Arrive in Tokyo
Tokyo
After the long flight (18hrs) to Tokyo, we were anxious to get off that plane. The airport is very user friendly. The airport is way outside the city and the best way to get into Tokyo City center is via train. It only costs a few dollars and it takes about 45 minutes to get to the main train station. Once there we got into a taxi. The taxi drivers, for the most part, do not speak English, so it would be good to have an address printed in Japanese for them to read. We did not and it was difficult to explain to him where we wanted to go.
The Intercontinental Tokyo Bay was fantastic. A great deal on company web site - $175 per night tax included. The customer service was fantastic as was the room overlooking Tokyo Bay.
Tokyo is a very, very westernized city that is even busier than New York. The subway/train system is downright unbelievable in its vastness and complexity. The subway map of Tokyo looks like a spider web. You can literally get anywhere in Tokyo on the train/subway. Tokyo is pretty much divided up into neighborhoods, each with their own characteristics and cultural feel. From the big City Square surrounded by skyscrapers in Shinjuku to the old Temple in Asakusa. You really need a week to enjoy this city, but we only had two days. Bad planning. I will be back.
This is an older area of Tokyo where the famous Sensoji Temple is located. The area itself is made up of small narrow streets with traditional homes. The temple is at the end of a long pedestrian walkway (Nakamise Dori) lined with trinket and craft shops. Sensoji Temple is the oldest and most visited Buddhist shrine in Tokyo. Burn some incense for a loved one since this is the shrine for the goddess of mercy and happiness.
Shinjuku
This is the business area where many of the skyscrapers are towering over the streets below. The Takashimaya Times Square is immediately next to the train stop. A definite must see and great for pictures and video. The surrounding streets are full of shops and restaurants to explore.
