So I stepped out of my hotel room at 11pm, ready to immerse in the Tokyo-Never-Sleep vibes. The chilly air assaulted my face but ironically boosted my spirits.

I spotted a hole-in-the-wall izakaya (Japanese pub). Its insanely cheap ¥180 price tag for beer beckoned me like Pied Piper enticing little kids to follow him.

A plus point of this izakaya was that it provided free WiFi so that we could order our food online.

I had already brushed my teeth before my escapade, but the avocado with wasabi cream intrigued me so much that I ordered it. Along with fish paste cakes. Along with the cheap beer.

Have you watched the TV show “Midnight Diner”? The place where I planted myself at was nothing like that. People were talking to their friends animatedly. The smell of cigarettes filled the air, along with their chatter and the sound of the TV set. The compact space compressed their joy of living. I soaked up the good vibes and savoured the beer.