Tokyo, Japan: Frenetic pace surviving in conjunction with an ancient culture
Tokyo has more Michelin starred restaurants than in any other city in the world. This little known fact in itself should give you a sense of what this city is all about. It combines an ancient culture, which has survived the test of time with a frenetic lifestyle which seems to have stress as it’s benchmark.
Tokyo is crowded, full of bright lights and innumerable people. Everyone seems to be lost in their own world, there is an inscrutability in their faces which no Westerner has been able to fathom. They have perfected the art of making everything run perfectly and they have combined their furious pace of modernisation with a basic belief in old time values and traditions. Thus, even though it has glittering shopping areas and neon lights to dazzle your eyes, it also has the traditional Shinto Shrines and smaller lanes and homes where large families live together.
Here is a very large metropolis consisting of many wards. Most visitors are overwhelmed by the size of the city. Many tourists just love to wander around the streets randomly, looking for bargains and amazing crafts, or seeking peace and tranquillity within the confines of Shinto Shrines.
Tokyo is one of the most expensive places in the world, but if you ask around, the friendly locals will be able to guide you to cheaper eating places and with a little bit of effort you may be able to find reasonably priced hotels.
This is one of the most distinctive cities in the world – but there are a few facts which every traveller should be aware of. Most shops will not accept credit cards, hence be prepared to spend large amount in cash. ATM’s will not give you money on International cards – these can be encashed only at certain spots – such as Post Offices during the daytime and convenience stores in the evening.
