Diary entry #2 - A snow day in Tokyo

Writing and posting diary entries on Sunday evenings is going to be my thing from hereon. It helps me relax a little bit. To be honest, Sunday evenings are a time when I tend to feel quite down. The weekend is over, I have to go to the office tomorrow morning and somehow, I always end up feeling like I have not done enough during the past two days.

Work has been quite tough the past week. Our new strategy is more focused on cold calling, which is not really something I enjoy. But you gotta do what you gotta do, work is work and it has to get done. I started doing sales because I enjoyed working with people and was looking for a new challenge. However, I can now understand why so many people avoid this position like the plaque. My focus now is really to learn as much as I can and grow my skills – I feel like in any job or position, you should make yourself the priority.

I truly admire people who are able to do more while working a full-time job. For my recent routine, I stop by the gym as often as possible after work, but rarely find time to do something more when I get home. Doing the simple math here: 8 hours of sleep, 1,5 hour to get ready for work and get to work in the morning, 9 hours of work (including lunch break), 1 hour train ride home, 1,5 hour gym and shower = 21. That should still leave me with 3 hours to do other thing, so my goal is to not spend it with mindless scrolling or youtube, but be a bit more productive. All while also taking some time to rest, as burning out would not be ideal.

After four days of work, finally Friday was here. And it was a snow day. Snow is actually quite rare in Tokyo. If we are lucky, we get about two snow days a winter, but it never really builds up. It is enough though to stop the trains and make getting anywhere really difficult.

I arrived at the office in the morning, but was not feeling so well. Might’ve been just lack of sleep, but could also be a start of a cold, so I have decided to go home for the day. Here is where I was very happy to have recently bought a new camera – Sony A7C. This little guy can almost fit into your pocket, so I sometimes take it with me to work. I had it with me on this day as well, giving me the chance to capture Tokyo in one of its rarest forms, covered by snow.

My office is in Shinjuku so I have decided to take a long route to the Shin-Okubo station, which is a much nicer place to get on the Yamanote line, as it is the only train line which passes here. Shinjuku station is super busy and quite complicated and I try to avoid it if I can.

I passed through Omoide Yokocho – the famous side-street just 5 minutes from Shinjuku station lined by small izakaya’s and bars. It gets quite rowdy here on the weekends and in the evenings. I find it quite ironic that its name literally translates to “Side-street of memories” when many leave it so drunk that their memories of the place would be vague at best. But I am sure drinking with the locals would be a great experience for any tourist visiting Tokyo. Anyhow, it is a photographer’s paradise, I have to say.

I then walked through Kabukicho which is known as the entertainment district. This is where you can find lots of host and hostess clubs. It is also a place where you have to be careful of the “Izakaya catchers”. They are usually young guys who will target tourists and ask them if they are looking for a place to drink. After letting them know about their amazing bar or pub and promising special deal on drinks or food, they will guide them there. The poor victims only realize that they are being charged insane amounts for the drinks or “miscellaneous charges” by the time they ask for the bill. You can try to argue with them but beware – they will try to intimidate you.

Getting a little bit off topic, but after Kabukicho I headed to Shin-Okubo, the Tokyo “Korea Town”. One of my favorite Starbucks stores is right next to the Shin-Okubo station. It offers great views of the Yamanote line and has very chill atmosphere. The only downside would be that it does not offer places to charge your devices – actually most Starbuck stores don’t.

I got on the train and headed home. My fingers were freezing and I was feeling a cold starting, so I made a hot cup of tea and got cozy in my kotatsu. The weekend was quite chill, I spent it editing photos and talking with friends. I really wish there was more time to do.. well more. Will Japan ever accept a 4-day work-week? Because I would like that very much. :D