Journey to Tokyo and First Day Experiences
Departure and Arrival
Our family traveled to Tokyo for vacation from December 14-20, 2025, a trip we had planned since April. My wife and I have grown fond of Japan, especially after visiting Tokyo in December 2024, so this time we decided to bring our kids—most were new to Mt. Fuji and our sons had never been to Tokyo. My wife, our two sons, and I flew out on December 14, while our two daughters and son-in-law joined us a day later.
My wife and I departed from NAIA Terminal 1 on a Philippine Airlines flight, while my sons traveled from Terminal 3 on Cebu Pacific. Due to the early departure time, we were unable to have breakfast before leaving home at 3 am. We were pleased to discover Little Flour Cafe within Terminal 1, where we enjoyed breakfast prior to boarding our flight.
Arrival in Tokyo and Hotel Check-In
Our flight to Tokyo lasted about 4 hours and 40 minutes, and we landed at Narita Airport just after noon, greeted by chilly, rainy weather. To make it easier to reach Kawaguchiko, we chose to stay in Shinjuku, booking the Shinjuku Washington Hotel, which sits across from the Tokyo Government Building and is only a 10–15 minute walk from Shinjuku Station. We took the airport limousine bus from Narita directly to our hotel, a trip that took roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes. The hotel was clean and pleasant, with friendly staff who guided us through the self check-in process. Conveniently, there were Family Mart and Lawson stores as well as several restaurants on the hotel’s lower floors.
Exploring Shinjuku
After we checked into our hotel, we took some time to relax before heading out to explore Shinjuku. Winter meant the sun set early, around 4:30pm, so it was already getting dark when we ventured outside. My eldest son started photography as a hobby this year and has gotten quite skilled. I was eager to show him spots in Shinjuku like Omoide Yokocho (also called Memory Lane) with its lantern-lit streets, and the well-known Yodobashi camera store featuring its iconic red neon sign, which are perfect places for him to take photos.
Dinner in Kabuchiko
After spending some time walking around and capturing photos, we started to feel hungry and decided it was time for dinner. We chose to eat at Tonkatsu Niimura, a well-established restaurant that has been serving tonkatsu for 64 years. My wife and I first discovered this spot during our trip to Tokyo in December 2024, and we were excited to return. The restaurant is in Kabuchiko, Tokyo’s famous red-light district. Kabuchiko is known for its lively atmosphere and unique attractions, including more than 200 small bars in areas such as Golden Gai and Piss Alley. The district is also recognized for its abundance of love hotels, adding to its reputation as an entertainment hub. One of Kabuchiko’s most iconic landmarks is the Hotel Gracery, a skyscraper topped with the famous Godzilla head, which stands out as a memorable feature of the area.
Evening Stroll and Reflections
After finishing our meal, we continued to explore the lively streets of Shinjuku. The area was awash with the glow of neon signs, illuminating the buildings in a kaleidoscope of colors. We took several photos to capture the vibrant nighttime atmosphere that makes this part of the city so distinctive. Once we felt we had seen enough for the evening, we made our way back to the hotel to rest, bringing our first day in Tokyo to a close. The early winter weather added to the experience: during midday, the temperature was a comfortable 11°C, but by nightfall it dropped to around 3°C to 4°C. These crisp, cool conditions made our walk back to the hotel particularly enjoyable.
For this trip, I brought along my Sony A7C2 paired with a Sony 24-50mm f/2.8G lens as my primary camera for photography. I also had my Ricoh GR IV with me as a backup pocket camera. Both cameras were relatively new additions to my gear, and I was eager to see how they would perform during this travel experience..
Thank you for staying till the end of Day 1. I have 5 more days coming up and will be posting them soon. God bless.
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