November 2016, part eight - Tokyo 1/2

Tokyo - capital of Japan, huge anthill, megalopolis. More than 13 million people live in the city of 2,200 km² and if we consider the Greater Tokyo area (an area of 13,500 km², which includes suburban areas such as Yokohama or Kawasaki), we get to 38 million (!)  - the world's largest population living in a single megacity region. By comparison, this is already the total population of Poland, but it has an area of over 20 times greater.

Panorama of endless Tokyo

Tokyo is a marvelous city, although at first sight I was not enchanted. When you travel almost two weeks all over Japan, you have seen a lot and Tokyo seemed just like another commercial city, like Fukuoka or Hiroshima. Moreover, the true Japanese atmosphere is disturbed by Western tourists, who are certainly the most in Tokyo of all the places we have seen. And it was the only city where I had seen homeless and beggars in Japan (although there were incomparably fewer than in European cities). Or I only found paid toilets in Tokyo, so far they were free (and clean) everywhere. And of course, there are too many people everywhere. But when one crosses these few flaws, he finds it really worth discovering since there are many interesting new things that can be hidden at first sight.

After arriving in Tokyo we stayed at the Palace Japan Hotel in Taito, where we spent the last 5 nights of our trip. Well, it was definitely not a palace. A room for two that would be enough for one person, had a bunk bed and dimensions 1.5 x 2.5 m. As for the staff and cleanliness everything was ok, but the rooms were really small and the hotel was pretty cold. Access to the center was good though.

Submarine-like room

Tokyo has been nearly destroyed twice in its history. In 1923 by a huge earthquake and then during the World War II by incendiary raids of American bombers. We did not have to wait long for the earthquake in Tokyo, the first night respectively. On Tuesday, November 22, at 6 AM, my bed was swaying a little. It took about 3-5 seconds and at first I thought my roommate was just rolling over me.

Tokyo's main train station is a renovated building of the original building built in 1914 and influenced by Western style, it reminds, for example, the Amsterdam station. It connects to the extensive Tokyo metro network with a number of long underground corridors.

Tokyo - the main railway station

The Imperial Palace is located a few meters from the train station. The total area together with the adjacent park covers almost 3.5 km². The palace itself was built on the ruins of the old Edo Castle and destroyed several times, especially by the aforementioned American bombing during World War II. The palace grounds are surrounded by moats and the entrance gates are guarded by security guards. The area acts like Tokyo Central Park, with lots of runners and greenery.

Nijubashi bridge over the moat and the guard tower Fujimi-yagura in the Imperial Palace complex

Close to the Imperial Palace is the Government Quarter and the Japanese Parliament.

Japanese Parliament - The National Diet Building

Of course, we did not miss Akihabara - the electronic district - during our visit. You could wander in the shops for a week, though for my style it's too crazy here with crowds of people and shouting sellers (quite unusual in a mall). Prices aren't amazing, I think most things that can be found in Europe are cheaper here, but the real draw is really a huge selection.

Star Wars collection in one of the malls

The futuristic Yokohama

One day we took a train from Tokyo for a day trip to Yokohama and back. The ride from Tokyo central station to Yokohama is about 30 minutes. By the way, it was between Yokohama and Tokyo where the first Japanese railway line was built in 1892.

The steel piece of work in front of the Landmark Tower is called "Moku Moku Waku Waku Yokohama YoYo" (no, I have no idea what it means :)

Yokohama has rapidly developed as one of Japan's most important port cities. It was Yokohama, where, after limiting Japanese isolation in the mid-19th century, merchant ships from all over the world docked. Many immigrants, especially the British, lived and many buildings have a Western style.

Part of historical port area and a Hard Rock Cafe in front of the Landmark Tower

Naval cadet training ship from 1930 - Nippon Maru

Today, Yokohama is a modern city with the second tallest building in Japan - Yokohama Landmark Tower. The skyscraper reaches a height of 296 meters and has the second fastest lift in the world to reach the 69th-floor lookout in just over 40 seconds, a speed of about 12.5 m/s or 45 km/h. The view from here is worth it.

Minato Mirai district and the Yokohama Landmark Tower, nearly 300 meters high

View of "Asian Dubai" from the 69th floor of the Yokohama skyscraper

The part of the town where the Landmark Tower is located is called Minato Mirai 21 and means "Port of the Future of the 21st (Century)". It also includes a 100-meter Ferris Wheel (the tallest in the world of its time), the vast World Porters Mall, and Japan's largest Chinatown.

One of the entrances to Yokohama Chinatown

The highlight of our Yokohama trip was the Ramen Museum. As I mentioned in the previous blog, ramen is basically a broth with noodles, complemented by pork, egg, seaweed, soy sauce and chopped leeks. The museum is very stylish, and inside its interior is a refurbished Tokyo in the 1950s, with ramen restaurants in front of which you can buy tickets from vending machines and then exchange them for the ramen in a restaurant of your choice.

Interior of underground ramen museum

Saké bar

Ramen was ok, but it is not my favorite Japanese dish (sorry :).

Komurasaki, ramen from Kumamoto prefecture

Music to listen while eating ramen (not DVD to show you how to cook ramen :D)

The winner of Japanese tastes is for me katsudon, close to the omelette rice.

Also very tasty pork with teriyaki sauce

Continued in Tokyo (2/2)!

Two small clips from unique atmosphere of Ramen museum: