We took an express train from the airport to the popular Roppongi Dori district. The train ride itself was a complete experience. As we boarded the train we were able to find a seat quite easily and were somewhat amazed by how clean and graffiti-free the train was. The people that boarded the train closer to the city never had the luxury of finding a seat. The train filled up quickly and pretty soon the train was “packed like sushi” and just when I thought that they couldn’t possibly fit even the tiniest person onboard, more shoe-horned their way in.

The train ride took 90 minutes to reach Roppongi station. Immediately after exiting the station we were completely dazzled by the sheer number of restaurants and club - and the lights! We rushed on to our reservations at the Roppongi Prince Hotel. This hotel was picked primarily due to its close proximity to Tokyo's lively entertainment district but also while surfing the internet for accommodations, I was drawn to unique architecture of the Roppongi Prince. As we checked into our rooms, neither of us was disappointed with our choice. The room was done in an elegant, minimalist style with everything from the desk and chair to the beds having clean, straight lines.

My brother and I left the suitcases on the floor and eagerly made our way unto the faux-Mohawk. In front of the hotel I spotted a young Japanese man with a colourful faux-Mohawk, wearing distressed and tattered Levis and very expensive trainers. Using my much-practiced Japanese sentence, I asked him if he could recommend a good place to eat. The young man surprisingly spoke in a very casual, almost lazy American accent and suggested that we try the Almond Cafe on the corner of Roppongi-dori and Gaien Higashi (East) Dori. He went on to say that the entire area was a hotspot so wherever we went would be cool.

Cuisine-wise, the Almond Cafe had a dish to suit every palate. I definitely wanted to experience a taste of the Japanese culture, so I ordered sushi and miso soup. Juan was a little less adventurous and ordered Western food. After a fantastic dinner, we decided to ignore our jet-lagged bodies and soldier onward to the next night-spot.

Juan and I walked just a short distance before we saw a line of people waiting to get inside a club. We though - why not? So we inched our way through the line and soon found ourselves inside the ultra hip Vanilla Club. The Vanilla Club occupies the first three floors of the TSK Building and is one of the largest clubs in Tokyo. The club was packed to capacity and featured a number of different types of music styles.

One of the rooms in the club played techno-house music while another played only Hip Hop. The music, lights and electricity of the club was intoxicating, but the people in the club were what was most interesting. The trendy young Japanese of both sexes wore the hottest fashions and seemed to exude confidence and sophistication.

As we headed back to the hotel, both my brother and I were completely physically exhausted, but at the same time we were also strangely exhilarated and full of anticipation for what lie ahead. The next day we began our day (afternoon actually) with a trip to Hibiya Park, home of the Imperial Palace. We toured the plaza which opens out from the front gate of the palace and spent some time at the eastern garden that contains Sannomoru Shosakan, the famed museum of the Imperial Collection.

The museum housed an extraordinary display of paintings of former Emperors and royal family members. We also toured the guardhouses where the legendary Samurai warriors eagerly protected their Emperor and his family with their lives. After the museum, Juan and I went for a leisurely 3-mile walk along the Imperial Palace moat.

The view from the Nijubashi Bridge over the moat was both awe-inspiring and humorous as you can see the miraculous garden and a section of the grand palace. But also demanding attention was a huge turtle lazily bathing in the sun and gigantic carp splashing in the moat waters.

From the Imperial Palace we took a taxi to the renowned Tsukiji Fish Market, one of the largest fish markets in Japan. Here, we were able to sample the freshest sushi imaginable. We decided to have lunch inside the market at a quaint little stall called Daiwa Sushi. The fish was not as refined as some of the more expensive eateries in Tokyo; however, we both immensely enjoyed the delectable feast and wholeheartedly agreed that it was the best sushi that either one of us had ever tasted.

After leaving the Fish Market, we set out to find a geisha bar in the Asakusa area. Visiting a geisha bar was atop both of our list of things to do in Tokyo. We were anxious to see these beautiful, highly trained women in full kabuki make-up playing traditional Japanese instruments and entertaining their guests. We soon found out that gaining entrance into a geisha bar was somewhat problematic as we were turned away from at least three. We later found out that a membership or at least an invitation by a member is required to gain entrance.

Unperturbed, we continued to explore this wonderful city. Based on the advice of the hotel concierge, we decided to visit Kokugikan (National Sumo Stadium). We were stunned and mesmerised by these gargantuan Sumo wrestlers who were intent on knocking each other off balance and out of the ring. This Japanese style of wrestling originated in ancient times as a performance to entertain the Shinto gods. It definitely entertained us.

During our stay, Juan’s favourite trip was to Electric City, an entire area dedicated to high-tech electronic gadgets, games and devices. Being a computer wiz and a game enthusiast, he literally spent all day just examining all the latest gadgets and the newest innovations in virtual games. I, on the other hand, haven't mastered a game since Pac-Man, but was fascinated all the same.

My favourite spot had to be the day trip that we took to Mount Fuji. Although I did not have a chance to hike up the famous trail, I was able to admire the vastness and the beauty of this sacred mountain. While heading to the airport it occurred to me that Tokyo is a city that is full of extreme opposites. By day, Tokyo may not be the most visually stunning city in Japan; however, at the first sign of night the dowdiness fades and Tokyo transforms into a cornucopia of colossal neon lights, vibrant discos and an endless number of patrons seeking a fun-filled night.

Tokyo’s rich history is deeply engrained in its people and its heritage is celebrated and embraced. Astonishingly, the city has also managed to position itself at the forefront of technology and modern trends. My brother interrupted my thoughts as he began saying, “The next time we come to Tokyo, we have to…”