Tokyo Days 3–5: Neon, Pandas, and the "Pikachu" Reality Check
Dates: July 3 – July 5, 2024 Locations: Shibuya, Minato City, & Ueno
After kicking off our trip in Asakusa, we spent the next three days diving deep into Tokyo’s modern energy. From the world's busiest intersection to the quiet pagodas of Ueno Zoo, here is the breakdown of our mid-trip adventures.
Day 3: The Shibuya Scramble & "Face" Art
We started Day 3 leaning into the "Central Tokyo" vibe. Shibuya is a masterclass in urban energy, and we were right in the thick of it.
James’s Perspective: The Quiet Before the Storm
There’s a striking contrast in Tokyo that I never get tired of. We started at a local shrine—just a small, neighborhood spot where the air felt five degrees cooler. I caught a great selfie with Candace there; she’s becoming quite the little traveler. By afternoon, we hit Shibuya. Watching the girls navigate the Scramble was a trip in itself. We capped the night with a massive sushi dinner in Minato City—Sara and Cameron are basically pros with chopsticks now.
Middle of Shibuya Crossing!!!!
Selfie with Candace-cooling towels were super helpful in the July humid heat!
Cameron’s Perspective: My Face on a Coffee!
Today I ate the best onigiri ever for a snack from 7-11. But the coolest part was a cafe in Shibuya that printed my face right onto the foam of my latte! I don’t even drink coffee, but I didn't want to drink it and ruin the art. Everything in Shibuya felt like being inside a video game.
Unknown Cafe Gallery in Harajuku: 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 6 Chome−6−2 原宿べルピア １F
Day 4: Hachiko & The Pokémon Truth
Day four was all about the "icons"—the famous loyal dog and the even more famous Pikachu.
James’s Perspective: Is the Hype Real?
We did the mandatory stop at the Hachiko Statue. Standing there with Cameron, it’s a nice moment to reflect on the loyalty that story represents. Then came the Pokémon Cafe. I’ll be honest: getting the reservation feels like winning the lottery, but the food was honestly meh. It was lukewarm pasta and shaped rice that looks better than it tastes. It’s 100% about the atmosphere and the Chef Pikachu dance. If you aren't a die-hard fan, it might not be worth the stress of booking. It’s a "one and done" experience for me.
No crowds at 7 am! 2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan
Pokemon Cafe…very difficult to reserve, not sure it was worth refreshing my phone to secure a 2 pm resy the midnight before: Japan, 〒103-0027 Tokyo, Chuo City, Nihonbashi, 2 Chome−11−2 髙島屋S.C.東館 ５階
Cameron’s Perspective: I Don't Care, It’s Pikachu!
Dad says the food was just "okay," but I didn't care because my hashbrown was shaped like Pikachu’s head! Everything was so cute, and we got to keep some of the plastic coasters as souvenirs. Even if the pasta wasn't the best I've ever had, I'd still go back just to see Chef Pikachu dance again.
Day 5: Panda-monium & Katsu Comfort
We dedicated our fifth day to the "green lung" of Tokyo: Ueno Park.
James’s Perspective: The Green Escape
Ueno Zoo is Japan’s oldest, and the pagodas in the background of the exhibits are stunning. It was hot, so we spent a lot of time in the shade watching the red pandas and the tapir. By the time we got back to Shinjuku, we were "tapped out." We found a small, local Curry Katsu shop. The smell of spiced roux and frying cutlets was exactly what we needed. Watching Sara and the girls light up when those crispy plates arrived was the perfect end to our day.
Terrific curry pork Katsu at Takahashi-super local restaurant: 2 Chome-6-3 Kamiochiai, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 161-0034, Japan
At our train stop by our Airbnb near Shinjuku
Cameron’s Perspective: Pandas and Penguins
Ueno Zoo was so much fun! I got to pose with the giant panda statues at the entrance. The real pandas were sleepy because of the heat, but the penguins were super active. My favorite was the red panda. For dinner back in Shinjuku, we had the best curry ever. The pork was so crunchy and the sauce was a little sweet. It was the best way to refuel!
Ignore Cameron’s face -Cameron: 9-83 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8711, Japan
