Meet Tokyo. She's...
Respectful and orderly. Japanese culture is strong and fascinating. Theo, the guy we stayed with who's been living in Tokyo for three years now, summed up a keystone of Japanese society when he described it as seeking to hammer the odd peg back into place. No one speaks loudly on the metro, no one crosses the street unless there's a green man signal on the other side, no one goes down the wrong side of the stairs even if they're completely empty. Everything is organized, and everyone is programmed to abide by the systems in place.
Tranquil. Partially due to the factors mentioned above, Tokyo is amazingly tranquil for being one of the world's largest urban centers. I once found myself in a station FULL of people, all of us crowding off one train and down the exit steps, and noticed that it was absolutely silent. Silence that reigned even above the sounds of all of our feet moving on the floor. It was the strangest experience. When everyone adheres to keeping the peace, its...well...peaceful.
Automated. Screw cafes and bars in Tokyo (or don't because there are a lot of cool ones). There are drink machines on every corner that dispense everything from coffee to booze.
You can avoid human interaction while dining out too. Liz and I entered a standard Japanese restaurant and stood helplessly in front of the touchscreen ordering machine for a few good minutes before figuring it out. It even takes your money. Hello robo-future.
Expensive. Speaking of money, our late arrival to the airport necessitated taking a taxi to our destination. We watched through covered eyes as the meter ate through an Indian first class overnight train fare in 20 minutes flat. Not to worry, this was an important step in our imminent readjustment to western pricing.
Beautiful. There's a 1-2 week period when Japan's famous cherry blossoms (sakura) are in bloom. And with unexpected and perfect timing, we were there to admire them. We spent a sunny day in Ueno Park, where people picnic on the wide sidewalks underneath pink and white arches of the blossoming trees. Tokyo on the whole is an incredibly clean city that seems to always put forth a fresh face, even in the alleys and corners where you would expect grunge.
Fashionable. While the Japanese may be all about pounding in the odd peg out, fashion is wildly popular and readily accepted. We felt horribly un-put together on the streets as we threw together outfits consisting of the last of our clean clothes. We seriously lacked the staples of Japanese couture: high heels, an impossibly flawless face, nude color combinations, fake eyelashes, layers, stockings, etc. etc. Needlessly to say, we didn't fit in any better in the sea of black business suits that often envelopes one while riding the public transportation. One of our favorite destinations was Takeshita Dori in Harajuku. It's a strip of clothing and accessory stores, and the street is crowded with hip teenagers who model Japan's current trends as they pass by. On Sunday, Takeshita street becomes home to the city's goth scene and (I believe) the Harajuku girls that Gwen Stefani sings about, who make appearances in full costume.
Delicious. Sushi, noodles, Japanese candy, crepes from Harajuku filled with ice cream, bananas, cheesecake, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. What more can I say.
Safe. One phenomenon of Tokyo is that you can lead a big-city life without the big-city concern of safety. To quote people who live there, crime is "pretty much nonexistent." People don't lock their doors and they leave their briefcases and telephones sitting in public places if they need to use the restroom. We found ourselves in a red light district, but we honestly wouldn't have known it if wasn't for a few key descriptions and pictures. It was just as pleasant as any other street.
Chock full of culture. On our last day in Tokyo we visited the GHIBLI MUSEUM, an inside look at the work of famous Japanese film maker Hayao Miyazaki. On our way home we hit up Nakano Boulevard, whose upstairs shops boast pricey vintage and collectible treasures, impressive graphic novel productions, and more to fulfill the needs of Japanese hobbyists. On the main floor I gave in the claw machine trend. 1000 yen and one plead later, victory was mine in the form of a furry pink tote bag.
The last destination. Yeah, I can't really wrap my head around it yet. I think one last farewell blog post is in order, as soon I gather some trip statistics and remember how a computer works. So I'll spare you the dramatic goodbye, for now. I will say that Tokyo was a perfect way to end our trip.
10 bonus points to whoever knew that the title of this post is a reference to the Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift soundtrack, which we unfortunately had stuck in our heads the whole stay.
