Ochanomizu Ryokan Main Store! A century-old hidden gem in Tokyo with unbeatable value.

During check-in, the front desk staff's English wasn't great, which made me a bit annoyed. But after seeing the room, all my frustration disappeared. A nearly 60-square-meter room in Tokyo—what's there to be upset about? Located near the Imperial Palace, this hotel boasts over a hundred years of history. The current version was renovated in 2014. With only nine rooms, it's incredibly quiet and conveniently located. A taxi ride from Shinjuku costs less than 200 yen, and it's even closer to Tokyo Station. On the way, we passed a street lined entirely with bookstores. Although we might not be the most cultured people in Japan, the DNA of two book-loving young women was undeniably stirred. The simple water bar is delightful, and I loved every piece of equipment there. The snacks provided were so delicious that I brought them home and rationed them daily. Now, staring at the empty jar, I feel a sense of loss. I even tried to find the company's financial report to locate where I could buy another jar, but to no avail. The massive Shigaraki ceramic bathtub, even without hot spring water, made for a joyful soak. (After soaking in hot springs for a few days, even regular baths start to feel less satisfying—it's so easy to get spoiled.) A Tokyo auntie needed help sending items back to China, and they were quietly delivered to the door along with a cute note. (So, is their front desk English good or not?) After six days of Japanese cuisine, I couldn't eat another bite. Breakfast is usually delivered to the room at 8 AM, but since we had to leave for the airport at 7:40, they prepared a simplified breakfast for us in advance. The humble avocado and salmon sandwich was so delicious it brought me to tears. The food at this hotel is inexplicably good. At 9:30 AM, the lounge had an 80% occupancy rate, but by 10:00 AM, it was almost empty. What kind of magic is this? Does this mean there are no flights at noon? We arrived in the dark and left in the rain. My plan to catch one last glimpse of Mount Fuji from the plane was abandoned. Instead, I had a good sleep and arrived in Shenzhen. I went home, while Li Lu went to the office. She asked if I wanted to take a taxi to the office too. I replied, "You go ahead and be a workhorse; my office is already closed for the day." Haha 😁