[18 March - 18 April, 2026]
I spent a good month from the 2nd half of March till mid-April in the Philippines, with side trips to Japan and Cebu City, while staying in Makati, Metro Manila as home base. As usual, those days were filled with lots of get-togethers with family and friends, and as with most Filipino get-togethers, lots of food. Here is how I spent that holiday month, in four parts.
Part 1: Arrival and 1st Week in Manila
The first week was a frantic few days of family get-togethers, shopping, a haircut, and spa appointments. I also went to the Saturday weekend market, walked a 5K on a Sunday morning in the area business district, cooked the family dinner that same night, visited old friends in the neighborhood where I grew up, and went on breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with family and old friends throughout the week. I was trying to get as much of what I can accomplish that week, before I head to Japan the following weekend.
Part 2: Japan
After the first week in Manila, I traveled to Japan for the first time as a tourist, having been there many times before for business when I worked at Honda. It was a short 5-day stay in Tokyo, but packed with meet-ups with friends and former colleagues, sightseeing, shopping, and of course, eating.
Narita Airport, Japan
I stayed in a natural springs onsen hotel in Asakusa, a stone’s throw away from Senso-ji Temple, with its famed 5-storied pagoda, and Nakamise-Dori, the crowded and hectic shopping street leading to the temple. The hotel’s onsen was welcome relief at night before bed after a full day’s worth of walking and sightseeing (at least 20,000 steps every day!). My first couple of days were spent just enjoying the area, mixing with the large crowds of tourists visiting and photographing the temple complex, and sampling in the local cuisine at a matcha cafe, a taiyaki shop, a trendy coffee shop, and dinners of yakiniku and the best tonkatsu I have ever had anywhere. I also met up with Cort and Keiko who also happened to be in Japan at the same time, visiting Keiko’s parents in Nagoya, but at the time, staying at the hotel across the street from mine (actually, our meet-up was all planned for).
The third day, I took the train to Kamakura to see Harry and Junko, another couple of former Honda colleagues who now live in the area. It was a great day for sightseeing in the small, charming coastal city just south of Tokyo. Harry and Junko were the perfect hosts, and ensured we made the most of the time I was there. We visited several temples and parks, soaked in the near-full bloom cherry blossoms that adorned the city streets, dined on home-style onigiri for lunch, and enjoyed some craft-brewed coffee at a local roastery.
On my return to Tokyo, I did a little bit of shopping at Tokyo Station for some souvenirs (mostly chocolates and cookies) for the nieces back in Manila. I also met up with Cort and Keiko later at Ueno Park to view the cherry blossoms in that area, which are some of the best in Tokyo. Then it was izakaya dinner to end the full and busy day.
Cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, Tokyo.
The fourth day was quite rainy, and a perfect opportunity for indoor activities. Still hanging out with Cort and Keiko, we went to Ginza and spent most of the day there walking around, a bit of window (and actual) shopping, snack breaks, and lunch. Then it was back to Asakusa for a final evening of izakaya dinner and drinks before they head back to Nagoya, and I to Manila the next day. A final lunch of tonkatsu at the airport the next day capped my time in Tokyo, for now. I’m sure I will be coming back.
Asakusa Station, waiting for the train to take me to Narita Airport.