I have now spent som time in Tokyo.. And I love it.
The way the Japanese are different are facinating. The pulse of Tokyo, the size, the differences in neighbourhoods – well. Neighbourhoods is not really precise or correct.
Tokyo contains 23 wards, each is a city in its own right. and with 32 million population in the metropolitan area believe, this is fair also…
Tokyo has been ranked as the largest metropolitan area (by populaion) in the world since 1965!
The districts are completely different, from Roppongi, which is the embassy area – and the most visitor friendly – with nightclubs and employees who actually speak other languages than japanese, and – surprise – with menus in english!
This is the only drawback I see in Japan: They are NOT inviting visitors, or making it easy for them to be in Japan. Everything is in japanese only, and only few speak other languages… I have seen thousands of nightclubs, restaurants, entertainment places etc. – but had NO CLUE what was happening behind the closed door as I didn’t understand neither the sign over the door, nor the description in the “services offered”. It didn’t change my facination though.
Apart from Roppongi, which is where I would suggest foreigners went for a great time out, the other specific areas I visited was:
- Shibuya – the “posh” and very busy part of Tokyo with lots of skyscrapers, shopping malls and the youth (trying) to look cool. Definte a visit worth
- Akihabara – the electronic capital… But forget that. It is also the “strange” capital of Tokyo or Japan for that matter. This is the area where there are (I don’t know exctly what it is, as I didn’t try one because of lack of Japanese skills; and foreigners are in general not welcome such places!)
- hundreds of Maid-cafes , but from what I can see – young girls dressed up as maids and giving customers the impression, that they come “home” when entering the cafe. The attraction is to WATCH the girls serve in their maid customes…
- dozens of Image-Clubs, where men can go and get their sexual-fantasies lived out, if it is sex in the subway, or with a schoolgirl… The legal age for concentual sex in Japan is 12 years!!! – however, the girls are older in these places. But even more strangely: Prostitution is illegal, i.e. coitus – but everything else is legal! understand it who can…
- cos-play: People dress up as their favorite animation characters and play toghether… This is happening everywhere on the streets, but especially weekends
- Shinjuku: The financial district with the busiest train station in the world. This reminds me, the train stations in Tokyo are enormous – and there are many. Each has their own shopping centre and a complete “small city” built around it… Shinjuku is were Takashimaya “Times Square” of Tokyo is located. Flash and posh
- Asakusa… The old part of Tokyo, shrines, temples, and almost no skyscrapers… Great as a contrast to all the other futuristic parts. But almost as you are not in Japan?! This was where I was staying.
- Ginza – the high street of fashion and also a financial district. One word: Shopping…. I believed, that Singapore, and especially Orchard Road, was the epitome of shopping mekka. I was wrong… Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo wins hands down. But then again: Singapore only has a population of 4 million. New York has 8 million while Beijing has 17, Shanghai 19 – well Bangkok is not included here, but with 8 million people, it is comparable with New York (the most populous city in the US).
I could babble on, but must get on with my life… In short: Tokyo is definitely worth a visit. I would say a MUST DO on every itinerary going to the far east.
But learn some japanese before you go, to get the full benefit… I am game to do so, and apparently japanese is not as difficult as chinese…
