The Bright Lights of Tokyo!

18th and 19th August

On the way to Nikko we stopped at Asakusa in Tokyo and had time to visit the temple and the shopping mall. It is a big temple and is really beautiful.

The shopping mall has different decorations depending on the season – green leaves for summer.


Asakusa Kannon


Huge lantern


On the way back from Nikko we stopped in Tokyo again but this time we had a night and 2 days there. I visited Tokyo when I came to Japan last time so I was really excited about going back there! We stayed in Shinjuku so we dropped our luggage at the hotel before heading off to explore Tokyo!

Our first stop was Odaiba which meant we had to catch a monorail. Marie, Steve and I got front row seats and the view was amazing! We went to Venus Fort which is an amazing shopping centre (with many things out of my price range!) as it looks like you are outside but you are inside and the colour of the sky changes depending on the time of day!

The view from the monorail.


Daytime!


Sunset!


There was also Toyota Mega Web there with display model cars and we got to go in a totally computerized car! There was also a section with really old cars. This is Marie and I in our computerized car!


This is a De Lorian – the cool car from Back to the Future!


We then went to Ginza which is the really rich part of Tokyo. The main street is lined with every designer shop you can think of! Gucci, Chanel, Prada and many more! We could only do window-shopping!



We then headed back to our hotel and got ready to go out in Tokyo!

Marie, Tina and I.


We went to a small nightclub which was underground and had cool music. Somehow we made friends with a group of girls and it was one of their birthdays. Next thing you know we are getting free drinks and we are all suddenly best friends! They were so funny and friendly! It was a great night and it was getting light by the time we walked back to our hotel . . .

Marie, Tina and I with our new best friends!


Yoshiro and I – a really nice guy who I met at the club!


Although we were all very tired the next day we continued to explore Tokyo! We went to Harajuku which is a really interesting place, firstly there is an amazing old temple – Meiji temple. It has a huge area of land around it and you almost forget that you are still in Tokyo.



Me in front of the plaques that people write their wishes and prayers on.


Then after visiting the temple you walk along a bit to find a gathering point for young people who dress-up to express themselves. I have seen pictures like this in books but it was great to see in real life. Some of them would take hours to get ready and also it was about 35 degrees that day and I’m sure some of these outfits are not the coolest things to wear!





We then went to Yoyogi-koen which is still in Harajuku. Again it is hard to believe you are in one of the biggest cities in the world as Yoyogi-koen is a huge park. It is a place where people go to hang out and do whatever they like! On the day we went it was so hot so there weren’t as many people as usual but there were people doing bike tricks, playing drums, tap dancing and just relaxing.





Our last stop was Shibuya which has the busiest intersection in the world. So many people cross the road each time the lights change. Although it was not peak hour and it was a Sunday heaps of people were crossing the road!



Sadly our Tokyo visit came to an end but I have realised although I love Himeji I also really like the bright lights of Tokyo! I am looking forward to visiting Tokyo again in September!