Finally back in Tokyo again after 2.5 years! I traveled to Tokyo for business trip this time only for short 3 days. But even in just such a short time, Tokyo has successfully made me fall in love with it all over again! You already know Japan is my most favorite country in Asia Pacific; I love the hospitality of the Japanese people, the food, the culture and I even love the toilet! Hands down to the most advance toilet in the world! By the way, I flew to Tokyo from Jakarta with ANA Air and I usually hate airplane lavatory because there’s no water spray. As someone who comes from the most populated Muslim country, this is major problem for me whenever I traveled abroad, although I have made myself get used to it. Ugh! Hence, I couldn’t be more grateful that the Japanese decided to take this cleanliness or hygiene matter very seriously. I love the Japanese. 日本が大好きです!

Anyways, the reason for this business trip was, my company is recently got selected to work together with this giant social media company and I was lucky enough to be given opportunity to represent my company for the summit which was held in Tokyo. So grateful.

So, I arrived in Tokyo in the evening, I was able to enjoy the busiest intersection in the world, the Shibuya’s Crossing, which I was not able to do the first time I had visited Tokyo. Then, I had dinner in some Japanese restaurant and as you know it, I really love Japanese food, one of my favorite cuisines in the world. You know how much I love Salmon Sashimi right? but I didn't eat sushi and co that night, and whatever that was, I think it’s a fusion between Japanese and Korean food. So, after dinner we (my two bosses) and I hopped into a 5ive Bar in Shibuya. I don’t have problems with bars in general, what I hate is: most of them is full of smoke, ugh. It feels like a torment, I’d probably die sooner, if I kept tagging along with them; but it is how it is when it comes to business; just suck it all up. Anyways, we moved to another bar which was quieter; we ordered a pizza not sure what kind but we ate it with honey, weird huh? I know, but surprisingly it was effing delicious. See, this is what I’m talking about, Japanese know how to make innovation in anything. And I’m sorry that I don’t provide you any pictures of evidence because my French boss and my English boss don’t understand why Asians take pictures just right before we eat. Haha. They still think it’s weird.


So, the big day is today, Friday, March 2nd 2018. I had prepared this presentation for the summit for a month. But, prior to that, I took a morning walk around the hotel and I did find some interesting places, nearby which is Yebisu Garden Place. It’s really not a bad choice of a hotel in Tokyo, although to go to Shibuya, you have to take the train or taxi or if you want, you can walk; it’s only 3.3km anyway. I stayed at Westin Hotel, btw.

Yeap, that's right. My favorite leather piece.

I met many amazing people in the summit, smart and cool people. I just can’t put into words how grateful I am to be given this opportunity. It’s so cool!! And I can’t name the company, because I don’t want to breach the NDA. Hehe.

Though I can't name the company, this is the view from its office ;) (unedited)

So, in the evening we went to Shibuya again, because I desperately wanted to eat Sushi and we went to UOBEI Shibuya, a Genki Sushi subsidiary. Sushi in Japan is the best. No comparison.

After dinner we went around a bit, then we head to Tusk Bar in Roppongi Hills. It’s an expats bar, because the customers are mostly expats and at 11:30pm or 12am the semi-stripper came out and started dancing on the bar and oh, there’s this pole bar, which is really cool because that’s the first time I have seen stripper in real life dancing on the pole bar. Lol. Then my boss told me those two were actually guys, lol.


Then we moved to KTV still in Roppongi, ugh. I don’t like karaoke, I’d rather jump into pile of snow wearing two-piece swimsuit than go to karaoke. I know I was such a drag for not entertaining this idea of karaoke-ing, but really, don’t make me do things I don’t want to do.

Wow, I really pour my heart out in this post. Oh my, haha.

Now came my last day in Tokyo, oh such a short time! I woke up in the morning and rushed myself to go to the Shinto shrine, Tokyo Daijingu Shrine in Chiyoda.



I went there because I had visited Asakusa Temple during my first visit to Tokyo.  It turns out that it’s very small, then I walked around and found this beautiful garden in Koishikawa district. It’s called Koishikawa Korakuen (小石川後楽園)

It's one of Tokyo's oldest and best Japanese gardens. It was built in the early Edo Period (1600-1867) at the Tokyo residence of the Mito branch of the ruling Tokugawa family. Like its namesake in Okayama, the garden was named Korakuen after a poem encouraging a ruler to enjoy pleasure only after achieving happiness for his people. - Tokyo Travel

 Although I was dissatisfied by the shrine, I felt so grateful that I found this garden nearby.  It's so beautiful especially the cherry blossoms just started blooming! I know it's too early and I was really surprised then, so so so lucky :)  Also, the backdrop of this garden is Tokyo Dome, damn! so cool!



Then, after feeling content seeing the Sakura, I went to Omotesandou nearby Harajuku because I need to get something for my friend, again it's quite far from Koishikawa Korakuen and I went around with taxi, so that's a little painful for my pocket :/ haha




Omotesandou is a more mature shopping street in comparison to Harajuku and it has some nice middle to high fashion designers store.  It is located in Shibuya and Minato, because it's not far and it's a beautiful day, I walked from Omotesandou to Shibuya's Crossing and yes, I finally found the Statue of Hachiko.  The famous loyal Shibainu in that movie Hachiko, remember? The one with Richard Gere in it.

Please tell me she looks like me, at least the hair, lol

Shibuya'S Crossing

Hachiko <3

Then in the afternoon, I reunited with my two bosses and a friend, then we had lunch at this sushi restaturant in Shnjuku, which is Gansozushi.  I feel obligated to tell you that this one is even more delicious than Uobei restaturant we visited the night before.  Sushi in Japan is the best.

I feel like I have been writing so much and it's not even over yet. haha. Anyways, after lunch we went to some tall building in Shinjuku, like observatory building to see the city from up above.  Man, Tokyo is very dense, but I checked on the internet and it turns out Jakarta is even worse ha!

Next stop was VR Zone in Shinjuku. I was a little bit reluctant at first, because it's VR, I'd never tried VR before in my life.  So, we chose Mario Kart VR and it is said that it is only available in Shinjuku, in this very VR Zone by Bandai Namco.  Do you know how excited I was?!  The game only lasts for 8 minutes, but to be honest it's not enough! I want more! I want more! I feel so lucky for experiencing all these stuffs in Tokyo though I was only there for such a short time.



I will definitely go back! Japan has scored my heart the first time I went there in Summer 2015 and now Tokyo officially is my favorite city in Asia Pacific (not only Far East).

Update: Big thanks to this French guy who guided and showed us the amazing Tokyo for such a short time, I couldn't have had better time in three days without him. #youknowwhoyouare