• Japan Through My Eyes
• Japan - No Problem
• Travels to the South: A Trip to the Other Japan
• Omiyage - Art of Gift Giving
• Ukiyoe: "The Floating World" Revealed
• Seto: Japan's Porcelain City

Two Days in Tokyo

by K. Paulo

Arrival at Narita Airport
When I arrived at Narita Airport, I realized that it is amazingly simple to navigate. There is only one way to the customs line, which moved fairly quickly, despite the number of people arriving from various destinations. After moving past customs, I had to exchange my currency and found the exchange window in the main terminal was also easy to find. I noticed that all the cash transactions are handled with a small tray rather than passing the money from hand to hand. Ideally, this should be the first step after getting your luggage, as American currency is not accepted anywhere in Japan. The Japanese currency, the yen, uses Roman numbers so it was very easy to read.

After exchanging my currency, I went to locate transportation into Tokyo, which was relatively easy, as all signs in Narita Airport are in English and Japanese. In addition, I found that it was very convenient to get transportation (I chose the ASiport Limousine Bus) not to mention affordable, easy to catch and comfortable - all for an hour and a half ride into Ginza! As I waited to board my bus, I noticed an ample supply of vending machines offering everything from water, soda, and coffee to ice-cold beer! These vending machines are everywhere in Tokyo.

Upon arrival at my hotel, the front desk presented me with a letter from my JTB agent, welcoming me to Japan and listed a local Tokyo phone number for me to call, should I need any assistance during my stay. I felt so special that an agency such as JTB would care so much about their customers. This definitely left a lasting impression on me.

Day 1 - Subway Ride to Ginza
Day 1 began at 5:30 a.m. with breakfast at Denny's. The menu was slightly different from Denny's in America, but the eggs, bacon, and orange drink were as good as you can get back home. The waitress was incredibly friendly and helpful. In Japan, I noticed that smoking is allowed everywhere, even in restaurants. (Non-smoking sections are also available.) The atmosphere was friendly. There were businessmen, students, and groups of women packed into this restaurant and I thought I was up extra early! Note: There is no tipping in Japan.

I decided to take the subway to the Ginza district. The subway entrance was easy to find and marked with a subway logo, and the names of the lines were easy to decipher, written in Japanese and in English. Subway lines are color-coded and maps are in English. In Japan, the subway system is entirely automated. The ticket machines are in Japanese, but color-coded to match the line you want to catch and there are maps with the yen amount to your destination. Once you deposit your yen, your ticket pops out and you can go find your train. If you have difficulty finding your train, don't be afraid to find an attendant, all of who are able to speak English and are willing to help you. Once you find your train, place your ticket into the turnstile. The door will open and another ticket is ejected on the other side. Hold on to this second ticket. When you get off the train, you will put this ticket into another turnstile to exit the station. If you decide to stay on for longer than you actually paid for, you will be asked to deposit change at that time. But, if you rode for a shorter distance, you will get a refund...all automated! It's actually very simple once you get the hang of it.

Inside the subway car, there is a map and each station is listed in English and Japanese. When you reach a stop, the station map lights up. If you need to switch lines during your trip, it's easy to do because of the color-coding system. It's actually hard to get lost if you keep the subway map with you.

After arriving in Ginza, I realized that it is truly like Times Square in New York City. Try to arrive in the evening when the light displays can be truly enjoyed. There are literally hundreds of people at every crosswalk, going in all directions. There are tons of shops, fine department stores, and a very nice café with outdoor seating that provided the perfect place to just "people watch". If you like fashion, the Ginza is the place to be. The young women there have a unique way of mixing Prada and other high fashion coutour with a hint of Goth and really make it work! Overall, there is something for everyone in Ginza and it should most definitely be on the list of stops while in Tokyo.

The environment in Ginza was very peaceful and enjoyable. The streets are surprisingly clean, even with the amount of people out and about. There is an ashtray every several hundred feet and trash cans as well. There are no police officers roaming the streets. They sit in kobans, which are little booths barely larger than a phone booth. I'm not sure what they are there for, as there is little crime in Japan. In fact, I felt perfectly safe walking around alone at 9 p.m. in the evening. The Western style bathrooms are easy to find and are very fancy. The department stores in Ginza offer bidets as well as Japanese style toilets and they don't mind if you are there just to use the restroom. In fact, during my whole trip to Japan, I only encountered friendly and polite people and I found myself walking around with a smile just because everyone else was smiling and bowing at me.

Day 2 - Hato Bus Tour
I decided to take a Hato bus tour prior to my departure and actually booked the tour online at the Hato Bus web site. There were several tours to choose from, including half-day, full-day, and evening tours. I decided on a full-day tour, which cost 12,000 Yen, or roughly $120 U.S. This tour took us to Tokyo Tower, a Japanese tea ceremony, the Imperial Palace, a wonderful lunch at the Four Seasons hotel, a boat ride down the Tokyo River and to the Kannon Temple in Asakusa. It was more than worth the $120 and I felt like I got to see A LOT of Tokyo. The tour bus was very comfortable and the guide was humorous and knowledgeable about the city and its history.

On my sightseeing tour, the Tokyo Tower offered a spectacular 360-degree view of Tokyo and a nice gift shop to buy souvenirs. The tea ceremony was refreshing and the Bonzai Garden tour that came with it was an added bonus to the visit. I was definitely impressed with the Imperial Palace and the hour-long boat ride down the Tokyo River gave me an opportunity to see areas of Tokyo not visible from a motor vehicle. I was surprised to see many tent-cities along the riverbank, but surprisingly, they were well kept and the walls were beautifully decorated with some great graffiti artwork. There is wonderful architecture in Tokyo and the boat ride offered a chance to view some interesting designs. Our trip to the ancient temple in Asakusa was awe-inspiring and colorful. There were tons of people and lots of incense burning.

The Departure
My departure from Japan was a solemn one. I had enjoyed my time, although brief, and definitely left with good memories of the people who had been so polite to me when I needed to find my way; memories of the beautiful sights of Japan, the accessible transportation, and the efficiency in this magnificent city. I would not have been able to have this experience without the help of the JTB agent, who assisted me in planning this trip and was so polite. It was a trip to a place that I knew so little about, but I am now familiar with, and will defnintely return to.