Freida Guerzon-David Turning Japanese in Tokyo, Japan

Freida Guerzon-David at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Large sake barrels on her right offered by brewers around the country.

Freida Guerzon-David at the Meiji Shrine in Shibuya Tokyo, Japan

Freida Guerzon-David
Adventurous mother of two

1. What brought me there: Business trip

2. Must try meals:

(a) Ramen and Curry – common/regular food (not just Sushi and Tempura – special/slightly expensive) originated from ancient China and India (now localized recipes, Japanese taste).

(b) Okonomiyaki – Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked". Some okonomiyaki restaurants are grill-it-yourself establishments, where the server produces a bowl of raw ingredients that the customer mixes and grills at tables fitted with teppan, or special hotplates (Wikipedia)

Ramen and curry display in Tokyo, Japan

Do-it-yourself okonomiyaki at Aporo in Tokyo, Japan

3. You should not miss visiting or going to:

(a) Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 700,000 square-meters (about 175 acres). This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo. Constructed in 1915 and completed in 1920. (Wikipedia).

(b) Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower located in the Shiba-koen district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 333 metres (1,093 ft), it is the second-tallest structure in Japan (Wikipedia).

Freida Guerzon-David with friends at the Meiji Shrine in Shibuya Tokyo, Japan

Freida Guerzon-David at the Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, Japan

4. What I saw:

A Megalopolis – a very large busy city with a great mix of modern and traditional culture (from Disneyland and earthquake proof buildings to century old shrines and temples).

Megalopolis Tokyo, Japan

A century old shrine in Tokyo, Japan

5. Most awesome things I saw:

(a) Shinkansen: Japan Rail's High Speed Bullet Train - The Shinkansen (new trunk line) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (515.4 km) in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of 2,387.7 km (1,483.6 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph) - Wikipedia

(b) Mount Fuji (Fuji-san, 3776 meters) is Japan's highest mountain and the focal point of the sprawling Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Visible from Tokyo on a clear day, the mountain is located to the west of Tokyo on the main island Honshu, straddling the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures (Wikipedia).

Freida Guerzon-David inside the Shinkansen in Tokyo, Japan

Shinkansen in Tokyo, Japan

Mt. Fuji in Tokyo, Japan

(c) At the Meiji Shrine:

-Traditional Shinto wedding processions with  colorfully costumed priests and shrine maidens

-Kids Celebrating shichi-go-san (traditional rites of passage for three- and seven-year-old girls and three- and five-year-old boys).

-Large number of sake barrels displayed by the side of the path (offered every year by sake brewers from around the country to show their respect for the souls of the Emperor and Empress in recognition of the encouragement given to the growth of this and other industries under the Meiji Restoration)

Traditional Shinto wedding procession in Tokyo, Japan

Traditional Shinto wedding procession in Tokyo, Japan with colorfully costumed priests and shrine maidens

Kids celebrating shichi-go-san in Tokyo, Japan

6. Thrilling budget finds:

(a) Toyoko Inn Hotel Chains - Budget hotel

Toyoko Inn Hotel 

Toyoko Inn Hotel room

(b) A Japan Rail Pass will probably save you money...

Train fares in Japan are expensive, and even if you are only planning a couple of inter-city journeys, a Japan Rail Pass can save money over normal tickets. 

A man purchasing a Japan Rail Pass in Tokyo, Japan

 7. Notable tips from locals:

Japan has an extensive and efficient rail network and you can pretty much assume that the trains in Japan will go to all the cities and towns you want to visit.  Travelling by train in Japan is easy, as the stations have signs and departure boards in English as well as Japanese.  Japanese trains are very clean and modern, and are amazingly punctual.  Two classes of seating are provided, ordinary class and 'green car' (1st class), the latter indicated by a green clover symbol next to the entrance door.  As you'd expect, green car seating has more legroom and seats are arranged 2+2 across the coach, whereas ordinary class seats are normally arranged 2+3.  However, travelling standard class is perfectly adequate.

There are six main regional railway companies, known collectively as Japan Railways, plus many local railway operators.  Japan train times: www.hyperdia.com (the English button is upper left).  Japan rail map.  Tokyo metro website (with map): www.tokyometro.jp. (Wikipedia).

Although it is not so easy to use because there are many complicated lines.

You should have a railroad map, and ask people or officers at the station for help and directions.

Tokyo railway map

8. What I expected: 

A very big,  busy and bustling city that also never sleeps (similar to New York). Since the country is very rich in tradition and the city is one of the most expensive areas to live in, it is not surprising to see a blend of old culture and modern technologies. There are still a lot of “young” people in Tokyo despite the country’s almost zero population growth.

9. Must avoid traveler's trap :

The movie title: Lost in Translation is a very apt description.

Many people in Tokyo are not good in English.

People are kind and are willing to help but the language barrier is difficult to overcome more often than not. And there are only a few signs in English in the city...

It will be easy to lose your way without a translator! Bring maps or ask someone to write in Kanji (Japanese characters) to help you around.