Wednesday, August 30, 2006

A yen for Japan


(L): Sushi set dinner on my second night in Tokyo, (R): Little tablets found on the temple grounds in Gion, Kyoto

Much as I love a beach holiday, I also adore a holiday in a big city. I'm a city girl at heart, and I love looking at tall skyscrapers, twinkling lights, people-watching and poking down little alleyways.

So in that sense, Tokyo was the perfect city to pick. I am totally in love with Tokyo. The city is filled with interesting architecture, beautiful friendly people, safe streets, a bustling nightlife and all the best eating and shopping a girl could ask for. I went there with only the loosest of plans - to explore and wander around all the popular areas like Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando, Daikanyama, Akihabara and Asakusa - and also to take a trip to Kyoto to see the old cultural heart of Japan. And of course, to eat as much sushi and sashimi as my stomach could take.

And I am very pleased to report that the mission was pretty much accomplished. There were a few things that I didn't get to do, like visit Animate or the Ghibli museum, but I kept telling myself not to stress over what I didn't get to do, but to just enjoy everything that I did do, like watch a kabuki performance, visit the Tsukiji fish market, master the Tokyo subway system, and watch some Japanese festival performances. Anyhoo, there's always another time to visit the place. The city is large and there is yet much more to be explored.

5 comments:

JellyGirl said...

Hi thenun, how lovely! I think you'll love the shopping in Tokyo. There are tons of little lanes and boutiques to explore, as well as large shopping malls to gawk at. I'd highly recommend you check out La Foret in Harajuku, and all the little boutiques in Daikanyama (you can get there by the Tokyo Toyoku line from Shibuya station).

Accomodation wise, I stayed at Tokyu Stay Higashi-Ginza, which is actually closer to the Tsukiji station, but if you'd like to be closer to the action, I recommend the Tokyu Stay hotel in Shibuya. The rates are v reasonable (less than 10,000 yen a night), clean, and relatively large by Tokyo standards. The rooms also come with free Internet access, washing machine and microwave.

Have a great trip!

Anonymous said...

Shopping!!! I wanna go to Japan too! How was kyoto? It looks like such a romantic little place from all the pics I've seen...

Anonymous said...

i hope you visit the askusa temple. my last time to japan was in 2004 and i'll love to be there again...

Fashionasia said...

show us the loot!! :>

JellyGirl said...

Kierra: I did! I went to Asakusa on my second last day in Tokyo. Didn't stay too long there though, just wandered around for an hour or two.

Fashionasia: Coming soon :)