It’s in the district of Shibuya—home to the Meiji Temple—a pagoda and a Shinto shrine that my love story with Japan begins. Shibuya reflects the intersection of the rich and preserved Japanese culture and the vibrant trend of the new era.
My expectations of Japan were high. It’s a country I’ve always wanted to visit and I was eager to sample and dabble in the unique and crazy lifestyle I’ve only seen on television. I was very much excited about those fancy bidet toilets with fountain-like functions.
I ventured into some of Tokyo’s more modern areas: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku and the ‘electric city’ Akihabara. Each area is an over indulgence on the senses, crammed full with neon twinkling lights, robotic voices, and students dressed in animé costumes.
Japan is one of those countries you can’t really prepare for — the beautiful yet complex traditions; the famously impenetrable etiquette; and bitingly modern pop culture combined into everyday life that could wrong-foot even the most experienced traveller.
Tokyo is a city that can roar one moment and whisper at the next, a place where almost anything seems possible. It’s a one-stop centre for the best of Japan — its culture, quality products and impeccable service.
But you can’t say you really know what to do in Tokyo until you spend your mornings walking through its temples, shrines and parks; your afternoons exploring its neighbourhoods and back streets and your nights feasting in its restaurants, gliding through the endless mecca of shopping malls, and drinking in its bars.
For the visitor wondering what to do in Tokyo, the choices are limitless. A little knowledge of the Japanese language goes a long way.
It’s always a good idea to learn some Nippon-go when you travel, if only out of courtesy. From my experience, even managing a hesitant “arigato” when you buy something or a tentative “sumimasen” when you need to get someone’s attention will have a marked effect.
You will make some mistakes…
During the brief one and a half weeks I visited Tokyo, here are just some of the hard lessons I learnt: don’t wear shoes inside; never stick chopsticks upright in rice; don’t leave a tip; never blow your nose in public and always bring a gift when you’re staying with someone, or at a AirBnb location. Unfortunately, there is no way you’re going to get everything right. One of the many good things about being a gaijin (a foreigner) in Japan is that, when you make a mistake, you’ll most likely be forgiven.
Why you’d be coming back
Crazy festivals, complex etiquette, incredible food, stunning landscapes, beguiling history… There are so many amazing experiences in Japan that you’ll never even scratch the surface in one trip. Whether it’s the genuinely warm, hospitable people, or the desire to visit that one famous temple you missed (oh, that mountain you didn’t climb, and of course that restaurant your friend recommended, and that day-trip you couldn’t squeeze in). You’ll leave with some inarguable reason to come back to this bizarre, beautiful country and learn everything all over again. In Japan, culture meets crazy — and to experience one without the other would do the city an injustice.
Domo Arigatô Gozaimasu. ?????????????