Things You Could Experience Only in JapanA Guide for New Expats in JapanBy: Asia Expat Guides

• Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Shibuya Ward, in the middle of a beautiful forest with huge Torii gates leading to the main hall. Dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, it is now a favorite place for wedding ceremonies, which is also very interesting to see.

• When you’re here, stop at the cleansing station where you can dip into a communal water tank and purify your hands and mouth before offering up a prayer. You can write wishes on little pieces of paper and tie them onto the prayer wall, or do as the locals do — toss some yen into the offering box, bow your head twice, clap twice, and bow once more.

Meiji Shrine

Yoyogi Park

• There is no better place for people watching in Tokyo than the Yoyogi Park. With living space so tight in this city, parks are the places for club meetings and practice sessions and even play rehearsals, and Yoyogi draws all sorts of talent, from horn players to hip-hop dancers to rockabilly gangs, complete with poodle skirts and Elvis-inspired pompadours, who usually gather by the park's east side entrance on Sundays to jam to American pop music from the '50s.

• The park is very popular with young Japanese people, especially on Sundays, and you can spot the unleashed wackiness of an otherwise reserved nation. Here, you can spot unlimited intereting views: from shy Lolitas and classy girls drinking red wine from crystal glasses while seated on a picnic cloth, to couples in love, club meetings, teenagers rehearsing plays, and homeless people giving a ride to their cats in supermarket trolleys. Everything goes and nobody feels out of place.

Shibuya Crossing

• It would be a shame to come to Tokyo and not take a walk across the famous intersection outside Shibuya Station. This crossing, made famous by the 'Lost in Translation' movie, is one of the busiest in the world and the quintessence of organized chaos. On sunny afternoons or clear evenings, the surrounding area is packed with shoppers, students, young couples and commuters.

• When the lights turn red at this busy junction, they all turn red at the same time in every direction. Traffic stops completely and pedestrians surge into the intersection from all sides, like marbles spilling out of a box. You can observe the spectacle of lights and people from the Starbucks on the crossing's north side or you can experience the madness for yourself. Amazingly, despite the “scramble”, it’s very unlikely that people bump into each other. Everybody matched their peace at the speed of the person in front, walking at unison, on lanes.

• There are so much that Tokyo has to offer, yet your time as an expat is very limited. Furthermore, as a newcomer, you might not be able to identify the places that are worth visiting, especially since you also have to work!

• At Asia Expat Guides, we will eliminate all these hassle and problems of making the final decisions for you. We will pick out the best things for you to experience, as well as the interesting dishes for you to try out. By taking into account for tastes and preferences, you will only experiencing the beauty and uniqueness of Tokyo without regret!

• Have a memorable stay with Asia Expat Guides!

Don’t Miss Out What Tokyo Has to Offer

For more information about being an expat in Asia, visit http://asiaexpatguides.com