by Sean Lindsay

Created on: February 06, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

There's something to be said about the electric vibe that Tokyo possesses. Despite having lived over two years in Japan (between my first trip back in 2001, and my current time here), it was only very recently that I made my trek to Tokyo: The massive megapolis that many claim is the aortic centre of Japan. As such, Tokyo's heartbeat is that like no other, moving at a pace likened to that of an adrenaline rush.

Over the course of Japan's incredible history, the country's capital has been moved several times, usually in accordance with the wishes of the current ruler or shogun' at the time. Tokyo (formerly known as Edo'), Yokohama, Kyoto and even Nara (Japan's oldest capital) have all at one point been the administrative centres of Japan.

Many people found it strange that I never made it to Tokyo during my first run here in Japan. Looking back on it myself, I muse at some of the backwater treks I took to small, remote places yet never made it to the most popular tourist destination in Japan. Three weeks ago, I decided Tokyo had been put off long enough. Thus, under the cover of darkness, Leanne and I made the nine hour overnight bus ride from Osaka bound for the busiest train station in the world.

Day One Running on empty in the city that never sleeps

In true fashion, we arrive in Tokyo with the rising sun peeking out from the under the horizon. The overnight journey having blacked out the world around us for the bulk of our road trip, we are finally given a glimpse of our new surroundings. Welcome to Tokyo.

The bus pulls up into the terminal at Shinjuku station, at which point we disembark and attempt to navigate our way through the throngs of people to the trains. In all my years of travel, I have never been to a station quite like Shinjuku station. Literally millions of commuters pass through this place every day, and soon realize this is no exaggeration as the thickening mass of people swells as we approach the train platform bound for the direction of our hotel. We manage to squeeze onto the train and prepare ourselves for immobility in the standing position. On exceptionally busy days, it is said that train station attendants literally push people into the trains in order to maximize every breathing space on the train!

Twenty minutes later, we arrive in Ningyocho, a quieter corner of the big city that has more of a traditional' feel to it. We are exhausted, but are unable to check in to our hotel just yet as the time is barely over 10am. We decide to kill

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