The weather was much warmer than I expected, and I wore this same look quite often. The Burberry jacket was perfect for layering and the hat took just enough of the sun out of my eyes!
It’s shockingly hard not to be overwhelmed by the Japanese capital, Tokyo. Hustling and bustling beyond any place I’ve ever visited, the metropolis did more than hum – it glowed. With signage everywhere, people assuredly going to and fro, and buildings as high and as far as the eye can see, I felt like a tiny, insignificant ant. And I was, dwarfed by the giant city and all the sensory delights of my first visit there.
At the opening of our twenty-day trip, we had three days in Tokyo, thinking this would give us an overview and an idea of how we would spend our last days in the country. I was so wrong. These first few days were spent with mouths agape as we wandered in awe of the number of things to see. I barely wanted to blink, worried I’d miss a moment of the unique details. From manicured parks to sprawling cityscapes, farmers markets to tea shops, stores the width of a taco truck packed with merchandise, and people everywhere, I can’t even describe all the new experiences. But I can try to show you! Here are some pictures, with descriptions, to give you a sense of some of the things I saw in our first few days. Enjoy!
Wandering around the city was my favorite thing to do and I especially loved hanging out in the parks to watch the activities that locals participated in. Men played baseball with their kids, friends had picnics together, dance troops practiced, and teenagers played tennis, all in one park!Our hotel was truly stunning. I loved how the Aman Tokyo mixed eastern conveniences with western style. What an absolutely breathtaking hotel!Jon checking out the fall color.The views from our room were incredible. I’m sure it’s fun to stay at a capsule hotel for one night, but I enjoyed being in a highrise and watching the city move in front of me. This photo gives you the scope of the city in one glance!You know how I need to photograph flowers! These are some from a tea shop and florist.Ladies in kimonos going for a stroll.Me and my camera always at the readyBuildings here seem to go on forever and in all directions!People enjoying public spaces, reading and chatting.A city still being built…The Imperial Palace where the royal family still lives.A little guard house!And this guardhouse nearby looked straight out of a Wes Anderson movie! It made me giggle.Or how about this police station which I would say is in the style of 1980 nostalgia!People reading everywhere……and beautiful details on everything!This is the first photo I took with my camera. It’s a teeny bar tucked into a skyscraper.Buildings with so much personality!The flowers were incredible too!Vibrant colors and the most beautiful shapes including petals I’ve never seen before!And those colors were gorgeous!Once night fell, the city was just as magical, with more things to look at!And the people were everywhere, looking all kinds of fashionable!
If you can believe it, that’s just a tiny taste of our trip but I’m so excited to share many more adventures and photographs with you. I hope some of these pictures give you a little break from your day and share the wonder of Tokyo!
Have you ever been overwhelmed by a visit to a city? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!