Japan Travelogue 2022 — Tokyo
Tokyo Skytree — Mount Takao — Meji Shrine — Tsukiji outer fish market
After a 3-day visit to Kyoto, we boarded the Shinkansen bound for Tokyo. In both Kyoto and Tokyo, we stayed at hotels near train stations for the ease of transportation; in Tokyo we stayed near Asakusa. We visited the Tokyo Skytree on our arrival to Asakusa, with the landmark tower being the tallest in Japan (634 meters). An elevator takes visitors to the observation decks at 350 and 450 meters, offering a birds’ eye view of Tokyo. We visited at nighttime, thus the city was lit up with street lights, office buildings, and car lights — a steady stream of radiant glows flowing in and out of the city. Stepping onto the glass windowpanes that projects the bustling cityscapes below your feet was quite an experience — for a vertical look down towards ground zero.
We visited 高尾山 (Mount Takao) in the outskirts of Tokyo for some nature flair amid the metropolitan itinerary. Taking an express train from city center (Shinjuku) to Mount Takao is around an hour. Mount Takao, a sacred mountain, is famous for its autumn leaves and holy worship, as hikers visit the Buddhist Mountain gods for good fortune. Luckily, we ventured into the mountains on a cloudy day without much visitor traffic, and the well paved forest walk was pleasant and refreshing. Among Mount Takao’s numerous hiking trails, trail 1 is most popular with tourists as it offers gentle ascents and a few food shops along the way. We were surrounded by tall pines, cedar, and hinoki as we started the ascent. The stone paved path was a bit slippery with the overnight rain, and we passed藥王殿, a monkey park, and the cable car stations.
The summit offers a panorama of forests and the outskirts of Tokyo, and it is said that Mount Fuji can be seen on clear days. We brought rice balls for lunch, but there were a few tea and soba noodle shops at the summit, offering warm respite under the chilly autumn weather. The descent was one of the highlights of the trip, as we boarded the chair lift, benches taking us from mid-level towards ground level. There were no protection holdings, just a wooden bench that descends in moderate speed — we had to grab onto the armrests on the side for safety. It was an exhilarating and captivating ride, with autumn leaves on both sides of the trail, reflecting colors of the sunset.
Amid the hectic cityscape of Tokyo, the Meiji Shrine blesses citizens with an air of tranquility and peace distinct from the city. The temple is surrounded by a huge forest and garden area that offers spacious walking paths that offers a relaxing stroll. I enjoyed the sublime and serene ambiance as we sauntered along the footpaths — the extensive forest is rich with dense and towering plantations crafting a venerable ambiance. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji, the shrine displays elements of Japanese modernization, such as the influx of western culture. I appreciated the “wall of sake barrels”, displaying Japanese wine on one side, and Bourgogne wine on the other — the emperor enjoyed Burgundy wine in the Imperial court. Elements of bilateral exchange and integration between Japan and France are rooted with rich history — from artistry influence (Monet’s works), imperial exchanges, to literary and film masterpieces.
Shopping was not a major attraction for me during the trip, but it was a highlight for Mom and bro — fascinated by the wealth, variety, and scale of brands on display in the extended shopping districts. In addition, we visited at a time of JPY depreciation against major G10 currencies, making Japan a shopping paradise for inbound visitors. We visited a few districts (Shibuya for instance) that I couldn’t name. Compared to other metropolitan shopping areas, I felt that the shopping zones were spread out and the pedestrian zones clean and well organized, making it a pleasant and more relaxing shopping experience. As for cuisine, many are attracted to the wealth of seafood, teppanyaki, and ramen that Japan offers. We were mostly happy with the high quality of food presentation that random restaurants offered — I especially loved the warmth and hospitality of small restaurants. Some of the local restaurants only seat a dozen of people indoors, but the dedication to good quality, food presentation, and courtesy of restaurant owners leaves a warm note after the meal.
In the last day of our trip, we visited the Tsukiji Outer Market, which offers a variety of fresh seafood and local street eateries. The outer market consists of blocks of restaurants and seafood stalls along crowded lanes, as visitors squirm their way to fish for fresh eateries. As seafood is delivered directly from the Toyosu Market, restaurants are open early from 5:00am in the morning, and close around mid-day (1pm). The fresh seafood stalls present a wealth of fish, crab, shrimp, and other types of rare seafood gems, and visitors could enjoy the fresh catches of the day. The ambiance was crowded but organized — again most street food could only be consumer “sur place”, thus the market was kept clean and orderly, unlike some busy Taiwanese night markets with visitors eating along the way.
Reflections
I’m extremely grateful for a relaxing getaway with family — unlike student time vacations, good coordination with the family (prior planning) and the workplace (on taking leave) were blessings that made it happen. Japan’s vibrant autumn colors remind me of the fleeting and transitioning seasons, just like the precious moments spent with family in warm togetherness. Exploring new places together, enjoying good cuisine, and appreciating beautiful scenery were highlights to be treasured, but most importantly it was the shared conversations and the comfortable silences that sustain us, throughout life’s different stages and changes.
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Just as we learn from parents in childhood, I am learn from bro’s broadened horizons with his very different field and academic experiences today. His academic and extracurricular pursuits, friendship circles, personal interests, and interested societal subjects are completely different from mine. Taiwanese local dynamics, fashion, music production, politics, tech/ engineering…were field knowledges that he surpasses me by far. Personality-wise, we are complete opposites, and I guess this difference tones both of us down when we share these moments in time — I am amused by his viewpoints and knowledge in certain subject matters…stimulating reflections on the inadequacies of my thinking as well. Thankful for this journey together.
