I had the chance to return to Japan for two weeks. It was my fourth time in Tokyo, so I didn’t feel the pressure to check off tourist spots like I did on my first visits. And honestly, that made the trip even more enjoyable.

Even if I didn’t see that many new places. I spent more time just being with people, wandering without a plan, and letting the city unfold at its own pace. It made me wonder what it might be like to live there for a longer stretch.

Something that’s quietly become a little personal tradition: on arrival, I grab a melonpan and a coffee, then head straight to explore some neighborhood with an Ichiran Ramen close by — and to end the day, I make my way up to a viewpoint to watch the city glow at night.

This time I went up to Shibuya Sky. It’s one of those iconic city views—amazing perspective on the Shibuya crossing. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of videos online with people riding the escalators and filming the skyline. It’s very crowded (no surprise given the location), but still worth it. That said, I think I preferred the Mori Tower view—maybe because it holds more personal meaning for me.

I also visited Harajuku. I’ve been there before, but this time I wanted to lose myself in the side streets. I’d recently been reading about the complex world of Japanese denim, and it turns out there’s a solid cluster of local brands with domestic production just a short walk from Shibuya. I ended up buying a couple of denim jackets—which will have to wait a few more months until Barcelona’s scorching temperatures finally cool down.

As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, photography is one of my biggest passions. But it’s not the only one outside of animation, I’ve also had a deep interest in watches for many years. So being back in Tokyo, I couldn’t pass up the chance to revisit the legendary second-hand camera shops in Shinjuku, or browse the watch stores tucked inside Nakano Broadway. I’ll write more about watches soon, as I managed to pick up a really interesting piece on this trip.

I came to Tokyo with my Contax setup, the one I’ve taken on a few trips already and that I’m more than happy with. But as I walked past Katsumido Camera, I couldn’t resist this titanium beauty: the Contax TVS.

During my previous camera hunts I had considered getting a Contax T2, but its high price and the risk of mechanical failure always held me back. The TVS, on the other hand, is a really compelling point-and-shoot. It has that same “luxury” aura thanks to its materials, build, and lens, but it costs about a quarter of the price—mostly because it (still) hasn’t fallen into the hype bubble.

This time I was staying at a hotel in Ginza, very close to the Sumida River, so my walk to the studio each morning was quite short. After all, this was a work trip, so I made the most of those morning walks to test out my new camera with a roll of Kodak Gold 200 I had originally brought for the 139Q.

They’re not great photos—just a first roll to make sure everything was working properly—but the results speak for themselves. The Carl Zeiss zoom (28–56) is super versatile and, to my untrained eyes, doesn’t lack sharpness compared to a big SLR.

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Each time I come back to Tokyo I leave with more reasons to return. There’s always something new to discover, but also a growing sense of comfort in the familiar. This trip reminded me how energizing it can be to slow down, stay curious, and make space for small routines and quiet moments.

I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I already look forward to the next time I’m wandering through backstreets with a camera in hand and nowhere particular to be.