Upon arriving at my hostel around 1:30 pm, I learned that the check-in time was from 3:00 pm onwards. Since I had some time to spare, I left my bags at the hostel and was handed a couple of brochures with recommendations for nearby restaurants. However, feeling adventurous, I decided to explore Tokyo on my own and intentionally get lost in search of something that would catch my eye.
I ended up at Hanamaru Udon, located conveniently on Google Maps, and ordered a delicious bowl of udon. It was an experience I wasn’t expecting—having to navigate the language barrier for the first time during my 3-hour stay in Tokyo. Despite having no issues with communication at the airport, metro, or hostel, I found myself facing a challenge when ordering.
The ordering system at Hanamaru Udon was entirely in Japanese characters, and the entire process was done via an automated machine. Fortunately, the machine displayed pictures of the food, which helped, but it was still a bit of a mystery meal. Since I could only speak a handful of Japanese words like “sumimasen” (sorry) and “arigatou” (thank you), I needed a little help from the waiter. While he couldn’t communicate in English, he was kind enough to show me how to navigate the ordering machine and pay (by the way, cash only).
Within 10 minutes, my udon and beer arrived, and I had my first taste of cold noodles, a unique experience. The contrast between the cold noodles and the hot sauce was an unexpected yet delightful combination for my taste buds. As expected from Japanese service, the staff made me feel like their most important customer—a refreshing change from the impersonal service I’m accustomed to back in the UK.
After finishing my meal, I walked back to the hostel just in time to check in. Once settled, I stashed my valuables in the provided locker and dropped off my bags in the dormitory-style room. And yes, it was a capsule hostel! I’ll be discussing that experience in more detail in a future post—there’s so much to cover!