Leaving Tachikawa this morning took longer than expected. I spent too long luxuriating, first at the station then along the town’s backstreets. The same thing happened in Takao yesterday. At the time, I blamed it on the disorientation of arrival. But seeing a pattern take shape today, I recognise the mistake was mine.

In the quiet that follows the morning rush, the streets invite a saunter rather than a stride. With the whole day ahead, it feels as though there’s time to spare. It is a comforting illusion. By mid-afternoon, as the school run begins and rush hour gathers pace, time contracts, and the easy rhythm of the walk must shift into something closer to a march.

If yesterday was about getting my eye in, today has been about establishing pace. By evening, I’d hit my stride, walking just a touch faster, with less tolerance for detours that take me off course. If I manage to hold that pace from the outset tomorrow, the late afternoon should feel less like a race against the clock.

Despite the delays, I made it to the hotel in Kichijōji—albeit later than intended. From the desk in my room, here are three reflections from today’s walk.