Tokyo Flash

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Tokyo City

Yes, Tokyo’s a city all right, but just another city? I don’t think so. I’ve been wondering myself what it is that makes me love being here so much and decided to pin it down to these key characteristics. It’s a by no means definitive list but hopefully this will share just a little of what it is that makes this city stand out from the crowd.

Energy And Excitement

Tokyo city has a pulse of its own that changes between daytime and nighttime. From 7am to 7pm, the city dances to the tune of business. 3 million people pass through Shinjuku train station each and every working day. That’s still a fact that blows me away and I live here. How on earth do you get 3 million people through a train station?! Now that might sound like too many bodies and an awful headache to deal with, but somehow it all works here. The pace of life rarely slows and there’s a certain determination in the way that people step out that brings its own energy to the daylight hours.

Nighttime sees the neon switching on and the noise levels notching up as business moves to the bars. This is, quite often, where the real deals are made within the conventions of the culture. The younger Tokyoites head to Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Roppongi with their dance clubs and amusement halls. The more sedate amongst us (read older – yes that includes me) can head to slightly quieter climes if we choose. Favorite places include Ebisu, Jiyugaoka, and Yotsuya.

Trustworthy And Honorable

Japan is known for being a relatively safe country to visit, but it is also a trustworthy and honorable one. Why do I say so? Walk down the high street in any part of town and you will see cars parked, keys in the engine, with the owner nowhere in sight. There is no worry that the car will be stolen or taken for a joyride. Watch people fall asleep on the train on the way home from work. There is no fear that someone will pickpocket or steal personal possessions.

One of the most memorable stories I heard in this regard was during the World Cup of 2002. I was watching an England match in a bar in Shinjuku and chatting to the fans who had come over for the event. A couple of guys in there were Irish and had just seen Ireland play at Saitama stadium. One of them told me how he had lost his wallet which contained all his important documents including passport, credit cards, and driving license during the match. It was only when he had left the ground that he realized what had happened.

A Japanese guy, seeing his panic, asked him what was wrong. Hearing the story he told the man to go back into the ground and see if anyone had handed in the wallet. As you can imagine this got an incredulous ‘Yeah sure!’ response, but with the Japanese guy taking over, the Irish man went back to the stadium. I think you’ve guessed the punch line. He was handed his wallet with everything still perfectly intact and he sang the praises of the Japanese and Japan to everyone around us in the pub that night. Why am I telling you this story? This is not a one off occurrence. This is part of life in Tokyo city and just another reason why I love being here.

As a stronger influence comes from the West and other countries, and with a growing percentage of the population being non-Japanese, this will undoubtedly change. However, for now at least, you can relax in the knowledge that although you may be in one of the biggest cities in the world with one of the largest economies in the world, respect and honor are still strong driving factors in this busy megalopolis.

Old And New

Finally, Tokyo has a wonderful blend of old and new. Even in the most modern of city buildings like Roppongi Hills – see http://www.roppongihills.com/en/ – there are whispers of the past in the preserved Japanese garden or the small shrine living alongside the shiny new office blocks. There is the office lady rushing to work in her pants suit or the lady going to a tea ceremony wearing a ceremonial kimono. Head to the area of town called Asakusa to visit Sensoji Temple and your brush with days gone by becomes stronger. Jump on the train for 15 minutes and you are in the middle of Ginza, the heart of designer shopping and modern trends. One thing is for sure, each district in Tokyo city has a wardrobe and emotions of its own. You can choose to stick with an area you find and like or, and I highly recommend it, try on as many coats as you can during your stay.

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Want to find out more about Tokyo and what’s going on? Want to do your vacation planning in one place? Visit TokyoTopia at http://www.tokyotopia.com Find out more about some of the places you can visit in the city at http://www.tokyotopia.com/tokyo-sightseeing.html

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