Respectful and orderly. Japanese culture is strong and fascinating. Theo, the guy we stayed with who's been living in Tokyo for three years now, summed up a keystone of Japanese society when he described it as seeking to hammer the odd peg back into place. No one speaks loudly on the metro, no one crosses the street unless there's a green man signal on the other side, no one goes down the wrong side of the stairs even if they're completely empty. Everything is organized, and everyone is programmed to abide by the systems in place.
Tranquil. Partially due to the factors mentioned above, Tokyo is amazingly tranquil for being one of the world's largest urban centers. I once found myself in a station FULL of people, all of us crowding off one train and down the exit steps, and noticed that it was absolutely silent. Silence that reigned even above the sounds of all of our feet moving on the floor. It was the strangest experience. When everyone adheres to keeping the peace, its...well...peaceful.
Automated. Screw cafes and bars in Tokyo (or don't because there are a lot of cool ones). There are drink machines on every corner that dispense everything from coffee to booze.
You can avoid human interaction while dining out too. Liz and I entered a standard Japanese restaurant and stood helplessly in front of the touchscreen ordering machine for a few good minutes before figuring it out. It even takes your money. Hello robo-future.
Expensive. Speaking of money, our late arrival to the airport necessitated taking a taxi to our destination. We watched through covered eyes as the meter ate through an Indian first class overnight train fare in 20 minutes flat. Not to worry, this was an important step in our imminent readjustment to western pricing.
Beautiful. There's a 1-2 week period when Japan's famous cherry blossoms (sakura) are in bloom. And with unexpected and perfect timing, we were there to admire them. We spent a sunny day in Ueno Park, where people picnic on the wide sidewalks underneath pink and white arches of the blossoming trees. Tokyo on the whole is an incredibly clean city that seems to always put forth a fresh face, even in the alleys and corners where you would expect grunge.
Fashionable. While the Japanese may be all about pounding in the odd peg out, fashion is wildly popular and readily accepted. We felt horribly un-put together on the streets as we threw together outfits consisting of the last of our clean clothes. We seriously lacked the staples of Japanese couture: high heels, an impossibly flawless face, nude color combinations, fake eyelashes, layers, stockings, etc. etc. Needlessly to say, we didn't fit in any better in the sea of black business suits that often envelopes one while riding the public transportation. One of our favorite destinations was Takeshita Dori in Harajuku. It's a strip of clothing and accessory stores, and the street is crowded with hip teenagers who model Japan's current trends as they pass by. On Sunday, Takeshita street becomes home to the city's goth scene and (I believe) the Harajuku girls that Gwen Stefani sings about, who make appearances in full costume.
Delicious. Sushi, noodles, Japanese candy, crepes from Harajuku filled with ice cream, bananas, cheesecake, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. What more can I say.
Safe. One phenomenon of Tokyo is that you can lead a big-city life without the big-city concern of safety. To quote people who live there, crime is "pretty much nonexistent." People don't lock their doors and they leave their briefcases and telephones sitting in public places if they need to use the restroom. We found ourselves in a red light district, but we honestly wouldn't have known it if wasn't for a few key descriptions and pictures. It was just as pleasant as any other street.
Chock full of culture. On our last day in Tokyo we visited the GHIBLI MUSEUM, an inside look at the work of famous Japanese film maker Hayao Miyazaki. On our way home we hit up Nakano Boulevard, whose upstairs shops boast pricey vintage and collectible treasures, impressive graphic novel productions, and more to fulfill the needs of Japanese hobbyists. On the main floor I gave in the claw machine trend. 1000 yen and one plead later, victory was mine in the form of a furry pink tote bag.
The last destination. Yeah, I can't really wrap my head around it yet. I think one last farewell blog post is in order, as soon I gather some trip statistics and remember how a computer works. So I'll spare you the dramatic goodbye, for now. I will say that Tokyo was a perfect way to end our trip.
10 bonus points to whoever knew that the title of this post is a reference to the Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift soundtrack, which we unfortunately had stuck in our heads the whole stay.
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