Six Cool Things to Expect During a Visit to Tokyo

If your travel plans take you to Tokyo, you're in for a treat. It is every bit the jam-packed megalopolis you expect. But its residents add a friendly warmth that will surprise visitors. Here are six things that stood out for me during my visit in the fall of 2011:

Consideration

Linger in one spot too long, long too hard at your guide book. Within moments, someone will ask if you need help. They may even walk with you to where you need to go. Even in a ultra-fast-paced international megacity, there are many people that nice.

Cleanliness

Tokyo looks like a team of neat-freak elves power-washes it every night. If a house guest ever tells me "Your kitchen looks like a Tokyo alley," I'll take it as a compliment. I have to guess it's a cross between civic-minded residents and municipal cleaning crews.

Confusion

Few signs are in English, so accept that navigation will be hard. Fortunately, you can count on the kindness of strangers. You'll probably never feel completely confident or at-ease … but one way or another, you should find what your looking for - while stumbling across interesting sites and activities you didn't count on.

Curiosity

You don't have to be a 6'2, 200-pound long-haired gaijin like me to pique the interest of the edokko (what you call a person from Tokyo). Anyone of non-Asian descent will at minimum earn surreptitious glances. And more than a few will interview you: Some will survey you about your travel experience, while others will want to practice their English. It tends to be school kids working on their English. It's really fun, so be nice and indulge them.

Great Public Transit … That Closes Early

Tokyo has a mind-boggling light rail system, to say nothing of its bullet train network. I was able to get anywhere I wanted to go thanks to the subways. They can be confusing, though: Not all are city-owned, so you might need multiple passes to get to certain destinations. They also close early - which is how we got stuck in Ropongi well past midnight … and had to pay through the nose to get back to our hotel near Jimbocho Station.

Vending Machines of All Types

I've never seen such an array of vending machines. Soft drinks, snacks, coffee and more are all available for the clink of coins or the swipe of a credit card. You'll find the machines in alleys, subways, everywhere humans trod. You may have even heard rumors of vending machines that dispense underwear: I didn't see any. It's likely just another "isn't Asia odd?" sort of rumor - but I could be wrong.