Happy Golden Week
This week in Tokyo: State of emergency and lockdown during Japan’s biggest holiday and goodbye to my favorite limited edition sweets.
Hello from Tokyo!
Golden Week is just finishing up. Obviously, with COVID, things are different. Usually there is A LOT of international and domestic travel. However, Tokyo is in a state of emergency and lockdown. But, as it is with the rest of the world, people in Japan have become tired of the pandemic and are taking it less seriously.
Golden Week?
For those who don’t know, Golden Week is a series of consecutive national holidays. Because of this, most people will take a few days off and it naturally results in 7~10 days off. This usually takes place the first week of May.
The holidays in Golden Week are:
Showa Day (昭和の日)
Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)
Greenery Day (みどりの日)
Children's Day (子供の日)
what is it really like in Tokyo?
With the world in an abnormal situation, I would like to share what Tokyo is like now in May of 2021 during Golden Week. (Obviously, I am only one person and so this is not be representative of all of Tokyo and Japan).
Quite frankly, “lockdown” in Tokyo feels kind of normal? You see people going to work or school, shopping, eating at restaurants, etc. In general, things feel busy as ever. But, at times, things can get a little subdued.
For example, look at this photo of a little market in Shimokitaza. Do you see any social distancing?
In addition, I was walking around Shinjuku station in the evening and saw an “Oktoberfest” in Shinjuku. There was a crowd of old people dancing along to a singer, and to-go beer in plastic bottles.
(Even without a state of emergency, I have no idea why Oktoberfest is happening in May). Quite a site.
At the same time, restaurants close at 8 pm and things shut down pretty quickly after.
how I spent Golden Week
This year, I didn’t take those extra days off and decided to save them for later. For some low-COVID-risk fun, my friends and I recently discovered the bike sharing program in greater Tokyo. 70 Yen per 15 min and lots of fun.
I took some rides along the Tamagawa river between Kanagawa prefectureand Tokyo. The trail goes for at least 50 km, so plenty to ride.
unsolicited recommendation #4
I recently said goodbye to a dear friend close to my heart. Magokoro ichigo (真心いちご).
Basically, it’s a strawberry cake wrapped in mochi. By the sound of it, it doesn’t sound anything special. Or so I thought.
I am shameless to say that I was mind-blown by this sweet.
All it is is mochi, whipped cream, cake, and a strawberry. Simple. Yet, this combination is on a whole other level.
The name, Magokoro ichigo, literally means true heart/sincerity strawberry. Honestly, this sweet has my sincere heart.
This sweet actually only is available from December to April, and so it just ended, bringing me much sadness. The good news is that it has been brought back every year for over 10 years due to its high popularity.
Recently, I just had my last Magokoro ichigo. Goodbye until this winter. I’ll miss you.