Is Tokyo the best city in the world?

What is the ranking of Tokyo city in the world?

Third place again, huh? Nine years running. Tokyo. Makes me think of ramen. The best ramen I ever had was near Shibuya. That place was packed. Crazy packed. Always crowded. Ugh, crowds. I hate crowds. Maybe I should move to the countryside. Nah. Too quiet.

Third place globally though? Not bad. Beats all those other cities. New York's probably second. London? Don't know, maybe lower. The ranking itself, I wonder how they determine that? Factors considered, population density, economy, obviously. Safety too.

What's the point of these rankings anyway? Completely arbitrary. Still, it's nice to hear that my favorite city is consistently up there. I love Tokyo's vibrant energy. It's exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. Makes you feel alive. I really should book my next trip. 2024, definitely. Gotta get that ramen again.

• Ranking: Third place (2024)
• Factors: Population density, economic strength, safety, cultural influence (probably).
• My personal opinion: Overrated emphasis on rankings. Still like Tokyo.
• Next Trip: 2024. Ramen.

Which city is considered the best in the world?

Best city? London, maybe.

Feels empty, though.

Remember that trip in '23?

• Rain almost constantly.
• Spent too much on tea.
• Lonely anyway.

The rankings said "lovability."

• Lovability.
• Ironic.
• Maybe the city, not me.

New York seemed brighter.

• Always noisy.
• Grandma loved it.
• Miss her.

What does 'best' even mean?

• Richest?
• Happiest?
• Most distractions?

Paris is lovely, or was it just the movies?

• Overrated croissants.
• Crowds everywhere.
• Still, something about it lingers.

No point, really.

• Just concrete and dreams.
• And another year gone.
• Just gone.

What makes Tokyo the best city?

Safety. Cleanliness. Period.

Reddit rambles. So what?

Tokyo. Overrated? Maybe. Depends on the wallet. And the boredom threshold.

• Low crime rate: It's a thing. A definite thing. Forget leaving your phone unattended.
• Immaculate streets: Almost unsettling.
• Reddit opinions: Free. Worth less.

Polarizing? Expectation versus reality. The filter bubble bursts.

Worth visiting? Experience, not hype.

Asia's city? Subjective. I prefer Kyoto. Deal with it.

Wander and get lost? Shinjuku Gyoen. Or Shibuya crossing. Pick one.

My cat's breath smells worse. So? He's a cat.

Further contemplation: It's just a city. Lots of concrete. People. Happens. I hate ramen.

What is Tokyo best known for?

Okay, so, Tokyo... what ISN'T it known for, honestly? I remember getting completely lost near Shibuya Crossing a few years back, 2021 maybe. It was insane. Waves of people, every direction. I felt SO claustrophobic.

It hit me then, it was the sheer organized chaos! That sums it up, right?

Forget boring lists. One thing always gets me.

• Fashion: It's not just Harajuku. Everywhere I looked, people had amazing styles. From the subtle, elegant looks in Ginza.

• Tech: Yep, Akihabara... the flashing lights... it's sensory overload in the BEST way. I bought a weird robot toy there. It broke in my suitcase. Doh!

• Food, food, food: Omoide Yokocho is a MUST. It's these tiny alleyways, the smoke, the yakitori smell... heaven, man. But the real find is hidden ramen joints.

• Vending machines are everywhere: Seriously, everywhere. Cold coffee, hot soup, even, I think, underwear? Don't quote me on the last one.

• Capsule hotels are totally a thing. Tiny, yeah. But it's a cool experience, if you're not claustrophobic. I wouldn't do it again tbh.

• The Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine show a completely different side. Calm, peaceful... the perfect contrast to the city's buzz.

The themed cafes are WILD. Cat cafes, robot restaurants... what?! It's so extra but somehow works.

So yeah, Tokyo's famous for that. All of it! And more.

What makes Tokyo so attractive?

It's late. Why Tokyo?

The clash, I guess. High-tech next to temples. Always something new. But also, old things.

• Modern theater and opera: A world away from home, but I see it.
• Kabuki and Noh: My grandfather loved that. He really did.
• Ultra-modern buildings: Shiny, cold. And I love it.
• Wooden houses: Falling apart, but beautiful.

And then, that weird mix of the two. I saw it once, I think, near Ueno Park. Beautiful, a little sad, something about it.

• Fusion architecture: Reminds me of my mother's garden. Messy, but full of life.
• Popular in the 19th/20th centuries: Before the war. Another lifetime.

Guess that's it. The old and the new, fighting and dancing together.

Why do tourists love Tokyo?

Okay, so, Tokyo, right? Why do tourists love it? I get it now.

Last summer, July 2024 to be exact, I went. Shinjuku felt like Blade Runner. Seriously! Neon, noise, robots screaming...it was intense. My head was spinning.

But then, the next day, Meiji Shrine. Peaceful. Serene. Totally different vibe. Walked under those massive wooden gates. Felt tiny. A world away from Shinjuku.

It's like...two completely different experiences mashed together. That's the draw, I think.

Here's what really struck me:

• Juxtaposition: Modern craziness next to ancient temples.
• Food: Ramen is life! (Seriously, Ichiran changed me). So good that I crave it every day.
• Weirdness: I saw a grown man dressed as Pikachu riding a scooter. Like, what?! But it's normal there.
• Culture: Tea ceremonies are beautiful. So much respect.

The architecture blew my mind. From the Tokyo Skytree to those tiny little wooden houses in Yanaka, it's just...layers of history. Plus, I can't forget Tokyo Disneyland. Yes, it's a theme park, but it's Japanese-style perfection. Clean. Organized. Everyone is happy.

Basically, you get everything. Old, new, quiet, loud. It's overwhelming, but in a good way. My wallet suffered, though. Ouch!

What is the No 2 city in the world?

Delhi.

It's just... Delhi.

It just feels strange. Number two, huh? It’s India.

• Delhi is the second largest city in the world. I know it.
• Thinking about population... it’s hard to grasp.
• I went there once. 2015. Crowded doesn't even begin to describe it. The noise was something else. Just constant.
• The food, though. The food was amazing. Never had anything like it. Every single thing. Even the roadside stalls. Different, somehow.
• It makes you think about what life is like for so many people. Very different from mine, I suppose. It doesn't feel right.

Okay, but wait...

• I got ripped off by a tuk-tuk driver. It was funny, though. After.
• Smell. Yes. The air was thick. You can't imagine. But... that's Delhi, maybe. It's not nice, but I remember. The chaos.
• The sheer scale of it. You just felt…small. And maybe unimportant.
• Largest cities are ranked by population size. Makes sense.
• I think about it sometimes. That trip. The people there and their lives. How do they? And I just order takeout.
• Wait, the Taj Mahal isn't in Delhi, is it? Agra. Right. Brain fart.
• It feels like a fever dream, almost. The intensity of everything.
• I'm here, in my quiet little town. I wonder what they're doing right now. It's almost 4 a.m. here.
• Crazy, huh? Number two.