friend who apparently now lives in Japan! And then we met up with the Chiang family for brunch.

Alex’s coworkers told him we should go to this specific shrine, Senso-ji to ask for blessings for the delivery of our baby.

We saw lots of families with young children here for blessings as well. There were many different options for amulets and ways to ask for prayers regarding pregnancy, delivery, and for babies and children too. It was a bit confusing and definitely geared towards Japanese people and not tourists, but we got this wooden amulet for safe delivery and had it in the hospital room when we welcomed our baby into the world.

At the Tokyo EDITION Toranomon for the second half of our stay.

A walk through the grounds of the Meiji Jingu shrine

Coffee Mameya

SunnyHills (the Taiwanese pineapple cake shop) with their Minamiaoyama store in Tokyo. They actually have multiple locations in Tokyo, but this one was really beautiful with all the lattice woodworking! Like the original location in Taipei, they’ll serve you a free pineapple cake and tea if you visit.

Shabu shabu with Alex.

The view from our room.

Exploring Toronomon Hills, a very new shopping, dining, business and residential megaplex. I liked this bookstore with all rounded shelves.

And I happened upon this book full of sewing patterns for baby clothes! Of course I bought it and have since made a few things from it, painstakingly translating each step with google translate.

Found a Taiwanese spot in the Yokocho food market area. Very delicious! And I got this cute fruit board book in one of the shops, which turned out to have all sorts of peekaboo flaps inside. It was even cuter than I knew at the time!

Another afternoon tea break. Hot take (or maybe not a hot take): tea is way better in Taiwan. Sorry, Japan.

Lobby knitting.

Walked down the street to ask for a resy later that night, and they were very nice and accommodating. A lot of places in Japan expect you to make reservations, and they don’t always take walk-ins.

Another solo day. This time some onsen braise in a different part of the Toronomon Hills food courts.

I went off to make washi paper! This was one of the things I had to book ahead online, though I managed to book it just a couple days prior.

Very fun! I am too precious about my paper though; I don’t know what to do with it other than now hoard it.

Baskets galore! I need to think of more uses for these. I just like how they look!

A San Francisco transplant.

Washi tape central! The mt store.

Then it was time to go to a baseball game! Baseball is a whole different experience in Asia! This was very fun, the Yomiuri Giants versus the Yokohama BayStars in the Tokyo Dome. This was Alex’s first Japanese pro baseball game too!

Fun to see a non-San Francisco Giants baseball team. There were and are tons of baseball teams named Giants because the NY Giants won so much back in the early 1900s when baseball was being widely popularized.

Alex checked off a bucket list item just buying beer from one of the beer girls. They wear keg backpacks and walk up and down the aisles the whole game. Quite the workout!

We also got to root against Trevor Bauer, which was fun. The Giants won 5-0!

Final morning, wrapping up and saying goodbye to Tokyo, for now. And admiring our haul!

I really did great. Shoes, stationery, and baby things! It’s really fun to look back on this and to see which items have been lovingly used by now.

One last canele and coffee, and it’s off to the airport with our giant pile of belongings.

Business class, thank you Alex and his employer! Basically finished knitting this romper too. Made with love in Tokyo and on United Airlines.

Looking forward to our return to Tokyo very very soon, this time with a little one in tow and expecting a very different experience! What a joy. I am grateful for this wonderful life we live.

Anna Wu is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco. She compulsively documents and blogs all of her daily adventures. Follow her on instagram and view more of her professional work at annawu.com.


Taiwan & Japan, 2025

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