"TOKYO" Tokyo by drolkar

Tokyo Travel Guide: 4,452 reviews and 8,292 photos

Tokyo is a city of many memories for me... the early-twenties me who decided to "wing it" after graduating from university and got a job teaching English in Japan.

My home in Tokyo was Marui House, a so-called "gaijin house" ("foreigners' house") located just a short walk from the Marui Department Store on the west side of Ikebukuro Station. The physical space may have been limited, but I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the people from everywhere -- Israel, Mexico, Finland, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal, to name but a few countries -- who passed through the guesthouse! Those interactions were fascinating in and of themselves, to say nothing of the thrill of living and working abroad...

Coming from a somewhat staid and old-fashioned city like Boston, Tokyo at that time (1990) seemed to me to be the ultimate futuristic (or phantasmagoric?) experience: high-speed trains everywhere, vending machines that dispensed cans of hot or cold coffee, tea or sake, bank machines that spoke to you when you inserted your bank card, and countless other widgets and gadgets that were lightyears beyond the consumer technology in the U.S.

The other thing that made a deep first impression upon me was the sheer number of people in Tokyo -- especially on the commuter trains and subway lines, going to work. Every morning, en route to the office, I was part of the huge throng of commuters who would literally get pushed onto their jam-packed trains by platform attendants wearing white gloves. Even on weekends, the crowds persisted at department stores, Pachinko parlors and popular downtown locations like Ginza (Tokyo's version of Fifth Avenue).

To be continued...

Last visit to Tokyo: Jan 1996
Intro Written Aug 15, 2002
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Reviews (11)

BUSINESSMEN ON BICYCLES are a... - Tokyo

BUSINESSMEN ON BICYCLES are a... Local Customs (2)

BUSINESSMEN ON BICYCLES are a common sight in the downtown area of Otemachi ! more travel advice

Life at a GAIJIN HOUSE... Favorites (3)

Life at a GAIJIN HOUSE ('foreigners' house') was... crowded, but lively... and fun! :) more travel advice

See a judo competition! Things to Do (4)

See a judo competition! more travel advice

Favorites (3)

This photo, taken at dusk, is of the business district called SHINJUKU. more travel advice

Restaurants (2)
See All YAKITORIYA (a restaurant...

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Comments (19)

Toshioohsako Feb 19, 2008 at 5:30 AM Report Abuse

Very nice "Kara" photo picture!
dr.firas Apr 23, 2003 at 8:06 AM Report Abuse

Great Trip...still needs some photos, you left it without!
Jim_Eliason Feb 15, 2003 at 8:22 AM Report Abuse

Nice page
husain Aug 21, 2002 at 8:52 AM Report Abuse

japanese consumer tech i have strange visions of:S
tamirros Aug 20, 2002 at 9:09 AM Report Abuse

nice page + good info
wispofcloud Aug 14, 2002 at 12:22 PM Report Abuse

interesting main photo! tapestry? painting?
nick06 Jul 18, 2002 at 6:34 AM Report Abuse

nice page!
millward Jul 10, 2002 at 2:02 PM Report Abuse

looks like a great city..thanks
ukirsari Apr 19, 2002 at 5:41 AM Report Abuse

INDEED, JR lines :) and I want to see the Gaijin House :D
BROOKS Feb 28, 2002 at 7:15 AM Report Abuse

Great opening shot