Tokyo Impression

[tokyosurreal]

There is a cliche that Tokyo is the most beautiful of ugly cities.

For those long-time dwellers in Tokyo reaching later stages of Gaijinhood, and ideally having lived substantively in other major cities before relocating to Tokyo,

What is your impression of Tokyo as compared to these other major cities? The qualifiers can be anything, from everyday life to the possibility of artistic creation.

[twelvedown]

It looks better at night.

[KansaiBen]

What is your impression of Tokyo as compared to these other major cities? The qualifiers can be anything, from everyday life to the possibility of artistic creation.

Too many people
Too crowded trains.
Too expensive to live in.
Not enough green or parks except maybe Meiji Shrine.
Indifferent to foreigners, even racist when renting apartments.

[trip_hop]

It looks better at night.

Or from 32,000 feet!

[wernst]

Too many people
Too crowded trains.
Too expensive to live in.
Not enough green or parks except maybe Meiji Shrine.
Indifferent to foreigners, even racist when renting apartments.

Is that why you moved to Kansai? Because Its almost the same here

[iago]

Fewer giant lizards than I had been led to believe.

So in that respect, pretty much like any other major city, I guess.

[KansaiBen]

Is that why you moved to Kansai? Because Its almost the same here

Never lived in Tokyo but have been there often enough on business trips. Can't say its worth moving for. Osaka is the same but on a smaller scale. Never really had many problems renting here either and people are nicer down here.

[Shonai Ben]

........only been to Tokyo a few times.........glad I don't live there........too big for this small town boy and no thanks to the sardine can commute to and from work.........it's ok to visit for a weekend but that's enough for me.......always glad to leave.

[twelvedown]

Always something to look at. That's for sure.
Yesterday I was in Akihabara and there was a small army of men (not good looking men it must be said) wearing dress, purple wigs and cleaning trash off the street with tongs and plastic bags.... I've lived here about 5 or 6 years and I still find things like that pretty amusing.
I love Tokyo. the only things that really annoy me are bad pedestrians, winter and a shocking lack of sausage rolls.

[Hijinx]

It's kinda of like what people say about New York: it's fun to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.

[tokyosurreal]

Always something to look at. That's for sure.
Yesterday I was in Akihabara and there was a small army of men (not good looking men it must be said) wearing dress, purple wigs and cleaning trash off the street with tongs and plastic bags.... I've lived here about 5 or 6 years and I still find things like that pretty amusing.
I love Tokyo. the only things that really annoy me are bad pedestrians, winter and a shocking lack of sausage rolls.

All hail to visual profusion then

[cucashopboy]

bad pedestrians, winter and a shocking lack of sausage rolls.

Bad cyclists, summer and a shocking lack of sausage rolls for me.

[YokohamaTommy]

winter

I need to speak to someone at city hall regarding this.
I distinctly ordered pleasant, L.A.-ish weather.
Well obviously, as my shriveled testicles will attest,
someone did not receive the memo..

and a shocking lack of sausage rolls.

Assuming that "sausage rollls" are not a euphemism for "El Flauto"
I was remarking to my wife that からしめんたいこ　is the "sausage of the sea."
At least, that's what I will tell myself as i'm huddled in a corner while the proper meat withdrawals set in..

[Mustachioed-Ken]

There is a cliche that Tokyo is the most beautiful of ugly cities.

For those long-time dwellers in Tokyo reaching later stages of Gaijinhood, and ideally having lived substantively in other major cities before relocating to Tokyo,

What is your impression of Tokyo as compared to these other major cities? The qualifiers can be anything, from everyday life to the possibility of artistic creation.

You're 300% correct: It IS the best ugly-looking city. Pisses all over Osaka, that's for sure. Only cause the largeness and ugliness of it all is so over-the-top that it rocks.

[tokyosurreal]

You're 300% correct: It IS the best ugly-looking city. Pisses all over Osaka, that's for sure. Only cause the largeness and ugliness of it all is so over-the-top that it rocks.

An elegant beast would be another popular metaphor.

Modernity is partially a system whereby ugliness is legitimized.

I've been to Osaka twice and I think it beats Tokyo in terms of less monstrosity. Although I was surprised to see that almost no one lines up for the red light at crossroads..

[purple]

Great transport.
Ultra-convenient.
Safest city I've ever lived in.
New amusing/cool things to see every day.
Awful for trying to meet new people for engaging conversation.
Lonely and alienating.
Great for solitude and living in a personal bubble, doing whatever you want.
Terrible lack of outdoor sitting spots.
Unbelievably clean and lovely to walk around.
Incredibly crowded but peaceful.