The Heart of Japan: Tokyo

Mid-Thursday afternoon we arrived in the port city of Yokohama, Japan, and began our Tokyo experience. Yokohama, with almost four million citizens, is the second-most populous urban area in Japan after Tokyo (which has about twelve million). It is considered the “entrance to Tokyo” which is about an hour’s drive away.

We set out to explore with what daylight remained and took a drive over the picturesque Yokohama Bay Bridge (2,822 feet long), designed as the centerpiece to the city’s futuristic looking cityscape. Our drive continued through the city streets and we were immediately stricken with how clean and organized everything appeared, and surprised by how little traffic there was on the roads (it was rush hour on a weekday). The Japanese work hard to discourage people owning cars, by making it extremely expensive, and thus most citizens resort to public transportation (subways and rails, not buses) or bicycles, the latter of which we saw many.

We proceeded to the Landmark Tower, Japan’s tallest building, and the symbol of the modern harbor area known as Minato Mirai. In an ultrafast elevator, we were whisked up to the Sky Garden, an observatory deck on the 69th floor, to take in the panoramic views. Photos below show views from the Sky Garden at dusk and night.

On Friday morning, we left the ship for the one hour drive into Tokyo. Our first stop was the Imperial Palace Plaza, home to Emperor Heisei and other members of the Royal Family. The palace is surrounded by an extensive park with moats and massive stone walls. Unfortunately, the inner gardens and palace were closed for viewing (only open to the public two days a year, on January 2 and December 23, the Emperor’s birthday). The photo at left just shows the tip of the Palace, which is largely behind stone walls and greenery. But, we can still “check the box,” as we were at least there...

We continued on to bustling Asakusa, one of the city’s few areas to retain the flavor of Old Tokyo. It is also home to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most impressive temple, also known as A’sakusa Kannon Temple. The present building is a reconstruction of the original temple built in 645 A.D. that was destroyed in the air raids of 1945. The temple precinct teems with people praying, buying fortunes, shopping and sightseeing. Along the approach to the temple from the famous Kaminarimon Gate, there are many shops selling traditional knick-knacks, rice crackers and festival foods.

Driving on some distance further, we stopped at the Hotel New Otani Tokyo to see the picturesque Japanese gardens on its grounds, amongst beautiful waterfalls and ponds with large carp and koi fish. The ten of us on this trip had a magnificent seven-course lunch, consisting of succulent meat and garden fresh seafood (not from the pond) grilled at our table in a private dining area within the gardens.

To walk off lunch, we made a final stop at The Ginza, (“Silver Mint”), which is considered to be the Champs-Elysees of Tokyo. The street has always been fashionable, and the vanguard of change. There are numerous elegant boutiques, cafes and department stores. The Ginza was the first place in Japan to import Western-style culture with sophisticated store displays for the joy of window-shopping. Many stores are recognizable names from back home. Although politeness is a virtue in the way of Japanese life, negotiating one’s way through the streets of The Ginza required some dodging of bicycles and elbowing to get through the jostling crowds. Nevertheless, we took it all in and headed back to the solitude of the ship for the evening. We set sail at dusk and caught these glimpses of the sunset over Yokohama and the ship sailing (just barely) under the Yokohama Bay Bridge…