There are early mornings… and then there are Mt. Fuji early mornings—the kind that make you forget you ever needed an alarm because the universe does the job for you.
A Sunrise with Mt. Fuji (AKA: The Morning My Jaw Permanently Dropped)
Shannon shot awake before dawn, and within seconds I heard her gasp. Not the “I forgot to pack my charger” gasp—the “OH MY GOSH LOOK OUT THE WINDOW” gasp.
Our hotel room had an unreal, almost too-perfect view of the lake and Mt. Fuji, and as the sun began to rise, the mountain slowly revealed itself in full, crystal-clear glory.
We sprinted outside like we were competing in the Travel Blogger Olympics, snapping as many photos as our fingers could handle. The sky blushed pink, the lake shimmered, and Fuji stood there like the world’s most photogenic supermodel. It was one of those rare, stunningly clear mornings you hope for but never expect—and we soaked up every second.
Off to Tokyo! First Stop: Meiji Jingu
After prying ourselves away from Fuji’s perfection, we boarded our bus to Tokyo and kicked off the day at Meiji Jingu, a massive Shinto shrine tucked inside the peaceful forests of Yoyogi Park.
Fun Fact:
Meiji Jingu was built in 1920 to honor Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. Volunteers from all over Japan donated more than 100,000 trees to create the forest that surrounds the shrine. Today it feels like stepping into a quiet, sacred world hidden inside the city’s busiest neighborhoods.
We wandered through towering torii gates, enjoyed the hush of the trees, and—lucky us—arrived just in time to witness a traditional wedding procession. The bride glided under a red parasol, the groom beside her, both surrounded by monks and family. It was elegant, romantic, and enough to make my heart sigh dramatically into the humid Tokyo air.
Cue the Chaos: Shibuya District
From meditation to madness—we headed into Shibuya, of course stopping at the legendary Shibuya Crossing.
Fun Fact:
Shibuya Crossing is often called “the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world.” During peak times, as many as 3,000 people cross every time the lights turn green. Controlled chaos at its finest.
We did the obligatory video of ourselves crossing (tourist rights!) and then headed to see Tokyo’s most loyal pup.
Fun Fact About Hachikō:
Hachikō was an Akita dog who waited every day at Shibuya Station for his owner—even after his owner passed away. He continued waiting for nearly 10 years, and his devotion made him a national symbol of loyalty. His statue now stands outside the station and is one of Tokyo’s most beloved meeting spots.
Naturally, we took a thousand photos with him.
From there, we grabbed some sushi and then made an adrenaline-fueled run through Don Quixote, Tokyo’s multilevel, neon-lit treasure trove of snacks, souvenirs, and “did I really need this?” purchases.
Then—because one crossing is never enough—we went up to a viewing deck for the bird’s-eye view. Being inside the crossing is an experience, but watching it from above? That’s performance art.
Royal Views at Kokyogaien National Gardens
Next, we wandered over to the Kokyogaien National Gardens, where you can view the Imperial Palace from the beautifully manicured grounds.
We even managed to catch the changing of the guards—crisp, precise, and well worth the wait.
What was not worth the wait?
Being denied gold leaf ice cream because we were literally the last two in line.
The. Last. Two.
Shannon and I stood there holding our emotional support yen, watching the couple in front of us walk away with sparkling cones like they were in a dessert commercial. Soul-crushing doesn’t begin to cover it. The universe giveth (Mt. Fuji sunrise) and the universe taketh away (gold ice cream betrayal).
Tokyo Evenings: Wandering, Eating, Sipping
We finished the day by checking into our hotel and wandering through Tokyo’s glowing streets, stopping for local bites and beverages.
A highlight?
THE OYSTERS.
Please listen to me: get the oysters. The seas of Japan are generous, and your tastebuds will thank you.
Felicity Arvizu takes on... 