Using Jet Lag to Experience Quiet Tokyo
Jet lag can be a bitch, there’s no two ways around it. When you’re dealing with even just a few hours time difference, it can really mess with your internal clock (Am I the only one who gets thrown off by a one hour time difference??). Sixteen hours? It can take days to truly acclimate, and, if you’re like me, you don’t want to be wasting time in your hotel room sleeping and trying to figure out what time of the day it is.
Why Early Mornings Are My Favorite Part of Travel
I have to admit, jet lag mornings are some of my favorite and most memorable parts of international travel. I’ve watched neighborhood dogs skip from rooftop to rooftop at sunrise in Istanbul, seen the wet markets open up for the day in Kowloon, enjoyed the morning sounds in Seminyak, and seen the sunrise over the dorms at Trinity College in Dublin. There’s something really magical about being awake before the city, and everywhere you go, the sunrise looks just a little bit different.
How I Embrace Jet Lag Instead of Fighting It
That said, I’ve learned to embrace that jet lag is just a normal part of long-haul travel and if you take advantage of it, you can really enjoy it. There’s definitely a bit of a formula to this though, and here’s where I share it.
Arriving Early: My First-Day Strategy
If possible, I always land early in the morning. If this means a red eye flight, I’m happy to do it, but I want to arrive bright and early. I’m always dead on my feet, but it’s worth it to be as exhausted as possible by the end of the first day so that I can actually go to bed at a reasonable hour (somewhere between 9PM to 11PM since I have no interest in nightlife).
My Jet Lag Morning Routine in Tokyo
This in no way guarantees that I’ll wake up at a normal hour, however. In fact, I’m usually awake around 4AM the next morning, but that’s perfect since it gives me time to leisurely wake up, have a conbini snack, and head out for the day to one of the temples that opens at around 6AM. This perfectly coincided with the season I traveled in, since sunrise was around 5:30AM, so I wasn’t really walking in the dark.
The One Thing You Should Not Do
One important thing: DO NOT TAKE A NAP THAT FIRST DAY. You will likely ruin your progress if you do that. I try to pack in that first day as much as possible with walking, eating, and sightseeing so that I’m hopefully too busy to be tired.
That first day is also a great time to try the local coffeeshops or hit up a Starbucks (one of the only American chains I’ll go to when I travel since they have unique regional offerings). If you’re too tired for dinner, hit up the conbini, and get some food to bring back to the room for when you crash.
How I Planned My Early-Morning Tokyo Days
I tried to set my alarm each morning but I did often wake up well before it. I learned after the first day that the itinerary I had planned was way too late in the day, so each evening, I reset my day with spots close together and packaged them in with somewhere that opened early (make sure to check for local holidays and daily opening times as they can vary greatly). I also packed up my backpack for the whole day (water, light sweater, sunblock, etc) so that I wouldn’t go back to the room too often and be tempted to lie down.
Seeing Tokyo Without the Crowds
This jet lag method helped me see some of the best parts of my trip. I wandered Ueno Park (they have one of the prettiest Starbucks too) first thing in the morning, got to climb the stairs at the Hie Shrine with not a soul around, and saw the morning light peek through the trees of a very empty Meiji Shrine. Virtually everywhere you go in Tokyo will be pretty magical, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a major tourist spot empty and having it all to yourself for even just a few minutes.
A few things to note: When you’re visiting the shrines and temples, make sure to be respectful of the photography rules. Many will allow photography outdoors, but not inside. Avoid photographing anyone praying. Do not sit on the steps (there are often detailed signage with pictures). Avoid touching statues, speaking loudly (phones are definitely not polite), and try not to wear anything too revealing (bring something to cover your shoulders).
Check out the rest of my Tokyo posts here!
