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Shinjuku, the main shopping area in Tokyo.Tokyo is like several cities all connected together by the underground. I wasn’t really that interested in shopping, but it was amazing to see a kind of shopping Las Vegas. |
| Akihabara. A kind of Turkish market of electrical goods.You can buy new technology here, that hasn’t been seen anywhere else in the world. |  |
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Inside a Tokyo Cyber Cafe. I make my living in technology, and know a lot of people who are interested/skilled in technology.These people were in another league !. There were people in this room, instant messaging people sat a few feet from them.I went in and had a few beers, but it was hard to relax in a boiler room like this. |
| In the hotel grounds was a really beautiful Japanese Garden.I spent 2 hours here in meditation. It was one off the highlights of the trip. |  |
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During a tour of the city, we were taken to the largest buddest temple in Tokyo.The 2 main religions in Tokyo are Buddhism and Shintoism. |
| The gold building on the left is the headquarters of the Asahi beer company.
The main building is meant to be gold, with the top to floors being white (to look like a glass of lager). On the right is the golden flame, which some Architects have dubbed the golden turd. The golden flame, was originally meant to be 3 flames rising vertically. The residents off the building in the background complained it would ruin the view. |
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A fifty foot wide television. Commonplace in Tokyo, but still amazing to me. |
| Entrance to the Royal garden, the residence of the Japanese Royal Family. |  |
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A bridge passing over a lake in the Royal Garden. It was beautifully peaceful in here. |
| The goldfish in the garden were 18 inches long. |  |
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There were many clever pieces of Architecture in Tokyo, but this one caught my eye.I don’t know if you can tell, but this was actually built as one building and not extended as it appears.What a classic mix of culture, in one building. |
| Only 10 minutes walk from my hotel, was the house of the 47 Ronin.They feature heavily in the plot of the film Ronin with Robert Deniro. |  |
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It made me think, in these times of terrorism, that although we don’t like what they do, society will always need warriors. |
| We went on a boat trip along the river whilst on the day tour.Its a bit hard to see, but some homeless people live on the banks of the river, in improvised accommodation, they have made from plastic sheets and pieces of wood.It was hard to believe that such a modern and developed city would have people without homes. |  |
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During the day tour, we stop for a traditional Japanese meal. |
| Dr Olga takes a picture of me at the entrance to the largest Shinto Shrine in Tokyo.I was told that Shinto is basically, the worship of heroes family and nature.
I can really identify with this, as I always visit the Alan Turing statue when I am in Manchester, and it has a special meaning for me. |
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A wedding was taking place in the Shrine.Although the Japanese are very private people, they were happy to be photographed during the ceremony. |
| A small geisha was present at the wedding. |  |
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A wooden walkway in Shinjuku.I wandered around here for hours, as I love walking. |
| The view from the Tokyo tower.It is actually a small version of the Eiffel tower, and is cleverly lit, so that it can change colour. |  |