Roger and Stephen in Singapore: Tokyo

Over the years we had heard from various friends who have visited Tokyo that it is a very expensive city to visit. Well we can confirm that and it makes living in Singapore seem so cheap! Food prices are so much higher for casual eating but the choice is mind-blowing although many menus are in Japanese only so it is a mater of pointing to the various pictures on the menu. We are pretty sure we had grilled horse meat at one dinner!

First impressions of Tokyo is that it is a spotless city from head to toe and everything has a place whether it is a smoking area on the streets to the placement of rubbish bins which seem hard to find until you look a bit harder and find they blend in with the surroundings. Tokyo is also a city of followed social behaviour - correct ways to walk in subways, no mobile phone use on trains ( apart from texting and reading). An article in the paper suggested people should hydrate themselves in public during the current heatwave as 39 people have died in the last month. Drink vending machines are everywhere but it is unacceptable to walk around drinking from a water bottle in your hand. The weather is not as humid as Singapore but the heat from buildings and lack of large trees as well as limited air-conditioning due to power shortages makes it extremely hot. In two days we counted 6 people who fainted on train stations. Many stores offer you a free fan which comes in very handy.

Getting around Tokyo was easy on the very extensive train network that crisscross the city with many different lines. The metro train system is often very crowded and the subways leading to platforms are extremely hot and stuffy. The trains are spotless and also extremely quiet as people tend not to speak to one another.
Taxis are everywhere with many drivers wearing white gloves and the seats and headrests with crocheted white covers. Taxi prices are extremely expensive (about 4 times the price of Singapore ), so the train travel is a much better option.
Department stores are huge and the choice is endless and many have the fantastic food halls with food ready to go although it is bad manners to eat while walking or on the street.
A week in Tokyo only scratched the surface as there is so much to see and do and next time we visit we will do some trips further afield from central Tokyo.