wonderboy416
Active Member
I was getting used to walking through a billion people on my way into Shibuya station. Thankfully Japanese people are extremely considerate and it was never an issue.
Off to Japan's famous Electric Town, Akihabara. Also the site of the 2005 Akihabara massacre.
I have seen a lot about maid cafes in movies and on tv, this is where they started. They're everywhere here! I even remember one opening up in Toronto a while ago and failing...
Adult themed stores are quite common in this part of town.
Giant arcades are everywhere here.
Ordering Ramien through a machine.
Was delicious!
Maid cafe girls are all over the streets trying to entice you to come in. I finally cracked and checked one out after this girl kept inviting me in lol.
Then off to another part of town. Tokyo Sky Tree starting to rise in the background.
Decided to go to a Japanese bbq, was curious to see their take on this popular Korean style of food.
BBQ Galbe, very delicious.
Next went to a bar and found a bunch of Japanese drinking Soju. I was finding more and more Korean influences in Tokyo. I used to think it was just the other way around but the two cultures clearly share a lot in common and both embrace each other's cuisines.
Korean liquor and side dishes.
Played some pachinko... if you ever want to lose $100 in 5 minutes I know just the place!
Have to be careful with Japanese coins, this is worth over $30!
Traditional Japanese breakfast... at least for me
The famous Tokyo Metro Building, features a free observatory on both towers.
Office towers in Shinjuku's financial district.
Walked over to the main shopping and party district in Shinjuku.
Time for a trip up the Tokyo Tower.
It was too hazy to see Mt Fuji.
I decided to attempt the 6 km trek back to Shibuya from the Tokyo Tower to help explore Tokyo by foot a little more. The 34 degree weather and lack of a map sure didn't help!
I had found my way to Roppongi Hills.
I made it!
More Izakaya.
I had my hopes set on seeing a Tokyo Giants baseball game but was unable to get tickets. My friend suggested a trip out to Yokohama a neighbouring city instead, what a great idea that was. First had to grab some beers for the walk around the water side...
How could I not ride the coaster?
And back to ground zero. Just one more day left in Tokyo, well half a day since my flight was scheduled for 7:35 pm.
The next day it was off to Harajuku. An area famous for Tokyo's youth. There's a lot of great small shops, cafes and galleries here as well as Tokyo's famous Omotoe Sando Hills, basically Yorkville x100.
This mall was really unqiue. I don't think I could afford a single thing for sale in it though...
Then off to Shimbashi to catch the monorail.
Views from the monorail.
Tokyo's famous Rainbow Bridge.
Saw a bullet train whizzing into Tokyo!
Famous Fuju TV building.
Wow, this thing had kick!
Walked down to Odabai Marine Park.
Had some lunch while there. Good burgers are hard to find in Asia so I had to!
View from the monorail on the way back into central Tokyo.
Last stop Ueno, home to Ueono Park and the Ameyayokocho Market.
First it was to the park...
Cherry Blossoms out of season.
Then trekked on over to the market before taking the train back to the airport.
Tokyo is the land of vending machines.
This market reminded me a lot of Seoul's Namdamun Market.
Tokyo provided for a great trip and I can't recommend it enough! There's really nothing like it anywhere and I hope to go back some day and explore more of it. Although next time I visit Japan I'm going to explore the countryside and some other cities.
Some of my Korean friends told me that it wasn't much different than Seoul. On the surface they're right, both are huge, insanely crowded, have vast transportation networks and can look like spitting images of one another at times. However I wouldn't say they're any more alike than New York is like London. I just wish I could combine Seoul's cost of living, night life and transportation systems with Tokyo and I'd be in heaven.
Off to Japan's famous Electric Town, Akihabara. Also the site of the 2005 Akihabara massacre.
I have seen a lot about maid cafes in movies and on tv, this is where they started. They're everywhere here! I even remember one opening up in Toronto a while ago and failing...
Adult themed stores are quite common in this part of town.
Giant arcades are everywhere here.
Ordering Ramien through a machine.
Was delicious!
Maid cafe girls are all over the streets trying to entice you to come in. I finally cracked and checked one out after this girl kept inviting me in lol.
Then off to another part of town. Tokyo Sky Tree starting to rise in the background.
Decided to go to a Japanese bbq, was curious to see their take on this popular Korean style of food.
BBQ Galbe, very delicious.
Next went to a bar and found a bunch of Japanese drinking Soju. I was finding more and more Korean influences in Tokyo. I used to think it was just the other way around but the two cultures clearly share a lot in common and both embrace each other's cuisines.
Korean liquor and side dishes.
Played some pachinko... if you ever want to lose $100 in 5 minutes I know just the place!
Have to be careful with Japanese coins, this is worth over $30!
Traditional Japanese breakfast... at least for me
The famous Tokyo Metro Building, features a free observatory on both towers.
Office towers in Shinjuku's financial district.
Walked over to the main shopping and party district in Shinjuku.
Time for a trip up the Tokyo Tower.
It was too hazy to see Mt Fuji.
I decided to attempt the 6 km trek back to Shibuya from the Tokyo Tower to help explore Tokyo by foot a little more. The 34 degree weather and lack of a map sure didn't help!
I had found my way to Roppongi Hills.
I made it!
More Izakaya.
I had my hopes set on seeing a Tokyo Giants baseball game but was unable to get tickets. My friend suggested a trip out to Yokohama a neighbouring city instead, what a great idea that was. First had to grab some beers for the walk around the water side...
How could I not ride the coaster?
And back to ground zero. Just one more day left in Tokyo, well half a day since my flight was scheduled for 7:35 pm.
The next day it was off to Harajuku. An area famous for Tokyo's youth. There's a lot of great small shops, cafes and galleries here as well as Tokyo's famous Omotoe Sando Hills, basically Yorkville x100.
This mall was really unqiue. I don't think I could afford a single thing for sale in it though...
Then off to Shimbashi to catch the monorail.
Views from the monorail.
Tokyo's famous Rainbow Bridge.
Saw a bullet train whizzing into Tokyo!
Famous Fuju TV building.
Wow, this thing had kick!
Walked down to Odabai Marine Park.
Had some lunch while there. Good burgers are hard to find in Asia so I had to!
View from the monorail on the way back into central Tokyo.
Last stop Ueno, home to Ueono Park and the Ameyayokocho Market.
First it was to the park...
Cherry Blossoms out of season.
Then trekked on over to the market before taking the train back to the airport.
Tokyo is the land of vending machines.
This market reminded me a lot of Seoul's Namdamun Market.
Tokyo provided for a great trip and I can't recommend it enough! There's really nothing like it anywhere and I hope to go back some day and explore more of it. Although next time I visit Japan I'm going to explore the countryside and some other cities.
Some of my Korean friends told me that it wasn't much different than Seoul. On the surface they're right, both are huge, insanely crowded, have vast transportation networks and can look like spitting images of one another at times. However I wouldn't say they're any more alike than New York is like London. I just wish I could combine Seoul's cost of living, night life and transportation systems with Tokyo and I'd be in heaven.
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