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Mt Fuji

I think I’m turning Japanese.

You step into the path of a crowd of businessmen rushing to and from the train station, and then encounter several immaculately dressed teenagers with bleached hair and cool clothes thumbing their mobile phones. Amongst them, you see people blocking the footpath handing out product samples, magazines, coupons, adult comics and more. Add several gigantic TV monitors blasting music, news, and whatnot from the side of huge skyscrapers, lighting up the night sky. Everywhere you look, you find a cute anime character hanging off someone’s backpack, on a vending machine, or on an advertising poster. And that’s when you realise, you’ve finally made it to Tokyo.

When it comes to getting around, it definitely helps to plan ahead. You can find maps of the Tokyo’s rail system in most guidebooks or online. You’ll find that all the common tourist spots like Shinjiku, Shibuya, Roppongi and Harajuku are all accessible via the JR Yamanote line, which essentially does one big loop around Tokyo. Most tourists get around fine using only this line.

One thing that many people aren’t aware of is that finding the right address in Tokyo can be very tricky, even the natives have a hard time. The houses, buildings and stores in a street block aren’t numbered in any particular order whatsoever. It’s all random! And not all buildings display their address or number. So, if possible, find a picture of the place you want to visit online – thank you Google maps – print it out and take it along. This will make a world of difference.

So much to see. So little time.

There’s just so much to do in Tokyo, and if you’re only there for a short time you’re bound to miss out on something spectacular. A good idea is to work out exactly what you want to get out of your trip. Do you wanna visit the shrines, temples and gardens? Or do you want to shop all day and night for cutting edge fashion?

One thing’s for sure, if you get the chance, grab your camera and go flash a peace sign with the cosplay girls in Yoyogi park. If you head down to the park’s main entrance on any Sunday morning, you’ll find groups of girls decked out in gothic Lolita maid outfits, kitten costumes, leather punk gear and more. Yoyogi park is located at 2-1 Yoyogi-Kamizono-cho Shibuya

Now, attention all geeks, manga lovers, anime addicts and bargain hunters! This one’s for you. Take yourself to Akihabara and have your fill of all things weird, wired and wonderful. The home of electronics and Duty Free shopping, Akiba (as the cool kids call it) is huge amongst the young, trendy crowds and tourists hunting for the perfect deal.

Once the sunsets and you’re looking to party all night long, Roppongi’s your next stop. This is where all the big celebrities choose to spend their hard earned Yen on top-quality sake in some of the swankiest bars in town. Try the slick Lexington Queen, 3–13–14 Roppongi, a favourite of the showbiz/model crowd.

If you’d prefer to rub shoulders with the locals, try a Japanese-style watering hole, called an izakaya. A good place to try is At (that’s the bar’s name), a modern style izakaya located at 2-6-1, Shinjuku. Or check out Bonobo, 2-23-4 Jingumae, for a sample of what the hip Japanese crowd are getting up to.

Karaoke lovers should keep an eye out for a place called Karaoke-Kan, one of the most popular karaoke chains in Japan. The one located at 30-8 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya was made famous in the movie Lost in Translation.

Insider Tip: Places tend to open late and close late in Tokyo. Opening hours are roughly between 10:00am or 11:00am till 8:00pm or 9:00pm. Bars, clubs, restaurants and so on are the exception, of course.

Sake, sushi and sukiyaki, oh my!

Ok, so you’ve worked up an appetite. The great thing is you don’t need to go to a swanky restaurant in Ginza or splash out on an all traditional meal in Asakasa to experience Japanese food at its best.

Believe it or not, department stores are one of the best places to pick up some lunch. They often have a whole floor dedicated to tasty treats and dishes. You’ll find everything from bento boxes, buns, sushi, cakes and all sorts of delicate sweets.

The one thing you must do however is head down to Tsukiji Market and sample some of Tokyo’s best sushi. It certainly doesn’t get fresher than this. These days, visitors aren’t allowed into the auction area, but don’t let that stop you from dinning at one of the many restaurants surrounding the market itself. It’s just a matter of eenie meenie miney moe where you stop you’re guaranteed something truly great. Tsukiji Market is located at 5-2-1 Tsukiji Chuo-ku.

Insider Tip: Eating or drinking while walking isn’t very common in Japan. If you’ve bought some food, or even a drink from a vending machine, find a place where you can sit or stand before tucking in.


A good nights rest

Your trip to Tokyo wouldn’t be complete without spending a night in a love hotel. And if you wanna do it right, you might as well go all the way. Love Hotel Hill in Shibuya would be your best bet with the biggest range of hotels with the wackiest rooms. To find it, go to the Shibuya train Station on the JR Yamanote Line and take the Hachiko exit.

Or, if you dare, you can try a capsule hotel. The Capsule Inn Akihabara located at 6-9 Akihabara Taito-ku is only minutes away from major train stations and is centred right where all the action is.

However, you certainly wouldn’t want to spend every night in a love hotel or sleep capsule. So try the Palace Hotel in Ginza, located directly opposite the Imperial Palace Garden, which is a very popular spot amongst tourist and natives alike for its breathtaking scenery. The rooms can be a bit on the pricey side but you’ll be very well taken care of thanks to their impeccable service and helpful staff. Most importantly, however, you’ll also be getting a rather sizable room which is quite rare in Tokyo