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Jan
11
Tokyo Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Japan
A trip to Tokyo
Japan’s capital city is truly non-stop, inviting visitors to dive into this world of towering modern architecture, pulsating nightlife and serious shopping. This futuristic city still retains some of its more traditional charms, making it an attractive destination for all sorts of travellers.
Flights to Tokyo
International travellers will arrive at Narita International Airport. The journey between Narita Airport and Tokyo takes about 1 hour by the Narita Express train, while the Keisei Skyliner train, the Airport Limousine bus service, or taxis are also available. The express train is the fastest way to reach the city centre. Domestic flights may arrive at Haneda Airport, which is about 30 minutes away from Tokyo. Shuttle buses and taxi services are provided for transport to the city centre. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Tokyo try lastminute.com.
In Tokyo, the extremely efficient public transport system is your best bet. Taxis are widely available, but can be pricey. The busier districts are only accessible by foot.
Tokyo
Sightseeing in Tokyo
Built in 1888, the Imperial Palace is Tokyo’s main historical attraction. Visitors can explore the beautifully landscaped garden and visit the Yasukuni Shrine, which was built in memory of the Japanese soldiers killed in the Pacific War of WWII. The temples of Asakusa are also a popular attraction, with the Sensoji Temple being noteworthy as the oldest in the city. Pilgrims continue to visit this temple to this day.
The World Trade Center Building and the Tokyo Tower offer spectacular views of this sprawling metropolis. Worthwhile museums include the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which has a cultural history of Tokyo on display, and the enormous collection of Japanese art at the Tokyo National Museum. Ueno Park, also known as the Ueno Imperial Gift Park, has a wealth of attractions for visitors, with shrines, a concert hall, museums and a zoo.
Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Lovers of sushi and Japanese cuisine will be overwhelmed by the sheer number of eateries in Tokyo. Fresh, delicious food is sold at every turn, but just about the freshest you can get is from the Tsukiji fish market, where newly caught fish are served up as sushi and sashimi.
The constant stream of people in Tokyo doesn’t lighten up at night, when the pubs and bars offer a cheerful way to kick off the night. Late-night partying is the norm here, with people leaving nightclubs in the wee hours of the morning just to head to the after party. Visitors can take their pick of entertainment, including shot bars, karaoke bars, piano bars, hostess clubs and sports bars.
Fun by day - shopping and activities
Shopping is an extremely popular activity in Tokyo, for visitors and locals alike. Hordes of wildly dressed teenagers hang out on the different shopping streets and at Harajuku and Shinjuku. High-tech gadgets are also widely available in stores, with attractively competitive prices.
Tokyo Disneyland, located right outside the city in Chiba, is an extremely popular destination. A train from the Tokyo city centre provides easy access to this massive amusement park.
Daytrips
A metropolis as gigantic as Tokyo may sometimes create the necessity to make sporadic escapes. A relaxing alternative is a daytrip to Kunitachi, west of Tokyo, which takes about 30 minutes to reach from Shinjuki Station. This charming college town features Hitotsubashi University with its many lovely brick buildings dating from the Meiji era. Kunitachi is popular for its space and greenery, and from late March to early April the University Street is flanked by cherry blossom spanning over half a mile.
A different tour leads to the Izu islands in the Pacific Ocean, southeast of Tokyo, with Oshima Island being 67 miles away from the metropolitan office. Each island has a unique character and offers all kinds of water sports, including surfing, scuba diving and fishing. There a plentiful spots of scenic beauty here which are jam-packed with tourists in the summer months.
Approximately 45 minutes south of the city towers Mt Fuji. At 12,300 feet high, it is Japan’s highest mountain and a well known symbol of the country. Located close to the Pacific coast, this beautiful inactive volcano last erupted in 1707-08 and is frequently accessed by both sightseers and climbers.
Must-see attractions
Among Tokyo’s highlights are the gorgeous Hama-rikyu Gardens in the Chuo district. Originally created by 17th century shoguns, the gardens are now open for the public and present an all-season range of flowering plants. Their main attraction is the tea house, charmingly placed on a little island in the centre of a pond.
Next to the garden is the famous Tsukiji Fish Market, which is worth seeing as it boasts 1,600 stalls of weird sea creatures, such as large blue fin tuna, deep sea crabs, live shell fish, salmon and eels. As you might anticipate, everything is bathed in slippery sea water meaning you should select your footwear accordingly.
Harajuku is the district where young and fashionable teenagers hang out on Sundays, while older folks come here to see the renowned Meiji Jingu Shrine. Built in 1920 in commemoration of Emperor Meiji, this Tokyo shrine is the city’s largest and is to be entered through a gigantic torii gate. The Yoyogi Park nearby was the location for the 1964 Olympic Games, and the characteristic structures designed by Kenzo Tange can still be visited in close proximity.
Best time to go
The best times to come to Tokyo are in spring and autumn when the climate is at its most temperate and comfortable. Spring is between March and May, with average temperatures ranging from 2°C to 17°C. Autumn is between September and November, with temperatures varying from 13°C to 26°C.
The spring and autumn periods bring pleasant relief after the hot and humid summer and are perfect seasons for sightseeing, with clear blue skies. The winter months can be chilly, putting a dampener on sightseeing.
Rainy day suggestions
If rainy weather throws a spanner in your plans, Tokyo provides a multitude of indoor alternatives. The city is scattered with museums of all kinds centring on every imaginable interest, from antique clocks to modern arts. A great number of the largest museums can be found around Ueno.
Mori Art Museum will please art lovers but those looking for more fast-paced indoor excitement can head for Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea, the most visited theme parks in the country. Hello Kitty fans can bypass Disneyland for the Japanese style Sanrio Puroland.
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