The Arrival
We arrived in Japan about 1 pm Tokyo time. It was 36 degrees and very warm . The line to get through customs was long and exhausting but moved quickly. There were no surprises so we headed out to purchase our Suica card. This card is loaded with Yen and can be used for transportation anywhere in Japan, stores and vending machine purchases. It can be reloaded anytime. It makes it so easy to go in and out of train stations with a quick swipe of the card. We found our train to the hotel and boarded with our bags. Luckily our hotel was only a couple of blocks away from the station. The room was small(11sqm), but was clean and we are only Asakusa for two days.
The City: A Blend of Old and New
Asakusa is a true blend of old and new. It is home to the Senso-ji temple (pictured above). The Sensō-ji, is an ancient Buddhist temple. It is Tokyo’s oldest-established temple, and one of its most significant. It is dedicated to Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion. There is also a five story pagoda building beside the main temple. Just across the street you can see Skytree Tower, a modern highlight of Tokyo. It has two observation decks to view out over Tokyo. Also within this district is the Nikasene Market. It has rows and rows of stalls selling different items from small trinkets to beautiful kimonas. It flows into a shopping area of interesting stores and restaurants.
Nikko, Japan
We wanted to see some country side and we were not disappointed with our choice to go to Nikko. This is a two hour train ride North of Tokyo. This a small town with heaps of history. It is UNESCO world heritage site. It is the site of Toshogu, the famed Shinto shrine established in 1617 as a lavish memorial for Tokugawa Ieyasu, founding ruler of the Tokugawa shogunate, or Edo Period. The shrine comprises the gilded Yomeimon Gate, the main sanctuary set in a cedar grove and the tomb itself. This was an amazing day touring and reading this history. The setting is peaceful yet you feel the presence of power. The lines were long for the Nikko Toshogu Shrine so we elected to come back in the morning with less people. This worked well and we were able to see areas without a significant volume of people.
Back to Tokyo in Shinjuku
Our research worked. Our hotel is perfectly situated in Shinjuku. We arrived from Nikko by train, took the metro line and once we exited our hotel was right there. There is so much to see in Tokyo. From strolling in the streets, walking through parks, going to museums and highlighted districts within Tokyo. We went to Uemo park that is a serene area with many museums around it. We toured the National museum and was amazed again at the history and artifacts from the Edo period. All the history of influence to Japan from China and Korea is significant. A walk to Akihabara is a must. Store after store of electronics, one store we went to had eight floors with everything imaginable. A highlight was spending a day at Teamlab borderless. This is hard to explain but in essence is artwork using light and surfaces to create e a series of experiences.
Within the Teamlab borderless there is an exhibit called Sketch Ocean. Visitors color in a fish provided on paper and when you leave the area, they scan your drawing. In my case it was a seahorse and I could see my seahorse swimming in the ocean with other fish drawn by other people. If you touch the fish, they will swim away. You can also feed the fish by touching the food bags. It was fun to do and see.
We also did Teamlab planets which is a different experience. We actually had to go in our barefeet as some exhibits were under water. Exhibits had light features that had fish swimming all around you. It was unbelievable how realistic this was. It was very clean and they provided towels to dry off and slippers for some other areas.
The People
Any trip to Tokyo would not be complete without mentioning the wonderful people of Tokyo. Everyone is so helpful. Service is impeccable, always wanting to help and ensure you are well taken care of. Although, the subways are a busy area, everyone lines up. They are respectful of each other and no one is pushing or making you feel uncomfortable. Interesting situations seem to be a daily event. At breakfast our meal was delivered by a robot to our table. Even on leaving, we paid our bill to a machine so no staff transactions were needed.
We wandered around many more areas of Japan such as Shubuya, which is famous for the Shubuya Scramble crossing that is a mob of people crossing the intersection all at once. Incredible to see and be part of. We also spent time touring the area of Shinjuku. Wonderful shopping, home to the Metropolitan building that provides free access to a view of Tokyo from the 45 th floor. It was well worth the trip. An added feature is a grand piano in the area. People can offer to play and we heard some amazing music from some young people. They also have a nightly show on the side of the building. We watched a Godzilla movie that was very well done.
Reflections on Tokyo
This is indeed a big city but an organized and considerate big city. There are lots of people but they line up for the train, restaurants, in the stores with no pushing of shoving to get anything or anywhere. The train system is amazing and so well organized with letters and numbers, it was easy to use. the trains arrive quickly and always on time. I was nervous that I would be overwhelmed with Tokyo but we loved each and everyday we spent here.
We are off to Kyoto by the bullet train (The Shinkansen), it is less than a 2 hour trip as it goes so fast. Will update on Kyoto soon.
Miss you all but having a great time.