As a modern city Tokyo, capital of Japan, could be described as
too good to be true. People dress in the latest gear, excellent
restaurants serve up delicious food of all varieties, and the
trendiest nightclubs keep things hopping. The public transport
system is punctual and one of the most efficient in the world; and
shops and vending machines provide necessities and luxuries both
day and night. Best of all, experiencing the best of what this city
has to offer is inexpensive and often free. All this is achieved in
a city that is home to 12 million people, amid the confusion of
bumper-to-bumper traffic, flickering neon signs and a crush of
humanity packing subways and sidewalks. In the crush and rush Tokyo
remains, remarkably, one of the world's safest cities with a low
crime rate and local people who are only too willing to spare the
time and effort to assist a stranger.
With such a dense population, Tokyo is an urban maze of
buildings that jostle for space in an unplanned jumble of grey
concrete, which makes it ugly and drab. The city fills a huge area
that seems to go on forever, with no specific city centre, but
rather a succession of districts grouped together. In the back
streets, where timber houses line narrow lanes, there are reminders
that this is exotic Japan: kimono-clad women prune bonsai trees and
colourful neighbourhood festivals take place.
The more one explores Tokyo the more it becomes obvious that one
cannot judge a book by its cover. Inside the modern buildings the
cultural life of Japan is very much alive and well. Interiors
reflect the tranquil minimalist oriental style and taste of
Japan.
The city is an exuberant experience for visitors. It also hosts
many museums and is the largest repository of Japanese art in the
world. Then, of course, it would take forever to exhaust the
shopping possibilities in this megalopolis.
