Japantravelgrantadventures

Tokyo was an unexpected, yet pleasant surprise. Although it is a major metropolitan city, it is vastly different than most of the cities I have visited. The most notable feature is cleanliness. With over 14 million residents and numerous tourists, the city is exceptionally clean. Even though there are no public trash cans, there is no garbage to be found anywhere on the streets. The subways are spotless. The seats are cushioned and the floors are clear. There is no loitering or panhandling in sight. The other major distinguishing factor is safety. Unlike most major Metropolitan cities, walking around the city is very safe. You are not preoccupied with the fear and anxiety of being targeted for theft or fraudulent activity while enjoying the sites. During rush-hour, we found ourselves cramped into a subway, nose to nose with everyone going home after a long workday. Not once was I in fear that my cell phone sitting in my back pocket or my wallet would be stolen in the chaos. Walking around the city at night you can see a number of different people, whether it’s business men and women having an after work drink, tourists walking around checking out all the sites or children hanging out with their friends after school still in their school uniforms without fear. The lack of constant paranoia led to such a blissful time in this city. It is easy to see that Tokyo residents have a great balance between work life and social life. We attended a baseball game where most of the fans were wearing their business casual clothing underneath the jerseys of each team. Their tall skyscrapers are surrounded with peaceful parks, and Zen Gardens. And for those who really enjoy the tranquility of animals, many areas offer cafés to relax and unwind, even while continuing work on their laptops. As you can see, my spirit animal is the cat. After visiting multiple burrows of Tokyo, I was able to experience the variety of foods it offers. I tried many new dishes and desserts that I’ve never had before. After 20,000 steps a day, who can say no to ichigo ame (candied strawberries). Next stop Kyoto!

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