Not really been up to much today. Needed a bit of rest after 2 early starts and days out, so instead here's a few observations about Japan so far...
Sterotypes
Quite a bit of it is true. They are an exceedingly polite nation; especially those in the service industry. The television is, in general, as loud, bright, and insane as you'd think. And yes, there really are vending machines on (almost) every street corner. Not seen any of the mythical worn panty-selling machines yet though!
Smoking
It seems in Japan you can smoke in designated areas indoors and you can still smoke in certain carriages of trains (at least the long distance ones). However, it appears you are not allowed to smoke on the streets! In some ways, and despite me being pretty anti-smoking, this is the way I'd prefer it to be. At least the smoke is kept to a confined space indoors and gives people a choice. Banning outdoor smoking has 2 benefits - no cigarette butts on the floor, and you don't have to talk through clouds of smoke when trying to get somewhere.
Cyclings
Bikes everywhere! But mostly on the fairly narrow pavements. Absolute menace!
Face masks
For some reason a lot of people in Tokyo walk around with surgical-style face masks covering their nose and mouth. I can't say that the atmosphere seems overly smoggy, and I've not really noticed too many issues myself; so I'm not really sure what the purpose is. I've even seen someone wearing one while inside their own car!
Trains
I've actually been on a train that was 2 minutes late! Apparently they even apologise over the station tannoy when a train is due in 2 minutes late! The idea of having lines on the platforms where you have to queue seems to be dying out. People do still queue, but these days it just seems to be behind a marker that is stuck to the platform surface showing where the doors will be for a particular type of train. And for some strange reason they like to play music when the doors of the train are open for more than a few seconds; abruptly stopping just before the doors close. And I'm sure there is one station that plays bird song!
Tokyo
Despite the size of the city, Tokyo doesn't actually feel that big. I think the best way to look at Tokyo is not as a city, but as a collection of small cities that have grown into each other while each retaining fairly separate identities and functions (business, shopping, residential, etc.) The best way seems to be to visit each different "city" separately if it is one that covers your interests.
Music
Japanese pop music is weird. As I mentioned a couple of days ago they really like their boybands and girl groups. A lot of the girl groups in particular seem to have a number of members that would make the Pussycat Dolls seem small and insignificant. I'm sure I saw on earlier on TV that had about 20 members. The size may be a reason they have so many... It probably doesn't take much to cause a bit of in-fighting within a group that causes it to implode so they need to keep manufacturing new ones.
Anyway, brain is wanting sleep, so while there my be other things I will remember at some point, I think I shall leave it there for now!
Tomorrow, off to Kyoto!