Day 20 - Gotokuji, Shimo Kitazawa, Ikebukuro & Shinjuku

I leave my house around nine after the usual studies and find the subway bustling. My plan is to visit Gotokuji Temple, then walk to Shimokitazawa. Unfortunately, I forget my PASMO card and delay my trip for more studies.

After the rush hour passes, I arrive at Gotokuji Station around 10.

The temple has a bamboo grove and small forest nearby. The entrance doesn't immediately reveal its cat theme; only after some time do I notice thousands of white Maneki Neko cats with raised paws.

After grabbing a paper stamp at the Goshuin area, I head towards Shimokitazawa.

On the way, I pass parks filled with children, crows, turtle and dog walkers, see if there is anything else worth in the area tos see, but only private temples that catch my eye.

As I reach Shimokitazawa, food trucks line the train tracks alongside vintage clothing stores that are uninteresting and expensive.

I stop for lunch at a soba place where I order oyakodon before exploring more of Shimokitazawa's newer areas filled with branded shops and bookstores.

Later on, my guitar-sensei messages me about visiting guitar shops in Ikebukuro for fun. We explore three guitar stores before playing some Mario Kart, and enjoying the local vending machines that sell Sriracha Sauce. A vegan latte for both, and we go separate ways.

I have to join a call with London, and I do while on the metro, it stays better connected than anywhere in London, as I go through half of Tokyo underground.

Later on, another friend invites me out for seafood izakaya for dinner to celebrate someone's birthday in Shinjuku. Good for him to practice English and for me to practice Japanese. We both try to find common words, and adding drinks to the mix, makes it a better experience.

Afterwards we head to a metal bar for drinks until it's time to catch not the last train home.