Tokyo Hotels

Stay in one of Shinjuku or Minato’s five-star hotels, or under the sleazy neon lights of an infamous ‘Love Hotel’ in Shibuya. Either way, make sure you perfect the obligatory peace-sign pose before taking to the streets.

Exhaust the endless shopping possibilities in Ginza or Tokyo Dome City, where shopping malls take on a life of their own and futuristic streets lead on to even more hyper urban alleyways. On the cultural front, the Japan Sword Museum and Seikado Bunko Art Museum have some of the best examples of Japanese arts and craftsmanship, as well as providing a great escape from the polite hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s streets.

Modern Tokyo has its own brand of pop culture that borders on fetishism. Between the Harijuku Girls, geishas, anime, manga and the national obsession with electronic gadgets, Tokyoites have an all-or-nothing attitude that compels you to come and play.

TOKYO’S TOP 10

TOKYO LOCAL

Tokyo is a massive metropolis, with the largest urban area and population in the world. So it helps to have an idea of what you’d like to see, and where you should begin.

Chuo

One of the most central districts of Tokyo, Chuo is a great starting point for exploring the city. As well as the Tsukiji Fish Markets, Chuo is home to Ginza, the fluorescent and flashy fashion Mecca. Come to splurge on Gucci, Prada, Chanel or Dior designer goods, or simply to soak up the atmosphere. Have a ridiculously expensive cup of coffee here, then head to the Sony Building to see technology you won’t get anywhere else for years.

Chiyoda

The Imperial Palace gives this district a more peaceful, traditional tone. In spring, the surrounding parklands, including Kitanomaru Park and Chidoriga-fuchi Moat, are the perfect place to see the iconic Cherry Blossom Trees in full bloom. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Tokyo suburb without an entire area dedicated to electronics gadgets in some way. Akihabara is tech-central, where anything from cameras, computers, mobile phones and vacuum cleaners is on sale. Chiyoda is also fast becoming a hipster’s hub for anime and manga paraphernalia. Visit the National Museum of Modern Art (MOMAT) to see some splendid contemporary Japanese art.

Minato

Minato lies southwest of the Imperial Palace and is the commercial centre for Japan’s big brands like Mitsubishi, Sony, and Toshiba.Odaiba is the heart and soul of Minato. This artificial island is built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay and connected to the mainland by a driverless monorail! Head to Palette Town to ride one of the world’s tallest Ferris wheels, or shop up a storm in the European-esque Venus Fort Shopping Mall.

Roppongi’s reputation for crazy – and seedy – nightlife is deserved. But by day, though, it’s all about getting high at Mori Tower, with the Tokyo City View observation deck that overlooks Tokyo Tower. Roppongi Hills Shopping World is also worth a visit if size (and the absence of soul) impresses you.

Shibuya

Young Tokyoites flock here for out-there street fashions and cheap food. Fake it till you make it in Harijuku, where you’ll feed a tad underdressed compared to the futuristic, anime-inspired get-ups of the locals. Street after street, there are opportunities to buy reasonably priced clothes, anime and manga souvenirs, or to have a beer in one of the many Izakayas(Japanese pubs). Shibuya’s club scene won’t disappoint. Take your pick of trance, hip-hop, indie rock and pop music venues that kick on until the wee hours of the morning.

On a more moving note, Shibuya has the famous Hachiko Statue that pays tribute to the local legend of Hachiko, a dog who faithfully waited for its owner, many years after he had died. Finally, when you spot the dodgy the Italiano balconies, it means you’ve arrived at Love Hotel Hill, where couples can enjoy a quick stay in one of the tacky themed rooms.

Shinjuku

Tokyo’s commercial hub, with claustrophobic skyscrapers, blinding neon lights and over two million people pushing through the streets each day. Brash business types are met with savvy business ladies, all wanting a piece of Shinjuku’s action. Kabukicho is Tokyo’s wildest red-light district, with host and hostess bars, love hotels and strip bars. Not for the faint-hearted, Shinjuku promises a wild night out.

