Anyone taken a vacation to Japan? Any advice?

[Bodhisattva]

Took the bullet train to Tokyo. Only a two-hour ride instead of the regular six (I think) hours. Got a good look at Mt. Fuji as we approached Tokyo. Unfortunately, I was on the wrong side of the train and didn't get any good pictures. Lan did though.

Our friend Cam met us at the train station and took us first to the Tsukiji Fish Market. I do so love Japanese cuisine!

 

[crimsonaudio]

Everything looks so clean and well-kept! Wow!

 

[Bodhisattva]

On our first evening in Tokyo, as a thanks to Cam and her boyfriend for playing tour guide, I took everyone out to steakhouse for some prime Kobe beef and other assorted steaks.





I wondered if the steak could possibly live up to its reputation. OMG, it was by far the best steak I've ever had. Seriously, steaks I've had since I've been back have left me disappointed. I'm ruined for steaks now!

That evening went and joined the mob at the Shibuya Scramble, reported to be the busiest crosswalk in the world. It's like Times Square, with lots of neon and thousands of locals and tourists hanging out, people watching, and enjoying the street entertainment. It's one of the few places that's actually noisy, but in a fun way. Nothing at all hostile about this noisy crowd.

 

[Bodhisattva]

For our last full day in Tokyo, the girls got to play dress-up, and then we sent to Asakusa Temple.










Cam, Lan, and Lily:





And, like the night before where I wanted to have a nice sit-down steak dinner, I wanted to do the same thing with sushi. Street and market food is really good, but I wanted to thank our hosts with another upscale dinner. In keeping with the theme, we ate and drank like happy little pigs! The only downside to the evening is that they ran out of toro. But, because we ate it all, I suppose that's our fault.













I think I could live off of toro and salmon sushi - along with some kobe steak. If happiness is a cuisine, it has to be Japanese.

 

[Bodhisattva]

We got back late on our last night in Japan to our traditional room next to the Tokyo Skytree. This is Japan: traditional next to modern.






We are in love with Japan and can't wait to go back!

 

[Bodhisattva]

Everything looks so clean and well-kept! Wow!

Extremely clean and quiet and polite. Cities of millions of people. It's absolutely amazing. I think it's just the concept of harmonious living. Their temples and shrines blend in with the natural setting so well. To litter or be noisy would bother your neighbor, so they don't do it.

I did see some road rage in Tokyo, though. A car lightly honked once at another car. And the second car lightly honked back. Sometimes the rage beast comes out, I guess.