TOKYO Tantalising
BY ANDY HOSKINS Tokyo is a city that rarely fails to live
up to expectations. Popular images of a bustling metropolis of bright lights, soaring skyscrapers and sushi conveyor restaurants all hold true, and those looking for their very own Lost in Translation-style experience certainly won’t be disappointed. But there’s far more to the Japanese
capital than meets the eye, with sights such as the Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji Temple and Imperial Palace providing respite from the sensory onslaught of districts such as Shinjuku and Shibuya. Such is its sprawling size, Tokyo has no
single ‘city centre’ but instead has a series of districts linked together by the useful JR Yamanote Line, a circular rail loop within which – or nearby – lie the city’s main points of interest. Despite suffering two devastating
events in the 20th century – the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and heavy bombing in World War II – visitors can still catch a glimpse of historic Tokyo in the city’s northern districts. Senso-ji in
“Japan has a reputation for being expensive but visitors are pleasantly surprised how far their budgets stretch for entertainment, dining out and transport”
Asakusa is the city’s oldest temple and the first stop for many visitors in this district. Also in the north of the city is the excellent Tokyo National Museum that lies within Ueno Park. Akihabara is best known for its epic
electronic department stores and, more recently, as a centre for ‘otaku’ or geek culture. Also drawing a young crowd are Harajuku and Takeshita Street for its trendy outlets, and Shibuya where teeming streets of shops, restaurants and bright lights converge at the famous ‘scramble crossing’. If designer shopping is the order of
the day then direct clients to upmarket Ginza and on to nearby Roppongi, an entertainment district popular with foreigners and locals alike. But if one area is most representative of the city it is Shinjuku, home to the
40 June 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
world’s busiest train station, huge department stores, stunning skyscrapers and Golden Gai, Memory Lane and Kabukicho, where you'll find some of Tokyo’s wildest nightlife. Japan might have a reputation for being expensive, but most visitors are pleasantly surprised by how far their budgets stretch for entertainment, dining out and local transport. One of Tokyo’s most popular attractions, the Tsukiji fish market – the largest in the world – is free to visit. Entrance is also free to the 45th-floor viewing galleries of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for panoramic views of the capital. And while Tokyo might be home to
more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world, a culinary experience at the other end of the spectrum is perhaps more rewarding
TOKYO Top Selling Tips...
• Getting around… “There’s English signage on Tokyo’s rail and metro network so getting around is easy – and fares are cheap too” Andy Hoskins Travel trade writer
• Cost cutting… “A lack of cheap flights and the strength of the yen can make Japan a relatively costly destination, but indirect flights such as Finnair via Helsinki, for example, can keep costs down” ClivE BuCkinGHAm JTB uk
• safe & sound… “Japan is one of the safest countries in the world and the Japanese people are very friendly. They will go out of their way to help travellers” Avi luGAsi Windows to Japan
and a whole lot more affordable. Sushi conveyor restaurants are particularly popular with visitors (with dishes from around 70p), as are yakitori restaurants (grilled meat and veg on skewers) and the various options in the busy food halls of big department stores.
General Information
TimE ZonE: GMT +9hrs visAs: None for UK passport holders WHEn To Go: April is popular for Cherry Blossom season; summer is hot; winter tends to be cheaper. GETTinG THErE: Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines and ANA all fly daily from London Heathrow to Tokyo Narita, while British Airways operates to both Narita and Tokyo Haneda. ConTACT: for further information see
www.seejapan.co.uk. For trade support and the tourist board’s online travel agent training programme see
www.seejapan.co.uk/JnTo_Trade
Clockwise from left: Sake barrels at the Meiji Shrine; Akihabara, also known as 'geek town'; the Imperial Palace; sushi restaurant; Tsukiji Fish Market. Far right: Kanda Myojin Shrine
XXXXXXXXX
© ANDY HOSKINS
© ANDY HOSKINS
© YASUFUMI NISHI / JNTO
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68