The Japan Trilogy - Part 3: Tokyo

Tokyo

One of the first things that you notice about Tokyo, a city with an Urban Area population of 38 million people (more than all of Canada), is the lack of noise. Japanese culture exudes consideration and respect and this includes pretty great concepts including people don't litter, breaks rules or laws, or make any unnecessary noise. Even the babies in Japan are quiet and respectful. I'm sure many World Cup fans heard about Japanese fans celebrating their win against Colombia (the first time an Asian country has ever beaten a South American country in the World Cup) by cleaning up garbage in the stadium. This is a very accurate depiction of Japanese culture, and kind of makes me wonder if Japanese people feel repulsed by everyone else's noisy countries with garbage all over the ground.

The next thing that you can't help but notice about Tokyo is the hilarious signs, absolutely everywhere.

If this isn't a convincing reason not to speed then I don't know what is

I'll buy it! Is this a shampoo advertisement? Face cream? Rings? Whatever it is I'll buy it so I can be as happy as this guy

Millenials

Two of the people I admire most, Sailor Moon and Ross

You'll never get lost in a public washroom again

Happiest train station in the world

Ross is a civil engineer, so you can thank him for the next 15 photos of buildings, but it can give you a glimpse into some of the architecture in Tokyo.

This building is the least Japanese building but Morgan thought it would be a nice place to eat while in Japan

Not once, but twice

McDonalds or this?

This was Ross's favourite building

Sources vary in their estimates but according to one website Japan has the 22 busiest train stations in the world in terms of number of passengers going though the station per day. Estimates range from 1.2 million to 3.5 million per day, but all websites seem to agree that Shinjuku Station in Tokyo is the busiest station in the world. Entering Shinjuku station was like getting swallowed by an ocean of people. However, its Japan we're talking about. People move about in such an orderly fashion with very clear signage, everyone is so courteous, and trains depart with punctuality measured in nanoseconds so the crowds of people are able to get from point A to point B with stress free efficiency.

I think its also safe to say Shinjuku Station has the poster with the most Anime characters in the whole world.

A quick little aside from smooth, rhythmic movement of millions of people in Japan, so I can vent about Kazakhstan sidewalks. The sidewalks in my city (sometimes I call it a village) on main streets are huge, almost like two lane roads, so no complaints there. However, it seems like the goal of every person, pair of people or small group of people is to take up as much of the sidewalk as possible. I spend most of my time when walking going on to the grass as people insist on taking up the whole sidewalk.

One day I swear everyone decided to walk pentingle file from one end of the sidewalk to the other

I hate all 5 of you equally and enormously

When I saw this group of 15 commanding the sidewalk I almost decided just to turn around, go back to bed and try my luck another day

Efficient movement of people is another reason to love Japan. 

We took a train from Shinjuku Station, which means Beej got to have another nap

As soon as we got off the train our noses were accosted by the most delicious smell of baked goods and without a word we all made straight for the bakery. 

Eric being the most indecisive human ever

Easy decision, get one of everything

Where were we going? We were going to a baseball game! Lucas was a varsity baseball player in university so suggested this activity, something that never would have crossed my mind but it was a lot of fun. Japanese baseball is like regular baseball, just more punctual, more cute, smaller players, and with crazier food. 

The Tokyo Dome

The awesome roller coaster outside the Tokyo Dome

The view from our seats (the very back of the Tokyo Dome)

The best part about baseball in Japan is that each team (home and away) has a cheering section, complete with a band and cheering conductor. Lyrics to the cheers are posted near the cheering section for fans to take a photo of and cheer along. Now, in North American baseball we have the 7th inning stretch, where you stand up and do a 30 second stretch. This represents the only exercise you get during a baseball game, besides raising your hand to order a drink or hot dog, bathroom trips, and celebrating home runs. In Japanese baseball however, those sitting in the fan cheering section stand up and cheer for the entire time their team is up to bat, for all 9 innings. Japanese baseball is the only sport where being a fan is more tiring than being a player. 

Remember how everything in Japan is meant to be cute? Food and drink deliverers are no exception.  

Yes, even baseball games in Japan sell sushi

Ever wanted to know what your favourite player's favourite hot dog is?

