Ask me the first and
last impression of Tokyo, Japan. "EXPENSIVE". The world biggest
metropolis is also the worlds' most expensive. Direct nepali translation of Tokyo
is 'to bite'. It bites as if you are soft bread and might just engulf you with
a burp. We spent just four days, me my wife and my daughter.
It was a run for visa
to Tokyo. It is not much of a hassle and will be done in three business days after
getting a visa number from the Immigration office of Korea. Finding a Korean
consulate is not an easy job since official embassy website does not have
proper location information in English. Anyone looking for this information
should refer to Intrepid information here in this link.
And that’s why I went
to Japan. To make a new visa, a useless exercise enforced on me. This was our
first family trip together in other foreign country beside Korea. My wife was
quite excited, my daughter had a least idea of what was going on and I just
wanted my job to be done at the earliest.
We took a Weekly
Manison hotel, nearby Akasaka station, probably the cheapest around that area.
There are other schemes if you want it for a week. Do not expect any free services
except towel cleaning. Dirty towels must be returned to the counter for the service
by you. People are kind, speaks good English but you might hardly like them
thinking about the amount you are paying. Still, they are nice staffs, who will
ask 150 Yen if you want to rent a plastic umbrella that you can buy in around 2-400
Yen in stores few minutes from the hotel. 10 Yen for making a photocopy of a
piece of paper. A coin phone in the lobby is hardly successful.
From Narita
airport on 25th of September, we took a rail, limited express to the downtown
Tokyo where our hotel was located. Rail is the cheap, best, and only
recommended transport medium, unless you are in emergency. Tokyo subway system is
cool and easy to travel around. It might initially look complicated with lots
of lines and naming conventions, but you will get used to it in no time. There
are instructions and notices in English. Every station you might have to do
fair adjustment depending upon how long you are travelling. Tokyo metro guide is in the link and it is the best.
Odaiba city is a
lovely place. We would not have visited there, had we not met Nami's friend.
Thanks to Sunil and Dilip, who were kind enough to spare entire day and
choosing a right place to get a real good feel of the city. Rainbow bridge and
the science building and the Tokyo bay, all at the same place was amazing,
added with the Mexican festival. Beautiful landscape of the city from any
point around had a breath taking view gelled well with mexican food and corona
beer.
Next day we visited Akihabara electronic market. Nami finally got her dreams fulfilled to own cannon in relatively cheaper price. Next was a visit to Tokyo Tower, a visit by chance since it was close to the Korean consulate. The best thing I remember was visiting wax museum with descriptive history about electric guitar. Rest it was nothing but the views of the city around Roponggi hills (a downtown to Tokyo), imperial palace and the Odaiba city.
Next day we visited Akihabara electronic market. Nami finally got her dreams fulfilled to own cannon in relatively cheaper price. Next was a visit to Tokyo Tower, a visit by chance since it was close to the Korean consulate. The best thing I remember was visiting wax museum with descriptive history about electric guitar. Rest it was nothing but the views of the city around Roponggi hills (a downtown to Tokyo), imperial palace and the Odaiba city.
Finally at the end,
Nanu was happy to be back again in Korea.
No comments:
Post a Comment