Tokyo ho ho and a bottle of sake

Just got back from a great week in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Definitely recommend the trip. Here are some tips…

TRANSFER from the airport on a hotel bus or via the Narita X-press train. Both cost USD30 and take 90mins. DON’T get a taxi – will cost you 10x the price!

PLACES to visit:

- Shibuya is where all the bright lights are and has crazy zebra crossings
- Shinjuku is quite a trendy area and has great views nearby in the Tokyo Met Govt building and the Park Hyatt (where Lost in Translation was filmed). Also near there is the red light district of Kabukicho
- Omete-sando is nicknamed the Champs Elysee and it’s pretty obvious why from the shops! Also nearby is the Meiji shrine
- Harajuku is where all the cools kids hang out in their crazy costumes. Makes for some funny photographs
- Roppongi is the ex-pat area with some good bars and clubs (Heartlands, Feria, Lex, Motowns). Also has a great shopping centre called Roppongi Hills. Plus Gonpachi – the restaurant that inspired the scene in Kill Bill and has great food and a buzzy atmosphere
- Ginza is a very nice shopping area with some unbelievable shop buildings. It’s also right next to the Imperial Palace which is housed in beautiful gardens
- Asakusa has some very nice shrines and temples. You can also take a boat from there, down the river to Odaiba which is futuristic land grab

TRIPS out of Tokyo

- Nikko is a 2hour train journey North. Beautiful area of lakes, mountains and waterfalls. Stay in a traditional Japanese style inn (Ryokan) and bathe in the hot springs (Onsen)
- Kamakura is 40mins train journey South. The old capital from a few hundred years ago has some more shrines and temples. Stop in Yokohama on the way back to see Japan’s tallest building (Landmark Tower) and eat in Chinatown
- Kyoto (obviously) – supposed to be lovely, but I didn’t have time

OTHER things to do

- Baseball is huge there. It’s as, if not, more boring than cricket, but the locals love it. Try and check out a game at the Tokyo Dome
- Tsukiji fish market – best visited around 4:30am in the morning to see the Maguro (tuna) auctions and then a sushi breakfast at Sushi Dai (be prepared to queue) at 6am
- Try local food. Lots of it!! Half the fun is eating stuff you’re not quite sure what it is!!
- Take the train/subway. Although intimidating, it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it and very cheap. Taxis however, are very expensive. They start at USD8 before you even move!

FLY – I went via Hong Kong as I was working there. But SQ and some of the Japanese airlines all fly direct

Hope that helps. Feel free to give me a shout if you need any more specifics

J