LIFE AS A TOKYOITE

Shoping in Ginza, Tokyo's parallel to New York City's Fifth Avenue.  

Particularly pleasant when the street is closed to vehicles, allowing people to 

meander peacefully in the middle of the usually busy road.

Delightful Afternoon Tea at Shisedo, an upmarket cosmetic store.

Caught in an unexpected street procession, no clue as to it's purpose.

We join a queue of about 30 people and spend the longest time ever waiting for a table.  

Eventually we realise there is only room for about 9 people inside.
Once inside the chef prepares the food in front of us and it is served around a communal table

It is worth the wait!
Slurping Soba, buckwheat noodles and chicken in a hot broth.

We end the evening in Akihabara (Electric Town), a very odd area!  

Often referred to as Akiba by the manga and anime fans.  

This place is the centre of the (geek) universe.

Pachinko - extremely noisy pinball machines.

Life in Toyko moves at a well-oiled pace, with an energy that borders on mania.  

However, the Japanese people are friendly, polite and highly forgiving 

of foreign visitors' social gaffes.  We like it here!