The Shinkansen took us from Kyoto to Tokyo, where Shibuya revealed a new level of organised urban density.
We travelled from Kyoto to Tokyo by Shinkansen.
The Shinkansen is a remarkably good way to travel. The journey itself felt like part of the experience rather than an interruption between two cities.
Tokyo immediately had the vibe of a major capital in a highly developed country: clean, organised, and filled with people who were polite and kind in our interactions.
We visited Shibuya Scramble and explored the surrounding area. My strongest impression of Shibuya was the extraordinary combination of density of people, tourism, commerce, and orderliness.
There were so many people, but the whole thing still functioned. It felt like another level of organised urban density: enormous activity held together by an underlying order.
Tokyo announced itself very clearly on the first day.
