Well, we've got a lot to talk about today. My mom suggested our first trip to Tokyo in Japan. And in case you can remember what I answered in DJ Trivia, it's a flag of Japan I put in as the 'Double Down Dare'.
So as always, I would like to be interested in a trip to Tokyo for our next vacation. And I would like to check it out right before my very eyes. My mom suggested Tokyo for us because it's the de facto capital and most populous prefecture of Japan. Located at the head of Tokyo Bay, the prefecture forms part of the Kantō region on the central Pacific coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu. Tokyo is the political and economic center of the country, as well as the seat of the Emperor of Japan and the national government. As of 2021, the prefecture has an estimated population of 13,960,236. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with more than 37.393 million residents as of 2020.
According to Wikipedia, it says that it was originally a fishing village, named Edo. But the city became a prominent political center in 1603, when it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. By the mid-18th century, Edo was one of the most populous cities in the world at over one million. Following the end of the shogunate in 1868, the imperial capital in Kyoto was moved to the city, which was renamed Tokyo (literally "eastern capital"). Tokyo was devastated by the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, and again by Allied bombing raids during World War II. Beginning in the 1950s, the city underwent rapid reconstruction and expansion, going on to lead Japan's post-war economic recovery. Since 1943, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has administered the prefecture's 23 special wards (formerly Tokyo City), various bed towns in the western area, and two outlying island chains.
Also, Tokyo is the largest urban economy in the world by gross domestic product, and is categorized as an Alpha+ city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Part of an industrial region that includes the cities of Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Chiba, Tokyo is Japan's leading center of business and finance. In 2019, it hosted 36 of the Fortune Global 500 companies. In 2020, it ranked fourth on the Global Financial Centres Index, behind New York City, London, and Shanghai. Tokyo has the world's tallest tower Tokyo Skytree and the world's largest underground floodwater diversion facility MAOUDC. The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is the oldest underground metro line in East Asia since 1927.
Okay so for starters, here are some places that I wanna see and visit in Tokyo. But first off, we need to play to stay like a resort hotel.
I wanna walk around the city of Tokyo and find a Glico-ya kitchen somewhere. In it, there's a popular shopping area called Ginza.
One of the city’s top shopping districts, Ginza is packed with upmarket boutiques and ritzy cocktail and sushi bars. Fine jewelry is sold in the 1930s Wako Honkan department store, while ultramodern Ginza Place specializes in high-tech electronics. On weekends, main drag Chuo Dori becomes a stylish pedestrian promenade. Traditional Japanese dance and drama is staged at the landmark Kabuki-za theater. But for me, I don't wanna eat sushi. I wanna try something different, like maybe some teriyaki chicken with ramen noodles. How do I like my ramen cooked? Well done with asian barbeque and with soy sauce, thank you. No sesame seeds needed.
The next one I wanna check out is maybe Takeshita Street.
Takeshita Street (竹下通り, Takeshita-dōri) is a pedestrian shopping street lined with fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants in Harajuku in Tokyo, Japan. Stores on Takeshita Street include major chains such as The Body Shop, McDonald's, and 7-Eleven, but most of the businesses are small independent shops that carry an array of styles. The shops on this street are often a bellwether for broader fads, and some are known as "antenna shops," which manufacturers seed with prototypes for test-marketing.
I always enjoy shopping in my own time or with my folks ever since our trip to London. And when we visit Tokyo, I wanna take my family to Takeshita Street to go shopping. Maybe we'll find a record store to get some music. I wonder if there's a Tower Records Shibuya here.
Just think if there's a Japanese vending machine somewhere in this shopping street. If I can find one, maybe I can try out a couple of Japanese sodas and refreshing beverages. Plus, maybe try out some other new Japanese candies.
In case you didn't know, it's located directly across from the exit of JR East's Harajuku Station, where Takeshita Street is very popular with young teenagers, particularly those visiting Tokyo on school trips, or local young people shopping for small "cute" goods at weekends.
Mom would even like to check out a clothing shop here, plus maybe try out some special Japanese perfume or fragrance. And maybe my dad and I can check out a manga store somewhere.
This next one I wanna check out is Shinjuku City, where it's home of Club SEGA.
Shinjuku City is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world (Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration centre for the government of Tokyo. As of 2018, the ward has an estimated population of 346,235, and a population density of 18,232 people per km2. The total area is 18.23 km2. Since the end of the Second World War, Shinjuku has been a major secondary center of Tokyo (fukutoshin), rivaling to the original city center in Marunouchi and Ginza. It literally means "New Inn Ward".
Shinjuku is also commonly used to refer to the entire area surrounding Shinjuku Station. The southern half of this area and of the station in fact belong to Yoyogi and Sendagaya districts of the neighboring Shibuya ward.
And just so you know, Club SEGA is right over here.
Mom wants me to check out the Meiji Shrine because it's got a must-visit serenity and atmosphere.
It might be really if we can see some Japanese Noh theater in there. How about at a Kabuki theater.
Next is the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
I've been to many art museums here in America and around the world, but we haven't tried out the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum for the very first time. It's got many exciting line ups of exhibitions and many galleries to see here. Another museum I wanna check out in Tokyo is the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kiba Park.
This is where the famous swimming pool art exhibit is one of a kind.
Maybe for the first time there, I wanna my dad and I to check it out and imagine that I'm underwater in a pool.
Besides, when we're into contemporary art, there's always rainbow trails.
Okay, moving on to the next one.
I’ve also been thinking about creating my own Japanese care package. While my family and I are visiting Tokyo Japan for the very first time, maybe we can do a little shopping. Look for some snacks, maybe some merchandise such as music, souvenirs, and such, some Japanese drinks and sodas (C.C. Lemon, Nanchan!, Calpis, etc), Japanese puppets of any kind, and of course a robe of my own. Just like my mom wears.
Mom would like to try out some Japanese coffee. Dad would like to try out the bubble tea drink.
As for me, well…I’ll think of something I would also like to try too.
Now for the next idea. I’ve also been thinking about checking out Tokyo Dome City.
Tokyo Dome City is the home of the famous Big O, the huge Ferris wheel. And the Thunder Dolphin rollercoaster. And when go into the Wonder Drop ride, you dive in through 3 floors. Wild! This place has so many attractions and also bowling. That one is the Tokyo Dome Bowling Center.
It’s just like the one we have at Station 300, but different here in Japan. And maybe for a special time, we can all go bowling here in Tokyo. Pretty cool, don’t you think.
There’s even other things we would all like to do. We can even see some theater of Noh somewhere. And in case you didn’t know, Noh is a major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century. And here’s what it looks like.
Oh, and yet another thing we wanna see is some taiko drumming here at Sado Island called the Taiko Drum Experience. You may have noticed that we’ve seen taiko drumming when we were in the Japan Pavillion at Epcot in Disney World. The way I hear the drums banging, it makes me wanna dance. That’s the reason why I’m experimenting with musical instruments on GarageBand. This is what taiko drumming looks like in this picture.
But the one other thing I do not wanna eat is sushi. Cause it’s got raw fish. But I know how to make my very own candy sushi without raw fish.
Okay enough of that. Moving on.
I would also like my mom to teach me how to make origami. It’s the art of Japanese paper folding. Plus, I also would like my very own bento to make my own Asian lunch. Also, I almost forgot. When we go traveling around Tokyo, We suggest the bullet train. VROOM VROOM!
So there you have it for now. My blog about our first visit to Tokyo Japan. If you like my blog, feel free to teach me some skills on making origami creations. Plus, when we visit Japan, I would also like to try some Japanese clothing too. So in other words, that’s it for now.
Check back later for more vacation blogs.
