I woke up in Tokyo

I've been to Narita for transit many times, but this is only my first real visit to Japan. It has been interesting. I had always pictured Japan as this ultra modern metropolis littered with cigarette butts ridiculously expensive.

Not so really. The truth is even with the Japanese Yen at its highest in recent years, Tokyo remains surprisingly affordable. More unexpectedly, smoking is banned in most Japanese streets, awesome.

Infrastructures such as the subway, office buildings are disappointingly uninspiring I must say, different from the futuristic city I originally had pictured. Railway stations looked old and ordinary citizens' homes are quite simple.

But that doesn't mean Tokyo's skyline is not respectable. Quite the contrary, I think it is more awe-inspiring than that of New York's. We stayed at the 22^nd floor of a hotel at Kabukicho (歌舞伎町, the play area) in Shinjuku (新宿). The view of the city was stunning and the night live there does not disappoint.

Tokyo night view from my hotel room

Shinjuku's skyline

Streets of Kabukicho

Ginsa area

More Ginsa

Tokyo Tower

Japanese Garden at Kaminarimon

Tokyo at dawn