JAPAN | TRAVEL

Discover the Glitz, Glamor, and Greenery of Tokyo

The strange and mysterious allure of the Japanese capital city.

Tokyo. This is the first and last beautiful photo you will see in this story because all the others are mine. (Photo by Louie Martinez on Unsplash)

Say the word Tokyo, and most likely, a flood of contrasting images come to mind.

The city means different things to different people.

Some think of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, probably one of the world’s most recognized crossings. Others might think of Asakusa and Sensō-ji Temple, a more traditional vision of Tokyo.

Others think of the edgy street fashion of Harajuku, the old-school glamorous glitz of Ginza, or the thousands of ramen shops, restaurants, and bars that dot the city.

Maybe you too, are already imagining an ultra-modern city juxtaposed with traditions.

Nakamise-dōri, the street leading to Sensō-ji Temple, Asakusa. (Author’s Own Photo)

For me, Tokyo is something like a home away from home. I have been living in Tokyo for close to five years. Technically, it’s a bit less than that, since I was actually living in Chiba Prefecture (north of Tokyo) for about 2.5 years.

Update (Aug 11, 2022): A reader pointed out that Chiba Prefecture is mostly to the…