The WalkVentures of an Overseas Filipino Wanderer : 👣 StEpisode 6 - Inokashira Park

Inokashira Park — this is where I’m taking you for my WalkVentures Stepisode 6.

Today I'm taking a little day off to recharge, so I took a sick leave and what better way to spend a day off than to reconnect with nature, relax, and destress. Thanks to @wittyzell's recommendation, I plan to visit Inokashira Park today, which is only a 30-minute train ride from Shinjuku Station

_{A peek into what awaits you inside Inokashira Park.}

Before heading to Inokashira Park, my best friend asked me to buy a Takashimaya voucher as a gift for someone special 😆🤭 Of course, I’m always supportive when it comes to matters of love (sanaol!). Since the Takashimaya building only opens at 10:30 AM, I had to wait about 40 minutes. I was already starving, so I grabbed a sandwich from NewDays Combini while waiting.

_{This is my favorite breakfast sandwich: chicken and egg.}

_{Got a 10k gift voucher. Kinda cute, isn’t it?🥰}

It was so hot today, and I didn’t feel like wandering around Inokashira Park looking for lunch, so I decided to eat early at Tim Ho Wan near Shinjuku Station. My all-time favorite order is, of course, the pork buns, but I was extra happy to see the Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun on the menu this summer! I’ve been craving this for so long since it’s not always available here in Japan or even in the Philippines. Back in my Singapore days, I used to order it all the time because it was always on the menu. Super satisfied, burp!!! 😋

_{Famous landmark in Shinjuku Station.}

_{Tim Ho Wan pork buns are my favorite!😋}

_{Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun so yummmy!}

Inokashira Park is near Kichijoji Station, only 30 minutes from Shinjuku which is awesome. First order of business is to find the ekitag. I checked the north and south exits but couldn’t find it. I even went to the central exit, but I must have had blind eyes because I didn’t see it right away. Finally, Kichijoji ekitag secured!

<sub>Kichijoji Station is my 12th Ekitag.

I must say, Kichijoji Station is pretty big, with so many buildings and restaurants all around.

Thankful for the tall buildings giving shade from the direct sunlight.

On the way to Inokashira Park. Just about a 10-minute walk from the station.

Here I am slowly scouting for good coffee spots since I’m planning to go to a café after exploring the park.</sub>

It was around 12 noon when I arrived at Kichijoji Station, and it’s about a 10-minute walk to the park. The sun was blazing, so hot I felt like I must be burning in hell right now.🥵 Definitely peak summer here. But that didn’t stop me from my goal to relax and just enjoy some peace at the park, so I headed straight in.

<sub>35 degrees realness! 🥵🥵🥵

Thankful for this little gadget keeping me cool. Lifesaver!

Another lifesaver!❤️</sub>

Here’s the entrance to the park. It’s pretty quiet with only a few people around, so very peaceful. Since it was noon, I can't feel any breeze and the sun was hot 🥵, but I didn’t let that stop me. I wandered around until I found the perfect spot to sit, relax, and soak in the lush greenery, listen to the insects and birds and just reflect on life.

One requirement for me to like a park is having plenty of benches to sit on, and Inokashira Park didn’t disappoint. There were lots of them, especially by the pond, which made me super happy!

Sharing some of the things I’ve been reflecting on: After this Japan summer vacation, things are going to change. I have some unfinished business back home to deal with, and with my sister already living in Japan, it’ll be the first time I’ll be living alone in our house in Cebu. I’m curious and a little nervous about what it will be like. My mom will be visiting me from time to time, though. For now, I’m just enjoying this peaceful moment and trying not to overthink anything.

There are also paddle boats you can rent and enjoy. I didn’t check the price since I have no plans to try it. It’s just too hot for that kind of activity. Still, they look really pretty in photos.😍

I continued exploring the park and came across some really cute restaurants and cafés. I wasn’t super hungry yet, so I just took pictures this time. Maybe I’ll try them with friends next time!

Inside the park, there is also the Ghibli Museum. I know you need to secure a ticket in advance to enter the Ghibli Museum, but I went anyway just to see what’s in there and take a picture of the outside premises. It looks interesting inside, so I hope I can secure a ticket next time.

And after that, I headed back to Kichijoji Station. I really loved exploring the park, and I’ll surely be back to try the restaurants, cafés, and visit the Ghibli Museum. I’d also love to return during the cooler seasons, like autumn and spring, to see a different side of its beauty.

Another day off well spent! I burned almost 20k calories just from walking! If the weather had been a bit more forgiving, I could’ve hit 30k steps easily for the whole day, but 20k steps is still a win! Solo trips like this are some of my favorite ways to spend a holiday or a sick leave : reconnecting with nature, reflecting on life, and getting a little reset. Still not ready for work tomorrow 😅, but at least I’ve recharged enough to close out the week feeling a little lighter.
That’s all for this stepisode. Catch you on my next WalkVentures! 👣

_{*All content is mine unless otherwise noted. All photos taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max.}