Day 22 -Temples around Ginza, Nihonbashi and Shinjuku

An earthquake struck southern Chiba early today, around 4am. I slept through it. The NERV app that people use to track earthquakes though, is a nice reference from Evangelion to real life.

I focus on studying and working, taking a short walk around nearby temples since it's my last day at this hotel.

I forget my stamp book when leaving but decide not to go back. The temples are beautiful and worth visiting even without the stamps.

Some were unplanned discoveries; one was Ebisu temple which I will see again, to collect the stamp. Another temple is dedicated to maternity and has many children present, just like four years ago when I first visited.

At another small temple with a long queue for prayers, there's even a security guard directing people. Passing by food trucks selling baked goods like curry puffs and matcha donuts makes me happy as they're delicious treats.

In a busy area known for fancy stores such as Mitsukoshi and Coredo, familiar brands from London can be seen alongside office buildings with more food trucks out front. However, due to large queues at these trucks again, I opt for a simple burger instead before heading home in the rain.

After browsing in another bookstore on my way home, work keeps me occupied until 8 p.m., when a friend invites me out for dinner again.

We choose an eel restaurant where we enjoy various eel dishes including some made from fins, others from back, head parts and so on...

We end our night playing taiko drums at an arcade near the station before parting ways so that I can return home to complete more work tasks.