Tiny Tokyo

According to many sources, the city of Tokyo is the largest city on earth. There are 37.4 million people living in Tokyo….over 4 times greater than the population of New York City. Tokyo has all the resources that make a a city great….. like more than adequate public transportation….

like a complex string of fully stocked 7Eleven stores that stay open well beyond 11pm….

….like drinkable tap water and high tech toilets that flush paper…

like large, crowded temples….

…..and Romance on the temple steps.

Tokyo offers some interesting art selections….like Team Lab which is sooooo visually stimulating. This installation is one of several in Japan, and lets visitors get caught up in other worldly spaces. These lights and spacelike eggs are just a few…and….

…..The National Art Center of Tokyo which offers a different kind of stimulation in a more sophisticated setting.

There’s no ignoring people traffic, vehicular traffic, giant video bill boards and tall buildings.

Tokyo, without a doubt is large, but I would have missed much had I not looked for Tiny Tokyo. Tucked into and around all the “large,” the “tiny” can be found… like this tiny KFC ….

like this tiny, tucked away back street we discovered one night…

This little street, part of a little neighborhood,

was filled with small eateries and bars…some only big enough for four or five patrons.

Here’s a tiny club named after a tiny dog….the translation means epilogue.

and…..it doesn’t take a lot of searching to find small shrines almost hidden by larger structures.

Many tiny stories go into making a large city memorable. My favorite Tokyo story is about a faithful dog. Hachiko was a loyal Japanese Akita dog who lived in Tokyo with his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno. Every day, Hachiko waited for his owner at Shibuya Train Station. When Ueno died in 1925, Hachiko continued to wait daily for almost ten years until his own death in 1935. This true story is a small story that has grown into a story as large as Tokyo; Hachiko has become a worldwide symbol of loyalty and companionship. The statue of Hachiko at Shibuya Station is a popular tourist attraction, and people wait in line to pose for pictures with it. Pavers on the walkway act as guides to the statue.

In case you haven’t guessed, this Unseasoned Traveler is in love with Japan. It seems I just arrived in Japan, and now my time in Tokyo has come to an end. Thanks to all of you who have followed this blog. If you have been following along with me this time, we have been around the world…we started in Virginia…flew to Istanbul…went on to Bangkok…went on to Koh Phangan….then back to Bangkok…then to Osaka and Kyoto and Tokyo ….our next stop LAX and then on to Virginia. It means so much to know that some of you have been listening to my thoughts… I am also beyond thanks to my fearless traveling companion daughter, Ashleigh, who embraces the world with her whole heart. I wish that this junket was just a little longer, but for now, I can only hope to return….Good Night, Japan.

Love, The Unseasoned Traveler