My Japan: A Week of Creativity, Art, and Connections in Tokyo

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For me, living in Tokyo is a constant dance between creativity and everyday moments. When Voyapon invited me to detail My Japan, a series of stories from people across the country sharing a snapshot of a typical week, I saw it as the perfect chance to reflect on how I’ve shaped my own rhythm here.

As a freelance designer and photographer, my schedule doesn’t follow the usual weekday–weekend divide. Instead, it moves with the flow of creative projects, personal time, and the small routines that make this city feel like home.

Monday

Mondays are for setting the stage. I’m a planner by nature, so I begin by reviewing my calendar, jotting down priorities, and noting any tasks that drifted over from the weekend.

Most days, I work from home. I sometimes miss the buzz of an office, but not the crush of the morning commute. Today, my desk is scattered with color proofs, layout sketches, and reference books for a corporate magazine.

When I’m immersed in work, whether it’s for books, magazines, web layouts, editing of photos or videos, or simple graphic design, time slips by. By the time I glance up, the afternoon light is softening. Having been indoors for most of the day, I decide to end it with a slow walk through the park and around the neighborhood, letting the greenery rest my eyes after hours fixed on a screen.

Tuesday

Today is a meeting-heavy day. At 9am, I join an online call for a website project. I still prefer pen and paper for my notes, quick sketches, arrows, and ideas that later guide my designs. Afterwards, I make coffee the Italian way: moka pot bubbling on the stove, filling the room with its familiar, comforting aroma. I spend part of the morning exchanging notes on the project with a longtime colleague-turned-friend, our conversation flowing easily despite not sharing the same office.

Later, I head to Jimbocho, Tokyo’s book town, for an in-person book design meeting. My camera is always with me when I’m out and about; the city light is too beautiful to ignore. Once the meeting is over, I linger among second-hand bookstores for inspiration before heading home for a quiet dinner with my partner. We end the night peacefully, I read while he works on personal projects.

Wednesday

After a day dotted with meetings, Wednesday is a workday from start to finish. I clear quick emails, then dive into my projects uninterrupted. There’s a particular satisfaction in a day that’s entirely focused.

I used to run along the river, but Japan’s summer heat wraps the city in a heavy, humid blanket that makes even a short jog feel like wading through warm water. Around lunchtime, I trade the sticky air for the cool quiet of the gym. An hour of movement clears my head, and by the time I return to my desk, I’m ready to slip back into the flow of layout adjustments, content creation, and image retouching.

Tonight, I’m meeting some friends for dinner. Most of them love to cook, so it will be a homemade meal. We gather around the table, laughing over stories from our days in Tokyo, passing plates back and forth, and arguing (lightly) about whose recipe is the best. The night lingers with good food, easy conversation, and the feeling that tomorrow can wait just a little longer.

Thursday

The morning is spent refining a client layout based on their feedback, experimenting with typography and colors for both print and online. Once a week, I try to step away from my desk to visit an exhibition or explore a neighborhood, it’s my way of keeping ideas fresh. This afternoon, I head to an exhibition by Ian Lynam, a graphic designer whose book Fracture: Japanese Graphic Design 1875–1975 I greatly admire. The exhibition is an archive-on-display, filled with objects and artifacts that feel like stepping into a time capsule. I leave inspired, having also met the lovely gallery owner of UltraSuperNew Kura.

The city lights guide me on a long evening walk; I take one whenever my schedule allows. Shop signs and glowing windows weave into my visual memory bank and, of course, into my camera. Back home, I back up my images, post a few on my Instagram account, and answer last-minute emails so tomorrow can start smoothly.

Friday

Friday mornings are my most productive. I work without pause, finishing client graphics and refining layouts until every detail feels right. After a quick stop at the gym, I return to my desk to review next week’s schedule.

Tonight is all mine. With my partner working late, I head to the Bon Odori festival in Ebisu, armed with only an 85mm lens, a self-imposed creative challenge. Lanterns sway above the dancers, the air is rich with the scent of yakitori, and laughter drifts through the crowd. When the event winds down, I linger, photographing workers as they quietly dismantle the day’s festivities. There’s a certain poetry in these overlooked moments. I walk for nearly an hour before heading home.

Weekend

Some weekends are for work, especially event photography, but this one is free. This Saturday, my partner and I share a slow breakfast, run errands, and then visit the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum for a Luigi Ghirri exhibition. His dreamy, quietly observed images remind me why I fell in love with photography.

Sundays blend leisure and preparation. I might edit photos, sketch new illustration ideas, or meet friends for coffee if the weather is kind. By evening, I’m back at my desk, setting intentions for the week ahead.

Freelance life isn’t always predictable, but it’s full of small freedoms. For me, that’s what makes up my Japan: a country of contrasts, creativity, and connections that continually fuel both my work and my heart.

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