Japan: Macy Lor (Everyday and Favorite Places)

Program: AIP Internship in Tokyo, Summer

One of my favorite places that became a part of my daily routine in Tokyo was going to 7-Eleven. Every day for work, I would stop by there to grab lunch because it was both affordable and convenient. Since I was often traveling to different share house locations for my internship, I didn’t know any good restaurants around the area, so it was an easy place to buy a quick meal. It also helped me save a lot of money instead of eating out all the time. I was also surprised by the variety of fresh food they offered, such as curry, rice bowls, onigiri, sandwiches, salads, and fruits. They had different kinds of drinks, pastries, and snacks. 7-Eleven also had essentials such as toilet paper, shampoo, body wash, detergent, and more household items. Looking at the prices made it even better because of how affordable everything was in the store. Relying on convenience stores has become a daily routine and a reliable part of grabbing food if I’m late to work or if I’m too tired after a long day of work. I will miss it the most when I return home because it was always close and I would find 7-Eleven or any other convenience store around the block.

One of my favorite places in Tokyo was Asakusa because it’s only about a 5-minute walk from where I live since I live in Taito City. Asakusa had many stores, restaurants, drugstores, and even the famous Sensoji Temple! The city is known for the Sensoji Temple which is the oldest Buddhist temple as well as the Namakise shopping streets where it is filled with tourists and locals every day. Having so many stores nearby made it accessible to shop when I needed to buy something after work or on the weekends. I would always shop at GU and Uniqlo for clothes and essentials. Everything was affordable which made it easier for me to budget. Don Quijote was one of my favorite stores because it had many household items, snacks, and makeup. Since everything was within walking distance, Asakusa became a place where I visited almost every day of the week and became one of my favorite places as well as my daily routine.

Another place that was one of my favorites in Taito City was the Sumida river. My apartment is close to the Sumida River and Tokyo Skytree. I often went for walks in the evening after work and on my days off. After a long day of work, I would sometimes go for a walk by the river to enjoy some alone time and listen to music. It was very peaceful and it felt safe at the same time because there were people running, couples walking around the area, and tourists taking pictures of the Skytree tower. Seeing the Skytree lit up at night while walking along the river made me feel some type of peace to end the day, especially after spending time in busy parts of the city. The evening walks gave me time to relax, reflect on my experience so far, as well as appreciate my surroundings and how far I’ve come. Living near Asakusa showed me quiet places to slow down and enjoy everyday life. These daily routines, such as buying food at 7-Eleven, shopping around Asakusa, and taking walks by the river made Tokyo feel like home to me.