nordic notes in japan

This is part 2 of my journey to Japan.

“I don´t know if I have the funds to go to Japan. It´s so expensive” my friend said. I felt disappointed. I didn´t know what it was, that feeling, but I knew I had to go there. I just had to.. (from part 1).

The evening on the wooden bench, and the next morning in the hanging hammock, was spent researching budget flights and accommodations. The conversations were based on uncertainty, doubt, and an unexplained restless feeling. Where I stood for most of the restlessness. I was searching for possible travel routes, one friend for affordable accommodation, and the other budgeting sightseeing spots and things to do. We checked our bank accounts, researched, and discussed again.

“Okay, I think it would be possible…” my friend said. My stomach responded with a “yay!”. Either a yay for the possible, or a yay its time for dinner.. either way, it looked like it would work out. Somehow we would end our 4 month long backpacking journey in Tokyo, Japan.

After spending some more time in Malaysia, and a couple of days shopping, clubbing and sightseeing Seoul we were ready for take-off to Japan. May 1st 2019 we flew from Seoul to Tokyo. We struggled getting our huge backpacks in- and out of the subways, sweating like crazy because it was already so warm outside. But we made it to our hostel and checked in. A big room with lots of beds and tiny curtains for privacy. It was small, the most expensive accommodation on our trip, but also the best one. That evening was spent looking for restaurants without meat, since my journey of being a vegetarian had been going strong since 3 years back. (Now I´ve been going strong on a non-vegetarian diet for 3 years, story for another time). We found a local ramen place and did our best with google translate to ask them to remove the meat (little did I know they use meat in the soup stock as well..).

Anyway, we spent a few great days in Tokyo and Hakone. Doing all the things you do as a first time visitor. Eating conveyor belt sushi, taking selfies under Tokyo tower, and spending the night at an onsen with Japanese grandmas. Then came the dreadful May 5th and our flight back to Sweden. “I don´t want to leave. I dont know why or how, but this place feels like home.” I wrote in my travel diary on the flight, the diary that I´ve had an on-off relationship with the last months. Little did I know that feeling, it would last & it would grow bigger in a blur of motion. – Nordic notes in Japan