Tokyo, a city. Nothing to see here... Honest

---

Let me kick off by saying Tokyo is a bloody fantastic place...
Seriously it is that good. It isn't the neon lights or the crazy crowds it is the smells and odours that set this place out from everywhere else... this sounds wrong. Let me start again or at least put it into some context for you. Cities such as for example Manchester or London smell like some bodily fluid or other, Manchester is a sort of bile infused vomit (there's a recipe for Heston bloody Bloomenthal there i'm sure) and as for London I put that as sort of a "Morning after a Vindaloo" style pong. Not here though, aside from being exceptionally clean (hardly any rubbish - even the business types litter pick round their respective skyscrapers come 4pm) and tidy the first real smell you get from Tokyo, this is once you emerge from her massive underbelly, is that of freshly made and very tasty (you know what I mean, we've all farted and been able to taste it - same principle here) food coupled with a certain brown substance (no not bodily fluids pay attention) we know as fresh ground coffee. Now the coffee is like a Scottish Terrier, when you hear a Scottie you think theres a fearsome wee beasty ready to have your arm off when in reality some cute fluffy little pooch is awaiting you. Coffee here is the same, great smell tastes pretty much like crap.

Anyway this place is a foodies paradise on Earth from the simple fried dough balls (green tea is not just tea here) to the Yakitori (BBQ Chicken) then to the Sushi and everything else inbetween it all smells (and tastes) sublime. This is a fact that has escaped a certain Aussie chef who is staying at the same hostel as yours truly and AP, as he has rocked up all the way from the Big Sandy and has he gone out into the big vast beyond? Has he perhaps asked people about their experiences? Has he chuffkins, from what we've seen the most activity this dude has had is steadily boshing Orcs and Unicorns or whatever the hell on World of Warcraft. Now I can hear the exclaimation from you (probably Sam) saying I'm being very negative and let him do what he wants etc etc (or you could be unified in your indignance of this Antipodean Oik - leave feedback in either case) but my point is to waste any time in this vast city is an absolute crime or even sacrilege because hidden in every corner, every single nook and cranny are treasures, views, smells, sights and everything else your heart could desire (yes even stripping Japanese ladies Mr Stick..).

All in all, there is something here for everyone even if the day doesn't go as planned, every setback has a massive plus point tipping the scales back in your favour. It could be watching the hawks circle the unwitting fishermen on the pier at the end of a long day or even kicking back and watching the crowds cross at the intensely crazy Shibuya crossing. My personal favourite though has to be heading back to the Endoshima bridge to watch the sunset and upon reaching our viewing point seeing the big Orange reveal Mt Fuji standing tall from well over 70 miles away.
Bloody breathtaking.

What's this? Will the Baron have the last laugh? Are our heroes doomed? Can they get to the bottom of this mystery before they reach the bottom? If not, will this show end early?

From Kamakura

Us x

---

Photos

Endoshima Bridge
What we saw when the sun was setting...

Comments

[Roachy]

Good to hear
.....you'll probably remember from my travelling escapades how much it oins me when you see people wasting a fantastic travelling experience..... soak it up my friend - see all the sites you can...taste all the food you can experience and love every minute....it will be over too soon. Although avoid the turtle jelly, and the blue eggs..those are an experience that can be missed ;)