Ever been disappointed by your favourite athlete (like when Vince Carter left Toronto)? Imagine finding out your favourite baseball player (number 6) likes scrambled eggs on his hot dog!? Ross nearly had a heart attack when he thought the mixed up his order and they made him the scrambled eggs one.

The 'hot dog delivery location", basically my favourite place on Earth

Out of over 2000 photos from our trip this is the closest we had to a group photo (just missing Morgan). Thanks Steph for always bringing you selfie A game!

Only in Japan will you find a revolving door supervisor. Gotta keep those doors revolving efficiently and safely.

Lucas makes revolving doors look easy

Ross being helped by Eric, who seems to have found his calling in life as a revolving door attendant

Only in Japan can you play real life Mario Kart

Definitely the weirdest thing we did in Japan (even weirder than the Onsen) was going to Robot Restaurant. For such a popular country I had been surprised thus far by the lack of tourists we saw on our trip. That's because all of the foreigners were at Robot Restaurant. I wish I could explain what was going on, but simply put I was very confused by everything. So hopefully the photos shed some light on Robot Restaurant, and the future that awaits us when robots take over the world. 

The waiting lounge was an indication of how bright and shiny the show would be

Lots of music

Lots of dancing

Lots of sushi, or course

Next there was a battle between good and evil to save the fate of humanity from artificial intelligence.

Kung Fu Panda was on the good side

As was giant Kung Fu Panda

This was one of the evil villains

A giant dinosaur robot eating someone

Drinks served in lightbulbs

Dancing robots is probably the future of night clubs

Bruno Mars

This robot is terrifying

And yeah, that was robot restaurant.

After robot restaurant we hit up a few of the Tokyo bars. Many buildings in Japan are super thin so a lot the bars are basically a hallway with seating for about 10 people. As our group at the time consisted of 8 people we would pretty much need to find an empty one to fit us all in.

Enjoying some sake

Japanese fast food (fast to prepare and fast to eat) usually involves noodles. The chef looks like he's prepared each dish a million times before, and no one can slurp up a bowl of noodles as fast as they can in Japan.

John receiving his noodles faster than he can count out the Yen to pay for it

Another popular restaurant style is to have seating 360 degrees around a central kitchen.

Gyoza, a very popular Japanese dish

One of my favourite spots in Japan was the Tokyo fish market. Its the largest fish market in the world (I made this up, but I'm pretty confident) and definitely the most famous. Tourists show up each day at 3am to be one of about 50 people selected and allowed in to stand and watch the fish auctions that day. I don't do 3am, from either the late night or early morning approach, but the fish market was still a sight to behold at normal o'clock in the morning.

Even before entering the market you start to see a lot of cool stuff for sale

Wasabi plants

We did not pay 800 yen to go to after death world

These swords were massive and aren't for samurais, rather for cutting tuna!

All the people who worked at the market had one of these things to drive around their fish, and you did not want to get in their way. 

Basically Japanese motorcycle gangsters

There were many restaurants outside the market that all looked the same. We tested the hypothesis that people only line up at a place if it looks busy. We chose a relatively empty place, hopped in line, and within minutes dozens of others were in line for our restaurant. We make things popular.

The single file hallway restaurant

John, Ross, Lucas and Eric trying to be seen at the back

Very fresh!

The market was huge and we needed to ask directions for how to get inside

Oh great, they let these fish vehicles drive inside the market too! 

Tuna eyes are massive!

More weird fish

I bet this cart has some pretty epic stories

Here's where the variety of tuna swords and knives come into play

We watched this guy cut the tuna for about 10 minutes, and he received a round of applause when he finally cut off a quarter

The tuna progress very quickly from looking like a terrifying overgrown sea monster to looking absolutely delicious

We did it!

If all countries agreed to try to be more like Japan I would think that humanity is headed in a pretty great direction. Courtesy, great food, vending machines everywhere, efficiency and punctuality are just a few of the things to love about Japan. I'm pretty sure that if someone invented a way to turn yourself into a cartoon or anime character most people in this country would sign up, but other than that I loved everything about this great culture and nation. 

Arigatou gozaimasu Japan (accompanied by a deep bow)