a still more glorious dawn awaits...: Christmas in Tokyo

It was an unconventional way to spend christmas, that's for sure, yet it was special and fun in it's own adventurous way. We were thrilled with Tokyo, from the first impression all the way until we said goodbye to that big, clean, quiet city.

The vibe there was good, the fashion very stand-out and impressive, the people kind and seemingly happy, and things just made sense. It was hard not to be continually comparing Tokyo to Seoul, being as that is where we've been and what we know. In our comparisons we both noted the striking differences. Tokyo has a lot of life and individuality. The children laugh and the couples kiss and people are generally calm. There is a lot of diversity and most importantly there seemed to be respect, and this is perhaps what stood out the most. As a stranger- an outsider- I sensed this respect. Towards me, towards each other, and most importantly towards themselves.

We saw a lot in Tokyo! Most of the days we would spend hours walking from neighborhood to neighborhood, drinking in all the newness with our eyes and ears and nose. Every step learning more... at the expense of our poor feet...

We explored Ginza, Ueno, Asakusa, Shibuyu, Harajuku, and Shinjuku just to name a few! Each neighborhood had it's own feel, it's own style and characteristics. Each neighborhood is big and generally crowded in the center of things, but the crowds made sense and there still was enough room to move and walk or stop and take photos, while loads of bicycles speed by in the myriad of big bike lanes. Oh the bikes! It's a beautiful sight! I had no idea Tokyo was such a biking metropolis, but it could easily compare to Portland or Amsterdam.

The taxis in Tokyo were so cute, that is the best word I can use to describe them. They sure didn't fit in! They looked like old late 80's economy cars:

This is the smallest bar I have ever seen or been to. No joke. It had enough room for maybe 7 people to stand with their backs against the glass, one long beautiful dark wood bar stood between us and the bartender, who I did not envy, for he had to work in such a small space, I think he could only turn around at one spot at the end of the bar. Crazy small. It was our Christmas treat to ourselves. Josh had 12 year old Japanese scotch and I some red wine. Yummy.

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The vending machines were a lifesaver. Hot tea or coffee, water and juice, and even beer at the click of a button and on most street corners.

Harajuku, what a place! It makes Myeongdong seem tame. This place is packed with shoppers and fashionistas. There were funky clothing stores and chaotic cafes. The sights were entertaining, for sure. It was by far the most crowded place I've been, but the crowds moved fluidly and in sensical patterns, like moving in a sea, floating a little this way and that way... a bit out of my own control... but it was okay for a bit, and also nice to escape the crowds once we had seen enough.