On the first weekend after starting work, I planned to spend some time at Ueno Zoo. I had been wanting to see how the red pandas there compared with those at Maruyama Zoo in Hokkaido.

After a hearty breakfast, I did not leave until 10:30. I changed to the Hibiya Line at Naka-meguro and got off at Ueno.

As I was getting close to the zoo, I noticed a nationwide pottery fair in the plaza, so I went in to take a look. I had failed to buy a mug at Loft earlier, so this time I paid special attention. In the end I found an adorable owl mug that came in red and blue, and after hesitating for quite a while, I decided on the blue one.

Ueno Zoo was packed with people, and everywhere there were parents with children. The facilities were also better than at Maruyama Zoo. There were three elephants strolling around at ease, and an enormous hippo even rolled over in front of the visitors. But the red pandas I had most wanted to see were nowhere near as good as the ones at Maruyama Zoo, which was quite disappointing.

Right next to the zoo was Toshogu Shrine, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, so I took a quick look around there too.

After leaving the zoo, I followed the directions in my guidebook to find Usagiya, because I wanted to try its dorayaki. The shop seemed quite famous, with customers constantly coming in, and fortunately I was able to get by in English.

After finishing the dorayaki, I was tired and already starting to feel like heading home. But since I was there already, I decided to stop by Yushima Tenmangu Shrine as well. This shrine enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the Japanese deity of learning, and I hoped he might bless me with a smooth graduation. Besides tossing in an offering and praying, I also rubbed the ox statue.

In the end, even though I was exhausted, I still went to look around Ameyoko. It felt a lot like a Taiwanese night market, with tempting smells everywhere.

After that, dragging along my tired body, I forced myself over to Akihabara. I wandered through Yodobashi Camera, then took a few casual photos on the street as proof that I had been there. Cute maids were handing out flyers on the street.

Note: This article is translated from Traditional Chinese.