Now a few months have passed since my trip to Japan.
There’s so much to tell about this incredible country and I would like to stay true to Japanese minimalism.
Japan, like a clearly double-faceted society between ancient and modern. On one hand, you will find a type of ancient culture with very rigorous codes in society, both in education, work, social and also how Japanese people greet each other.
Just a study of the “bow” is quite something.
Then you have a look at the other hand and you find a very modern society and a culture with everything from Manga, gaming, karaoke, minimalist design and very innovative technology.
Is this a country of perfect harmony between the respect of ancient customs and extraordinary workmanship by a people in search of constant innovation and development?
Tokyo or ancient Edo, a hectic and buzzing megacity, with about 8 million people passing through only Shinjuku station every day! the whole population of Tokyo is about 13,5 million. Old and new, traditional and modern; it all seems to work perfectly, anyway from a view of an outsider…
Tokyo seems like a very easy city to live in, transportation works perfectly, it’s even easy to get around as a non-Japanese, people are friendly and helpful, even though you meet people not speaking much English, but it really doesn’t seem to be a problem. People are extremely respectful of their environment, the Japanese don’t litter, for example, they take good care of their environment.
Tsukiji fish market, are being relocated after 80 years, eating there was like going to heaven and unfortunately having to come back…
You might think that a big city like Tokyo is polluted, but actually very little. Almost no cars in the street you will rarely see a traffic jam like in Bangkok. People travel by train mostly because it’s very efficient.
There are absolutely fantastic gardens in Tokyo, people appreciate nature in the city, you’re never far from the greenery.
They have beautiful Temples and Shrines. We visited the Meiji Shrine on a beautiful spring day, at the end of the cherry blossom period. Witnessed a traditional wedding ceremony.
I also had the pleasure to visit the Nezu museum with a fantastic Asian art collection and the garden was just as beautiful. The museum is very close to the spectacular glass building of Prada by Herzog & de Meuron in the exclusive and very chic neighbourhood of Aoyama.
After lovely days in Tokyo, we took the Shinkansen (bullet train)to Kyoto.
