The Wandering Chocoholic

Welcome to Tokyo

Tokyo is overwhelming. I consider myself a pretty experienced traveler, but the sheer size and scope of Tokyo makes it daunting for anyone. With flashing neon lights and billboards everywhere, this megopolis of more than 12 million people looms as something more to be conquered than to be seen. Still, Tokyo ranks up there with the world’s Great Cities, like London or New York, and I was really excited to finally get here.

Overview

We were staying right near Tokyo Tower, so after checking in, I took the opportunity to head up there. It was nighttime, and the observatory showed views of Tokyo all lit up for miles in every direction. The overview of the city is really impressive, as it gives an idea of the sheer size and scope of it. Unlike Kyoto or Hiroshima, Tokyo isn’t built on a grid system; it’s just sort of a hodgepodge that grew organically in all directions. From the top, I was able to see all the different neighbourhoods.

Outside Tokyo Tower, they’d set up a sort of Christmas exhibit with lights and displays. I’m still pretty surprised at how big a deal they make about Christmas here, though I guess retail holidays are good for business.

Shibuya

Next, we headed to Shibuya. This famous neighbourhood of Japan is where the young, hip and trendy hang out. Full of shops, restaurants and neon, it’s a must-see area especially after dark. The main square outside the train station was really something; it felt even more impressive than Times Square. And people, people everywhere. One of the most amazing things is to watch what happens when they all cross the street at once on a “walk” symbol. The triangular intersection means that people are crossing in three different directions, and it’s really cool to see, especially from the aerial vantage point of the train station.

Warning: this fish may kill you

For dinner, we decided to try fugu. This fish, known as pufferfish in English, has to be prepared just so, or else it can be deadly poisonous. Sounds like the perfect meal, right?

The restaurant served it in a bunch of different ways, including grilled, fried, boiled in broth, and raw as sashimi, which is most traditional way and also the most dangerous way to eat it. I personally liked it fried the best, but I dutifully tried all of them. All that was topped off with a generous helping of sake, ostensibly to make everyone feel better about eating potentially poisonous fish. Actually, it was quite good, and nobody got so much as an allergy attack, so I guess it was prepared all right.

The karaoke that wasn’t

By the time we got through with dinner, it was past 11, and we were all exhausted. We’d planned to head to a karaoke bar, but we decided to forego those plans to sleep instead. Karaoke’s no fun when you’re exhausted, anyway. Just as a note: There are 24-hour karaoke places everywhere, and apparently, people who get caught out after the trains and subways stop running sometimes rent a karaoke booth just to sleep, since it’s cheaper than taking a cab. Ditto with internet cafes. You have to wonder about a city that never sleeps where the public transit doesn’t run all night, no? But if you’re an internet cafe or a karaoke chain, it’s good for business, I suppose.
Up next: More Tokyo.