Best of Japan

I promised to give this title to the blogpost with the following picture:

Best of Japan!

One of my first days in Japan and I have already tasted the finest sushi of Japan, made in front of our eyes by the sushi master that you can see on the picture.

I met Kikusa after more than 24 hours of traveling (the last part, finding a specific train station in Tokyo, went surprisingly well) and after not having seen her for two year. The first minutes I couldn't really believe I was actually seeing her here, in Tokyo, but after a very short while it felt so naturally again and because of her soon I felt very relaxed to be in Tokyo.

I cannot describe everything I experienced, noticed and did in the first days because it's just too much. But I'll try to give a short summary.

The day I arrived we didn't do too much because of course I was tired and jetlagged, but we did grab some amazing Japanese food and I took an amazingly relaxing bath (just what you need after long travel). Next day we woke up very early to go to Kikusa's family's house where her mother prepared us some traditional Japanese breakfast. Kikusa's family was so friendly to me, really amazing people. Then we headed to Nikko by car to see a bunch of beautiful shrines, had another Japanese meal and relaxed in a natural hot spring bath (like!!). This is a real Japanese experience and highly recommended :)

After coming back to Tokyo (actually not Tokyo, but Saitama prefecture, where both Kikusa and her family live), Kikusa's father took us, including Kikusa's mother and sister, to Japan's best sushi restaurant. I thought I had eaten sushi before in the Netherlands, but that is all uncomparable to what I have eaten here. Extremely fresh, made with love and with an amazing service! Oyshi (means delicious)! Although Kikusa had to act as an interpreter for most of the time, we could really have nice conversations and a lot of laughs. Thanks to them again.

Next day: the real Tokyo. Old next to new, modern next to traditional, quiet next to crowded and so forth. And with Japanese everywhere ;) I think pictures will explain.

This is just a (quite random) selection of pictures that I took.

On Friday, Kikusa had to work again and I was on my own. Felt a little weird, but I was very glad that I already had got a feel of Tokyo and could find my way around a little bit. But what an enormous city! There's not just a thing like 'the city center' because Tokyo consists of 23 neighborhoods, all with their own character, sightseeing spots and people. First I searched for my hostel, dropped my luggage and went wandering around in the neighborhood. In the evening I decided to go to the couchsurfing event taking place that night and met some nice fellow travelers. Walking back to the hostel and had a skype chat with Ewoud (for me it was 3 am, bit weird to be on the phone at that time, but in Japan it's 7 hours later than in The Netherlands).

The hostel is serving breakfast, which is very nice. Not only because of the food, but also because it is the perfect occasion for meeting other guests. I met two Mexicans with whom I could enjoy Tokyo today. Half of the things we visited I had already seen in my previous days, but anyways I had good company :)

Ok I'm finishing up again. Probably we'll be going out to party in half an hour (a thing I didn't do yet while in Tokyo). I could write so much more but I just don't have the time for it (yet). Tomorrow I'll leave Tokyo already and will take the bullet train for the first time, to Matsumoto. Maybe on the go I'll be able to write more.

I'll end with some more photos.

Eating soba

Tokyo Tower

Some very colorful shop

Shibuya crossing on a rainy day

Shibuya crossing on a rainy day

When in front of a shrine/ temple: throw a coin (5 or 50 cent are best, because the numbers are pronounced the same way as the word 'luck'), clap your hands twice, fold them together and pray, bow again.

Child in traditional clothing (I don't know about the ceremony)