Wakarimasen!

Photos: Shibuya photos, shibuya video, kyoto bike photo
Of course I knew that Japan was one of the most densely populated places in the world, but until I experienced it a few times, that didn’t really sink in. We went to the Shibuya district of Tokyo because we read that it was the busiest intersection in Tokyo, but the sheer mass of humanity was incredible! Everywhere we looked, there were people. You couldn’t walk down the sidewalk without being jostled and dodging people. And yet, never did I feel threatened or unsafe.
In Kyoto, in the Gion district, where the Geisha live and work, I saw the same thing. People everywhere, bikes everywhere, cars everywhere, driving down these narrow streets barely wide enough to not scrape the mirrors on the walls of the buildings. Although I was told that most people here speak at least some English, my favorite phrase has become : Sumimasen, Ego ga hanishimas ka? (Excuse me, do you speak English?) usually met by a smile and a shake of the head. Thank goodness I took the time to learn a few phrases!