Vibes of Tokyo

I’m going to write a three part series, starting with this one, on the vibes I felt in the three cities we visited while in Japan in 2019: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. While I didn’t have the luxury of spending weeks or months in each town, I was however able to pick up on the vibes of each city along the way and wanted to record my thoughts on each because each one was unique and could be a deciding factor about which one you may want to visit when you head to Japan. 

Let’s start with the big one, Tokyo. Tokyo is the city I love the most in Japan. It’s huge, busy, vibrant and always in motion. I have never been to another city like it (even cities in the US like New York, Chicago, etc. cannot compare to it). From the sounds, smells, and overall feeling, it is just a fun city to be in, at least as a traveler.

The city is hectic and can be stressful at times, especially if you get lost or like the average salary man, have to run to the office and work the long hours they do. But it’s that constant moving and energy that gives it that vibrant energy and life. It is always in motion and with something always happening which is such a change to me normal lifestyle, especially coming from a small home town like I am.

What I love most about the city is how unique it is. The 23 wards are like there own little worlds that are in such contrast of each other. Akihabara is so much different than Ueno yet still the same city. That makes it so vibrant and so much to see.

However, while the city is amazing and always has something going on, I can also see why it may be a little cold at times. Everyone is on their own, heading to their next stop, always moving and not stopping to soak it all in (most have to get to work, so stopping to smell the flowers is not a thing in this city). It’s just how life is in the biggest city on earth. I guess being a blissful traveler, I don’t see how tough living in such a large city can be, but for a visitor, it is amazing.

There are those who are not the biggest fans of Tokyo (and I can see why). It’s too busy, too packed, too many tourists, etc., these are some of the most common complaints people have and I get it. However, I don’t look at it that way. To me the energy, even if it is business at times, is energizing that I miss it each I am not there. The whole city moves, flows, and moves like a giant machine. It’s so different than any US city I have been to and it’s why it is so amazing to me. I can’t wait to return to it and get to feel that rush, seeing it all moving again under those neon lights at night and to embrace that makes it feel so alive.

Next will be a post about the vibes of Kyoto down the road, so stay tuned for that blog post because Kyoto is way different than Tokyo.