We've been here a couple of days now, and although we're still trying to overcome the inevitable jetlag, we've managed to do some pretty cool things already.
On Wednesday we went back to Scarlett's old stomping ground in Kichijoji, milled about in the shops and arcades (Mario Kart the arcade game is very cool) and had an excellent lunch. I'll say this about the Japanese: they can cook rice. Jeremy and Rachael then took us out to dinner in the evening; we sat on the floor and ate sushi - very traditional.
Yesterday we went up Tokyo Tower, which gave us a good sense of space and, more importantly, size. You only really appreciate just how immense this city is when you see all of it, or rather, you realise that even from over 1,000 feet you can't see all of it. I'm not a big fan of urban sprawls, as a rule, and the view from the top of the tower seems to indicate that Tokyo is guilty of urbanisation of the most reckless kind - a sea of high-rise office blocks and power cables. But there is an odd kind of beauty to the chaos here that I don't really see in most other cities. Perhaps it is the juxtaposition of old and new - even amongst all the ultra-modern buildings, the eye is drawn inexorably to the numerous temples and shrines, little oases of serenity amongst the tumult.
Tantalisingly, we can almost see Mt Fuji, but not quite - the foothills in front of it are visible but the mountain itself is lost in the haze. That will have to wait for another day I guess.
We now have another couple of days in Tokyo before we head off to Kyoto on Sunday. Will be sure to keep you posted.
- Adam
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