Tokyo is a bustling metropolis that makes New York City look like a small town. It seamlessly blends traditional culture with ultra-modern technology. Henry is all about the vending machines. It is the capital of Japan, covering an area of approximately 2,194 square kilometers, and it is home to over 37,000,000 people.
Despite its size, Tokyo is surprisingly clean. We saw many people in work clothes, sporting neon vests picking up trash. It is difficult to find a trash can, but even harder to find trash on the streets. Tokyo is also well-organized. It is easy to navigate the public transportation.
On our first full day, we headed to Shibuya Crossing, located outside Shibuya Station. It is one of the most iconic experiences in Tokyo. We crossed the street with hundreds of other people.
Then, we stretched our legs with a walk to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. This shrine was completed and dedicated in 1920 to Emperor Meiji (the first emperor of Modern Japan) and the Empress Shoken. The dedication occurred eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was bombed during World War II but later rebuilt.
Another must-see in Tokyo is the famous Godzilla statue on the Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku. This larger-than-life statue pays homage to the iconic movie monster and has become a popular landmark in the area. It is just around the corner from the 3-D cat billboard.
A bird’s eye view is something we Watkins enjoy, so we had to make a stop at the futuristic Tokyo Skytree. We also dropped into the nearby planetarium to watch a show since we missed the solar eclipse total solar eclipse in the U.S.
Michael and I went on a date day to see a show at Shinjuku Samurai Restaurant. The show is an hour and forty minutes of flashy, over-the-top performances with bright lights, dazzling costumes, and blinding sets. The show includes samurai, evil lords, sword battles, and acrobatics.
Michael, Lucas, and Henry found the pickleball scene in Tokyo. They played twice there in two different locations. We explored parks and malls near our hotel, tried out the vending machines and frequented the grocery store to cook in our teeny tiny kitchen in our very small hotel room.
There is something for everyone in Tokyo. We just scratched the surface but enjoyed our time in this giant city.
