Japan Trip - Part 1: Tokyo

Clouds at 30,000 feet.

It is Japan after all!

Ok, so I am back from my trip in Japan, and have finally had the time to sit down, work on some photos and write a bit! You must understand that Japan, and especially Tokyo, is a place that is always on the go. You can find relaxing places, but when you're on holiday here, you just don't want to waste your time on the Internet typing a blog - there is just so much out there to see and do! So, let me tell you all about my 2 week trip!

Take me to Electric Town!

First stop - the biggest city on the planet - Tokyo! This city is just huge - covering 13,000sq km and holding a massive 35 million people, there is just nothing like it on the planet! Sydney, a big city in it's own right, has only 4.7 million and covers 12,00 sq km. Sometimes Sydney feels packed, peak hour traffic in the car and the trains, but it aint nothing! The Japanese capital city feels more like 5 or 6 cities in 1, with each 'city' having it's own culture, types of restaurants and just a whole different feel to them. Most cities are walkable, but Tokyo, although flat as a pancake, is just far too big. All this said, there is no pushing and shoving, no anger at the transport system (because it's wonderful!), and no matter how many people you get on the street or in the train, everyone just gets along so well - a marvel a modern city living that nobody else seems to have achieved! Well done Japan! I must say however, that although everyone was very accommodating at the airport, I did get a fingerprint scan and a photo taken before getting in... all on a cutsie Hello Kitty-style camera!

Most popular band in Japan - AKB48.

'Maids' in Akihabara.

While all of Japan has a fascination with technology, it is most noticeable in it's biggest city. Before coming here, I had imagined that Tokyo would be like Ridley Scott's 80s cult film "Blade Runner." It wasn't far off the mark! Taxis with all sorts of screens, buttons and dials on the dashboard, the doors open automatically, you nearly expect the old Toyota to take off and fly through the city! If you want to get the real Japan, then Akihabara is the place for you! Also called Electric Town, it is the home of games, manga and the Popstar girl band AKB48. I have to mention this band first - the AKB stand for the suburb of Akihabara, and the 48 is for the number of band members... yes 48 Japanese pop stars in the same band! Imagine splitting the profits 48 ways? It is hard enough keeping track of some 5 member pop bands (1D for example all look the same to me...), 48 is a disaster. They are extremely popular though, and have their own store with merchandising (including signed photos so you can take your favourite home) as well as a restaurant with each girl having a special meal named after her - I know! The roster of this band rotates, and so far there have been 140 girls, and they have made US$128m in 2013 alone.

Vending machine for beer...

Kill Bill style restaurant.

Nearly everything has been automated here - vending machines that sell anything from coffee to cold drinks, and even ice-cream; some bars require you to order through a vending machine, for a beer or hot meal for example, drop the ticket off at the bar, then they bring you your order; and of course the toilets - spray wash (male and female setting), heating seat and blow drying... unnecessary maybe, but very Japanese. Everything also talks - huge 20m billboards on the street blare out pop tunes or the latest hair product ad; garbage trucks tell you that they are coming down the street and to be careful; ambulances announcing to the traffic that they are coming through, and would you kindly please allow me through... you have to experience it to believe it. 

Busy intersection in Tokyo.

Chillin in the Cat Cafe.

Cosplay in Akihabara.

So, heading down to Akihabara with my mate who is living in Tokyo (thanks again Oli for showing me round!), we decided to find the retro gaming store 'Super Potato,' with the aim of buying a SuperFamicon (or Super NES). Along the way we found Maid Cafe's and Cat Cafe's. Very different! The Maid Cafe we didn't go in, but go approached and invited in. Something about scantily clad, (possibly if not just) under-age girls wearing manga slash French maid outfits is a little 'dirty old man' for me, so that was a no. This was Manga heaven though - girls in Cosplay advertising card games, electronics stores and comic books stores all in one - and even weird pornographic Anime on the street.

Maid Cafe in Akihabara.

The Cat Cafe, however, was a winner! You have to pay Y1200 ($12) to get in and then buy a coffee or tea for Y300 ($3), but you then have the quietest hour you will find in the entire city! Cats are laying everywhere - on top or in a bookshelf, on the receptionist's desk, and just about anywhere they damn-well please - it is their cafe! The whole idea behind this is so people can come and relax, get some peace and quiet away from the hussle and bussle, and pat cats. Most people in Tokyo live in tiny apartments, and you can't keep an animal, and the city life is very stressful, so it works. The cats on the other hand weren't too happy about the arrangement I don't think. Cats are generally pretty independent creatures, and here they are locked inside and touched by strangers all day.

A traditional "yaki" bar - smoking allowed too!

"Super Potato"

After getting some help from a few young Japanese guys (and from Google Maps as well!), we found Super Potato. This place is tucked away, and hard to find. Plenty of people seem to find it though - it was packed with 30 and 40-somethings playing retro games! Wonderboy in Monsterland on an arcade machine, Sega Megadrives and what I had come for - a Super Famicon! Here, it was called a Super NES, but I prefer the Japanese 'Family Computer.' At only $30, it's a bargain, and you can get all the games you want. Although I didn't buy it at the time (as I would have to drag the thing around for 2 weeks), my order is in and it will be sent to Australia... so Mario Bros all day very soon!

Smoky restaurant in Shinjuku.

A trip to Tokyo wouldn't be complete without a night out in one of the busiest hubs in the city - Shibuya. It is the famous crossing - seen in the movie "Lost in Translation," and is everything you think it would be! Here, buildings are all lit up with advertising, movie screens, neon signs and of course that crossing. You need to sit in Starbucks (if you can find a seat!), sip an expensive coffee and just watch the wonder that is Shibuya crossing! After you've built up some confidence, you just gotta get in there and walk it! Although hundreds of people cross it at every green light, it is easy and not scary - no pushing, no hurry, and the cars don't seem to be in a rush to go at their green light either. After this, we headed to a cool restaurant which looked just like the one from "Kill Bill," ate some fantastic food, then headed to a Karaoke bar of course!

15 floors up for a restaurant - only in Japan!

This is only scratching the surface of this weird and wonderful city! Tokyo is a great city - the sheer size of it is enough to blow you away, and yet it isn't all that daunting. Although the train system is confusing, it works and is extremely efficient - and of course people are so helpful, kind and polite - I rarely got lost for very long! After 2 days in Tokyo, Oli had to work, so I headed out into the huge concrete jungle for myself... a brave move!