Japan is an island country in East Asia.  It is located in the Pacific Ocean.  Japan is an anchipelago of about 6,850 islands.  Most of the islands of Japan have mountainous terrain and there are many volcanic mountain peaks.  The highest mountain peak of Japn is Mount Fuji which is a volcanic peak.  Japan is quite small area wise but is the world’s tenth-largest populated country with more than 127 million people.  Japan has the world’s third-largest economy in purchasing power.  It is the world’s fifth largest importer and fourth largest exporter.  This island has the highest life expectancy and the third lowest infant mortality rate in the world.  The islands of Japan are located in a volcanic zone on the Pacific Ring of Fire.  There are steep elevations, diverse climate and high risk of landslides induced by earthquakes and heavy rain.

I traveled to Tokyo many times for business trips.  Tokyo is the capital of Japan and is the core of the most populated urban area in the world.  The population is huge and wealthy.  It is a mix of high technology and old Japan.  It is the fifth most expensive city to live in, in the world.  The city apartments are extremely small; most without closets.  Everyone hangs clothes outdoors on balconies everywhere.   Japanese are extremely proud and enjoy showing visitors from other countries their iniquity country and culture.

The subway in Tokyo is one of the largest subway systems. The Tokyo subway is extremely clean, make frequent stops, and run every few minutes.  Each car and platform has an electronic readout that lights up at each stop and also shows the traveling direction.  It is a fun and exciting experience.  A lot of the subway riders wear face mask.  There are lots of underground shopping within the subway.  I shopped in the underground malls at the Shinjuku and the Shibuya stations.  The Shinjuku station is a major railway station in Shinjuka and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.  It is the main connecting hub for railway traffic between’s Tokyo’s special wards and Western Tokyo on inter-city rail.  This station has 36 platforms, above and underground arcades, and more than 200 exits.  It also provides access to 17 other platforms through various hallways.  The subway is a very easy to use, the attendants are are alway nearby and ready to assist.  It is a very efficient method for exploring the city.

I took the Tokyo Bay Cruise and delighted in the view of the Tokyo Skytreee, Rainbow Bridge, Hamarikyu Gardens, TokyoTowers; and the nearby Odaiba district. All  viewed under the twinkling lights of the city.  The cruise started at the Hinode Terminal Boarding Point.  We passed under the Rainbow Bridge.  This bridge includes a collection of white towers that mimic the city skyline.  You could  also see planes taking off from the airport.  There was a distant view of Toyko Disneyland.  We passed  the illuminated Toyko Skytree.  The Toyko Skytree is a broadcasting, restaurant and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan.   It is the tallest tower in the world.  We saw the Hamarikyu Gardens.  The Hamarikyu Gardens is a public park landscaped into a beautiful garden around the Central Shioiri Pond as is a designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty.  The Shioiri Pond is a sea water moat filled by Tokyo Bay.  It is located at the mouth of the Sumida River in Chuo Ward of central Tokyo.  There are cherry blossoms, a peony garden, plum tree grove do seasonal Cosmo flowers.  We saw the shoreline of Odaiba.  Odaiba is an island neighborhood that lines the bay.  It was an exciting adventure.  We saw the Naritasan-Shinshouji Temple,  a large popular Buddist temple complex in Narira City located close to Narira Airport.  I visited the Shinjiku Gyoen National Garden, one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks.

We shopped in Asakusa, an area located in the center of Tokyo’s Shiitamachi (“low city”), a district with an old Tokyo atmosphere.   The Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate), built 1000 years ago is the symbol of Asakusa and leads to Asakusa’s main attraction,  Sensoji, a popular Buddist temple.   We shopped on  Nakamise Shopping Street, a shopping street that leads to the temple; that has provided temple visitors with a variety of traditional and local snacks and also tourist souvenirs.   We toured the Asakusa Kannon Temple, a famous Buddhist temple located in Taito, Tokyo.  We toured the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo’s most famous Shinton shrine.  The grounds include a forest of 120,000 evergreen trees.  This shrine was built with Japanese cypress; which is considered the best timber in Japan.   We shopped on Nakamise Street, one of the major tourist areas in Tokyo.  This street led to the Senso-Jim Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple.  It is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan.  We walked through Shibuya 109, a small 10 floor mall in Shibuya with the tiniest attire.

