I woke up at 4:30 a.m. — again. Seriously, why does the sun rise so early in Japan, and why does nothing open until hours later?! I read for a while until Carlynn came and snuggled up with me before heading downstairs with Tom. Around 6:00, Charlie woke up too, and I got up to start the day.
Tom walked to 7-Eleven (our breakfast hero). I tried a new coffee and a honey lemon Greek yogurt — surprisingly delicious. The kids both had triangle-shaped rice balls (onigiri), and Tom had a yogurt and coffee. Simple, satisfying, and perfectly Japanese.
🚄 Getting to Know Tokyo Station (and Grape Jelly Drinks)
We decided to do a practice run to Tokyo Station to make sure we knew what to do for tomorrow’s Shinkansen ride to Osaka.
Tokyo Station is so much more than just a train station — it’s a massive, bustling hub filled with shops, restaurants, and hidden gems. From Character Street (every anime fan’s dream) to Ramen Street and dessert counters galore, it feels more like a mini city than a transit point.
We rode the train around 8:30 a.m. — the tail end of rush hour. It was full, but manageable. After a transfer and short walk, we found a Pokémon-themed vending machine and tried a grape soda with clear jelly bits. Weirdly textured… but tasty!
On the way, we also passed:
- The paper crane display near Tokyo Torch, which is part of a beautiful public art installation symbolizing peace, hope, and healing. It’s located near Tokyo Torch Terrace, a modern development near Tokyo Station that blends sleek urban design with cultural elements. The display typically features thousands of colorful origami cranes, often folded and contributed by individuals or school groups, continuing the tradition inspired by Sadako Sasaki, a young girl affected by the Hiroshima bombing. According to Japanese legend, folding 1,000 paper cranes grants a wish or brings good luck — especially for peace and recovery.
- 🐄 The Cow Sculpture Near Tokyo Torch This whimsical cow statue near Tokyo Torch Terrace was part of CowParade Tokyo, Japan’s local chapter of the global public art event Cow Parade. Local artists painted life-size fiberglass cows and placed them around the Marunouchi/Tokyo Torch area as colorful public art. Each cow has its own unique design and character, and often doubles as seating or a fun photo spot. This art showcase isn’t permanent — after a few months, the cows are collected and typically auctioned off for charity.
🎒 Character Street: Pokémon, One Piece, and a Bit of Magic
Once inside, we found the Shinkansen ticket kiosks and successfully bought tickets for tomorrow’s trip. Then it was on to Character Street.
This underground row of character-themed shops is heaven for kids and anime lovers. We queued for the Pokémon Store to open — my first time waiting in line for a store — and it did not disappoint!
- 🧦 Carlynn got Eevee socks
- 🖊️ Charlie picked Pokémon cards, a pencil case, pencil caps, and a figure
- 🎁 We grabbed a few gifts and souvenirs
Then we found the One Piece store (Charlie’s current obsession) — he was in absolute heaven!
🍜 Ramen Street: A Family First
By now, the hanger was real (especially for Carlynn and me), so we made our way to Ramen Street for our first ramen experience in Japan.
Ordering was through a vending-style machine:
- Insert cash
- Push the buttons for your order
- Get your food ticket
- Hit the change button
Our ramen picks:
- 🍜 I had miso ramen
- 🍥 Carlynn had dipping noodles (tsukemen)
- 🍖 Charlie got a meaty version
- 🌶️ Tom picked spicy ramen
We barely grabbed the last table. Five minutes later and we’d have been stuck waiting. Carlynn was offered a fork and spoon (bless), and I encouraged her to take them. The ramen? Absolutely incredible.
I skipped the provided bib — and instantly regretted it after splashing broth all over myself. Next time: bib life.
🛍️ Shopping, Luxury Brands & The Sweetest Desserts
After lunch, we wandered deeper into the station and stumbled into what felt like another mall — all still inside Tokyo Station. There was even a 13-floor department store with Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chloé, and more. The shopping in Tokyo is next level.
We promised dessert (and the kids did not forget). We found a little café and waited for a table. Here’s what we got:
- 🍊 I had an orange soda float — best one I’ve ever had!
- 🍋 Charlie had a lemon soda float
- 🍓 Carlynn got a strawberry parfait — layers of fruit, syrup, ice cream, and whipped cream
- 🍫 Tom had a chocolate parfait
After dessert, we scouted the Shinkansen boarding area for tomorrow and decided to head out.
🌿 Peace in the Middle of the World’s Biggest City
We planned to visit the Imperial Palace Gardens… but discovered they’re closed on Mondays and Fridays. Instead, we strolled along the moat and ended up at the peaceful Kokyo Gaien National Garden.
There we found one of Tokyo’s most iconic historical landmarks: the bronze statue of Kusunoki Masashige on horseback, a legendary 14th-century samurai known for his loyalty and courage. It was stunning.
We grabbed drinks from a vending machine, sat under a tree, and just soaked it all in. No traffic. No honking. No trash — not even a gum wrapper. In the middle of a city with over 37 million people, it was the most peaceful moment of the entire trip. Clean, quiet, green… it was magical.
🍱 Lawson’s Dinner & Kid Budget Wins
We made it home before rush hour and stopped at Lawson’s for dinner — nuggets, drinks, pineapple juice, and even a few toys for the kids. All of it for $14. Seriously unbeatable.
After dinner, showers, and packing, I added up the kids’ spending so far. They’ve been doing great with their **$250 Japan travel budgets**. We skipped summer ninja classes this year and gave them that budget for souvenirs and treats instead. It’s been an awesome way to teach them responsibility and money management while traveling.
They’ve been using their Greenlight debit cards, which we’ve had for a few years. Each week they get $5:
- 💸 $1 goes into savings automatically
- 💳 $4 goes into their spending account
They each have their own card and PIN, and the best part? The constant “Can I have this?” questions at stores basically stopped. It stopped 95% of the “can I have this?” at stores. They learned very quickly that they had to use their own money to buy things they wanted. When we travel, we typically give them a set amount of $20-50 for spending on souvenirs and anything they buy comes out of their accounts. They have learned to put thought into what they want to spend their money on and it significantly reduced them wanting to spend money just to spend it. They really think hard about what they want to spend their precious money on.
If you’re curious about using Greenlight for your own kids, here’s a referral link where you get $75 free when you sign up:
Click here to check it out.
Another full day in Tokyo, filled with shopping, slurping, and surprising moments of calm. Next stop: Osaka!
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