Whoosh! They call it the bullet train for a good reason. As we were waiting with our group on the platform for our train to arrive, speeding bullets were flying past making the station into a mini wind tunnel. The next train was ours. Unfortunately, these fast trains have very tight schedules meaning they only stop 2 minutes at each station exactly. It seemed ridiculous we were about to get 40 Scouts on a train with all of their camp belongings in that amount of time – queue the Mission Impossible theme tune. Despite all the odds we managed to get everyone on just as the train sped away.

8pm and our unit, tired and hungry, arrived at the Tokyo Youth Centre after two coach journeys and a bullet train. Food was the first thing on everyone’s mind and there was nothing better than pizza even if it was eaten sitting on the steps of a street as there wasn’t enough room inside the restaurant. It was bliss then to get back and collapse into a bed rather than a rollmat in a room to myself (it was still suffocatingly small).

I knew from the moment we set off in the morning that it would be hectic in Tokyo (it is the most densely populated city in the world of course) and I was not wrong. We had already missed breakfast and were late for an activity at the Earthquake Centre. Luckily, the Centre staff were still happy to take us around and show us a few films about how to stay safe in earthquakes and the devastation they can cause. The most interesting activity they did have was the earthquake simulator where we could practice protecting ourselves by hiding under tables and experience what an earthquake really feels like. It was quite funny to see each other being tossed around by the machine but at the same time quite unnerving that there would be a chance this could happen for real during our stay here. We then went off to lunch after our skipped breakfast and glimpsed the imposing Skytree which we would be up tomorrow. For now, we took the Japanese tube to Ueno Park. This was our first time using the confusing train system with its map looking like a bowl of rainbow coloured spaghetti in a language completely foreign to us yet we managed to get to Ueno. Here, there was a vast array of temples, museums and buildings crammed into a leafy enclosure but still surrounded by the iconic Japanese hustle and bustle of traffic and neon signs. Inside we had time to visit the fountain but most of all the golden temple and pagoda (small in comparison to the one in Yamaguchi). It seemed so tranquil yet ironic that it was in such a busy city. We were even taught how to give a traditional prayer to the temple. After leaving Ueno Park we had just enough time to browse some nearby shops before setting off to go to the last activity of the day, Joypolis. This was an indoor theme park which was not the best activity we could have done. Most of the rides were animated and the queues were very long as well. So after spending half an hour in there I left and explored outside with a few equally bored others. It was worth leaving for the night-time view of Tokyo with the Rainbow Bridge framing the neon streets perfectly. We then had dinner at an Indian restaurant and managed to get separated on the train back to the Centre.

The next day we were up and away for the Skytree. At 634 metres tall, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest Tower in the world and the second tallest structure. Unfortunately the viewing deck is not at the top of the tower but going up to the top deck still gives a spectacular view of the concrete jungle. The deck snakes around the circumference of the tower allowing you to take in Tokyo from all angles and as far as the eye can see. Although all buildings in Tokyo are tall to save room in such a small area, they all look ant-sized in comparison to the Tower. We spent way too much time up the tower so that we didn’t have too much time to eat at the famous Hard Rock Café. Our next stop was Shibuya, Tokyo’s shopping capital. Or so we thought. There were plenty of shops there but none that interested us. Many, such as Nike, were not really the shops selling weird and wonderful Japanese inventions as we had anticipated which was slightly disappointing. At this point it was getting dark and we were about to head back until we passed a Karaoke bar. Now I would be shocked if you didn’t know that karaoke is a much loved activity in Tokyo and that the city is littered with these bars. Anyway, in we went, paid and had the best last night in Tokyo we could have wanted. You couldn’t not be happy after a bit of Uptown Funk or even Suspicious Minds. We went back to have pizza at the restaurant of our first night in Tokyo and then back to the Youth Centre. I couldn’t believe it. Tomorrow we were flying home.

So this was it. We just had enough time in the morning to visit the temple of Senso-Ji and see our last Pagoda. We also had time to visit the world’s busiest crossing at Shinjuku but now it was time to pack up and go. As we made our way into the airport I did feel sad but also happy with all the memories I had made. I was lucky to experience a World Scout Jamboree as a participant and even luckier that it was held in the Land of the Rising Sun. I loved Japan and I know for definite that I will be back again.