The Greatest View: Tokyo City View, Roppongi Hills

last time, i went up the Tokyo Skytree and copped a view of the city along the Sumida river. the view was great and all, especially at night, but nothing quite compares to the view at Tokyo City View. like the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and the Tokyo Skytree, the reflective glasses are a bummer if one wants to photograph the night view of the city, though with a little bit of ingenuity and some patience, i managed to capture my favourite photograph of the entire trip. Tokyo really comes to life in the night time, all the activity happening on the ground level bottled in one fantastic view of the city,

Takao-san

an hour's train ride to the south western peripheral of Tokyo takes one to Takao-san, famous for being one of the many nature-centered vantage points where one can view Fuji-san on a clear day. the hiking trail up to the peak was a leisurely affair - along the way up, one may indulge in Takao-san's many snacks including their famous matcha ice-cream and red bean cakes shaped like the tengu of the mountain. on that particular January morning, our hike up was pleasant thanks to the generally warm and clear weather. to make things a lot more magical, it had been snowing here in Takao-san a week prior to our arrival, so the trails were covered in a blanket of snow. for yours truly, this is the first time i've ever set foot on snow, which adds to the excitement of the hike up. the peak, sitting 499.5 meters above sea level, was brimming with people - hikers, couples, a surprisingly large amount of old folks, school kids, and the odd traveller or two. everyone was wandering about, admiring the view of Fuji-san, opening up their bentos for a picnic at the peak, taking selfies after selfies, and generally having a grand time at the top of Takao-san. we settled for lunch at the vegetarian soba restaurant at the peak, with a fantastic view of Fuji-san and the mountain range it sat on to accompany us for lunch. nothing quite feels as comfortable as that one moment where my bowl of soba arrived and i started slurping up the delicious noodles. it truly is amazing how the world is such a beautiful place, and the chance to experience its awe and beauty is something i'll never get enough of.

Quiet Tokyo

Tokyo, being a bustling metropolis, surprisingly has some spots that are incredibly quiet and serene. walk the quiet streets of any suburb outside of Shibuya and Shinjuku, and you'll be surprised at being able to listen to your own thoughts. the temple grounds also evoke a zen-like feel, not only in the horticulture and landscaping, but the general hushness leaves its visitors at peace. for all the insanity that is the Tokyo subway system, the bright neon lights, blaring speakers, and chaotic streets of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara, it's no wonder the Japanese take their time to envelop themselves in the tranquil of the shrines, bookstores, and that little walk through the suburbs before one has to jam themselves in the subways. i personally love the contrast - it makes Tokyo such a dynamic city.