Morning Coffee

Shinjuku Crowd, 4:30 AM (Tokyo) - Japan  2023

7-11, 4:30 AM (Tokyo) - Japan  2023

This year we stayed at the Hotel Gracery, the same hotel we used in 2017. Back then, during early morning jet lag, I had a regular routine for morning coffee, involving corridors, elevators and 7-11. This time, though, things had changed.

No more accessing 7-11 through the hotel. You had to go outside and loop around to the front; once there, you came upon a surreal crowd scene. Hundreds of young people milling about at 4:30 AM. Most likely spending the night there. (I never did find out exactly what was going on. Disaffected youth? Maybe.)

And then entering a 7-11 with floor mats askew, trash on the floor and lots of items out of stock. Most unusual. Afterwards I decided to use a nearby Family Mart for morning coffee and pastries.

Family Mart Breakfast (Tokyo) - Japan  2023