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Published: April 1st 2024
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Tokyo has more people than all of Texas, just no drawl or cowboy boots. Over 37 million people live here.
And quite remarkably, Tokyo has more Michelin stars than London and Paris combined!
On the sporting side, Tokyo is one of only ten cities to host the Olympics more than once. But the greater Tokyo area has FIVE major league baseball teams.
And Shibuya Crossing is the world's busiest pedestrian intersection.
And Shinjuku Station is the busiest train station. In fact, we start the trip by staying in Shinjuku, and end it by staying in Shibuya.
Despite its modern or futuristic landscape, Tokyo has a 7
th century temple, and some of the oldest shops on earth. Japan is home to more than 33,000 businesses that are over 100 years old, some dating back to the 6
th century.
The subway system has 13 lines, nine managed by Tokyo Metro, and four by Toei Subway. Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest station, handling 3.5 million people, and 5,000 trains daily!
Tokyo also owns the busiest crosswalk intersection in the world. Upwards of 3,000 people cross this intersection at peak hours. On busy days, the total can
reach half a million!
Sumo rules are simple. It involves pushing your opponent out of the dohyo, a clay circle 15 feet in diameter, or unbalancing him so that some part of his body, other than the bottom of his feet, touches the ground.
Theme parks are a big deal here, with Tokyo Disneyland, Sanrio Puroland, Universal Studios, and Studio Ghibli.
"A wise man climbs Mount Fuji once. A madman climbs it twice." It is not the difficulty; it is the number of climbers.
Japan once had over 10,000 pachinko parlors. I wonder now, what the number is, with the growth of computer games?
The mermaids of Toba, or "daughters of the sea" average 65 years of age, and can reach a depth of 82 feet, in search of abalone, oysters, sea urchin and seaweed.
Tokyo has innovated underground bicycle parks, allowing secure storage, and saving precious ground space.
During cherry blossom season or hanami (flower viewing), locals gather under the blooming cherry trees for a picnic, drinks, and good company.
Tokyo has been the capital since 1868.
Tokyo has more neon signs than anywhere in the world, including Las Vegas
Picadilly, or Times Square. Oshiya, or "pushers" are employed by the train company to push people into crowded trains!
There is one vending machine for every 23 people here. You can even by a car from a vending machine!
Tokyo has 226 Michaelin starred restaurants, the most in the world. And fourteen three star restaurants, more than NY or Pris!
Tokyo Skytree is 634 meters tall, one of the tallest buildings in the world. Tokyo has five cylindrical shafts under the city to prevent flooding.
Tokyo was heavily bombed in WW2, with up to 130,000 people killed, yet it became the first city in the world to reach 10,000 inhabitants in 1962.
Tokyo is the epicenter of the small or capsule hotel.
Tokyo has over 150 museums, over 4,000 shrines and temples, 882 interconnected rail stations, and more than 100 universities and colleges.
Mount Fuji can only be seen about 80 days per year! One square meter of land in Ginza is worth more than 30,000 Yen!
Tokyo has anti-suicide lights at metro stations, with an 84% reduction in suicides!
Hanaki, the koi fish lived from 1751 to 1977, reaching
the ripe old age of 226.
Tokyo has tunnels under the train tracks for turtles!
Some bonsai tress reach 400 years old. Tokyo has women only subway cars.
Pizza boxes here have a handle.
Japan has the third longest life expectancy in the world, 81 for men and 87 for women.
Japan has over 6800 islands.
There is a fruit gifting shop in Tokyo with some fruit as expensive as $27,000!
I love it here!
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