I have only been to TOKYO once.I was on a FAM,(this is a
Familiarization Trip for Travel Agents).
We were here in January and it rained a lot. We were lucky that one day we had a blue sky and could see Mount Fuji on the horizon.
As we were driving in from the Airport I notice a few things.One was that every Street was very clean and the second was that there were hundreds of Pro Shops, Theatres
and Magazines at the Newspaper Stalls.
It took more than an hour for us to arrive at the Narita Hotel.
SOME THINGS I SAW WERE COPIED FROM OTHER PLACES:
The Tokyo Tower is beautiful. The Eiffel Tower was the inspiration. There are two deck and the Observatory. At night we could see all of Tokyo at our feet.
Tokyo Disneyland is almost the same as Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
The large Water Park with it's man made beach, slides and wave swimming pool is a replica of the one at West Edmonton Mall.
It has become fashionable for Japanese Homes to look like Log Cabins, (these are shipped from a Company in Edmonton, Alberta in cartons with instructions), and they can be built within two days.
ON TOUR:
We had one and a half days Tour of the City. We did see all of the things I told you about above.
We went to see the large Buddha, (that is near the Yanaka Cemetery).
We went to the Askusa to see ''Old Tokyo''. The Homes had slanted roofs and the outside walls were all white. In front of them were rock Gardens with Bonsai and the many species of the Japanese Fir Trees. I bought a pure silk Kimono for my Husband, my Children and myself here. I also bought everyone a Japanese Cloisonne, (their Cloisonne is quite different from the Chinese), Tea Set.
We saw the Fish Market in the Tsukiju area and had a Fish Lunch in a small Café near here.
At Edo we saw the old architecture and walked through a lovely Park.
We went to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien and saw a lot of paintings from Vienna.
Then we went to the Imperial Place and walked through the Gardens, (they were fabulous).
At the Hayao Miyazaki's Movie World we saw the animated Movie Characters that the Japanese Movie Industry makes for TV and Movies.
The last thing we saw were the Ancient Temple and Tombs.
THE WAY WE SAW TOKYO:
When we were on Tour we had a Coach and a Guide, (who always carried a green Umbrella. She opened it so we could always find her. Each Guide did the same thing but the Umbrellas were a different colour.
We used the Subway to get to get to The Ginza, (the centre of the City). Everything here is very expensive. The Department Stores and Shops stay open late. There are a lot of electrical things you can buy. There are also a lot of Bars, Café's and Pachinko Parlours here.
A few times we used a Taxi. The Drivers wear white Gloves. When we got in I didn't notice that the door had opened by itself. When we arrived at our destination we were locked in until the Driver was paid. It was then that I saw he had a lever that could open the door.
THE FOOD:
You don't have to speak Japanese to eat in Café's out side of your Hotel. In the window you will see a display, (made out of plastic), that shows you what you can order. The Waiter will be happy to come outside with you so you can point to the food you want.
The food I love was Kobe Beef, (from Alberta but it's never sold in that Province), Tempura, big bowls of noodle Soup, Sukiyaki, Sushi and Sashimi. If you are having Sushi make sure you tell your Waiter you don't want to have anything that is alive, (I went to pick up a snail and it moved).
You will find that each dish you are served like a painting on your plate.
WE HAD ONE FREE NIGHT:
On our free night eight of us took the Subway to the Ginza. We walked around and saw a Pachinko Parlour. This is a popular Japanese Gambling Game.
We had heard that gambling is illegal in Japan so we decided to go in and see what the game was.
Pachinko Machines look like Slot Machines. You buy Tokens to play. Everyone who I was with won a few Chips a few time but I never did.
I was down to my last few Chips when the Owner was walking by me and saw I was smoking a Rothmans Cigarette. He signalled to me asking if he could try one and I offered him one from my package. He took one puff and nodded a ''thank you'' and walked away from me.
He was back in a few minutes and handed me three packages of Japanese Cigarettes and motioned that he would give me these if I gave him what was left in my Box. I agreed.
Just then the lights began to flicker, (we learned that was a warning that the Parlour was about to close). The Owner put his had behind my Machine and did something. All of a sudden every Chip in the Machine came pouring out.
He had his Assistant gather up the Chips. I was so stunned I hadn't moved. My Friends came over and told me to follow the Assistant so I did.
We came to a Desk where there were things I could choose items to redeem my Chips. There were Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, a Shaving Kit, Cigarettes and a lot of Biscuits and Candy.
I decided to take all the different types of Candy and Biscuits. I ended up with three bags full.
I saw a curtain and while they were putting my things into bags I peeked behind it and saw that there was a long line of Japanese redeeming their winnings for money.
BEWARE:
In our Group there was an older Man and his Son. One night they when to a Geisha Club. They enjoyed their meal and the attention that the Geisha's gave them until they got their check. The few hours they spent there cost them each $1500.00 USD.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS:
GO is a famous two player game in Japan and I didn't play it
I did enjoy Tokyo and would love to come back here. If I did it would only be on a pre-arranged Tour where everything is paid for before you leave home.
The Japanese Tourist web site is at:
https://jnto.go.jp/eng/index_12.html
Comments are always welcome and ratings don't matter.
©LL2003
