family
Sarah's 40th Birthday Trip
The main reason for the whole trip. Japan got the assignment, then added transit puzzles and excellent snacks.
June 20-21
First Nights In Tokyo
The trip starts with jet lag, airport logistics, and the first important lesson: in Japan, even the confusing meals are usually excellent.
Arrival, airport food, train into the city, tempura, 7-Eleven dessert, a guided Tokyo day, Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko, cat cafe, and a Shinjuku food tour that did not believe in moderation.
Jet lag, city energy, and immediate food confidence.
Days
How this stretch unfolded.
Friday / 2026-06-19
Three Flights To Japan
Sarah and Ashley had actual first class. Zach and Caitlin had bulkhead, which is first class if you add enough qualifiers.
Zach and Caitlin flew from Colorado in bulkhead seats, while Sarah flew from New York and Ashley flew from San Francisco in first class.
airport departureplane seatspacific flight
Saturday / 2026-06-20
Arrival In Tokyo
The trip begins with QR codes, terminal confusion, mystery appetizers, and an early win for airport udon.
Landed in Japan, merged the Colorado/New York/San Francisco arrivals, figured out trains, ate airport udon and tempura, then ended the night with 7-Eleven dessert.
airport restauranttokyo train arrivaltempura dinnerseven eleven dessert
Sunday / 2026-06-21
Tokyo Tour And Shinjuku Food
A guide in the lobby, breakfast contraband, Shibuya chaos, and Sarah accidentally inventing the bathroom slipper bit.
A six-hour Tokyo tour, Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko, FamilyMart fried chicken, a cat cafe, and a very full Shinjuku food tour.
shibuya crossinghachiko statuecat cafeshinjuku food tour
Chapter Moments
transit
Different Terminal, Same Directions
Ashley kept saying she was at the landmarks, but she was in a different terminal. Everyone finally met at Terminal 1.
family
Sarah, Field Research Department
Sarah spent the trip asking everyone where to go and where everything was, which is basically how a birthday trip becomes operationally viable.
funny
The Bathroom Slippers
Sarah accidentally wore the bathroom slippers around during the Shinjuku food tour, instantly becoming a trip bit.
food
Kanpai Protocol
The group learned kanpai, 乾杯, as the Japanese cheers and said it before every drink. One phrase, immediately promoted to trip rule.