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TRAV E L
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Part II
PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO SEE IN
TOKYO (AND BEYOND)
By CINDY CRUZ
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here is a lot to do in Tokyo. More accurately, there are a lot of touristy things to do in Tokyo. And on this first trip we did mostly touristy stuff. But I can’t wait to come back and do all of the other stuff that there is to do or not do – like simply strolling around all of the side streets in the different neighborhoods and visiting all the places where everyday life is happening. Yeah, that’s my fantasy – come back for months and just live here and explore the mundane. Having said that, I absolutely enjoyed all of the things that we did do.
THE TEMPLES
First of all, while in Japan, you must visit a temple. The first temple we visited was a small shrine in the middle of a quiet neighborhood in Roppongi Hills that we just happened upon as we explored the area on foot. It was run by a monk who lived there with his family, no tourists, no vendors, just a temple in the midst of a beautiful neighborhood. The monk and his young son welcomed us warmly and let us explore the small room filled with books and musical instruments. If you get an opportunity to visit a smaller temple, do it. You can appreciate the peace and serenity without a ton of people, and it was a truly authentic moment. Of course, we made it a point to visit some of the must-see temples in Tokyo. On our second day, we took the train to the Shibuya City area and walked to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. The walk along the path shaded by beautiful trees is lovely.
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The Meiji Jingu Shrine sits in the center of a vast forest of several thousands of trees, creating a lush green oasis in the middle of a bustling city. On-site there is a museum and, adjacent to the shrine, Yoyogi Park with its lovely ponds, fountains, and plum and Sakura trees. Walk the grounds, listen to the birds sing, and enjoy the beauty of nature. On another day, we visited Sensoji in Asakusa. Once you enter the outer gate, there is a 200-meter walkway lined on both sides with shops selling souvenirs and traditional snacks. There are so many shops along the way that it may take you a while to reach the second gate to the main temple, the shrine, and the stunning 5-story pagoda. This temple is the best for people-watching, and we saw many young ladies dressed as geisha.
THE MUSEUMS THE MORI ART MUSEUM
The Mori Art Museum is housed in the Roppongi Towers in the swanky Roppongi Hills neighborhood. The museum features contemporary art in a variety of genres including paintings, photography, sculpture, film, technology, language, science, and more. My favorite exhibits were the Sushi of the Future exhibit and the empty room with a pile of light bulbs in one corner, a single light bulb from above, and a spectacular view of the city through a wall of windows. For the most spectacular views of the Tokyo skyline, visit the Observation Deck on the 52nd floor or the Rooftop Sky Deck.
TEAMLAB PLANETS TOKYO
One of my favorite things we did was to visit the teamLab Planets TOKYO, an immersive museum experience featuring large scale installations involving water, light, and technology. It’s hard to fully describe the experience – you will be barefoot, walking through water, through flowers, through light – it is amazing. We spent at least 20 minutes just sitting in the Universe of Floating Flowers. The Infinite Crystal Universe consists of millions of LED lights, twinkling, flashing all around you – it’s magical! If you go to Tokyo, this is a must-see. Book your tickets ahead of time – it does sell out.