One Night in Tokyo

The plan was to backpack from Phnom Penh to Chiang Mai. Luckily for us, flying to Cambodia from Houston required us to change planes in Tokyo. So why not make the most of it and take a 48 hour hiatus to explore one of our planets largest and most vibrant cities.

Of all the places I have been Tokyo stole my heart the quickest and I have been desperate to go back to find it ever since. The food, history and culture had me in a trance and my senses, so wildly entertained, stole any sign of jet-lag away and kept me wide awake.

First stop, a Kabuki show, where we enjoyed a tranquil play, listening to a translation (which sounded ever so similar to Michael Palin). Not just the language, but the overall feel was unlike any play I had seen in the UK or the US. The actors moved with such precision and delicacy adding to the overall artistry of the production. The play ended just in time, as our tummies started to rumble with applause and we left to find something to eat.

Wandering the streets of Tokyo the lights of the roads and billboards bring the city to life, making you walk faster. Various food options line the road and despite having no idea what anything was, it was impossible to go wrong. Each item we ordered from the various places we ate was divine. From the soups to the sushi our pallets were well satisfied and our bellies left full.

Unfortunately, there was not enough time to waste much of it on eating, so we were constantly on the go. The Tokyo Tower, which happened to be just outside our hotel was gorgeous. Having seen the Eiffel Tower in Paris, there is no denying the origin of the concept of the Tokyo Tower, but it is no less impressive. From the viewing gallery, you can feast your eyes upon panoramic 360 views of the enormous city. We went up the tower after sundown to be greeted by the stunning Tokyo skyline at night, which steals your breath away in an instant. 

The Tokyo Tower is located right next to Zojo-ji temple. This Buddhist temple is still in use today and you could see the occasional Monk walking through the grounds. The temples themselves are works of art, stunning buildings, one with gorgeous stained glass art windows.

Each temple is unique, exhibiting both ancient and modern, past and present. To the side of the temples stand rows of stone statues of precious children, each dressed in colorful clothing with a vase and wind-star. These statues, called jozi, comprise the cemetery of unborn children, where people can go to pray and dedicate a statue to their unborn child. As a tree ordained with colorful paper dances behind them, there is no doubt that this is a happy cemetery for the children that didn't quite make it to Earth.

The temple was the last stop on our Tokyo taster and we were sad to go. One night in Tokyo is just enough to wet your appetite and leave you starving for more. I fell in love with this city in less than 48 hours and have been dreaming of it ever since. If you ever find an opportunity to go, do not miss it, because this is a city worth sacrificing for.