Taking public transportation in Japan is very convenient. We never rode a cab during our trip because the trains were THAT efficient. From their normal trains to bullet trains, going around Tokyo and other areas was hassle-free. The probability of the trains getting delayed or broken was close to 0% so we were able to follow our itinerary perfectly.

We first stayed in a hotel near Tokyo Station then transferred to a hotel near Ikebukuro Station. Since Tokyo Station is the main station, it is connected to the major railway lines. Ikebukuro Station is part of the Yamanote line which is connected to Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, etc. 

The stations and the trains itself were also clean. I also adored the underground shops and the different "sounds" of the Tokyo subway!

2. The clean surroundings and security

I enjoyed walking around Tokyo at night because it felt so peaceful and calming. The clean surroundings also made walking more enjoyable. (During the trip, the average number of steps we took every day was around 17,000 steps!). I don't know, but I did not feel the need to always look where I'm going or to watch out for "shady-looking" people because well, I was in Tokyo, Japan! Tokyo -- the safest city in the world!  

For a city bustling with life (may it be daytime or nighttime), Tokyo was tidy and organized. Tokyo was so refreshing that I felt like the air I was breathing was very clean as well (I'm pretty sure it is!). 

3. The friendly people 

In every store and restaurant you enter, someone will bow and greet you "Irasshaimase." When you leave the store or after you are done eating, someone will bow and tell you "Arigatoo gozaimasu." This is how polite and hospitable the Japanese people are. Despite the language barrier, they can make you feel welcome in every situation -- may it be eating in restaurants or asking for directions. 

Whenever we get lost and ask for directions, we noticed that the Japanese people put effort in explaining how we could reach our destination. If they could not explain it properly, they would draw a map for us or even accompany us to, if not our destination, a place near our destination. It did not even matter if wherever we were headed was "out of the way" to wherever they would go to. This happened a number of times and we received this kind of treatment from different kinds of people -- store owner, businessman, student, etc. Really amazing! Just the friendliness of the people alone can make you want to go back to Japan already! 

4. The cold temperature (snow and cherry blossoms!) 

Coming from a tropical country, experiencing below 10degrees Celcius weather was a nice change of environment. We went there early March so it was still cold but it was not the-worst-of-winter kind of cold. It did not snow in Tokyo but we had Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort in our itinerary and when we went there, it snowed for a while! I was so happy! Since it was almost Spring as well, some sakura flowers were blooming already. Seeing snow and cherry blossoms during my trip made me cross two things off my bucket list. /thankful 

5.  Skin care and cosmetic heaven 

The number of Japanese skin care products and cosmetic brands were overwhelming. In the Don Quijote branch near our hotel in Ikebukuro, one whole floor is dedicated for cosmetics and skin care alone! From local Japanese brands to international ones, from cleansing oils to face masks, from eyebrow mascaras to lip tints -- this industry has such a huge market in Japan. No wonder the Japanese people look so youthful and just beautiful. The prices were not that expensive as well (especially for local brands) and you'd be assured that these are quality products since well, these are made in Japan! Too bad I was not able to do an "extensive" research on the beauty products I HAD to buy in Japan prior my trip so I didn't get to make most of this skin care and cosmetics heaven! 

6.  The vending machines and convenience stores (plus the funky flavours!) 

This is definitely one of my favorite things in Japan! Almost every street has a vending machine or convenience store, thus, getting thirsty would not be a problem during your trip. The variety of food/drink products also made going to convenience stores an interesting task. Yes, task, because we just had to enter a convenience store before going back to the hotel every night and buy something! From milk teas to sodas, junk food to ice cream -- name it!  Matcha, of course, is a common flavor in the land of matcha anything. I personally like the melon-flavored Fanta! It tastes like bubblegum! I miss drinking it every day. 

Ichiran Ramen -- a must try! We went to the Shibuya branch.