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This week’s B ME Bites Trivia Question:

Welcome to Edition #73 of B ME Bites! If the last edition marked the beginning of Tokyo life, this one throws you straight into the heart of it.

Famous crossings, café stops, Pokémon Centre hopping, and a night that turned into real-life Mario Kart, with a few unexpected moments (and one very memorable karaoke session) along the way.

(Reminder: B ME Bites is now landing in inboxes fortnightly - well mostly 😉 - while its new sister newsletter, Effortlessly Organic Living, takes the opposite week.)

Japan Adventures Part 10 – Crossings, Costumes and Karaoke Nights

From Shibuya crowds to Mario Kart streets and a night to remember

✨ A Day That Went Everywhere (Literally)

Some days feel neatly planned.

And then there are days like this…
where one stop turns into five,
and somehow it all still makes sense (eventually).

🚦 Shibuya: The Crossing Everyone Knows

Shibuya didn’t ease into things.

It threw everything at once. Crowds, colour, movement…..and right in the middle of it all… that famous crossing.

The one seen in movies.
The one that looks chaotic… but somehow works perfectly.

And yes, it’s just as fascinating in real life.

☕ Cake First, Questions Later

On the way to the Shibuya Pokémon Centre, a small organic café appeared like a little moment of calm in the middle of the chaos. Literally!

Cake. Coffee. Pause.

Exactly what was needed.

📞 Old Meets New (And Then… Fan Vests?)

Shibuya has this way of mixing things that don’t quite seem like they should go together.

Old-style telephone booths.
Ultra-modern buildings.
And then…

Workers walking around in puffer vests… with fans built into them.

Yes. Fans.

In a vest.

In summer.

Which raises a very reasonable question:
Wouldn’t the vest make it hotter?

Still unclear 😄

🎮 Pokémon, Crowds and A Mystery Celebrity

The Pokémon Centre was everything expected… and then some.

Crowds. Energy. Excitement.

At one point, a group of screaming girls gathered nearby, clearly trying to get the attention of someone very important.

Who was it?

No idea.

But whoever it was… they had a fan base.

A quick detour led to the Sailor Moon Store — because of course it did.

🧇 Pokéwaffles and Cute Chaos

Next stop: Mega Tokyo Pokémon Centre.

And more importantly… the Pikachu Sweets Café.

A Pokéwaffle and coffee were shared, while over at the counter something unexpected unfolded. A tiny tea ceremony moment using a motorised teapot.

It was adorable.
It was mesmerising.
And it was missed on video by seconds.

The Pokéwaffle looked cute.
That’s where it ended.

At least the curiosity is gone 😄

Some moments are just meant to live in memory.

🦉 The Cutest Police Station (Yes, Really)

On the way through, something completely unexpected appeared…

A police station shaped like an owl.

Because apparently, in Japan, even law enforcement buildings can be adorable.

There was also a beautiful mural nearby, adding to the “is this real life?” feeling of the day.

🏮 Hidden Culture Between Stops

Not everything was neon lights and themed cafés.

Along the way, there were quiet reminders of tradition too.

Portable Shinto shrines, called mikoshi, used during festivals, where it’s believed a deity’s spirit temporarily resides.

And nearby… a Maneki-neko, the well-known “lucky cat”, sitting there as if it had always belonged.

🌇 A Golden Flame… With a Nickname

A quick stop near the river revealed one of Tokyo’s more… interesting landmarks.

The Asahi Beer Hall, Tokyo Skytree, and the famous golden sculpture designed by Philippe Starck.

Officially? A flame.

Unofficially?

“The Golden Poo.”

Yes… really 😂

It’s so well-known it’s even made headlines over the years… which somehow makes it even funnier.

And honestly… once seen, it’s impossible to unsee.

👉 If you’re curious, there’s a hilarious article about its “disappearance” — worth a read.

🏎️ Mario Kart… But Make It Real Life

And then… the day levelled up.

Go-karting through Tokyo at night.

On real streets.
In real traffic.
Dressed as characters if desired.

