tokyo at 11.94 degrees and a really weird subway experience

i woke up to the sound of rain outside my apartment in tokyo, which is kind of my new normal. the city’s got this weird mix of neon lights and fog right now, and the temperature is stuck at 11.94 degrees. it’s like the kind of weather that makes you want to wear a sweater but also a hoodie. i don’t know why i’m overthinking this, but whatever.

i just checked, and it's that 11.94 degrees again, which is like a fridge's temperature. hope you like that kind of thing. i walked to the station earlier and the air was so dry it felt like someone was using a vacuum cleaner to clean the streets. not sure if that’s a thing or if i’m just imagining it. probably the latter.

now about the neighbors. if you get bored, osaka is just a short drive away. i heard that the subway here is faster than most cities, but then again, i also saw someone get lost in the station. maybe don’t trust the signs. i ended up asking a stranger for directions and they just said 'go left, but not too fast.' it was both helpful and slightly terrifying.

reviews. i heard that the sushi places here are overpriced but worth it. someone else told me that the coffee shops are just tourist traps. i went to a place called 'coffee lab' and it was amazing. the barista made a latte that looked like it had been made by a robot. i don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. i also saw a review on tripadvisor that said this street food stall is a hidden gem. i followed that and it was true. the rice balls were so good they should be illegal. but then again, i heard that the same stall closed down last month. confused.

i took a walk and found this old building with a sign that said 'no entry' but i went in anyway. inside there was a weird art exhibit with a lot of just black and white photos. one of them was a picture of a cat sitting on a bench. it was weird. i tried to ask the person managing it about it and they just said 'it’s a metaphor for city life.' i don’t know what that means but i left confused. maybe it’s a good thing.

here’s a map if you want to find me.

i saw a photo of a water slide going down a river next to a building. it looked so random. i don’t know why it’s there. maybe it’s a tourist trap. i also saw a snow covered road with a black gate. it was weird because it was summer. i think i’m losing track of time. maybe i should drink coffee. i heard that the coffee shops here are just tourist traps. but then again, i drank one last night and it was good. maybe it’s not a trap. maybe it’s a blessing.

here are some photos i took.

i checked yelp once and it said this place is a must-visit, but then again, i also saw a review on tripadvisor that warned about the long lines. honestly, i’m not sure if i trust either of them, but it’s better than nothing. i also saw a local board post about a new coffee shop opening next week. i’m probably gonna go there. even though i heard it’s just another trap. maybe i’m just desperate.

tokyo is this weird mix of chaos and beauty. the weather is bad, the people are weird, and the food is good. i don’t know if i’ll come back. maybe. maybe not. it’s hard to tell. but if you’re here, just bring a sweater and a sense of humor. or a map. or both.

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