Tokyo Essays

Photos & Micro-essays about Tokyo, or somewhere else

[tokyoessays]

This electric sign at a bus stop shows where the next bus is at the moment. I think Tokyo could use this kind of sign, too. Or is any already in use somewhere in the capital? #japan #nara #travel #traveling #traveler #travelaroundtheworld #travelgram #essay #photoessay #womanwriter #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B3GBh84B4kL/?igshid=1qb35qxxgw31s

[tokyoessays]

Yes, it was no doubt a beautiful temple. But my heart was drawn more to the sea of moss on the grounds. #japan #nara #toshodaiji #temples #templegrounds #travel #traveling #traveler #travelgram #essay #photoessay #womanwriter #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B3GAm2kB20U/?igshid=18qhyvw9d8ijw

[tokyoessays]

Ah. What is this appeal of a night out. Where’ve I am? #japan #osaka #shinsekai #tsutenkaku #nightlife #travel #traveler #travelaroundtheworld #travelgram #essay #photoessay #womanwriter #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Ei4jPBEl6/?igshid=zx6i8v75l51t

[tokyoessays]

Just glanced up on my way back from grocery shopping and, wow, what a sky. #tokyo #japan #sky #autumnsky #bluesky #clouds #essay #photoessay #womanwriter #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B3BJNnch0dG/?igshid=2xby4s5rinq5

[tokyoessays]

The sea of 3-D signs of eating placed kept me reminded that I was outside eastern Japan. #japan #osaka #food #shinsekai #travel #traveling #traveler #travelgram #travelaroundtheworld #essay #photoessay #womanwriter #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B3BILqIBozg/?igshid=7xz8h7sj1b9m

[tokyoessays]

I don’t know what’s going on in the world of any sports, but I like to watch any sports, particularly baseball. I’m not interested in which team wins or which players are popular. But I like to be in a stadium to feel the vibes of a real game and supporters’ positive excitement to enjoy being there! #japan #osaka #kyoceradome #baseball #travel #teaveling #traveler #travelaroundtheworld #travelgram #essay #photoessay #womanwriter #writersofinstagram #writers https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_xwilhIL2/?igshid=1nkkmnaygh0y4

[tokyoessays]

I tend to get drawn into a narrow passage. This rabbit-like tendency often pays off, and in Osaka, this Buddha in an alley between a shrine and a drinking establishment was the surprise gift. #japan #osaka #hozenjiyokocho #buddha #jizo #travel #traveling #traveler #travelgram #travelaroundtheworld #essay #photoessay #womanwriter #writersofinstagram #writers https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_wou4huPI/?igshid=16oibkmhchnai

[tokyoessays]

I only had a vague idea what Dotonbori in Osaka might be like. Or what Osaka in general might be like. Different vibes than that of Tokyo. More eating places, particularly okonomiyaki restaurants. The impression I had when I got there was that different parts of Tokyo were brought together and rearranged, with lots of arcades added. The metro stations and underground passageways also reminded me of Taipei. I think I saw more kushikatsu (deep-fried meat or veggies on skewers) places than okonomiyaki. It is said that Osaka natives are more talkative than people in the Tokyo area, but I’d say the ratio of loud people is the same as that in Tokyo. And most of the locals I got to interact with—including station attendants and servers at restaurants—were friendly and courteous in a very natural way. It took me less than two hours by Shinkansen to get there where these pleasant discoveries abounded. I should never underestimate the power of short-distance travel. #tokyo #osaka #osakajapan #japan #dotonbori #travel #traveler #traveling #travelgram #travelaroundtheworld #womanwriter #writersofinstagram #travelwriting #essay #photoessay https://www.instagram.com/p/B28UdnNBrf5/?igshid=1cuyzw6k6sxfy

[tokyoessays]

Dear Mt. Fuji, Whether you are dressed in snow or not, you are always beautiful as is, and so is each of us. #tokyo #japan #mtfuji #travel #traveler #travelgram #essay #photoessay #womanwriter https://www.instagram.com/p/B2jTfJ9BxGb/?igshid=8v17ihyibiqe

[tokyoessays]

I’ve had a million okonomiyaki in my life, but still, this is a gotta-go-back place. #tokyo #hadano #japan #japanesefood #okonomiyaki #okonomiyakihiroshimastyle #food #essay #photoessay #womanwriter https://www.instagram.com/p/B2jSRqohQRE/?igshid=wuohjk755vuu

[tokyoessays]

Imagine me opening my small eyes wide as this bowl was set down in front of me. I thought I’d ordered curry and udon — well, the first bite assured me I sure had. #tokyo #japan #food #japanesefood #curryudon #essay #photoessay #womanwriter https://www.instagram.com/p/B2jRJO2Bo51/?igshid=1u35pw0bdalnn

[tokyoessays]

The blue of the skies, the heat and humidity, and cicadas’ singing are annual reminders of unhappy childhood, but they nevertheless convey seasonal beauty, like these flowers on a tree called “sarusuberi.” The name came from its smooth bark that even a monkey (saru) would likely slip over on (suberi). #tokyo #japan #essay #photoessay #womanwhowrite #womanwriter #writingtime https://www.instagram.com/p/B0xOy78h-SJ/?igshid=1gq6fe784dxrv

[tokyoessays]

I as a writer always learn something from artists. This singer stood out to me at this live music show because, as he played the guitar and sang his songs with incredible skills and humor (no wonder he performs at 250 shows a year!), he was himself, at each moment. He played for the audience, yes, but he seemed to be telling us through his music, “This is what I can give to entertain you and I’m giving it my all. I hope you like it, but if you don’t, well, I’m not here to please you.” #tokyo #yokohama #livemusic #japan #writer #womanwriter #womenwhowrite #essay #essayist #photoessay https://www.instagram.com/p/B0cCVGHhEk9/?igshid=um2nuudmmhk5

[tokyoessays]

Silver lining, literally. Maybe getting to witness a silver lining in itself is part of happiness. It doesn’t have to be a metaphor at all. #tokyo #japan #clouds #silverlining #summersky #photoessay #essay https://www.instagram.com/p/By9sVaPh8V9/?igshid=1ve0q9y8paiff

[tokyoessays]

“Look how pretty you are,” said I, to the flowers, out loud. What’s this charm hydrangeas have, the charm that makes me exhale a sigh of admiration, no matter how many of them I see in one season? In the (Japanese) language of flowers, the hydrangea means “the fickle heart” because they change their colors during their few-month lifetime. In Japanese, the meaning implies unreliability. I guess that’s it. That’s the charm. #tokyo #japan #hydrangea #flowerlanguage #essay #photoessay https://www.instagram.com/p/By7kxchhZyA/?igshid=fsye84f2c2of

[tokyoessays]

Hard to decide which feels better, a weekend drinking spree or a mid-week short night out. #tokyo #japan #guinessbeer #essay #photoessay https://www.instagram.com/p/By5HsV0hXp0/?igshid=1o2mvzrf7408b

[tokyoessays]

I’m impressed with what a good cook I am each time I give priority to my feeling over a recipe. I wish to be impressed the same way in other areas of life beyond food. #tokyo #japan #food #essay #photoessay https://www.instagram.com/p/Bypw0PlhRN3/?igshid=owq80qwba2a0