The Tokyo Story

With its culture, food and retail, the Japanese capital juxtaposes the old with the new quite perfectly

- Riaan Jacob George

After a culturally uplifting itinerary around the different cities of Japan that you can read about further in this booklet, I see no better way to culminate my trip than to spend a few days exploring the dynamic Japanese capital city — Tokyo.

The city has gone beyond being just another Asian capital with massive neon signboards and packed neighborhoods. On the contrary, it has successfully managed to bridge the gap between old and new, perfectly juxtaposing its rich heritage and culture with its forward-facing, tech-friendly outlook. An example of this unique old-meets-new identity struck me upon my arrival in Tokyo, at its main railway station. The gorgeous, European colonial-style heritage building is preserved magnificently — part of it is now an eponymous luxury hotel (The Tokyo Station Hotel) — surrounded entirely by glass skyscrapers that house some of the world’s top corporate houses.