Postcard Getaway

Blissfully Taking in the Future in Tokyo, Japan

Written by Kaelie Piscitello

Tokyo’s efficiency and customs blew me away. When I stepped into my first restaurant in Tokyo, I marveled at the cash system in place. At first, I felt surprised to learn more restaurants accept cash-only than card because I’m used to using my credit card for everything in the United States.

One of the unique aspects of Japan that I discovered was its cash system. Unlike in many other countries, where the cashier has to calculate the change, machines in Japan do this instantly. This efficient use of technology was just one of the many surprises I encountered in the bustling city of Tokyo.
Tokyo’s streets lack the waste seen littering most cities and contain few trash cans. Despite the trash scarcity, citizens will call you out if they catch you tossing trash onto the roads.

In one case, an older man became upset with my boyfriend because he thought he had tossed a napkin onto the ground. The man’s dedication to preventing litter demonstrates the city’s commitment to a clean community and further hinted the Japanese have customs built into their society that ensure safety and convenience for all.

Strikingly Modern Tourist Attractions in Odaiba

No one should miss seeing Odaiba’s Team Lab Planets. I wish I could go back and do it over and over again. Really. The interactive space constantly introduced me to new experiences, including wading through water illuminated by light beams and wandering through extravagant light rooms bedazzled by thousands of strings of light with colors that change in time with mystifying music.

Several times, the signs encouraged visitors to lie down and take in the ceiling above. When I did, pictures of flowers sailed by, and later I learned the pictures are AI-controlled so the projections will never appear the same.

I also loved “The Garden” exhibit, featuring silver, extraterrestrial-like eggs steaming in piles of grass and hundreds of real flowers dangling from the ceiling.

The flowers danced up and down, appearing lively and fresh to the viewers. This made me wonder how often Team Lab spends money to replace them. While I didn’t make it to Team Lab Borderless, I wish I had and hope to return to experience that attraction.

After Team Lab Planets, my boyfriend and I wandered around Odaiba and came across the giant Unicorn Gundam robot. He served as an imposing structure that seemed like an android that should star in Terminator.

While I missed his performance, I stumbled across a free pop-up concert for an upcoming boy band. The crowd was surprisingly quiet for a group of young girls with the men’s faces plastered on paddles, but occasionally a light cheer would arise and the fans would wave their hands and belongings at the performers.

Stacks Upon Stacks of Things to Do

Don’t forget about the businesses on the upper levels of skyscrapers – Tokyo builds out and up! There are always small businesses on the upper levels of buildings, including restaurants and different stores. Throughout my visit, I had to remind myself to look up at each building to avoid missing out.

Besides Odaiba, Shinjuku boasts some of the most modern attractions. Their colorful billboards emulate those of Times Square; however, New York doesn’t have a giant Godzilla peeking out from behind a movie theatre. 

I couldn’t help but admire the Shinjuku Cat hanging out near Shinjuku station in adorable changing costumes and moods. I wish fewer ads interrupted him to bring more joy to those surrounding the station.

Tokyo has many observation decks where you can take in the sights. However, none matched Tokyo Skytree‘s impressive height. This towering space needle of 2,080 feet allowed me to see everywhere and appreciate how far the city stretches in each direction.

Tickets cost about $15 USD, making it a more expensive tourist attraction. However, it was worth the money. Even the elevator seemed impressive as it shot its passengers to the top of the building and back down in seconds, but it made us feel as though we stood still with a distracting video on the ceiling.

The Future of Transportation

It’s hard to deny Japan has a fabulous transportation system. Their Shinkansen bullet trains are world-renowned for their speed, efficiency, and sleek appearance.

When waiting for your Shinkansen, stand back because their force can almost knock you over if you stand too close. However, riding them does not feel like anything out of the ordinary.

My boyfriend and I took a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto and the experience of purchasing the tickets from the ticket machine and then boarding our train felt seamless. (We needed to buy tickets from the machine because we first bought them from a faulty website…but that’s another story).

In addition to the Shinkansen, Tokyo has one one the largest subway systems in the world. Boy was it confusing! Every single station is massive and one could spend hours trying to find their way out of some of them. 

It’s important to pay attention to the line and direction Google Maps recommends, as well as the exit because you can take so many different ones, but they don’t all lead you where you need to go. Despite this, we moved across the entire city within an hour if we had to, making transportation to the airport and outskirts for day trips efficient.

In addition to the regular subway, Tokyo had a Disney-esque monorail that transported me all around Odaiba, Tokyo’s man-made island. Riding through the sky and peering out at the neighboring skyscrapers felt just like stepping into The Jetsons, which is world-renowned for its speed, efficiency, and sleek appearance. Don’t forget to stand back when waiting on the platform because their force can almost knock you over if you stand too close!

Incredible Infrastructure for Beating the Heat

When it was time to leave, my boyfriend and I realized how reliant we became on Japan’s famous vending machines scattered around every city. We made the mistake of visiting during one of Japan’s hottest months, and the drinks from the machines were an absolute lifesaver when we walked around. It’s debatable whether the vending machines contribute to more waste as the Japanese seem to recycle often. However, the machines keep the drinks ice cold and are the perfect pick-me-up.

Tokyo’s mist sprays scattered across the city were another great option for avoiding dehydration on hot days. Many are conveniently stationed near tourist attractions and parks. It reminded me a bit about going to an amusement park on a hot summer day when water rides spray pedestrians. The water always felt cold and refreshing, convenient for anyone needing to take a break from the hot sun.