See the world through cabin crew eyes

I’m in Tokyo today. We’re staying in Daiba. We met in the lobby at 9:30 AM to head to Asakusa. I’m with two Thai, one Moroccan, and one Singaporean crew member. Honestly, I wanted to go to Shibuya, but since I didn’t feel like going alone, I joined the group.

We transferred from one metro line to another, taking the Asakusa-Shibuya line. Our first stop was the Sensoji Temple, which is said to be around 1,300 years old.

One of the Thai girls kindly explained how people usually pray there, you wash your hands before entering, toss a coin, and make a wish.

Inside, there was a fortune-telling ritual. For 100 yen, you shake a metal box, draw a stick, and find the matching drawer to pull out a paper.

I received “good fortune” and the words on the paper truly lifted my day. I believe this was God’s way of cheering me up.

If you get a bad fortune, you’re supposed to tie it to a wooden rack nearby to ward off the bad luck. One of my friends got a bad one I really hope she’s rid of it now.

Later, we strolled around the food stalls nearby. My Thai friend bought Dango and shared it with me because I had never tried it before. It had a salted caramel flavor, and I actually really liked it. It makes me happy to see people being so kind and thoughtful.

I hope I’ll have more spending money next time, layovers are definitely more fun when you can indulge a little.

We had lunch at a place called Ichiran, known for their special broth called Dashi. Apparently, only four people in the world know the secret recipe. I was hesitant to eat at first due to dietary reasons, but hunger won. Thankfully, they had a pork-free option, which I chose.

It tasted quite good. The sauce really lived up to its reputation. Would I go again? Maybe not — but let’s be honest, opinions change when you’re full vs. when you’re starving!

The Thai girls were so sweet and respectful. One brought me water, another handed me tissues. These little gestures made my heart full.

I discovered a famous Japanese snack — Shiroi Koibito, a mix of biscuit and cream. I added it to my list of souvenirs to get next time.

At 13:30, we headed to Shinjuku — finally! I still had my metro card from a previous trip, which saved me some time.

I felt quite tired and promised myself to shake it off and enjoy the day. One thing I’ve noticed: Japanese society is incredibly rule-oriented. This morning I wanted to throw away my coffee cup but couldn’t find a bin. Even the hotel staff had to go downstairs and kept me waiting 10 minutes just to dispose of it properly. It was surprising, but I could see how much attention they pay to even the smallest rules.

On the metro, everyone was quiet. Only our group was chatting, which made me realize how much they value calmness and order. Their culture has remained so distinct and protected over time. If I had grown up here, I feel like I’d be judged often and eventually molded into someone who followed the same rigid system.

Now I understand why the Japanese colleagues I work with are the way they are.

As I judged our group for being noisy, I realized I had sat on a seat reserved for the elderly. I quickly stood up. Always learning.

At 14:14, we could see the moon clearly — isn’t that fascinating?

I’m exhausted and all I want is to sleep, but somehow I’m the only tired one. Why is that?

Shinjuku was a great place for shopping. There was even a huge Godzilla statue on top of a building, just like in the movies. After a fun walk, it was time to return to the hotel.

At Duty Free, I bought the famous Royce chocolate. Although they call it chocolate, the texture is soft like cake. I’d previously tried the chip-like ones, but they weren’t that impressive. Of course, I bought some for Olga, too.

At the end of this beautiful layover, I thank God for everything.
Everything will turn out beautifully — I believe that. 🌸