Landed in Tokyo. It’s so interesting being back in Asia after more than a decade, so I’m somewhat rattled, but to be in a city that’s actually orderly and not as blatantly polluted as the others is a bit of a godsend.

I’m feeling so exhausted I can’t even sleep; wandering seems like the best solution to fight jet lag, and the quiet alleyways surrounding Sangen-Jaya station seem perfect for that. Here, we discovered this great Osaka-style takoyaki stand. For 500 yen, we scored eight fluffy, soft, and melt-on-your-tongue balls of magic, unlike the chewy rubbery excuses they have back in Toronto. This is legit. My stomach is officially in party mode.