Speeding past the enshrouded Mount Fuji on the shinkansen announces your imminent arrival to Tokyo, the city to beat all cities. It is a fitting destination to end our month in Japan. Tokyo is not initially as high rise as you might expect, however it is as dense and vibrant. Narrow streets full of glowing colourful signs, busy roads with immaculately dressed taxi drivers in suits and wearing white gloves, and endless food establishments which appear to be busy 24 hours a day. However Tokyo also has a calmer side. Step off the main thoroughfares and you find serene back streets such as Ometosando, which could mistaken for the suburbs in the heart of the city. Surprisingly, Tokyo is also the greenest city in Asia, although charging to get into 'public' parks is not something to be encouraged. The architecture is a blend of large high-rise futurism (which has certainly dated better than most european brutalism), and low rise residential, most often in very close proximity. The popular districts of Shinjuku and Shibuya are perfect examples. Any major metro station also goes hand in hand with shopping, which if it's your thing is fairly phenomenal. A large number of the shops in Aoyama and Ginza are works of art in themselves. Tokyo has never held back in encouraging advanced and progressive architecture on every scale. However Tokyo is really a city to just be in. There is less pressure to visit historic sites and temples (although maybe only if you have already been to Kyoto), and no particular gastronomy to seek out as it is as cosmopolitan as most other capitals. The food however, with a bit of additional research, is exceptional. It was disappointing to be told at one enticing looking establishment that they didn't serve foreigners, however being Japan there really are plenty more fish in the sea. Speaking of which, Tsukiji fish market is amazing and absolutely essential to visit before it is sanitised and relocated.
Tokyo might not appeal to everyone, but it is probably a city that everyone should visit at least once in their life, just to experience how good life in a big city can be. Comments are closed.
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AuthorsRob & Charlie's travelling adventures on their long journey back to London after living in Hong Kong. Four continents, twelve countries, lots of experiences. Archives
July 2017
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Robert Ware & Charlotte Nunn |