Which, of course, led to one very committed Pikachu onesie making an appearance… thanks to Taasjia 😄

Not everyone went the full costume route.

This one opted for novelty glasses instead.
A way to still be cool… while actually being cool.

Summer made that decision very easy.

It was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

A full sensory overload… in the best possible way.

And without a doubt, one of those “this will be remembered forever” moments.

🏨 When Booking a Room Becomes a Mission

The next day started with a simple plan:

Book a stay at Book and Bed in Shinjuku.

Simple… in theory.

In reality?

Not having a Japanese phone or computer meant the website wouldn’t cooperate…
and booking at reception wasn’t an option either.

After a fair bit of back and forth, the decision was made to walk away.

Sometimes the easiest decision… is not to push something that already feels harder than it should be.

🦖 Godzilla, Manholes and Unexpected Details

Shinjuku still delivered though.

A massive Godzilla looming from the side of a hotel.
A themed manhole cover that somehow made perfect sense in the moment.

Because in Japan, even the small details feel intentional.

🌊 Yokohama and One More Pokémon Stop

Next stop: Yokohama.

Another Pokémon Centre… because the mission was still very much in progress.

This one was inside Yokohama Porta, and the entrance alone felt like an experience, with ornate glass pillars and stunning murals.

On the way out, a display of themed Visa cards caught attention. Anime, movies, characters… all turned into everyday items.

Practical… but make it fun.

🎤 Karaoke Night, Done Properly

The day wrapped up in Sengawa… with karaoke.

Not just any karaoke.

A private room.
Food and drinks delivered.
Room number 13 (which somehow felt appropriate).

And then… our amazing host, Taruho (Ririko’s dad), took the spotlight.

A man of many talents, delivering songs in French like it was completely normal.

It was relaxed, fun, and one of those moments where time quietly slips away without anyone noticing.

💡 Travel Lessons So Far

🧠 Not everything that looks simple… will be simple
(looking at you, “quick” hotel booking)

✨ Some of the best moments happen between the planned ones
(usually when there was no plan at all)

🚪 If something feels unnecessarily hard, it’s okay to walk away
(and go find cake instead)

😄 Costumes are optional…
but commitment to the theme clearly is not

📸 And sometimes… the moment you miss on camera
is the one that ends up living rent-free in your memory

✨ Looking Ahead

Tokyo still had more to offer… but the journey wasn’t staying in one place.

Next up in the adventure:

🛍️ More neighbourhood wandering and unexpected finds
🚆 Getting more familiar with Japan’s train system
🎯 The Pokémon Centre mission continuing in new locations
🍜 Food stops that may or may not go to plan
🚄 And a high-speed shift… stepping onto a bullet train for the next chapter

This next adventure… was about to look a little different.

In Case You Missed It: B ME HQ Weekly Recap

🌿 Effortlessly Organic Living – Edition #11

Finding real food while travelling shouldn’t feel like a scavenger hunt… but it often does.
This one shares a simple way to make it easier, wherever the journey takes you.

Read it here:

📰 Natural Food Finder — Real Food Near You (Fast)

🌅 B ME Sunrise Bites – Day 79

Sunrise and Blooms in Tokyo

A soft Tokyo sunrise, blooming flowers, and one of those quiet moments that makes an early start worth it.

📍 Watch here:

📺 Explore the full journey on the B ME Sunrise Bites YouTube Playlist
(Remember to hit subscribe!)

Resource Roundup

Below is a resource list that has been created with you in mind. Whenever something new that could be helpful is discovered or created, it’s added to the list, so check it out from time to time. If you’re strapped for time, once you open the page below, click on Resource List in the top menu, then click on the “Health Tools” link for a list of items that could be helpful on your path to a better you.

The answer to this week’s trivia question is:

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Until next week, keep taking one S.T.E.P.S step at a time! (If you missed the issue explaining The S.T.E.P.S Formula, you can check that out here)

Warm regards,

Shari Ware Chief Encouragement Officer at B ME Bites

PS - Here’s your Friday funny!

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