I thought the first post for this new blog of mine should explain why I am dedicating a blog to a city from which I live thousands of miles away and why I feel I have any authority to talk about it! I visited Tokyo for the first time in June 2009 and fell head over heels in love. I stayed in a traditional Ryokan located just off Dogenzaka in Shibuya, which in itself encapsulated what I loved so much about the city - the fusion of the old and the new. Upon removing my Yukata and leaving the inn with the Tatami flooring, Futon bedding and Onsen bath I was immediately surrounded by the bright neon lights and modern architecture of Shibuya which is known for it's youth culture and fashion scene.
I stayed in Tokyo for 10 nights and as each day passed I found more and more to love, from the warmth of the people to the futuristic gadgets that have been integrated into every day life. Not to mention the shopping, the food, the beautiful gardens in the middle of the urban sprawl, the districts retaining the Edo period buildings, the breath taking temples/shrines, the manners and social etiquette that can seem oppressive at first but once you accept that it is for the good of everyone you really don't mind being told where to stand when waiting for the train/bus etc. I'm not saying the city is perfect or that everyone will fall in love as I did, I'm just trying to convey to others how flippin' brilliant I thought it was and share the brilliant things with them.
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