Whereas, New York has one Times Square; Tokyo has four Times Squares.  I shopped in Ginza and Shinjukuhich; two of Japan’s Times Squares.  Ginza is Tokyo’s “Fifth Avenue”.  We walked across the famous Shibuya scramble Crossing, located in one of Tokyo’s Times Squares.    This brightly lit shopping and entertainment area,  popular to both tourist and the younger population in Tokyo, is loaded with pedestrians day and night. Shibuya Crossing is an extremely busy pedestrian scramble crossing in the Shibuya district.  It is located outside the popular Hachiko exit of Shibuya station.  This is where the famous dog Hachiko is located.  The traffic is stopped in all directions to allow pedestrians to walk in all directions through the intersection.  We walked through Shibuya 109, a small 10 floor mall in Shibuya with extremely petite apparel.   We shopped in Aqua City in Odaiba complex, a six story shopping and entertainment complex in Odaiba.  It has a 13 screen cinema, Japan’s largest gourmet zone, Sony ExploraScience; and international stores and boutiques. It has an aquarium and light shows.   We walked through the Hirarie Skyscraper, amulit-purpose high rise tower with a 8-floor  department store, restaurant, museum, and theatre.

We shopped on Omotesand Street, known as one of the foremost ‘architectural showcase’  streets in the world.  This street features a multitude of fashion flagship stores within a short distance of each other.  It is the main vehicle and pedestrian thoroughfare for the shopping district referred to as Harajuku.  This area features international brand boutiques and high end stores such as Pouis Vuitton, Gucci, Gap, H&M, Zara, Prada, Dior, Tod’s Alexander McQueen and many others.  It is home to Kiddyland Toy Store and the Oriental Bazaar.  We had lunch in Omotesando Hills; a new side street lined with small cafes, bars, restaurants, other stores and boutiques and stores.  This is also the location for Tokyo’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Tokyo.

Kareoke and gambling is very big in Tokyo.  We took salsa dance lessons above a bar in the Roppongi area.  This area is located in the central part of Tokyo, south of Akosaka and north of Azabu the areas.  This area is the famous home to  Roppongi Hills,  and the active nightlife club scenes.  The foreign embassies are also located in this area.  The streets are full of excitement and lined with restaurants, bars, stripclubs, cabarets, hostess clubs and stores.  This area is home to the luminous Garden Tower and the Roppongi Hills high rise complexes with high-end offices, condominium spaces, and Tokyo’s first Ritz-Carlton Hotel.  This area is frequented by business people, students, and off-duty military personnel; and caters to a younger crowd.  This area has foreign performers, art festivals, dart and Bullard tournaments, rob exhibitions, beauty pageants.  This area is a combination of upscale Japanese and international restaurants.

My absolute favorite place to stay in Tokyo is ANA International Tokyo, centrally located in Tokyo’s Ark Hills.  It is situated in the heart of the business district and movements from the vibrant entertainment precincts of Ginza.  It is a minute away from Tameike sanno and Roppongi-it choke Subway Station.  It has an outdoor pool, business center and award winning restaurants.  The rooms and suites are spacious and luxuriously elegant, illuminated with soft lighting, spa like bathrooms fully loaded with bathrobes, slippers 7 different types and sizes of towels, razors, and any other type of grooming product you could think of. There is an    extensively stocked mini bar, desk, lounge area, international satellite tv and and a really deep soaking tub with the most amazing selection of bath salts.

We had all day working meetings in the very luxurious Club Lounge, located on the 35th floor of the hotel.  It uniquely offers breathtaking views of Tokyo’s skyline and Mount Fuji.  It includes a meeting room, business and personnel services for occupants. Refreshments are freshly served, all day refreshments including traditional cocktails, wine,sake and shochu, coffees, teas, bottled bottle and soft drinks.  There were gourmet Japanese and continental breakfast foods, hot hor d’oeuvres and cold canapés, and snacks served all-day until 10pm.

This hotel has an all-day award winning buffet with local and regional specialities, and all of the international favorites.  It is a buffet whereas, wyou walk around, view and make food selections.  However, large piles of food are never prepared or displayed.  There is just enough of each item on display which only aids in your selection process.  You are then seated, and served your drink selection; and water only upon request. Each of your food selections are freshly prepared; and delivered surprisingly by many different servers at the same time.  The quality is everything is consistantly excellent; It is a grand dining experience each and every time!

This is home to Chef’s Pierre Gagnaire’s only restaurant in Japan, Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux.  This restaurant is amazing with a large array of the finest authentic Parisian breads, cakes and pastries, salads and baguettes; beautifully wrapped in exclusive gift boxes.  The food is excellent!  The Sushi Kenzan Restaurant also located in the hotel, has sushi chefs that serve handmade orders, and indulge in drinks while excitingly overlooking the preparation process.