I went to Tokyo, Japan to attend a press tour. I’ve always wanted to visit Japan and Tokyo is one of the cities I always wanted to see. I took the Vivo V11 (which I recently reviewed) with me during the trip and it was a great photo-taking companion.

I was able to roam in Shibuya and Shinjuku. I had no exact itinerary and I just went around and let the city take me anywhere.

Shibuya

Our first hotel was situated within the Shibuya area. It was just a couple of blocks away from the famous Shibuya Crossing so my first order of business was to witness what could be the busiest intersection in the world. I brought the Canon EOS R with me so I could also shoot with the full-frame mirrorless camera.

If you’re wondering what the Canon EOS R looks like, here’s a quick photo I took while climbing up the footbridge to get to Shibuya Station. Mine is coupled with the new RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.

After the 10-minute walk from the hotel, I arrived at the crossing. As I approached the area, I already knew it was going to be a bit chaotic with people already swarming in from every direction. When the crosswalk signal turned green, the fun began!

To be honest, it didn’t feel as amazing as in the movies or anime but it was fun to be part of a crowd filled with people who knew where they were going. It was an experience that I don’t think I’ll be able to have again — unless I catch myself in a dreaded rush hour. After crossing for a few times to take photos and videos, I decided to go explore the area.

I found myself taking a lot of photos while loitering. I had no idea what the names of the streets and roads I walked through were. I didn’t even understand what the sign posts were saying. It was fun to be lost… as long as I knew how to get back to the hotel.

There were a number of restaurants that had displays of fake food which always piqued my interest. Isn’t it nice to see what you’re actually getting in 3D? Unfortunately, they were quite pricey so I just waited for the sponsored dinner later on.

At last, I was able to find my way out of the inner streets. Another bustling intersection greeted me and I happily crossed it without knowing where I might end up again.

After wandering around, it was time to retrace my steps and head back to the hotel. Google Maps was always ready to help, but where’s the fun in letting the GPS do the work for me?

But first, I took a selfie at this mini scramble crossing. I was in a rush, hence the slight blur.

I passed by a superstore and the whole ground floor was dedicated to electronics. I went in and checked it out. There weren’t many new products to be excited about aside from Microsoft’s new Surface Go. Indeed, it looked like a tablet PC designed for students but I’d still love to have one for working on the go.

When I reached Shibuya Station, I thought of doing a slight detour since I still had a bit more time to spare. I went into the busy train station and stared at the network map. Unfortunately, there was no English version. I just wanted to hop on the train and go back after a couple of stations. So, I bought a single journey ticket worth JPY 140 and tried to memorize the name of the station (based on the writing) that was two stops away.

Thankfully, I didn’t get lost. I arrived at the station I chose and hopped off the train. I honestly didn’t know where I was, but I did know that I could get back by just going to Shibuya station. I transferred to the other side of the platform and made sure it’s the right line to get back to Shibuya. I got back to the hotel just in time for our transfer to the restaurant along with other media.

To my surprise, we were walking to the restaurant. It was another 10-minute walk to Sushi Gonpachi in Shibuya which is situated on the 14th floor of a building. There was quite a view while we feasted on delicious Japanese food. I wasn’t able to take photos because I was too busy eating!

After filling our tummies with great food, it was time to finally rest for the long trip the next day. Again, we walked. It was always nice to get around on foot. It’s good exercise for the body and it’s free.

The final leg of our night walk was a footbridge that crossed a highway. I stopped and let my colleagues head up to their rooms. It tested the Vivo V11 with the fast-moving vehicles. There was motion blur, as expected, that gave the image a sense of movement.

It was time to rest. I decided I’d go around again during the last day of the tour which will be in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku

Before flying back to Manila in the afternoon, I had the whole morning to roam around. This time, we were staying in Shinjuku. It was really not that far from our previous hotel, just three stops away from Shibuya. It was drizzling that morning so everybody was using umbrellas — mostly the transparent ones.

I am fond of watching locals go about their day. It’s fascinating to see how other people commute. Finally, I had a goal that morning: enjoy a full ramen meal at Ichiran Ramen. I let Google Maps lead the way, but I couldn’t help but deviate from the shortest suggested route to explore places I won’t be seeing again for a long time.

I love trains, so I passed by Shinjuku Station to observe commuters. I crossed a bridge again to get a better view of the road. The train station was surrounded by numerous shops and department stores with people going in and out.

I was not disappointed when I got lost while passing through a shopping mall. I wanted to get into the train station, but I had to buy a ticket to get to the platform. Good thing, while finding my way out since the GPS got wonky indoors, I saw this open space that seemed like a plaza for viewing trains that stopped in Shinjuku. I stayed there for quite a while then I remembered I had someplace to go.

I finally found an Ichiran Ramen restaurant! I was greeted by this ticket vending machine. Since it was my first time, I opted to get the recommended set menu for JPY 1,490. It included ramen, extra slices of meat, egg, dried seaweed, and strips of mushroom.

If you’re not familiar with Ichiran Ramen, it’s a popular ramen place where you have less interaction with people. It’s basically a self-service restaurant where you sit quietly and wait for your order to come out of the small window in your seat. Each cubicle has dividers separating you from other customers.

I didn’t take photos of the surroundings because that would defeat the purpose of the setup. I simply enjoyed my bowl of delicious ramen.

After that, I had to get back and prepare for checkout. It was fun going around Tokyo even for a limited time. When I get back, I’ll make sure to know where to eat again.

24 Hours is a series on GadgetMatch.com where we showcase our travels through a smartphone camera’s perspective. It’s also a documented guide on things to see and do in a city in case you happen to plan a trip there.