Another glorious Tokyo morning, another chance to sleep in until the solid hour of 8am—travel win! Our first destination of the day: the iconic Senso-ji Temple. But before we could even descend into the train station, something unexpected stopped us in our tracks. Chanting. Drums. A whole mini-parade with what looked like a mobile shrine came rolling by! We couldn’t help but pause and soak it all in—Tokyo just has a way of surprising you like that.
When we finally made it to Senso-ji, it was as beautiful as promised—and absolutely buzzing with people. We took in the grand temple architecture, snapped a few photos (in the designated areas!), and then it was time for… fortunes. For just 100 yen, we shook a box, drew a numbered stick, and pulled out our fates from a matching drawer. Drumroll… every single one of us got bad fortunes. All tied and left behind in the official “get-rid-of-your-bad-luck” zone. Let’s hope it worked.
We picked up some temple charms and bracelets to lift our spirits, then dove into street food central. The kids grabbed shaved ice (which took them approximately forever to finish), Tom opted for pineapple on a stick, and I joined in with my own icy treat. There was also a goofy photo board—naturally, the kids and I stuck our heads in and Tom snapped the pic like the good sport he is.
The shopping street was calling next. Carlynn picked out a fox mask, and the vendor gifted her a Hello Kitty fan—adorable overload. Then… oh. My. Word. Wagyu roast beef on grilled rice balls. I’m not exaggerating—this was a melt-in-your-mouth, life-changing snack moment. I’m still thinking about that beef.
We tried Japanese sponge cake balls dipped in custard next, which were a hit—even Carlynn approved! We bought cute hats for the kids, and Charlie scored a One Piece-themed robe thingy (technical term). Then it was time for Carlynn’s new obsession: chocolate-covered strawberries. The strawberries? Juicy. The dark chocolate? Actually flavorful and not weirdly waxy like some back home. A+ snack.
Then I spotted them: the fish-shaped pastries I’d been hunting for all trip—taiyaki! We tried one with gooey cheese (like melty Swiss!) and one with custard. Both were amazing, but the custard one was slightly less messy and maybe a little more magical.
Just across the street was a dog café—YES, a whole café filled with adorable pups you can pet while sipping unlimited drinks. For about $30 total, we got 30 minutes of puppy therapy, drinks, and five treats each to give to the dogs. Worth. Every. Yen. We left caffeinated, blissfully dog-happy, and with much happier feet.
Next, we zipped over to Shibuya to see the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing in action. Up to 3,000 people crossing at once? Chaos in the most organized, Japan way possible. We found a building with a pop-up Star Wars shop (Tom was thrilled), and then headed to the second-floor Starbucks with a view of the crossing. If you order a drink, you get to sit and take in the scene from above. Score!
I treated myself to a gorgeous mug + tote + tumbler set (no price tag = mystery splurge), ordered my usual iced caramel macchiato, and got the kids what I thought were vanilla steamers… but were actually just hot milk. Oops. Tom and I shared ours with them and made them drink a little anyway. Parent tax.
Thanks to Charlie’s determination, we got some solid pics and video from our semi-blocked view. Then we explored the rest of the building before heading out. We peeked into Lululemon (same prices as the US and no tax-free perks, so we bailed), and stumbled into a different building that held the Shibuya One Piece store. We took the scenic stair route down—5 or 6 flights lined with awesome murals.
We refreshed with fresh-squeezed orange juice from a vending machine (because, Japan), then started the dinner hunt. We found a cozy bar-style restaurant and got seated on the third floor, where we had the entire space to ourselves for most of the meal. Apps: edamame and pickled cucumbers. Mains: charcoal-grilled chicken and green onion skewers (drool-worthy), rice, McDonald’s-style fries, and a calpis sour for me. We were stuffed, satisfied, and somehow the whole meal only cost about $40.
The night wrapped with neon lights, Shibuya billboards and music-truck madness, and one last crossing of the Shibuya scramble. After a quick 7-Eleven stop for dessert at 10pm (we’re on vacation, no judgment), we raced home to eat before it melted. Ice cream cones, funky gel-gum, flavor mixes—you name it. We ended the day cozy, full, and totally wiped—in the best way.
Tokyo Tip of the Day:
If you’re tired, hungry, and craving joy… pet some dogs, eat taiyaki, and find yourself some Wagyu on grilled rice balls. You’re welcome. 🐾🍡🍓
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