Out and about in Tokyo

We spent four days in Tokyo exploring the city. It was probably a little too long but we still managed to amuse ourselves. From the red light district with the themed Love Hotels to the famous department stores where we were served tasters of Sake by a hiccuping member of staff, we were never bored.

My fascination with Japanese dolls took us all over the city trying to find a bargain, we never did. I don't think bargains exist in Japan! We made the mistake of looking at the exchange rate in the LP which was 238 to the £ at the time of writing (2006)...when we were there it was 146, ouch!!!

People watching was great in Japan, especially on a Sunday. The Japanese are so stylish, so perfectionist, yet so over the top you literally find yourself stopping, staring and even pointing at them. Over the bridge near Yo-Yogi Park, groups of Japanese would pose in their outfits for you to take pictures. All very crazy but what you began to expect.

Most restaurants have plastic models of the food they serve to show people what they can order (very handy when you don't speak Japanese). This shop was an amazing showcase. I left the shop quite hungry after looking at all this food!

Tim looking at some tinned whale meat

Ermmmm, think I'm pretending to go crazy in our cell like room! It was tiny with a thick metal door and peep hole!

The bright lights of Tokyo

Us with Tim and his wife Nao in the nightlife area of Roppongi. Tim showed us a great little Sake bar and a not so great Irish bar which served up pints for £7.50!

Electric town where you can buy pretty much any sort of electrical good you could want

They are all mad for manga out in Japan

Girls all dressed up pulling in the geeks

Interesting outfit

We didnt just people watch in Japan...

Ssome interesting architecture and an old bloke feeding the pigeons

£5 apple, it was pretty big though!

Squid balls in the making. There are normally huge queues for these things

That famous busy intersection in Shibuya, an area which also houses one of Japan's most busy subway stations and which is also known as one of the country's foremost fashion centres for young hipsters. It's also one of the crowded places for a night on the town with plenty of cheap eats, bars and - of course - karaoke joints

The bright lights of the city, again