Tokyo #2

First I take the girls to Shibuya Station, which is known in the world for two things: the bronze statue of the dog Hatchiko and the biggest pedestrian crossing. Because of its excellent location at the intersection of railways, Shinjuku station stands in the Guinness Book of Records as the one with the largest number of passengers in one place. More than three million people transit here every day. Whenever a green figure lights up on the traffic lights, a bunch of people from every direction to the shape of a cross begins to cross a wide road. The most interesting view of the created pedestrian choreography comes from the viewpoint in the shopping center above the station or from one of the terraces of the restaurants nearby. Who has not seen the movie with Richard Gere, I will explain what the story is related to the famous sculpture. Hatchiko was a very loyal dog. Every day he regularly accompanied his master to the train station when he was leaving for work and waited there till he came back from work. One day, however, the gentleman did not return. Hatchiko, however, did not leave his position even after his death. He had been waiting at the station every day for ten years until he passed away as well. Many people tried to take the dog home, but Hatchiko still found his way to the station, where he waited steadily for his master. Later, people stopped trying to find a new home for the dog and started bringing him food. Today his statue at Shibuya reminds the Japanese of their most esteemed values ​​such as loyalty and perseverance.

Shibuya is the district with the largest number of young people in Tokyo. It is packed with world-class fashion stores, boutiques, bars and restaurants. However, it is not nearly as colorful and blinking as the crazy Shinjuku, and I certainly want to show Godzilla to my colleagues. So we get on the train in the direction to Shinjuku station and later, just opposite the monster we find a small sushi restaurant. The tuna there melts in mouth. Who has never eaten sushi from a true Japanese sushi master, a highly esteemed profession in Japan, doesn’t know what the really sushi taste like.

When we return to the hotel after a fantastic dinner (this time I managed to find a hotel in the APA hotel network for only 40 euros per room), we pass by a cat cafe. And girls can’t resist. My colleagues love cats. It is a café where we enjoy a coffee for a small extra charge while cats of all kinds are spreading all around us. We can cuddle with them and play for hours. An ideal place for those who love pets but cannot keep their own. In Japan these cafes are very popular. When we agree on that the cats are well cared for and it’s quite late, we say goodbye to the staff and animals, and without any delay we head to the hotel. The next morning I instruct my colleague how to get to Tokyo station safely, where we have a transport to Narita. And while the girls are buying miraculous Japanese face masks, shampoos and Shiseido cosmetics, I’m going to the Kodokan Judo Center to complete the mission for my brother-in-law. Successfully!