Trifter

Blaring horns. The constant sound of car motors. Super-efficient commuter trains every two or three minutes. Massive crowds of pedestrian waiting for the signal to cross the street. Jam-packed elevated highways that seemingly zigzag around buildings.

Welcome to Tokyo, ladies and gentlemen, the overly-crowded and cramped capital of Japan. This is where all decisions on Japan’s future and its place in the world is decided. This is where most of the fun is to be had. This is usually the first place in Japan that foreigners see, although more international air carriers are beginning to bypass Tokyo directly for Osaka, its southern rival.

Tokyo itself is still trying to find its own place. An ultra-modern capital that continues to live in feudal times. You can find a super-sleek, spanking brand new condominium complex next to a 300-year-old shrine. On the train, you’ll spot a businessman in a western-style suit and tie seated next to a kimono-clad woman. It is a city full of contrasts and you are never really sure what time period you’re in.

It is, in a way, quite fitting for city with an international identity problem. Technically-speaking, no city by the name “Tokyo” exists; if one were to look on the Japanese government’s registry of cities, you won’t find one named “Tokyo”. The city of Tokyo as most foreigners know it ceased to exist in 1943 when it merged with about 30 other out-lying cities and towns to form Tokyo Metropolis, a specially designated prefecture among Japan’s other 46 prefectures.

The “city” that most foreigners think of are the 23 wards that occupy the eastern portion of Tokyo Metropolis. This is the part of Tokyo that most foreigners become acquainted with, first, for this is the true heart of Tokyo, where most come to work and play. It should be noted, however, that each of the 23 wards functions as a city in its own right, having its own elected mayor and city council and city ordinances.

Roughly 12.5 million people call Tokyo Metropolis home, with about 8.3 million residing in the 23 wards. With four neighboring prefectures – Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama and Gunma – the Tokyo metropolitan area is home to an insanely massive crowd of 35 million. That’s over 10 million more than Seoul, South Korea, its nearest rival.

Along with being the largest urban area in the world, it also consistently ranks as the most expensive in the world.

Rush hour can be quite scary. No matter where you’re from – New York, Chicago, London, Mumbai, Shanghai – no place has probably prepared you for the chaos you could face here. Trains tend to be packed like sardines. Any given day at Shinjuku Station, ranked as the world’s busiest train station, you can watch a jaw-dropping 3 million commuters scurrying by to make connecting lines elsewhere.

This is when you can easily get the impression that Tokyoites are the rudest people on Earth. During the morning, mid-afternoon and evening hours, most people seem to have tunnel vision, only concentrating on where they need to go. If you happen to standing in their path they’ll simply phase right through you. But they can also be the kindest people in the world and it is not uncommon for someone to approach an obviously lost foreigner and offer assistance, sometimes even walking the foreigner to his destination if it is not far away.

Much negativity has made of Tokyo by the western media – it’s over-crowded, cramped, outrageously expensive, the people are rude, no one speaks English – but there is much fun to be had here.

Yes, Tokyo suffers many of same problems other major urban areas do. But one thing that media has a habit of overlooking is that Tokyo is among the world’s safest cities. Excluding the fact that most of its inhabitants speak no foreign language, this is one of the world’s safest places for travelers. Muggings and pick-pocketing are extremely rare. Attacks on foreigners are virtually unheard of, though it would be wise to avoid contact with bosozokus, motorcycle gangs of rebellious youth. I’m not going to waste time describing their typical appearances. Believe me, you’ll know them when you see them. But, walking the streets, even small dark alleys, is typically safe regardless of the time of the day.

Japanese police are very courteous and polite and professional. Most speak no English but will usually call headquarters to get someone to assist in translating.

Tokyo bustles with activity and things to do for all kinds of people. The 23 wards abound with art museums, performing arts theatres, history museums, art galleries, parks, shrines, temples and dance studios. It is a huge smorgasbord of ethnic cuisines, featuring Italian, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai and Middle Eastern. Numerous shopping and entertainment districts dot the landscape.

The western portion of Tokyo Metropolis is not to be missed either. There is great hiking in Okutama, which covers about half of western Tokyo. The foliage is beautiful.

At night time you have multiple choices of entertainment districts to check out, each with some of the hottest clubs and bars you’ll ever visit. Various clubs play hiphop, reggae, rock and Latin music.

So fly on over and have some fun. Tokyo ni yokoso! (Welcome to Tokyo!)