| I always wanted to visit Japan and admire the | | | | purpose inside them, nothing was moving without |
| heritage of | | | | a purpose. |
| Samurai period. Therefore when I was invited by | | | | My little study from Internet about Tokyo's |
| my friend who was on a business trip, I could not | | | | history that its ancient name was Edo and it was |
| refuse the temptation and the desire to make | | | | the political center of Japan. Then in Meiji period in |
| my dreams come true. Since there is no direct | | | | about 1868 the capitol and the Japan's emperor |
| flight to Tokyo from Vladivostok, we had to take | | | | moved from Kyoto to Edo, and renamed Edo to |
| about two hours flight to Moscow and another | | | | Tokyo. But to great sadness large parts of |
| three hours from Moscow to Tokyo. | | | | Tokyo were destroyed in 1923 earthquake and |
| Apart from a stay of three hours at Moscow the | | | | the IInd.worl war air raids. |
| rest of the journey was smooth and comforting | | | | I had so much to see and the best way is to |
| landing at about 2200Hrs. local time. | | | | take a guide like my first choice was an |
| We took an overnight stay at a Hotel Inn near | | | | afternoon tour organised by JTB. |
| Narita Int'l airport, known as Tokyo Int'l Airport | | | | My adventure started with a panoramic view of |
| but it is located in the suburbs of Chiba | | | | Tokyo from theobservatory deck on the 40th |
| prefecture. | | | | floor of the World Trade Center |
| Next day-break just after 5:AM , I opened my | | | | Building. This guided tour had an English speaking |
| eyes to the light pink cherry blossom trees a | | | | guide and beleive me that was the best thing |
| symbol of spring season arrival. Wow ! I could not | | | | happened to me. |
| beleive myself to be swaying inside the hotel | | | | A 40 minute boat cruise through most important |
| room and feeling like breaking the window and | | | | waterway of Tokyo known as Sumida river took |
| jump out to this lovely scenery. | | | | me from Asakusa to Hinode pier of Tokyo Bay. I |
| After a quick breakfast we checked out and took | | | | also visited Asakusa Kannon Temple and |
| a drop at train station just about 5 minutes by | | | | Nakamise shopping street, this temple is the |
| Hotel bus. Well well ! what a ride with Narita | | | | oldest temple of Tokyo. |
| Skyliner that took us inside the Tokyo city in | | | | From Nakamise-dori (dori means street in english) |
| under an hour. My friend had another twin-bed | | | | I bought some traditional souvenirs for my friend. |
| one room booked in a business hotel at Ueno a | | | | There was a small photo session organised |
| place of flowing river of people. We checked-in at | | | | outside the Imperial Palace, a magnificient palace |
| about 10AM like the clock ticking faster now, my | | | | where Tenno Heika the present emperor with his |
| friend had a call from used vehicle dealer who | | | | two sons and their families reside. After the tour |
| would take him to a local Japanese auction to buy | | | | I joined my friend at Ueno station and we went |
| a sedan and a Suv for himself and couple of new | | | | to a Revolving Sushi Bar for a healthy dinner. |
| model cars for his company. | | | | That was truely magnificient, we were not the |
| After a few good tips from the local Japanese | | | | only two foreigners in the bar and the Sushi was |
| staff at Hotel information I took off with my | | | | delightful ,the presentation, garnishing and the |
| small back pack and was left alone with my | | | | taste is sure a skill of Japanese cookery. |
| adventures to be discovered. I cannot recall if it | | | | We had our sushi with Japanese Sake (Nihon-shu) |
| was a mild jet lag or the huge crowds rolling here | | | | and enjoyed that mild effect slowly rising by |
| and there, but for certain I felt that maybe I am | | | | surrounding breeze which could never be |
| on drugs and could not be 100%. Tokyo's | | | | compared by liquors of Russia. |
| approximately twelve million residents seemed to | | | | Lili Ivanova is a freelance writer and is recently |
| me like a huge bee colony and maybe one tenth | | | | invited by |
| are concentrated in Taito-Ku one of the 23 wards | | | | Nexusscars of Japan to promote their online used |
| of Tokyo Metropolis. But all had this sense of | | | | vehicle auctions in Russian market. |