A Bit About Tokyo...

Tokyo is huge. I think there's something like 14 million people in the area, which makes it the second largest city on Earth (Mexico City is the biggest). I went there by myself for a vacation in 2001 and absolutely loved it. The energy and excitment, the food, the cars, the people, the museums and sights, and the intermingling of old and new. I could write a whole book about it, but that'll have to wait. All I can say is that it is well worth the money and the time to see the place if you ever have the chance.

I did get to spend a few more days there before arriving in Yukuhashi, as we had an orientation there. All of the incoming JETs from all over the world were there, and we got to stay at the Keio Plaza Hotel in the Shinjuku district. It's a very nice place to stay, and is right across the street from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which is one of the most-recognized buildings around (and biggest too). I roomed with 2 other guys from Florida, so we got to hang out and have a good time before moving on. As luck would have it, we're all living within about an hour and a half from each other now.

While there this time, a couple of us did manage to slip away and see some sights. I went to the Asakusa Cannon Temple, which is a Buddhist, and to the Meiji Shrine, which is Shinto. Both are beautiful, and quite impressive. I also ate at a Sri Lankan restaurant, which you can't do every day, and rode around on the trains a bit, just looking around.

Other than the orientation itself, that was about it this year. Too, bad... I only took a handful of pictures this time (a few are below), but I do have all the pictures from my 2001 trip online though. You can see them by clicking HERE. There are also plenty of pictures from my very cold climb up Mt. Fuji there, too.

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