I have to admit that it took me quite some time to decide this trip. And that if it was not for our dear friends Albert and Alex who not only insisted but also organized the whole thing, I might had lost what turned out to be a once in a life time experience. 
Of course, I must also tell you that travelling for almost a day- From Athens to Tokyo through Doha- even in the amazingly comfortable business class cabin of Qatar Airways- can be exhausting. Especially the 11 hours from Doha to Tokyo took like forever, and although I ate more than once, watched 3 movies, read all the magazines I had downloaded on my iPad and slept like a log, when we finally landed at Narita airport I was a total wreck. Fortunately, by the time we unpacked our luggage, the clock struck 9 am, so we had a quick dinner and went straight to bed. And the next morning we woke up fresh and energized, ready to seize the day not jet lagged at all. 
Tokyo is an amazing city, modern, clean and very secure - we even saw small children, not more than 6 years old, taking the subway unaccompanied to go to school. The problem is that one cannot communicate or stroll around easily with all these signs written only in Japanese and most people are extremely polite but do not speak English. At all. Speaking of politeness, this is what struck me the most after 6 days in Japan. Everyone is eager to help, to please, and to make you feel comfortable, even when they cannot understand what you are asking them. An old lady offered my husband a paper hand fan in the tube station when she saw him sweaty - it was a very hot day- and another took him by the hand and showed him where the air conditioner was. I found them both adoring. And there is always a lot of bowing involved. In the end, you get used to it and you do it too. 
Part of the amazing experience was the hotel we stayed, Andaz Tokyo at Toranomon Hills. Large fully equipped rooms with breathtaking views of Tokyo Tower through the glass window walls -you feel as if you can touch it- fantastic breakfast and impeccable service. [foogallery id="4075"] But what left me speechless and in awe, was the National Shinjuku Gyoen gardens. And take note that I'm not much of a country girl. The beauty that surrounds you from the moment you pass the gates is something unimaginable. Lakes, small rivers, flowers, trees and rare birds as far as your eye can see, along with this sense of calmness and immense tranquillity, make this place the closest thing to paradise I've ever seen. All the photos you see above are taken with my iPhone. I only had to aim at whatever caught my eye and press the camera button. 
My second best thing in Tokyo was shopping. The currency rate between Euro and Yen helped a lot - with 1000 yen equivalent to approximately 7 euros everything was really cheap, especially cameras, smartphones and all kinds of electronics. Yodobashi Mega Store at Akihabara is a 7 store building full of everything one can dream of, from the latest gadgets to cosmetics. I had to buy 2 extra luggage to carry everything I bought back home, and even those cost me less than what I would have paid for a wallet anywhere in Europe. 
With some of the most known firms in the world being Japanese, imagine my surprise when I realized that Shisheido in Tokyo is the equivalent of Nivea in Athens. I could buy all these super expensive face creams that in Europe cost a small fortune at 1/4 of the price! No need to say that I indulged myself in everything from serums and paper masks to cotton buds and bath foams. 
I also enjoyed our town tour on an open-top Sky Hop double-decker bus. It was so much fun, and it gave us the unique opportunity to explore the city, take amazing photos and put my brand-new selfie stick to good use. One moment, you are looking down at pedestrians and the next you're looking up at some tall buildings. While moving through the city you can listen to a commentary through your headset about the places you pass, and best of all, you can get off the buses and join it again later, instead of just doing a straight tour. 
And then there was the food. We ate lots of sushi, of course, and we visited the 3 Michelin Stars Azabu Yukimura restaurant, but what was an experience of its own was the 2 Michelin Stars Uchitsu Tempura. The place is small and intimate, with only 8 seats spanned across the wooden counter through the sliding door entrance. Behind the counter was a window with trees being planted outside to reflect the seasonal mood. At the helm of the restaurant is Chef Takahisa Uchitsu who opened this restaurant a few years ago with his new-style approach to tempura cuisine. Only one omakase menu was served and must be booked in advance as he prepares the ingredients fresh daily based on different seasons. The food was brilliant and the tempura batter was evenly applied and deep-fried into a bright golden colour, with just the right, even crispiness. Heavenly, heavenly everything!!! 
When in Tokyo, don't forget to take a taxi at least once, you will be thrilled! They come in many colours, they have bright lights on the roof and signwriting along the sides, and their drivers always wear a suit and a pristine set of white gloves. Check out the rear door as you get in and out, because it seems to open and close all by itself, as if by some kind of magic. 
And of course, don't miss the Roppongi Hills, a super posh mall where you can find all the major designer labels for clothes, accessories and deco along with a variety of food and coffee shops from Starbucks to Atelier Robuchon. It's the perfect solution for any rainy day as you can stay there strolling around for hours. 
P.S. Looking to all the photos I took during our stay to Tokyo, and watching our smiling faces, I realize that deep inside I'm looking forward to our next visit. Which I hope will be really soon.
