I was determined to push through all of those logistical nightmares and soon I was greeted with some truly breathtaking aerial views of the entire city of Tokyo. At the top, by the helipad natch, was a grassy area where people were lying down and taking it all in.

Every angle had a new vista, including one particularly popular for selfies so when in Rome…. It was interesting being up that high and seeing the layer of pollution which was hampering the crystal blue day.

I had been eyeing a section called the “sky hammocks and gave my barking dogs some rest for a spell. There were also couches set up at various spots, which was a nice touch. Although once on the site there was no rush to kick people out, I decided to let some others get a chance and made my way first an inside version, which actually was very helpful as it pointed out major buildings/landmarks for each viewpoint. There also an apparent evening lounge.

I was getting hungry at this point and luckily I knew how to get to my next stop as I had been there before – Sushi Midori. The restaurant was nestled in a food court of the nearby Shibuya Station. But the long line that had already formed indicated it wasn’t a typical mall restaurant.

Known for some of the best bargain sushi from the best source possible (all sourced from the world famous Tsukiji Fish Market) it had long been a very popular lunch spot. My number was 69, so I had that going for me at least. The problem was the current number was 27. The bench wasn’t there last time and given my current condition, was much needed.

It soon became a war of attrition and eventually a bit after an hour later, I was finally ushered into the small main room. I got lucky with a bar seat in front of the main chef. That meant it was easy to go with the biggest option they had – omakase nigiri from the chef.

I was first given two starters – a hot savory custard known as chawanmushi (a personal favorite) and a small salad with crab and miso. Both were outstanding and great way to start the meal.

Known for their speedy service, I was soon greeted with quite the feast. Way too many items to list out so I took a pic of the menu descriptions for those curious. Several of the pieces I had never eaten before but all delicious, with precise levels of wasabi and other spices to complement them. This was the work of a true sushi chef and amazingly only cost $26. I was beyond full but wisely ate the truly great sorbet that did help finish off this wonderful lunch.

I waddled my way out of the restaurant and made the quick trip to the famous Shibuya crossing, which I took a pic of in the middle of it by holding my phone above my head and hoping for the best. I think it turned out pretty nifty.

My backpack had become an albatross as I once again failed to find a locker for it. At least my next stop wasn’t too far away nor did it require much physical energy. It did however take the usual sign language to figure out where exactly it was. I was reduced to going “Cat cafe – meow” which finally got the correct response.

Cat Cafe Mocha was the one that started it all, allowing visitors for a per 10 minute charge to hangout with a bunch of cats. It was on 2 levels with the first floor featuring a couple of cats just deigning people to be in their presence. There was one girl who was reading to one of them hiding under a chair. It was about as Japanese as it gets.

The next floor however, was party Central with cats everywhere. For a small fee, people were giving them treats or trying to entice them with various toys. I even got a couple to come over and say hello. They were clearly used to being around people and the patrons were very happy to be around them. It was strange sure but in a city with such small accommodations that they can’t keep cats of them own, why not have a place where they can go to love their furry friends?

Having abandoned all hope finding a place to stash my backpack, I wandered down a nearby alley way where for the first time pretty much all day I heard multiple people speaking English. Perhaps drawn for craft beer, Olson was a small tap room with an impressive list of their own various styles of beers. Unfortunately, neither of the proprietors spoke any English so asking about their beers proved fruitless.

Still, it was a place to sit and have some pretty decent craft brews. More importantly, for my immediate needs, they had a plug so I could charge my phone. This brief respite was just what I needed for the final push, which will be the thrilling conclusion of this side quest of mine. Coming soon…