Shinjuku, 11PM

Written By Joe Lyons

Izakaya Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

Menu

  • Mapo Tofu

  • Edamame

  • Pork Gyoza

  • Miso Soup

  • White Rice

  • Kirin Ichiban

  • Garlic Noodles

Shinjuku, 11PM

Life felt stuck. Heavy.
Everything back home was loud in the wrong way.

I was used to noise - but Shinjuku at night was different.
Lanterns glowing.
Laughter spilling out of doorways.
The clatter of bowls and beer glasses.

We packed into a tiny izakaya, jet-lagged and a little buzzed.
A mismatched group of old friends and almost-strangers.
Passing plates and trading stories,
slowly shaking off whatever we’d been carrying.

For the first time in a long time,
it felt good to be there.
Held by something small and real.

It reminded me that beautiful moments still exist, even in the middle of the mess.

And somehow,
that was enough to come home
a little different.

Joe Lyons