After spending the first
couple of days under the mercy of a gloomy sky, the sun finally appeared in all
its shining glory on the third day. The bright daylight coupled with the wind
of the autumn season made for a perfect brisk walking condition—and walked I
did—for miles and miles over sidewalks and subway floors. Every thump of my
feet got audibly in harmony among the multitude of Japanese commuters’ rickety medley
of footsteps, that sounded like an orchestral beat box.
Japanese Food-tripping
While I practiced a bit of
common sense by avoiding high-priced sushi bars, I didn’t hold myself from
trying out several joints the locals seem to frequent—even waiting in
line just to get a seat. Sometimes, an uncrowded charming cafe would catch my
attention and without ado, I’d step right inside to also take the chance to rest my
feet.
I was amused by the vendo
machine of some restaurants where you just punch in your order selection from
the photos displayed on the screen before inserting your money. Afterward, the machine prints an order receipt which you then hand to the
chef. I had fun using these ordering machines although sometimes, it becomes a hit
or miss thing—just like when I selected a Ramen dish with red soup—that turns out
to be too spicy for my tongue.
Eating with other Japanese
diners meant having to eat fast, like you need to slurp all that noodles and
soup in a continuous fluid motion. I reckon, it’s because of their way of life
of being always on the go. Not only do they walk fast, they also eat swiftly, perhaps
so they can go back to their respective jobs as quickly as possible. Despite
all their rapid movements, it is not uncommon to see people lining up in an
orderly fashion—as evident in their busy train systems. You will never see any
shoving and pushing happening. In Japan— there’s no room for slacking around. Everybody’s
in a hurry but in a disciplined manner.
Bright Lights, Big City
Feeling like a character in “Lost
in Translation”, the quintessential display of Tokyo’s animated neon
lights quickly captivated me in a trance-like existence. Despite being a morning
person, the night vibe of Tokyo became my favorite time of the day. Whilst I’d
spend most of daytime walking around, my wanderings turned notches more fascinating
as I strode the intersecting alleyways of this city of 9 million souls, under
its bright lights.
Like a blood flowing through a vein, I’d always find myself heading to the heart of the city: Shibuya
Crossing. This rambling intersection is the personification of the city of Tokyo: where
one witnesses a scene of repetitive loop of movements forming and dispersing
quickly like waves of the oceans.
Wanting to feel the pulsating
throb of Tokyo, I inserted myself into the sea of people—embodying a synchronized
marching band—we ambled sashaying not to a musical tune but to the conducting of
the strobing lights of giant electric screens.
Pushing my way through the
busy streets and into smaller alleyways had me passing by skillful street
buskers humming melodious tune in Japanese. Everywhere I go, there’s always an enthralling
street scene unfolding. “This is the
Tokyo I came to see”, I told myself and as an added wonderful surprise—the city
itself, came with a more stimulating effect on me. The only thing left wanting
out of my brief experience in Tokyo, is bumping into a Scarlett Johansson’s troubled
but appealing character.
The rest of my Japan series
