Dear Japan,
For years, I knew of you, but we never met.
My dreams were always of visiting and experiencing the art and lands of other places. Every year for the first day of January there were be a new calendar on my wall of the places I was manifesting to visit: Greece, Italy and France were always my choices. Even though my list was long of where I hoped to see, these were the three I hoped I would step foot in first.
Kay Kay asked me to join her on her quest to the race that would earn her 6th star of the Abbott World Major Marathons, which would be in your city, Tokyo. It took me only moments to agree to the trip. At the time, little did we know it would be another 3 years before we would arrive. Covid and border closings and race cancellations and injuries made the trip seem so far away. For a long time, I wasn’t sure it was going to happen.
Our plane tickets were purchased in November. Once mid-January arrived, I allowed myself to look into things to do. Before we knew it, it was February 27 and we were on the Boeing 767 Dreamliner-probably the nicest plane I have ever had the pleasure to travel.
Because we crossed the international date line, we arrived at the Haneda airport at 4pm the next day, despite it being a 12 hour flight and leaving before noon. I was in awe the moment I stepped foot off the plane. The airport was bright and clean. The first thing I experienced was the restroom, which is a whole new experience that I will have to go into later. It deserves it’s own complete thought because I was astonished at the warm seats and the white noise and the bum cleaner with a flush you wave your hand in front of—-I must have one of these in my home!! 😁 It became conversation starters at every turn because we all loved them so much. 😍
Our hotel for the first 5 days of our trip was beautiful. What I didn’t know was that it was located so close to where I would experience some of my favorite moments.
Every person of Japanese descent we met from the minute we arrived until the second we departed exuded kindness and helpfulness and cheerfulness. It was easy to smile when these were the attributes I encountered on a daily basis.
Japan, the beauty of your country is astounding. On the tour we took, we visited the peaceful magnificence of the Meiji-Jingu Shrine. I left an important prayer for my family in their prayer garden. We saw the grandeur of the grounds surrounding the Imperial Palace. I learned of the importance of the meaning of pine trees-they signify prosperity and longevity. We visited and marveled at the immensity of the Tokyo Tower. Going up to the top was a feat of bravery on my part; I am very afraid of heights. We were rewarded with sweeping views of Tokyo, even a glimpse of the elusive Mt Fuji. However, she is very shy, and she was soon engulfed in her cloak of clouds after we caught a peek of her peak. We visited the ancient Buddhist Temple, Senso-Ji, the oldest in Tokyo. I was in awe of the ancient grounds and the young girls wearing traditional kimono in the adjacent marketplace.
The sites and smells and sounds took my breath away at every turn.
Every chance I got, I tried some new food. I am not typically very adventurous when it comes to things to eat, but I left my comfort zone as much as I could and tasted things along the way.
Tokyo, you led me to test my bravery in new situations-and it brought me to the most epic night of the trip. My friend was tired and had to rest her legs before her race, so I headed to a pre-booked back alley food and bar tour alone. After getting off the bus in the center of Shinjuku and taking in all of the lights around me, I met my group: a young man from Italy, a newlywed couple from the UK and another couple from Australia, with our tour guide. We spent the evening trying new food and drinks through the alcoves of a city lit up with neon and 3-D billboards and I felt so alive. I beamed and laughed and skipped my way through the streets. After our last stop, we were having so much fun together that we decided to karaoke. We found a karaoke place to hang out-in Tokyo you rent a room and order drinks and sing with your group in your own little space, instead of a big bar in front of a lot of different people, like we do back home. I spent an hour smiling and laughing and playing tambourine and even belting out a few bars in a room with these new friends, in the city where this adventure was born. I couldn’t believe I was living this life. Fun! Joyful! Epic!
Tokyo, you wished me the happiest of birthdays the next day. Kay Kay and I visited the Tokyo Starbucks Reserve. There are only six in the world (Seattle, New York, Chicago, Shanghai, Milano and Tokyo). Everything seems big in Tokyo and this was no different; 4 stories of coffee and tea and pastries and food and things to buy. We sat at the bar and ordered my favorite flavored coffee in the area: Sakura Latte. Everything Sakura was a dream to me. My heart grew with affection as every single person who worked in this establishment came by to wish me a happy birthday, hug me, chat with us, or to give me a birthday card greeting. The friendliness and kindness and hospitality has been unmatched anywhere else I have ever been. And my dear friend blessed me with her own love and generosity, arranging for a birthday cake at the pre-race dinner, where we were honoring her amazing accomplishment, getting ready to earn her 6th World Major Marathon Star. Tokyo, you were making sure I would always remember you.
There was another night on the town in Golden Gai, where there are 100 bars that seat 7-10 people each in a span of a few alleyways. I wanted to experience everything and decided I can sleep on the plane on the way home. This was a fun night!
Then we had race day. It was our reason for this grand adventure and we were ready for the day ahead. It was my honor to be Kay Kay’s race support crew. The Tokyo Marathon is known for being a tough race for a few reasons. They have strict and stringent cut-offs throughout the course. They run the time limits by gun-time instead of chip-time-and this is a big deal in running circles. And the weather has been known to be cold and rainy in the past. But I was with women who I admire for their discipline and their fortitude in this sport. I was inspired daily and even hourly by their stories as I listened to them prepare for their glory day. Race day started out cold, but Mother Nature gave my friends a reprieve and allowed for sunshine and crispness in the air instead of showers of rain. As we watched everyone run the last stretch before the finish line, I was struck by the smiles amongst the runners throughout the race. Running a marathon is hard and it’s painful. I have only done it once so far, with my second one coming up in June. These athletes have run many and they know what they have coming in front of them as they cross the start line and make their trek through the city for 26.2 miles. I saw more smiles and celebrations of their victory coming down this street than I did when I watched the Boston runners last April. Triumph and joy were in the air. It was infectious and I can’t help but believe this city had a hand in those feelings.
The next few days were spent in a whirlwind. We traveled to the Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea Resort after the post-race celebrations. Every step of the way, we were greeted with incomparable warmth.
Although I missed my family and was happy to get home to them, I was very sad when it was time to leave. We were in Tokyo for a week. We visited so many areas and yet there was still so much to see. It was never on my radar previously and I didn’t want to leave. It was an unexpected love. I was on the other side of the world from everything I knew and what was important to me and yet I was not ready to say goodbye to my new friend, Tokyo.
There are still places I want to see in the world. Japan, you will be a friend I re-visit, hopefully with my loved ones. I want to show them what I have learned about Tokyo and visit new places: Kyoto and Osaka. I now dream of walking through the bamboo forest and smelling the sakura during cherry blossom bloom. I want to learn more about the history of this region and study the art of the people I now cherish. I will return. We will share more adventures, my new friend.
Tokyo, you have my heart. I have fallen in love with you, Japan.
Xoxo,
Anne-Marie
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