Day 1 – Tokyo

Plaza Lounge

Before taking off to Japan, we made sure to grab breakfast at the Plaza Lounge, thanks to Rod’s Priority Pass membership, which grants access to almost every lounge worldwide. As usual, after checking in, we headed to the lounge for a meal.

Note: Even without a membership card, you can still access the lounge for a fee, though I’m not sure of the exact cost—probably around $20 or so.

I enjoyed my go-to dish, Kuy Teav, along with a slice of dessert.

Plaza Lounge in Phnom Penh is one of my favorite airport lounges—comfortable, welcoming, and always a good start to the journey.

One of my favorite lounge in airport. Plaza Lounge in Phnom Penh

First Time Flying Business Class

And there I was, flying Business Class for the first time ever in my life (you can read about my experience in detail elsewhere).

Since Cambodia’s airport doesn’t have direct flights to Japan, we had to make a connecting flight. There were several options, but Rod, being savvy, chose Singapore Airlines for the connection. Not only is it a 5-star airline, but it’s also ranked as the world’s best airline.

Here’s a glimpse of the food we had during the flight from Phnom Penh to Singapore:

I tried a Thai dish—though I can’t recall the name, it was absolutely delicious, and I finished every bite. The champagne was fantastic, and the flight crew even recommended a Guava Champagne, which was sweet and just what I was craving.

Unfortunately, the entertainment system at our seats lost power. I managed to catch part of The Intern before the screen went dark. The crew tried to fix it, but no luck. It’s just one of those things that happen sometimes.

Silver Lounge

So that was my experience on Singapore Airlines from Phnom Penh to Singapore. Now, I’m in the Silver Lounge waiting for my connecting flight to Japan, where we’re expected to arrive in the morning. This lounge is exclusive to business class passengers flying with Singapore Airlines, and it’s definitely a nice perk.

Landed in Tokyo Safe and Sound

After landing in Tokyo, we had an hour-long train ride to get to our hotel, which—thanks to Rod’s Google Maps mistake—wasn’t where we initially went. We ended up at the wrong branch, so we had to backtrack one stop and walk about 20 minutes in 40°C heat, lugging our heavy bags. By the time we got to the right hotel, we were exhausted. We couldn’t check in until 3 p.m. (and we arrived at noon), so we dropped our bags, took a breather, and Rod grabbed us some icy drinks—lemon juice for me and coffee for himself.

Senso-ji Temple

After cooling down, we headed to Senso-ji, one of Japan’s oldest and most visited temples. The path leading to the temple is lined with countless shops, small stores, and restaurants, all tempting you to stop and browse for souvenirs to take home or to satisfy your cravings for sweet snacks and drinks

still don’t what is it status, I saw a lot of people took a picture of it, so did I.

We hadn’t eaten since the airplane meal, so I suggested we grab some ramen. It was absolutely the right choice. The soup was perfectly balanced—not too salty, not too sweet. The noodles had the perfect texture, and the beef was tender and flavorful.

Waiting in line for another half an hour

We were getting tired after a long day of traveling, and that amazing meal felt like a pill that made our bodies want to shut down right after. And the sky was getting cloudy, therefore, we decided it was best to get back to the hotel, check in, and take a much-needed nap.

Shibuya

Shibuya was our last stop for the night—a must-see for anyone visiting Tokyo, known for its famous crowded crosswalk. Funny enough, I didn’t realize at first that this was the same street that went viral on the internet. I casually mentioned to Rod that it looked like a famous spot in Tokyo, and sure enough, it was the iconic Shibuya Crossing—there’s truly no other place as bustling, crowded, and lively as this

Guess what we had for dinner? Ramen!

I ordered the Salty Ramen Chicken, and just as salty as its name, I couldn’t finish all of it. A little too salty for me.

We continued our walk around the Shibuya area, which was massive and buzzing with energy. We had no set plans—just going with the flow. If we came across something interesting to eat, we’d dive in and give it a try.

As we wandered, we stumbled upon a store called GU. It caught my eye, so I asked Rod if we could check it out. I didn’t realize until later that GU is owned by Uniqlo. The clothes had a similar vibe—simple, minimalist, and casual. I couldn’t resist and ended up picking up a few pieces to bring back home.