Find your own way.

The beauty of the city is that there is a niche for everyone. Tokyo is a nexus of culture and tradition, and like all urban environments, there is a convergence of everything and anything. Be a little nosy goes a long way, and the detective work ultimately leads you to something unexpected and unbelievable. All it takes is a little courage.

So many of my UCLA friends ended up in Japan at the same time. The Nikkei Student Union has been my home at UCLA for the past 2 years of undergraduate life. A hangout was definitely a must-do. Izakaya establishments are great for this - drinks, food, and good times.

UCLA decided to dominate Hachiko. Let it be known that random people were taking pictures of us.

Nightlife abounds in Tokyo. Though the trains close at around midnight, the city is still wide awake. A night out really means a night out. Either you go home by midnight or you stay out until the first train in the morning.

So bright.

The foodie that I am compels me to search for some good eats for good prices. Shinjuku's Ootoya, for example, offered a simple combo set for roughly 600-700 yen (if memory serves). A hell of a lot of food for that much money.

Japan is well-known for their food displays. Mouth-watering just to look at.

This is the inside of a Purikura machine. Sticker pictures are incredibly fun, and as I mentioned in an earlier blog, this is definitely a way to make some memories out of the night. It also makes your eyes incredibly large, and your skin virtually immaculate.

There is definitely more than just this. There is always more to be explored.