The Big 40 in Japan - Day 5 - Goodbye 30’s
August 1, 2026
Today marked the only full day the three of us had together. After last night's great sushi, we were all ready and even a little hungry for our first breakfast at The Mandarin Oriental. Fortunately, it did not disappoint. Situated on the 37th floor with incredible views of Tokyo, the breakfast featured a buffet and menu selections. Jenn found her sweet spot today with a rice station where she loaded up on white rice and sashimi. If Jenn could have that for breakfast for the rest of her life, I think she’d be incredibly happy. One of the many highlights of The Mandarin Oriental is the lobby bathrooms, specifically for the men, where the urinals look out over Tokyo. I’ve never seen a bathroom quite like this, and even though I’ve been here a few times, the kid still in me loves it.
We left breakfast and went out to our one big outing of the day, Teamlab Planets Tokyo. I want the record to show that this was 100% a Jake-and-Jenn pick. This is a place that likely wouldn’t have existed pre-social media, but is an “experience” where you go through a few exhibits and “live the art.” After taking a lengthy subway ride and a short walk in the blazing morning heat, we made it to the long line outside TeamLab Planets. I’m not really sure how to describe this experience. Once we made it through the line, we were whisked into three different areas: water, light, and nature. The place was packed, but they did a good job of keeping the areas moving so you got to experience them without too much interruption. Some rooms were more interesting than others; in a few, we had to walk barefoot through water as digital fish swam by. There was a room with massive balloons or lights hanging from every area, timed to music. At its best, there were moments where you were transfixed, and at its worst, you were being hurried through. I am surprised to say that I think we all three enjoyed it more than we thought, even if it felt a bit gimmicky.
It was time for lunch when we left TeamLab Planets, and Jake found us a place an easy walk from the exit. Or what we thought would be an easy walk; it was nearly 100 degrees out, and the 10-minute walk felt like torture. We arrived at a mall with Shokudo 101 on the bottom floor. We got a booth in the back and ordered the best we could with their limited menu. I had their fried chicken, Jake had their udon noodles, and Jenn had a rice bowl. The food was great, and it was the perfect meal on a hot day. From there, we got into a taxi and made our way for 30 minutes to the Meguro district, where there is a famous street known for interior design and antiques. Both Jenn and Jake were in their elements. Jenn bought a few antiques for our new house in Irvine, mostly in the first few shops we visited, but by the time we were done, we must have visited two dozen shops. We wrapped up our afternoon with coffee at BtoC and a donut for Jake at Hara Donuts.
A combination of heat and a lot of walking meant that we were ready to head back to the hotel and relax. We had dinner reservations at Tapas Molecular Bar. A counter experience at the Mandarin Oriental. We were seated with a couple and whisked away on a storybook journey (literally) through a dozen or so courses of food. I’d say it was a mix of Japanese and French-style cooking, all with a whimsical twist. I was looking for a fun, easygoing environment to enjoy my last day in my 30s, and it delivered. Was the story and the production a bit overdone? Absolutely. But fortunately, the food and the time the three of us had were great. We were given a literal story to start the meal, and with each course, we turned the page to see where the adventure took us.
After a two-hour meal, we went to the Mandarin Oriental Bar on the floor below for dinner. It is a place Jenn and I have visited on both prior visits, and it didn’t disappoint. Jake chose to abstain from drinking; I had their signature Martini, and Jenn had Bailey’s (to my chagrin). It was the perfect way to close out my 30’s and a great Saturday.
