A city described in the Loney Planet as “constantly re-inventing itself”.  I see it as a city where history has melded with progress.  It’s huge – over 30 million people in the Tokyo area, it’s very crowded and always busy but it’s tidy and the people are oh so polite.

It’s an organised chaos.

I had no previous concept of the size and density – there’s high rise cityscape as far as the eye can see, 360 degrees.  We were merely two small specks in a sea of buildings, technology, business, colours, busy-ness and people.

My first impression of Japan as we flew in over the coastal areas  =  neatness.  They use every inch of land.

We stayed in the Shinjuku area.  It has the biggest and busiest train station in the world but finding your way around and out of it is relatively easy, although we had to recalibrate ourselves  (like the GPS) when disorientated a couple of times.

The people of Tokyo are fascinating.  The women and men are all so fashionable, impeccably dressed, polite, quiet, respectful and orderly, and they queue up for everything (outside shops, restaurants, train platforms, everywhere).  I felt compelled to join on the end for some reason.

Crumbed Oyster

My first ever crumbed oyster experience was in a Shinjuku restaurant for lunch.  Huge oysters, delicious flavour.  Jeff is the seafood lover between us, but I’m thinking that I’d better get a taste for it while in Japan – it’s everywhere….

Salmon with Mushrooms in Miso

Let’s go to an izakaya bar, he says on the first night.  Ok!

Izakayas are tiny bars with food where people drop in on the way home from work, and there’s one at every second shop front and corner as well as down alleys, upstairs and behind hidden doors and curtains.  Japanese really like their beer and food.

Jeff was in foodie heaven.  I was a little hesitant.  We chose a seafood themed izakaya (of course).  The little fish tasted good but I just couldn’t bring myself to eat the heads.

I felt the amused eyes of the chefs on me so I tried not to pull faces.

Clams in a spicy sauce (I think they were raw).

Shibuya Crossing

A quick train trip to see the famous Shibuya Crossing – no trip to Tokyo is complete without it!  Busy enough but not peak hour so we experienced a watered down version.

There’s many streets leading off the Shibuya crossing area.

And then Jeff was open for business (food is always on his mind).

We found this little local gem tucked away on a side street where we were practically sitting in the kitchen, squeezed up at a bench with local workers coming and going.

The Spicey Ramen (it was nose running spicey) and gyoza were spectacular.

The Government Municipal Building Observatory

The best place to view the city (for free).

I really loved this sculpture outside the building.  I wish I could find out what it means.

The building on the right (above) is the Cocoon Building – it houses four schools, mostly textile and fashion.

And, on a clear day you can easily see Mt Fuji – this is taken from our hotel room.

Omoide Yokocho aka Piss Alley

Omoide Yokocho (Memory Alley), is more commonly known as Piss Alley, named a long time ago when it was quite a shady area for drinking and unsavoury behaviour.  But now it’s a dining and drinking experience where incredibly small yakitori shacks (where they cook meat on skewers) and izakaya bars are sandwiched next to each other along a narrow and very crowded walkway.

During the day it looks fairly quiet.

At night, it comes alive.  Still a man’s domain though.

Having a pet in this crowded city is rare.  Don’t fret – you can spend time with a cat or a rabbit while enjoying a coffee for around 2,000 yen for 10 minutes.  Cute!

And, then it was time to leave – catching the train to Matsumoto.   Still lining up…..

Jeff and Catherine xx