As an extroverted traveler, I learned to appreciate sitting in silence.
I slide my screen across to the bartender with a pitifully earnest facial expression, clearly craving human interaction.
He offers me a smile and quickly returns to garnishing a cocktail.
Credit:Courtesy ofTeamLab Planets Tokyo
I want to say, “Where do I go to make friends?”
That hasnt bothered me much: Ive always preferred my alone time in brackets.
What if I dont like myself as much as I like my friends?
Sophie Dodd/Travel + Leisure
What if Im a less savvy traveler when I dont have someone to explore with?
The responsibility of being entirely in charge of my own itinerary seemed daunting.
Thats right, I flew 14 hours to spend an entire day inside.
Nikolas Koenig
Suites on the upper levels boast their own private terraces, all the better to admire the stunning skyline.
(But seriously, the cake was fantastic.)
This dilemma was solved entirely by my first-ever omakase experience, a meal built entirely around single-bite courses.
Sophie Dodd/Travel + Leisure
That, and the view of Mount Fuji in the distance.
TeamLab Planets Tokyo
There are few places that combine culture with unbridled childlike joy likeTeamLab Planets.
Making my way through the exhibits, I was struck by how much fun everyone was having.
Sophie Dodd/Travel + Leisure
Or, when youre told to bump into enormous color-changing globes?
The museum is a memorable experience thats a must-see in Tokyo.
With two restaurants and an indoor-outdoor onsen, I found it hard to tear myself away.
Sophie Dodd/Travel + Leisure
This offered unparalleled access to a centuries-old tea room and a one-on-one lesson with a Japanese tea master.
