Sayonara, Japan, it’s been a privilege

We have all heard of the beat of a city, and I have been lucky enough to experience this sensation in the past, but nothing prepares for Tokyo!

The energy, the vibrancy, the crowds, the lights, the buzz! Wow, the adrenaline started pumping on arrival and never stopped!! Not for everybody, I loved every moment and just wished I was many years younger, to explore more deeply. To venture down the side streets, to follow the music and the neon lights, to check out tbe endless fascination with animation, would have been exciting. Perhaps its’ as well I was stuck on a bus with other ould ones,  or I.kight never have come home!!!! Haha!!!That would have been dangerous!!!

I knew how large and populous it is, but it is hard to imagine a city of almost 40 million inhabitants, not to mention the tens of thousands of tourists descending on the City daily, but looking down on tbe sheer geographical size of the place, from the Skytree Tower, ( at 380 meters, we were only half way!!!)did put it into context a little better.

It was difficult to capture a complete image, as it stretches so far to the North, South, East and West. One could see the Pacific Ocean in the distance with the large Port of Tokyo, adjacent to Yokahama where there is a US Naval base and where the Japanese Navy are located, across from which is Disneyland, the first outside of the US.

Then there is the Citys’ natural river, running into a man made river, created to alleviate flooding in a nearby area. Then one has all the reclaimed land alongside same river with multi million dollar apartment blocks, not far from the financial quarter of towering skyscrapers and one of the beating hearts of Asian Capital.

I loved every moment,  including the ancient parts to which we were brought. The Gardens of the Imperial Palace, that were more a Park than Gardens, but an oasis of calm in the centre of the chaos of the City, with the Financial area peeping above the trees. The Emperor and Empress were in residence but sadly, the invite for morning coffee never arrived!!

A visit to the Sensoji Temple, located in the Asakusa area, right in the middle of the City, was a reminder of a less materialistic world. Crowded at 09.00 with Tourists like ourselves and many school children, neat and tidy and polite as always.

The afternoon was FREE to everything, but ones’ credit card and boy was it used!!! The vast variety of goods, fantastic exchange rate and low low prices did cloud ones’ judgement somewhat while browsing…soon becoming a reality, vaguely resulting in a second case having to be purchased by many of us to bring home the loot!!!

All too soon, it was time for the farewell river dinner cruise. While I had not been too enthusiastic about it, it turned out to be excellent. Once I managed to manoeuvre my bum onto the floor, slotting my feet under a drop under the table,  I was fine!!  Not so easy for my six foot six Aussie fellow traveller!!!Dinner was fine, typical tourist dinner, but nicely served by lovely staff. Once we were able to go out on deck and experience the City at night from the water, it became truly magical. How different does a place look under twinkling lights?

There were locals on board also and with hand language we did manage to communicate!!

They told us the story of the Rainbow Bridge as we passed under it. Double decker suspension bridge, it is lit up at Christmas in different lights hence it’s name.

So farewells to our fellow travellers  who were dispensing to many different places the following day, were duly made, but I had an extra day to do something very special.

It involved my taking a local train out of the City to visit dear friends from my life in Africa. To say I was apprehensive about travelling on the train, is an understatement. The idea of joining the millions that travel by train daily, all knowing where they are going, in huge railway stations, was a bit daunting.

However  always the adventurer, I set off with my travel card, made one wrong turn in the station and did have a bit of a panic, but regrouped and got the Train!!! To say we were squeezed like sardines, would be an understatement, but after 4 stops, the numbers thinned out and I got a seat. On the train, which is spotless,  nobody spoke, drank or ate. Most were reading on their phones, but the silence was awesome. I artived safely in Zushi and my pals were waiting!! Such a reunion after 13 years without seeing one another!!

It was so emotional to see them after so long but lovely to see them so well and unchanged.

Yukiko and her husband Jiro then showed me around the area to which have they retired from Tokyo, on the beach, overlooking the Pacific! Beautiful.

I went to her home and saw the business she has established for African cotton goods and we then went to lunch in a incredible old house with the most amazing food.

All too soon I had to leave but not before 5 walked me in Kamarura, a lovely town nearby and brought me to a very special Shinto Shrine there. The day was so special to see and catch up with them, to reminisce and hear how all the family are doing. True friendships never fade, they just need to be nurtured.

All too soon, it was time to tackle the train again and now my concern was exiting the station when I got back to the city!!! Suffice to say I did, with one small hiccup, but felt quite proud of myself in succeeding in  my negotiations of the Tokyo transport system!!!

So this fantastic adventure is drawing to a close. How lucky I am to have experienced this beautiful country and it’s lovely people. So much done, so much more to do. Another trip in the future perhaps.

In the meantime, Sayonara Japan, it’s been wonderful!