Today started early with an 8 AM train ride to campus. I stopped at a French bakery for breakfast and got a crispy, buttery croissant. Then I went to 7-Eleven and got a berry and yogurt smoothie. After that, I walked to class, taking in the smell of the morning air and noticing how the city already felt busy.
I sat in Biology and Society class from 9 AM to 10:30 AM, learning about neurons. Then Sakamoto-San gave a guest lecture with a variety of recommendations for Tsukiji Market, Toyama, Kyoto, and Tokyo. She was extremely knowledgeable and kind. Tokyo can be overwhelming when it comes to food because there are so many options, so it was nice to have specific suggestions. At the end of her lecture, I tried a small plate of food. The candied yuzu was acidic, sweet, and chewy, while the rice cracker was savory, umami, and crunchy.
After that, the class took the train to the University of Tokyo for their student-run festival, which Ochanomizu students helped set up for us. I tried all sorts of food, including steak on a skewer, yakisoba noodles, sausage, and a freshly fried donut with chocolate syrup. The festival had so many different smells coming from all of the tents. It was extremely busy and loud, and everyone seemed to be rushing around looking for more food to try.
I also talked to Maryorie about her experience at the festival, and she had a slightly different perspective than me. She said she did not realize at first that the festival was run by school clubs. While noticing how many booths there were selling food and other items, she was surprised that college students were able to organize something so large and successful. One of her favorite foods was the gyoza, which she said was so good that she went back for a second serving. She also thought it was really cool that one group was selling Inca Kola, a Peruvian soda. She had only learned about it a few months ago, so seeing and trying it in Japan felt especially unexpected. Maryorie also noticed Japanese students performing cultural music, which added to the feeling that the festival was not just about food, but also about student creativity and culture.
The only downside was the heat. I asked myself, “If it is this hot already, what is it going to be like towards the end of this trip in mid-June?” I felt myself needing to find shade, which led me to a beautiful wooded area with walking paths and really cool stones as stairs.
After cooling off for a little, I walked to Bamboo Lab, where I sat peacefully in air conditioning, trying milk-flavored ice cream. I was skeptical at first, but I found it incredibly delicious. I am not usually a fan of ice cream, but the lack of sweetness in this type was extremely refreshing.
I then met back up with the group at 3 PM at the University of Tokyo gates. We walked to a different train station to get to Tokyo Tower. Once we made it to our final train stop, we walked around 10 to 15 minutes to get to the tower. When I was on the main deck, I was in awe. The views were amazing, and it made me realize just how big Tokyo is. It was especially cool to see the ocean and the faint outline of mountains on the horizon.
After taking in the views, I left and took the train back to the hotel. At this point, my feet were hurting a lot. I was so happy to shower after being in the scorching sun all day. After relaxing, I walked to a random sushi spot in Ikebukuro, which felt like the perfect way to end a long day of walking around, trying new foods, and seeing more of Tokyo.
Japanese Food Bites: Indulging in the Taste of Summer 
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