"Fuji-san is out today!" There was a young couple next to me when I took this picture, and they addressed the mountain with honorifics. Japan is a country steeped in culture. From Buddhist temples to Shinto shrines in the most random places, Tokyo is the epicenter of all these religions and faith. Everyone comes to these shrines and pray—for good health, and even for good luck in school. I unashamedly bought a charm to do well in any upcoming exams.

Tokyo is a vertical city. It wasn't uncommon to see shops and businesses stacked on top of each other, with the narrow stairways or two person elevators completely packed if there was a popular restaurant on the 8th floor. Food is cheap, plentiful, and diverse. Highlight of my trip was going to the Tsukiji Fish Market, the largest fish and fresh food market in the world, and being able to sample so many delicious dishes and snacks. Vending machines are prolific there, and isn't uncommon to grab a quick snack or hot coffee in the morning.

The smell of cigarette smoke still lingers on my favorite jacket. Tokyo has one of the highest concentration of smokers in the world thanks to the aggressive advertising of big tobacco. Omoide yokocho or golden gai are dense alleyways in Shinjuku, packed with foreigners and natives alike, grabbing a drink to end the night or merely beginning their adventure as they prepared to head to the seedier red light district, Kabukicho. Tokyo's Roppongi Hills is also a hot spot for city's youth, as there are many popular night clubs there that play an eclectic mix of EDM, hip-hop, and even jazz. There's definitely something for everyone looking for a fun night out.