26-28 Jan / Final city chapter

Tokyo stays, food, Fuji, and soft pauses

The final chapter: a standout hotel stay, excellent gyukatsu, Fuji-san picture hunting, Cat Lounge MOCHA, Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, and donuts.

Tokyo

Arrival in Tokyo after Kansai

On 26 Jan, we flew to Tokyo and shifted into the final city of the trip. After snowy Sapporo, busy Osaka, and the Kyoto kimono day, Tokyo felt like the last big chapter: food, shopping, neighborhoods, and the kind of city energy that makes the trip feel complete.

Tokyo Stay / Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel

The best hotel highlight of the Japan trip

In Tokyo, we stayed at Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, and it became the best hotel highlight of the whole Japan trip. Even though the hotel is on the older side, the stay felt very comfortable because the room was spacious and the facilities were great.

The gym area especially stood out. It had proper, complete equipment, which made the hotel feel more serious and useful than just a place to sleep after sightseeing.

Additional hotel reference photos are from the official Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel site.

Personal take: older hotel, but spacious rooms and strong facilities. This was the most satisfying stay of the trip.

Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel gym area with complete workout equipment

My own hotel highlight was the gym: proper equipment, spacious enough, and very useful during the Tokyo stay.

Official Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel room photo showing a spacious guest room

Official Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel daytime view over Tokyo

Official Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel fitness club photo

Reference photos above are official hotel images, kept separate from my own gym photo.

26 Jan / Late Lunch / Gyukatsu Motomura

Tokyo started with the best gyukatsu

After arriving in Tokyo, we had a late lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura. This one was the best: crispy beef cutlet, little side dishes, rice bowls, and the fun of cooking each slice a bit more on the small hot stone at the table.

The meal felt rich, warm, and very satisfying after the flight. The cutlet was already delicious, but the table hot stone made it even better because each bite could be finished exactly how you wanted it.

Food note: the best gyukatsu of the trip, and a very strong way to start Tokyo.

Read the Gyukatsu Motomura food note

Gyukatsu Motomura beef cutlet set with sides and rice

Rice bowl with minced beef and egg yolk at Gyukatsu Motomura

Crispy cutlet, rice bowls, and the small hot stone made Tokyo start very strong.

Overhead view of Gyukatsu Motomura table spread with cutlets, rice, cabbage, and hot stones

27 Jan / Fuji-san 1 Day Tour

Picture hunting around Mt. Fuji

On 27 Jan, we joined a one-day tour for Fuji-san picture hunting. The weather was moody, with clouds moving around the mountain, so the whole day became a little game of waiting, watching, and trying to catch the mountain at the right moment.

Even when the peak was hiding, Fuji-san still looked dramatic. The snow, dark clouds, village rooftops, lake reflections, and sudden clear moments made every stop feel like a different version of the same mountain.

Personal take: a fun photo-hunting day. The clouds made it less predictable, but that also made each clear view feel more exciting.

Mt. Fuji partly covered by clouds over a calm lake

Close view of snowy Mt. Fuji with clouds around the peak

The clouds made Fuji-san harder to catch, but also made every clear moment feel more exciting.

Tour group looking toward Mt. Fuji from an open field

Mt. Fuji seen from Oshino Hakkai with water reflection and tourists

Mt. Fuji seen near a red pagoda roof under cloudy sky

Two people jumping with Mt. Fuji in the background

28 Jan / Shibuya Cat Lounge MOCHA

A slow Tokyo pause at Cat Lounge MOCHA

On 28 Jan, we visited Shibuya Cat Lounge MOCHA for a softer Tokyo moment. After the bigger sightseeing days, this felt like a calm indoor break: warm lights, wood textures, shelves of manga, and cats casually taking over the lounge like they owned the place.

The feeding time made the whole room gather into one little circle, and the lounge design gave it a cozy library feeling instead of a busy tourist stop.

Personal take: a cute, easy Shibuya stop when we wanted something slower between Tokyo plans.

Cats gathered around the central tree platform during feeding time at Shibuya Cat Lounge MOCHA

A soft little pause in Shibuya, with feeding time turning the lounge into one calm circle.

Two long-haired cats relaxing on the lounge floor

A cat resting in a bed beside the lounge library shelves

28 Jan / Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, and I'm donut?

A calm shrine walk before the city lights

Later on 28 Jan, Tokyo shifted from the soft lounge mood into a Meiji Jingu walk. The shrine grounds felt peaceful and spacious, with sake barrels, tall trees, wooden ema prayers, and the kind of quiet that makes the city feel far away for a while.

The ema area was one of the nicest details: many small wishes hanging under the sacred tree, including our own little mark from the trip.

After that, Harajuku and Omotesando brought the city back in: reflective buildings, sunset light, and a stop at I'm donut? for the kind of small snack mission that makes Tokyo walking more fun.

Snack note: I'm donut? had a playful menu and a beautiful display, from sweet custard flavors to savory ones like prosciutto and teriyaki egg.

Meiji Jingu south gate framed by trees and blue sky

Decorative sake barrels displayed at Meiji Jingu

Meiji Jingu gave the day a quiet middle before Harajuku and Omotesando pulled us back into the city.

Large sacred tree at Meiji Jingu surrounded by ema prayer tablets

Close-up of wooden ema prayer tablets at Meiji Jingu

Wooden corridor near Meiji Jingu with forest views through glass

Mirror-like building in Harajuku and Omotesando glowing under sunset clouds

I'm donut? storefront with customers ordering at the counter

I'm donut? menu clipboard with donut flavors and prices

I'm donut? counter display with sweet and savory donuts