I have returned from my trip to mainland Japan! And now I will relate it to you!



The first thing that struck me about Tokyo was the people or more precisely the number of people. They were everywhere! Vast hoards of them all rushing about in immaculate designer clothes and more than likely clutching a Loui Vouton bag (they seem to be all the rage in Japan right now). It could not be more different from my small rustic island! The above picture is of the busiest intersection in the world at Shibuya, one can probably see more people in this picture than live on my whole island...perhaps.

The first Shrine we visited was Meiji-Jingu in Harijuku. We had the good fortune of being shown around by a group of Japanese university students who wanted to practice their English. Among other things they showed us how to properly purify ourselves with the spring water found at the entrance of all Temples and Shrines in Japan. This served as well as we visited many, many Temples and Shrines throughout the course of our trip. Meiji-Jingu boasts the largest wooden Tori gate in the world and a building especially dedicated to people want to bless and purify their cars.

Many unusually dressed individuals inhabit Harijuku, amung my favourites where a group who dress in black leather and danced energetically to rock and roll music. The picture shows one member of the troupe taking a rest. While watching the performance I was kindly informed by an elderly Japanese gentleman that rock and roll music came from America.

Most of the 'crazies' as I affectionately refer to them do not dance or perform but just sit and be admired by the crowds. They will also pose for photographs if you ask them nicely. I do wonder why they do it.

Our first Temple was Senso-ji. As a side note a Temple is a place of Buddhist worship while a Shrine in a place of Shinto (native Japanese faith) worship. It was a very lively place compared to Meiji-jingu (everywhere the sound of chanting and smell of burning incense). There was also a cute little garden in the complex, We found that the Shrines and Temples made for a good way to escape the noise and bustle of the city around them. Afterwards we took a boat ride down to Ginza and had a wander around a park which had been in previous times the duck hunting ground of the Shogunate. From there we went to the Imperial Palace.

At the Imperial Palace! Very expansive and impressive but one cannot get inside to have a closer look. Understandable as the Emperor and his family do still live there. It is like everything else in Tokyo mostly a reconstruction. The city was quite comprehensively flattened during the war.