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I pocketed my good fortune and learned how to cleanse myself with smoke and water before entering the temple. 13 Best Fortune: Just like flowers bloom on old branches, something happy will come,” it said. Engraved on the stick was a symbol corresponding with one of the many drawers before us. Each of us in the tour group deposited small coins in the offering box then pulled a small stick out of a bundle. Meaning “sacred lot”, these fortunes are received in exchange for a small offering. She imparted bits of history and culture and introduced us to O-mikuji: fortunes scrawled on strips of paper and often found at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. We trailed our tour group leader through the streets of Asakusa, past bustling storefronts and market stalls. I walked in searching for a washroom and as luck would have it, I walked out minutes later as part of a free temple walking tour group! I raced in the general direction of the Sensō-ji Buddhist Temple and stumbled upon the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. I disembarked at Asakusa and a stream of moving traffic swept me away to a teeming intersection framed by Kanji signs. She must have known that even though I lacked a plan and was short on time, I would somehow find my way. I stopped at the airport information desk and sought help: “I have a 36-hour layover in Tokyo and no plan! Can you please suggest a place to start?” I must have seemed insane but the info desk attendant’s lipsticked smile boosted my confidence. What happens now? In the whirlwind of exploring the Philippines and catching up with family, I hadn’t done any research for my Tokyo layover. What happens now? In the whirlwind of exploring the Philippines and catching up with family, I hadn’t done any research for my Tokyo layover.Īfter storing my luggage at the arrival terminal and buying a SIM card, it struck me. I extended the layover to 36 hours, enough time to get out of the airport but still make it home for Christmas dinner. My last stop was meant to be a four-hour layover in Tokyo but that simply wouldn’t do.
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Last December, I was returning to Canada from a two-year journey spanning a dozen countries. Needless to say, a flight into Tokyo felt long overdue - even if it was only an extended layover. I had flown between Manila, my birthplace, and Vancouver, the home my family chose, countless times but never set foot beyond Narita Airport. As I boarded and claimed a seat by the window, I felt suddenly overwhelmed - I had 36 hours to explore Tokyo and had arrived without a plan! Everything appeared as expected while boarding the train into Tokyo, from the tidy train station and orderly ticket booth cues to the clasped hands of prim passengers patiently awaiting the train.