Tokyo is a huge metropolis with 13 million people. We stayed in Shinjuku where on a daily basis 3.67 million people pass through the train/metro station. The station has 200 exits and was also our main mode of transportation (Tokyo is notorious for its traffic jams).
The Asakusa temple is located on the NE side of the city and is a traditional Buddhist temple. In Japan, the two main religions are Buddhish and Shinto. Some people even practice both. There are a lot of lanterns, they burn incense, and actively practice the religion (even in this "tourist" temple).
To get to a more authentic Japanese setting, we traveled 3 hrs N to Nikko. In Nikko there is a Tosho-gu (temple in the picture) which was originally built in 1617 during the Edo period. In the main temple there is an area where only samurai and their descendants may enter. Though this World Heritage temple site is mainly Shinto, there are also some Buddhist temples. We were there when it was pouring rain, but that didn't distract us from enjoying the gorgeous nature of this mountain region.
At the park in the middle of Tokyo where the Imperial Palace resides, together with my Swedish class and travel mate Sofie. Japan still has an Emperor and he is the highest authority in the Shinto religion. Interestingly enough, Japan has the oldest Imperial lineage with the same family reigning since Japan's establishment in 660 BC.
Conveyor belt sushi! Watch the sushi pass by and pick any plate that will whet your appetite.
In Shibuya during the night. Blinding lights and flashy signs make this the place to be!
Tokyo was really amazing. It was even better than I would have imagined. If you come to Asia, I would certainly recommend spending your money on a trip to Tokyo rather than to Bangkok or Hong Kong. However, I would not want to live in Tokyo due to the tiny living spaces available. Singapore is definitely a great place to live and you can easily explore the rest of Asia from here.
