Tokyo - Japan

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Tokyoites

Tokyo (officially Tokyo Metropolis) is one of the most desirable cities to live and the name is often linked to the magic moment in most people’s lives – dream comes true. But what is the real meaning of the name?

Tokyo (Tōkyō: tō (east) + kyō (capital))

Geographically, Tokyo is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan located on the eastern side of the main island Honshu, Kanto region. It’s also the capital and the largest city in the archipelago. However it’s more often than not called a metropolis(to) rather than a prefecture(ken). Tokyo Metropolis encompasses the 23 special wards(tokubetsu-ku; Shibuya and Shinjuku are among the more famous wards), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of the main island Honshu.

Wake up! I know human’s brain recoils geographical facts but going through them will help you gain your composure while travel in the busy city full of tall futuristic buildings. Traveling without knowledge is like sailing without a compass, and a compass is all that you can rely on here.

The magic of Tokyo

The 24/7 hustles and bustles, the chilling night life, the unfathomable tradition, the ever-changing fashion, the warm hospitality and the respectful perseverance of Tokyoites are all summing up to just the tip of the iceberg. It could take a whole lifetime to explore and experience what Tokyo really has.

What is so unique about Tokyo is the mixture of two extreme elements as suggested in angelic devil and devilish angels. It is so amazing a capital which the past, naturally and exclusively blends in with the future. A place you find Zen temples snuggle in sci-fi cityscapes and centuries-old madness for Sakura (cherry blossoms) coexists with a voracious crave for ever-changing innovation.

Tokyoites embrace both old custom and new practice in their daily lives. At certain point in the calendar you see them in traditional loincloths carrying a movable Shinto shrine on the shoulder during Asakusa’s religious festivals. At another point they would be maneuvering artificial intelligence fighting machines in Akihabara’s robot sport tournaments.

Old and new are forever juxtapose in Tokyo: its residents are at home both donning loincloths to shoulder a portable Shinto shrine through Asakusa’s religious festivals and piloting humanoid fighting machines in Akihabara’s robot sport tournaments. This is the reason why the world never stops wondering how these civilized people actually build a harmonious link between tradition and innovation.

There is another distinct contrast here. Inside the emergency room the doctors were wiping off the sweat on the foreheads and hectic nurses fumbled through the instruments looking for the right equipments the doctor requested. And then..Certified. Karoshi(literally means death from overwork). Yes, it is legally recognized in Japan. Workaholic is ubiquitous, the case of occupational sudden death increases each year. But at the other end of the world, you’ll find thousands of Tokyoites enjoying themselves to the most along the neon-lined row of Shinjuku Yakitori joints during the weekend or any cherry orchard in spring.

What more? Freshly served sashimi always gets deep respect, heartfelt karaoke always get thunderous applause and cheers. They are always driven by the smallest token of beauty, which is imperceptible for others, of everything in their lives. They thrive under the overwhelming curiosity about how outsiders perceive this archipelago in the doomsday.

Travelers are always led astray by the misconceived notion of Tokyo being a country resembles any Western’s. In fact, unveiling the mask of one city after another through the well-organized and systematic metropolis would deny what first impression suggests; None of Tokyoites does things like any westerner. From taking out the trash to cheering a baseball match, they are just so typically Japanese.

Visiting the attractions is not really the essence of traveling around Tokyo. The one-of-a-kind feelings you would never be able to experience at any other point in the atlas is the understanding of how “wa”(social harmony) stems from their reverence for ritual, courtesy and the power to “ganbaru”(persevere). Mind like water is the basic understanding that keeps this super-crowded megalopolis peaceful at the heart of the storm.

Travel To Tokyo - Top 10 Best Places

If you are on a quick trip and do not wish to waste time on visiting places which are sometimes hyped by the travel books, here are the A-list of top 10 places that worth your quality time.

Shibuya - Popular district among younger generations.
Harajuku - Center of teenage fashion and cosplay culture
Shinjuku - District around Japan’s busiest station.
Ginza - Japan’s premier shopping district.
Asakusa - District with an atmosphere of old Tokyo.
Odaiba - Futuristic architecture on a man-made island.
Meiji Shrine - Dedicated to the deity of Emperor Meiji.
Ueno Park - City park with multiple museums and a zoo.
Rikugien - Beautiful Japanese style landscape garden.
Sensoji Temple - Large temple in the Asakusa district.

Three Reasons Why I love Tokyo

These are also somewhat absurd reasons after those being suggested in the previous post about Japan.

The working culture. Tokyoites will not go home early even they finish the works earlier than the normal off time. It has something to do with the self-esteem as their wives and other family members would look down on them by assuming that they are lazy. What they do then? Drinking in the bar or savoring the fresh sushi at the roadside restaurant with colleagues!
Ever-flowing city. Everything seems to keep moving in the heart of the city, from the infatigueable legs on the Shibuya cross roads to the never-off neon lights in the cityscapes, this is truly the reflection of Bangkok. The only thing you don’t see in the mirror is the rampant sexual trade on the street. Oh, you’ll be able to see that kind of activity if you know the way. They are more civilized huh?
Hysteric typically Tokyoites. I wonder if hysterical is the right adjectives but yea..they are easily shocked by trivial things. Hey no kidding man. They would cry for even just a piece of normal taste sushi sold at the roadside. I guess you are more stunned when they give you the super-duper-very-ultra-exaggeratedly express,”Oishi da ne..(really super delicious)”

A little story in Tokyo

As all of us know courtesy is of utmost important in Japan. In a very hot afternoon, two Tokyoites were bidding goodbye at Shinkansen, a Tokyo bullet train station. A suit-clad office worker bowed and said “sayonara”(goodbye) to his colleague. As a civilized manner his colleague gave him a bow back immediately when he was half-way straightening his body. He saw that and quickly bowed again and his colleague was half-way straightening his body…

And then, the operator was announcing that that was the last mid-night train before the station closed.

So now you know how polite Tokyoites can be.