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 CafĂ©. 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.