Tokyo

 

Tokyo

Tokyo
Our brief stay in the capital of Japan was really nice certainly with the assistance of our young Japanese "mother" Miwako. With care, each day she has filled our bags with sandwiches and sweets of all kinds; more than once we have felt that family climate for a long we lacked. Simply fabolous the other members of the family: her husband Akihiro, a handyman who split in four to help us, and finally, but not in order of importance Mr.. Sbrodolino, the son of a few months, the little Kantaro, with whom we have enjoyed to became babysitters, rolling with him in the comfortable futon.
Apart from that, in these days we also had time to go somewhere around Tokyo.

Obviously a huge city that has forced us to choose only certain areas, more interesting for us. First stop was a brief view on the imperial residence, which is possible to visit only from the outside. We then directed towards the Ginza district, the most fashionable district in Tokyo where the Italian brands are inevitably known. It was then the time of Shibuya, the youth district for excellence, shocking full of dazzling lights, clothes shops for young funny typical school girls. The school girls are really something characteristic here in Tokyo and throughout Japan; we question about teenagers displaying their school uniform, that unlike what you might imagine is everything but not anonymous. Vertiginous miniskirts on elegant blouses, sometimes with perfect ties. Something to see! Our first excursion in the city ended with a fleeting glance to Shinjuku, characterized by high skyscrapers, perhaps precisely what a person expects to find in a metropolis like Tokyo.
Arrived at home right time for a sumptuous vegetables pasta with parmesan cheese (an applause to Miwako, the cook), a shower and all to bed... indeed, inside the futon!

The day after, as a happy family, we all make a trip in the mountains towards the main temple of Nikko. Family car of order, sober spacious and elegant, as usual pampered by Miwako Mom-like care. A comfortable journey lasting around three hours, which led us between a colourful Japanese autumn, with trees shaded from bright red to a very pale yellow. A peculiarity of this place that particularly intrigued us is the presence of monkeys that as what they say, are particularly arrogant and not at all intimidate by the presence of tourists; indeed, the legend tells that they are gluttonous of snacks, and interested to hats and all those typical tourist objects. Finally, they are used to take a brief look inside the cars. We unfortunately or luckily sighted only one. The temple is really very special for the countless colors that decorate it.... The visit was not longer protracted, given the needs of our baby Kantaro that, all things considered, were not very different from ours (we were a lot tired).

Upon return from the mountain we stopped by the parents of Miwako that offered us dinner revealing how they were very interested in our project and caring that we could achieve it in full security and tranquility. A dinner with corn flakes (what the hell..! They must have spent one month of salary to offer us that kind of maxi dinner! Excellent!).

The day following was yet dedicated to visit the capital. We have directed towards the center of Tokyo along with Miwako that presented us some young mothers, her friends (with babies of course) which we started to spend the day in the usual Saturday afternoon cheats. Leaving Miwako with her friends, we concentrated on the district called Amakusa, perhaps the most historic of the city, with a nice permanent marketplace stretched around the main temple. Second and final stage Akihabara, the electric-city, so called because in this area the light certainly does not lack, seen countless illuminated signs everywhere, and here are concentrated all the shops which deal with technology more or less advanced. We returned soon enough, because Miwako organized yet another excellent dinner with friends of his childhood.

So we came up to today, dedicated to the transfer to Hanoi. It is precisely from the plane that we are writing this diary board, when we are just not two hours longer from landing and we already feel a little nostalgic of our Japanese family... A warm "See you soon" and a strong embrace to Miwako, Akician and their small "sbrodolino" Kantaro.

Welcome warm, beaches, sun and sea !!!!!!!

Conclusions on Japan

Even with regard to this second stage, we are pleased our draw personal conclusions on this experience. First is a clear difference between the zone of the Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto. Etc..) And the north, or rather Tokyo. The first still rooted in the tradition of Japan that was (there are a multitude of temples and museums that the recall), the second expression of progress achieved so Japan is so famous in the world. Perhaps even more true and traditional is the area that we visited Kyushu in the south, less industrialized and characterized by vast areas crossed by endless roads that wind around the hills and mountains ... Indeed, Japan is less flat than many people think!
Sometimes Japan is described as a country frenetic and high-tech ... certainly this is not false, but in the end of the story is not so different from our beautiful Italy although obviously with different habits and traditions.

Another thing we noticed is the love and admiration for our boot flag ... stravedono for us, and not just in terms of stereotypes that accompany Italy in the rest of the world (pizza, pasta and mandolin) but for all that revolves around all'italian style.
One stereotype that unfortunately we verified, is the high cost of living, effectively in order to survive as tourists must spend a beautiful gruzzoletto! What we partially avoided thanks to our super Japanese friends. To make good!