Life Lately: Café Hopping, Sports Festivals, and Autumn Bliss

Dear Diary,

Life in Tokyo has been, well, a mix of busy, cozy, and slightly chaotic lately. Work has been keeping me on my toes—so much so that my Instagram has been as quiet as a shinto shrine at dawn. I haven’t traveled much recently either, but the itch to go somewhere new is real. I solemnly swear to make the next year more adventurous and travel to some new prefectures. For the rest of the year though, I will be planning the trips while sipping hot lattes and keeping my feet warm inside my beloved kotatsu.

Autumn’s Brief but Beautiful Stay

Tokyo’s autumn is like a guest who arrives with perfect timing and leaves just as you’re hoping they’ll stay longer. It all starts when air gets filled with the heavenly scent of kinmokusei (fragrant orange osmanthus). It’s a sweet, citrusy fragrance that feels like nature’s own perfume. It actually took me years to figure out what is this lovely smell that fills the streets for about a week every Autumn. Sadly, it’s fleeting—one moment it’s everywhere, and the next, it’s gone.

Halloween also came and went without much excitement on my part. Despite the city's efforts to "Cancel Shibuya Halloween", the streets were buzzing with costumes and people enjoying this weird holiday. Admit-ably, it was not the craziness we saw a few years ago, but you can't keep the cat-eared-highball-drinking youngsters off the streets. Usually I would be hitting the streets with my camera and taking pictures of the chaos, but my dear friends Inspiration and Motivation have been avoiding me lately and I cozied up at home instead. I did, however, carve two small pumpkins to bring a bit of the halloween atmosphere into my apartment.

The moment Halloween ends, Japan flips the seasonal switch, and suddenly, it’s full-on Christmas mode. Never mind that the leaves haven’t fully changed colors yet—winter illuminations are already twinkling away, as if autumn never got the memo. But here we are, now on the first of December, and it finally feels like peak autumn in Tokyo.

The sakura trees, famous for their springtime blossoms, have swapped pink for orange and brown and the ginkgo-lined streets are glowing with golden colors. The air is crisp at last, a refreshing change after months of sweltering heat and humidity that made stepping outside feel like entering a sauna. Autumn in Tokyo may have taken its time, but it’s making up for it with pure magic.

Café Escapes and Unplanned Adventures

I had one trip planned for this winter—a hike with some ex-colleagues. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling my best (probably still recovering from the sports festival, but more on that later), so I decided to skip the hike itself. Still, I didn’t want to miss catching up with everyone, so I heroically rolled out of bed at 5 AM, half-asleep, and joined them on the two-hour train ride out of the city and into the mountains. At their trail starting point I waved them goodbye and headed back to Tokyo. Not ready to have the day end like this I got off halfway at the Takaosanguchi Station. This is the starting point for Mt. Takao hikes and it was already bustling with hikers just before 10 AM. My advice for going up Mt. Takao (or any mountain for that matter) - go early, beat the crowds!

Here, I wandered over to Takao Coffee, a charming café just a short walk from the station. The cakes were divine—fluffy, rich, and everything you’d want after.. not hiking. The coffee? Perfection. Arriving right as they opened meant I got to enjoy the calm before more guests came in, journaling in peace and soaking in the cozy atmosphere. Honestly, I could sit here for hours. If you’re in the area, I highly recommend a visit.

I grabbed some coffee as a souvenir and headed back to the station. Even though I was not able to make the hike, I was quite happy with how the day turned out. There’s something so satisfying about stumbling upon cozy little spots like this—Japan truly spoils you with its café culture.

So please allow me to share about two more Cafe's I have recently discovered.

Café Zen is a tiny, tucked-away gem is easy to miss, hidden between houses in a quiet residential area near Hiyoshi Station. But once you step inside, it’s all cozy vibes, a peaceful garden view, and indulgent cheesecake. The real highlight? Their adorable cats! If you’re lucky, you might just meet one lounging around in the garden.

I stumbled upon MAT Coffee, which you can find between Ebisu and Shibuya, when I was looking for a spot to meet up with a friend. It's a homey place with brownies that taste like a warm hug, making it a perfect place for a coffee break or a casual meet-up. It turned out to be the ideal setting for catching up, swapping life updates, venting our frustrations (there was a lot), and laughing about it all.

Work Highlights: A Sports festival and meeting a Youtuber

Work has been a whirlwind lately, but our recent undokai (sports festival) brought a much-needed dose of fun. It was a perfect mix of teamwork, creativity, and just the right amount of chaos to keep things interesting. From crafting a ball path with chopsticks and cardboard to a wild game of tamaire (which until now I have only seen in anime or high-school dramas), the day was full of fun moments. The last battle was a relay race with challenges like balancing a ping-pong ball on a spoon and attempting kendama tricks. Against all odds, my team clinched the win—and the ultimate prize: a Starbucks gift card, which I’m happily putting to good use.

