Day 3: Cherry Blossoms, Trains & Setting Sail

 Our final morning in Tokyo started the best way possible—with one more walk under the cherry blossoms.

Since we didn’t have to be at the port until 12:30 PM, we took advantage of the time and headed out for a peaceful stroll along the Meguro River. And yes… more cherry blossoms (as if we could ever get enough). The soft pink blooms lining the river made for the perfect send-off from the city.

We got our steps in, snapped plenty of photos, and even successfully used a vending machine all on our own—small victories while traveling in Japan!

After our morning walk, we headed back to the hotel to organize and repack for our journey to the port. Navigating Tokyo with a large suitcase and carry-on isn’t exactly easy, but we powered through like seasoned travelers.

The journey to the port took a bit of effort—two train rides followed by a quick taxi—but it all went smoothly. And honestly, the taxi ride to the pier was totally worth it. At around 800 yen (roughly $5 USD), it made that final stretch so much easier.

Soon enough, we arrived in Yokohama, ready to board the beautiful Seabourn Encore. With only around 500 passengers, it’s considered a smaller, more intimate ship—which is exactly our style.

Embarkation was quick and seamless, so instead of rushing to our room, we did what any seasoned cruisers would do… headed straight to lunch. Priorities, right?

Once onboard, we were welcomed with a glass of champagne and a toast to the adventure ahead—such a perfect way to kick off the cruise.

That evening, we had reservations at Solis, and it did not disappoint. The food and drinks were incredible. I ordered a “Sophia Loren,” a delicious mix with peach schnapps topped with a fun bubble—equal parts tasty and entertaining.

As the night went on, the seas started to get a bit rocky, so we decided to call it an early night and head back to our room.

And just like that, our Tokyo chapter came to an end… and our cruise adventure officially began.

Day 2 in Tokyo: Cherry Blossoms, Shibuya Chaos & Local Finds

Since we struck out the day before, we made it our mission to get into Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden bright and early. The trick? No reservations needed between 9:00–10:00 AM. Perfect… or so we thought.

We arrived feeling pretty proud of ourselves—only to find lines stretching two blocks long. Clearly, everyone else had the exact same idea. Thankfully, the lines moved quickly. Between people who had pre-purchased tickets and locals using annual passes, we were through in just a few minutes. Tickets were also super reasonable—500 yen for adults and 250 yen for seniors.

Once inside, it was completely worth it.

We spent over an hour wandering through one of the most beautiful parks we’ve seen—especially in the middle of a massive city like Tokyo. The cherry blossoms were in bloom, the gardens were peaceful, and despite the crowds, it felt calm and almost serene. Being a Sunday, families were out in full force, setting up blankets and enjoying picnics under the blossoms. It was one of those “this is why we came” moments.

Next up: the world-famous Shibuya Crossing—also known as the “Shibuya Scramble.”

If you’ve never seen it before, it’s hard to describe. When the lights turn red, people flood the intersection from every direction—straight, diagonal, everywhere—all at once. Hundreds (sometimes thousands) of people crossing at the same time… and somehow, no one crashes into each other. Of course, everyone is filming—including us.

Getting there, however, was its own little adventure. We got a bit turned around coming out of the train station, and Google Maps didn’t quite account for navigating above ground. But eventually, we found it and checked that must-do Tokyo experience off the list.

While in the area, I had one personal mission: find the Hachikō Statue. If you’ve ever seen Hachi: A Dog's Tale with Richard Gere, you know it’s a total tearjerker—and it’s based on a true story. I wasn’t leaving Shibuya without getting a photo there.

We spent some time wandering the neighborhood, taking in all the sights, before meeting up with my best friend’s son—who recently moved to Tokyo. And surprise to me… he had just gotten married a few days earlier! Such a fun and unexpected moment to celebrate.

With a local guide who speaks the language, everything got easier—especially when it came to finding food. One thing we quickly learned: restaurants in Tokyo aren’t always at street level. You might see a sign with pictures… but the actual place could be up an elevator, seven or eight floors above you.

Our first stop was a vegetarian spot, but the menu was pretty limited and the vibe didn’t quite do it for us. The second place—a sushi restaurant—had a waitlist 33 people deep. Not happening.

Third time was the charm.

We ended up at a small, hole-in-the-wall spot, sitting at a counter and ordering like locals. One of the coolest moments was watching our friend prepare tea—pouring matcha powder into a cup and adding hot water from a spigot. Definitely something we would have never figured out on our own.

We ordered sushi, grabbed some drinks, and spent a couple of hours catching up and hearing about life in Japan. It ended up being one of those unexpectedly perfect travel moments.

By the end of the afternoon, though, jet lag finally caught up with us. We realized you really can’t do everything in a day—and honestly, you shouldn’t try.

So we headed back to our hotel, ready for a shower, some downtime, and a much-needed reset before the next adventure.

Day 1 in Tokyo: Temples, Towers & Total Sensory Overload

 

Still running on jet lag, we somehow managed to get up early and start our first full day in Tokyo. Breakfast was included at our hotel—an Asian-style spread that was simple but satisfying—and then it was time to dive right in and tackle Tokyo’s train system. Armed with Google Maps (our new best friend), we set out for the Asakusa neighborhood.

I knew buying tickets ahead of time for the Tokyo Skytree was recommended, but since I wasn’t sure what time we’d be up thanks to jet lag, I decided to take a chance. We arrived around 10:00 AM and found that the combo ticket (350m + 450m) was already sold out for most of the day. Luckily, we were able to grab tickets for the 350m deck at 12:30 PM—good enough for us!

With time to spare, we made the 20-minute walk over to Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temple, dating back to 645 AD.

We started along Nakamise-dori, a lively shopping street leading up to the temple. It was total sensory overload—in the best way possible. Bright colors, incredible smells, and endless little shops selling snacks and souvenirs. We managed to grab a few goodies before making our way to the temple itself.

At the temple, we fully embraced the experience… even if we weren’t exactly sure what we were doing. There were rituals involving drawing what looked like bamboo sticks for fortunes, lighting incense, and waving the smoke over your head for good luck. Naturally, I followed along—because why not? We even rubbed the base of a lantern, which (I think?) is supposed to bring good fortune. Hey, I’ll take all the luck I can get.

After exploring the temple, we headed back just in time for our ride up the Tokyo Skytree. The views were incredible—360 degrees of Tokyo stretching endlessly in every direction. Definitely worth it.

Next stop was Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, but when we arrived, we were greeted by huge lines and learned that reservations were required. There were openings at 4:00 PM, but we had a food tour at 5:00, so we decided to try again the next morning (pro tip: no reservations needed if you go right at 9:00 AM).

Then it was off to Shinjuku for our evening foodie tour booked through TripAdvisor. Our group had about 12 people from all over the world, led by a super fun and energetic guide who shared great stories along the way.

Our first stop was a cozy little spot where we cooked our own meal on a small tabletop stove (yes, I said “bleach table” earlier… clearly jet lag was still hitting hard 😄). We ended up visiting two restaurants and two standing-style eateries, trying a variety of local dishes.

And Shinjuku at night? Absolutely wild. Bright lights, nonstop energy, and a fashion scene that’s next-level. The hair, the makeup, the outfits—everyone looked like they stepped out of a magazine. It’s chaotic, colorful, and completely captivating.

By the end of the night, we were exhausted—but in the best way. We made our way back to our hotel in Ebisu, already realizing one day in Tokyo is nowhere near enough.

We’ve got one more day here… but honestly, we could easily spend a week (or more) exploring this incredible city.