TheTokyo Metropolitan Government Building is the tallest building in Tokyo and, unlike the other observation decks in Tokyo, has a free observation desk with great views over the city.

TOKYO EAT & DRINK

Like most international cities, Tokyo’s fine-dining restaurants are mostly found in lavish five-star hotels. But vending machine and convenience store food (known as the con-vi-ni) gives the top-notch establishments a run for their money.

TOKYO EVENTS

Make sure your trip to Tokyo coincides with the Sumo Wrestling Tournaments. Held in January, May and September, and lasting for 2 weeks, watch the best sumos wrestle it out at Kokugikan, the Sumo Stadium in Ryogoku. Big men in giant nappies – how can you refuse!

Doll Festival Day or ‘Hina Matsuri’ celebrates the artistry of Japanese Dolls. This festival has adapted over the years and now represents and encourages the wellbeing of young Japanese girls. Hand-painted and intricately dressed dolls are displayed in shops and window displays throughout Tokyo during March.

Setsubun Festival, otherwise known as the ‘Bean Throwing Festival’, marks the beginning of spring. White soybeans are thrown from windows and on the streets to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck for the special season. So be careful where you tread in March.

Sakura (Cherry Blossom Festival) relies on Mother Nature to deliver the goods. At the end of March to the beginning of April, Tokyo’s parks flourish with stunning Cherry Blossom trees.

Held at the Sensoji Shrine in Asakusa in May, the Sanja Matsuri Festival calls upon the spirit of the deities to bring good luck, health and prosperity to all Tokyoites. Join the colourful procession through the streets and take the chance to rub shoulders with a real geisha.

Thought beer festivals were a European thing? Think again. The Japanese Beer Festival takes place in early June at The Garden Hall in Ebisu Garden Place. Join the tipsy Tokyoites on this fun boozy beer fest by sipping your way through the 120 beer tastings on offer.

In July, the Buddhist Obon Festival marks the time when ancestral spirits return from the grave. Lanterns are hung outside homes welcoming these spirits. Food offerings are made at Buddhist shrines across Tokyo.

In summer month of August, Tokyo’s Samba Carnival is a great excuse to see skimpily clad dancers samba down the Asakusa streets. Locals parade the streets singing and dancing, all bringing the heat to this traditional downtown district. It generally falls somewhere between unintentionally amusing and actually quite cool.

The Tokyo International Film Festival is held every November, showing a wide range of new Japanese and Asian films. The main screenings take place at the Bunkamura theatre in Shibuya.

WHEN TO GO

Spring and autumn are the most celebrated seasons in Tokyo, thanks to Cherry Blossom’s blooming and autumn leaves falling. These are also the most popular times to travel to Tokyo.

· Spring is from March to May

· Autumn is from September to November

· Summer is from June to August. Temperatures can exceed 30°C (86°F), while July is the most humid and rainiest month.

WHAT TO MISS

· The Host and Hostess bars of Kabukicho in Shinjuku offer an insight into Tokyo’s interesting take on ‘companionship’. But rather than companionship, expect to find an empty wallet and a sore head the next morning.

· By night, Roppongi turns into a sleazy club hotspot, with rowdy off-duty American soldiers and African hustlers prowling the streets for anything with legs. This area can get pretty rough, and drunken fights are not uncommon, so keep your wits about you if you’re planning to party here.

· Peak Hour in Tokyo is a washing machine of human beings. The trains are almost unbearable, and you better hope you aren’t groped by an infamous ‘train-groper’ (ladies, stick to the women only carriages at these times) or stuck under a Sumo’s armpit.

GETTING AROUND

· Tokyo’s train system is reliable, fast, cheap and will get you everywhere you need to go, with main train stations in all the major districts. Just brace yourself for the crowds.

· Tokyo’s bus service is reliable, and despite initial doubt, is actually easy to use. The 200 Yen flat fare also makes it a nice cheap option.

· Unless you’re fluent in Japanese (and that doesn’t include over-enthusiastic arm gestures, yelling or pointing), catching a taxi can be a hard task, not to mention a costly one.

Tokyo Information

Attractions

Events

Tokyo Climate