After spending the first couple of days at the mercy of a gloomy sky, the sun finally appeared in all its shining glory on the third day. The bright daylight, coupled with the wind of the autumn season, made for perfect brisk walking conditions—and walk I did—for miles and miles over sidewalks and subway floors. Every thump of my feet became audibly in harmony with the multitude of Japanese commuters’ rickety medley of footsteps, sounding like an orchestral beatbox.
A Walk Along the Streets of Tokyo (Part Two): Slurping Ramen and Navigating the Neon Pulse of Tokyo Nights
Japanese Food-Tripping
While I practiced a bit of common sense by avoiding high-priced sushi bars, I did not hold myself back from trying out several joints the locals seemed to frequent—even waiting in line just to get a seat. Sometimes, an uncrowded, charming café would catch my attention, and without ado, I would step right inside to also take the chance to rest my feet.
I was amused by the ticket vending machines at some restaurants, where you just punched in your order selection from the photos displayed on the screen before inserting your money. Afterward, the machine printed an order receipt, which you then handed to the chef. I had fun using those ordering machines, although sometimes it became a hit-or-miss thing—just like when I selected a ramen dish with red soup that turned out to be far too spicy for my tongue.
Eating with other Japanese diners meant having to eat fast, as if you needed to slurp all those noodles and soup in a continuous fluid motion. I reckoned it was because of their way of life of being always on the go. Not only did they walk fast, they also ate swiftly, perhaps so they could go back to their respective jobs as quickly as possible.
Despite all their rapid movements, it was not uncommon to see people lining up in an orderly fashion—as was evident in their busy train systems. You would never see any shoving or pushing happening. In Japan, there was no room for slacking around. Everybody was in a hurry, but in a highly disciplined manner.
Bright Lights, Big City
Feeling like a character in "Lost in Translation," the quintessential display of Tokyo’s animated neon lights quickly captivated me in a trance-like existence. Despite being a morning person, the night vibe of Tokyo became my favorite time of the day. While I had spent most of the daytime walking around, my wanderings turned notches more fascinating as I strode the intersecting alleyways of that city of nine million souls under its bright lights.
Like blood flowing through a vein, I would always find myself heading to the heart of the city: Shibuya Crossing. That rambling intersection was the personification of the city of Tokyo, where one witnessed a scene of a repetitive loop of movements forming and dispersing quickly like waves of the ocean.
Wanting to feel the pulsating throb of Tokyo, I inserted myself into the sea of people. Embodying a synchronized marching band, we ambled, sashaying not to a musical tune but to the conducting of the strobing lights of giant electric screens.
Pushing my way through the busy streets and into smaller alleyways had me passing by skillful street buskers humming melodious tunes in Japanese. Everywhere I went, there was always an enthralling street scene unfolding. "This is the Tokyo I came to see," I told myself, and as an added wonderful surprise—the city itself came with a more stimulating effect on me. The only thing left wanting out of my brief experience in Tokyo was bumping into a Scarlett Johansson-esque, troubled but appealing character.
