JAPAN


EXPERT ADVICE


HOLLY BROWN


business development manager, Inside Travel Group


“When it comes to Tokyo, it doesn’t get better than dining on small plates at local izakaya bars under the railway arches in Yurakucho or belting out karaoke into the small hours of the morning. We recommend clients explore lesser touristy areas like Daikanyama, which is a short walk south of Shibuya and packed with hip boutiques,


brewpubs, vintage shops and stylish cafes. When in Japan make sure you try all the food (dietary preferences permitting) and don’t be afraid to get lost in translation – some of the best experiences come from these moments.”


ÃiVÌoÀ h>à injoÞi` Ãi}niwV>nÌ inÛiÃÌminÌ oÛiÀ Ìhi «>ÃÌ viÜ years – driven largely by the 2020 Olympics, which were expected to draw 40 million tourists (but instead were held in 2021 to a limited, pandemic-controlled crowd) – with many «ÀojiVÌà Ìh>Ì ÜiÀi «>ÕÃi` oÀ `il>Þi` Vomin} Ìo vÀÕiÌion° Last year, luxury hotel openings included Bulgari’s wÀÃÌ hoÌil in Ìhi ViÌÞ] ÌÜo niÜ hoÌilà in /okÞo½Ã -hinjÕkÕ `iÃÌÀiVÌ vÀom Ìhi *>n *>ViwV oÌilà ÀoÕ«] >n` /okÞo `iÌion inâ>] Ìhi LÀ>n`½Ã ÃiVon` hoÌil in Ìhi ViÌÞ° Ƃn` ÌhiÀi½Ã moÀi Ìo Vomi\ >nÕ /okÞo] Ìhi wÀÃÌ hotel to launch under Aman’s new sister brand, Janu, Üill ÜilVomi iÌà wÀÃÌ }ÕiÃÌà in >ÀVh in Ìhi Õ«m>ÀkiÌ Ƃâ>LÕ`>i illà `iÛilo«minÌ° n ÓäÓx] ƂVVoÀ½Ã >iÀmonÌ brand is set to make its debut in the Japanese capital, Ühili oÀVhiÃÌiÀ


olliVÌion½Ã wÀÃÌ hoÌil in ƂÃi> ià Ãl>Ìi` Ìo


open in 2028 in the tallest building in Japan, Tokyo’s Torch Tower, which is under development in the city centre. oÌilà >Àin½Ì Ìhi onlÞ ÃiVÌoÀ LiniwÌin} vÀom inÛiÃÌminÌ° Immersive digital art exhibition teamLab Planets Tokyo in /oÞoÃÕ] ÜhiVh Vom«ÀiÃià voÕÀ l>À}i-ÃV>li >ÀÌÜoÀk spaces and two gardens and sees visitors wade through Ü>ÌiÀ >n` vÀoliV in ¼wil`ý ov yoÜiÀÃ] Ü>à `Õi Ìo VloÃi >Ì Ìhi in` ov ÓäÓÎ LÕÌ h>à Liin iÝÌin`i` ÕnÌil ÓäÓÇ `Õi Ìo «o«Õl>À `im>n`° Ƃ ÃiVon` iÝhiLiÌion vÀom Ìhi art collective, teamLab Borderless, is due to reopen niÝÌ monÌh in > niÜ loV>Ìion in Ƃâ>LÕ`>i illð -hiLÕÞ> ÀoÃÃin}] Ìhi inv>moÕÃlÞ VÀoÜ`i` inÌiÀÃiVÌion oÕÌÃi`i -hiLÕÞ> ÃÌ>Ìion] `À>Üà hoÀ`ià ov ÌoÕÀiÃÌà iÛiÀÞ `>Þ] LÕÌ > nÕmLiÀ ov niÜ «ÀojiVÌà in Ìhi ÛiViniÌÞ >Ài >lÃo attracting attention. Shibuya Sky opened in November Óä£9 >n` h>à LiVomi > wÀm LÕVkiÌ-liÃÌ ÌiVk] ÜiÌh ÛiÃiÌoÀà yoVkin} Ìo Ìhi oLÃiÀÛ>Ìion «l>ÌvoÀm on Ìhi {ÇÌh yooÀ voÀ ÕnoLÃÌÀÕVÌi`] «>noÀ>miV ÛiiÜà ov Ìhi ViÌÞ ­on > Vli>À `>Þ] ÞoÕ mi}hÌ iÛin Li >Lli Ìo }lim«Ãi oÕnÌ Õji®° Further west in Toyosu, a new Edo era-inspired complex is set to open next month, boasting a shopping area, ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ>nÌà ÃiÀÛin} wÃh vÀom ni>ÀLÞ /oÞoÃÕ >ÀkiÌ] >n` > hot spring spa, with open-air baths overlooking Tokyo Bay.


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OPPOSITE: FIRST ROW: Women in traditional dress; pampered pooches SECOND ROW: A couple pose in traditional dress at Sensoji Temple; Aspire’s Erica Rich with a geisha; lanterns at Sensoji Temple THIRD ROW: Shibuya Crossing FOURTH ROW: A Shinjuku street at night; teamLab Planets art exhibition PREVIOUS PAGE: Tokyo’s Shinjuku district Credits: Sarah Lucy Brown; Shutterstock/Sean Pavone, Kitinut Jinapuck; Unsplash/Simon Zhu, Sophie Keen


72 ASPIRE JANUARY 2024 aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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