Speaking of sweet victories, the office has recently upped its dessert game with treats like matcha pudding with dango, which I’ve been thoroughly enjoying. Out of all the tricks and strategies to get the employees to come to the office more, I like this one the best. Not that I need much convincing to work from the office, to be honest. As much as I love my cozy home, my kotatsu, and the freedom to nap whenever I feel like it, there’s something refreshing about separating the “office me” from the “at-home me.” The sweet treats are just a cherry on top.

One highlight at work lately has been meeting Bilingirl Chika, a YouTuber I used to watch when I was learning Japanese. She’s every bit as kind and bubbly in person as she is online. It did feel like meeting a celebrity, which I have met surprisingly little since moving to Tokyo.

What made the moment even more special was the unexpected spark it gave me. It reminded me of the creative energy I sometimes let get buried under the weight of work. So here I am, excitedly writing this and diving back into creating again!

Seasonal Cravings and Festivities

As the weather cools, my noodle cravings have gone into overdrive. Soba, ramen, udon—there’s something undeniably satisfying about slurping a steaming bowl of noodles in the crisp autumn air. Tokyo, of course, is a noodle-lover’s paradise, and I’ve been taking full advantage.

I have recently stopped by Ichiran—the ramen spot that Instagram fame turned into a tourist magnet. Yes, the line can be long, but if you get the timing right, you might get in quite quickly. Perfect for solo diners as each seat is its own little ramen sanctuary, complete with privacy walls so you can focus on what really matters: the ramen. And honestly? I love the taste. What do you know, sometimes, the hype is real.

Recently, I also attended the Czech Festival in Tokyo. It was such a lovely slice of home, complete with Czech beer, traditional food, and cultural performances. If you ever see it on the events calendar, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a perfect way to experience Czech culture—or just enjoy some excellent beer. I know I say beer a lot when speaking about Czech culture, but believe me, it is basically a cultural cornerstone.

So that’s what life has looked like lately: a mix of work, cakes, noodles, and fleeting autumn moments. It’s busy, it’s messy, and it’s filled with the little joys that keep everything feeling worthwhile. Until next time, you’ll find me juggling projects, discovering new cafés, and planning my next adventure.

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Thought on Consistency

Dear Diary,

It’s me again. You probably thought I abandoned you, didn’t you? Well, you weren’t wrong. I ghosted you like that guy from three years ago who "forgot" to text back (but still watches all my Instagram stories). The truth is, consistency and I have always had a rocky relationship. One moment, we’re vibing, hitting the gym, tracking expenses, writing heartfelt journal entries. The next, we’re strangers passing each other awkwardly in the self-help aisle of life.

Let me paint the picture: Every time I decide to “turn my life around,” it’s with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. I go all out—new notebook for journaling, gym shoes with soles so bouncy they practically beg me to jog, a budgeting app subscription that I totally need. I start strong, writing affirmations like, “I am the architect of my destiny,” while mentally calculating how many squats it’ll take to cancel out that second slice of cake.

And then… life happens.

One day I wake up too tired to journal. “Just today,” I tell myself. The next day, my workout feels optional. And by the third day, I’m on my couch in pajamas, binge-watching a new (or more likely an oldie but a goodie) show on Netflix, snacking on conbini treats I didn’t track in my budgeting app.

That’s when it hits me: I’ve stopped. Again.

Cue the self-loathing. “Why can’t I stick to anything?” I wail internally, conveniently forgetting that I’ve stuck to binge-watching and snacking like a total pro. The guilt spirals start, and I avoid even thinking about journaling or working out, because the longer I ignore it, the harder it feels to start again.

But here’s the thing, dear Diary: I always come back.

It’s messy, sure. It’s frustrating. But every time I pick up the pen, every time I roll out that yoga mat or open my bank app, I’m trying again. And isn’t that kind of beautiful in its own way? There’s no shame in falling off the wagon. The shame is in refusing to chase it down and hop back on.

So today, I’m starting again. No grand plans, no color-coded schedules that would impress even the most Type-A Pinterest girls. Just one entry, just one work out session, just one tiny step toward consistency. Tomorrow, who knows? Maybe I’ll work out. Maybe I’ll just write another entry about how I didn’t work out but thought about it. That counts, right?

In the meantime, here’s to showing up, even if it’s not perfect! And to everyone who does it.

Till next time,

Me ("The architect of my own destiny" lol)