Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the world’s great cities. It is a hi-tech showcase of modern Japan, and yet it still retains the soul of traditional Japan. It manages to be extremely comfortable, even luxurious, while remaining decidedly mysterious and exotic. First and foremost, Tokyo is a food-lover’s paradise. Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any city on earth. So if you’re after culinary adventure – look no further – Tokyo has food that will change your life! And the shopping is incredible – if you can’t find it in Tokyo, it probably doesn’t exist. So, beg, borrow or steal. Take those vacation days you have stored up. And get on a plane to Tokyo! I guarantee you – you will be damn glad you did…. Unlike Kyoto, which has dozens of must-see attractions like temples and gardens, Tokyo is a city that you should experience in its entirety. You just have to walk through it or sit down for coffee and let it walk by you. (From First Time in Tokyo web posting.)

Just start doing a little research about Tokyo and you will find lots of advice recommending the city to visitors. In addition to comments from the above site, its intensity, organization, and lack of crime are mentioned.

Our ship docked in Tokyo on June 20 (Day 158) for an overnight stay. I booked a panoramic tour, where I saw lots of sights from the bus. I did not know that Tokyo has a Tokyo Tower, patterned after the Eiffel Tower. I have now visited the Tokyo Tower’s observation level.

The city also has many skyscrapers, which can be viewed from the tower.

Tokyo has an imperial palace within the city. One can see the outside walls, but not visit inside.

There were also Buddhas and shrines.

I took another tour to walk around two different shopping districts (old and new). The older one had some traditional souvenirs. The new one turned out to be the Ginza district. I walked, enjoying the atmosphere of bustle and glitz. I bought nothing in the high end stores that filled the streets.

As I was going back to the ship, one of my fellow travelers said she was going to go out for dinner. “Do you want to come?” I decided on the spur of the moment to forgo the incrementally free food on the ship for the evening and said: “Sure.”

Several others agreed to go, so we were a party of five. We couldn’t all fit into one cab, so took two cabs there and back.

I did not ask for more information about where we were going. Turns out it was back to the Ginza district. The restaurant had been highly recommended as a place the locals go.

I must specify that the food was outstanding. I had sukiyaki for the first time, which was delicious. Others had shabu-shabu. We went for only the middle grade of beef, but it was the tenderest I have ever had. This picture shows the kettle containing the very hot broth used to cook the shabu-shabu at the table.

And, I now know from experience why Tokyo is often thought to have the most expensive restaurants in the world. And, now I know that if someone suggests going out to dinner in Tokyo, the Ginza district is the tipoff for asking further questions. My tab for the evening was $50 for the cab (shared with one other) and over $200 for the meal.

And that is my Tokyo experience. I know there is a lot more there. It is on my list to perhaps go back some day.