Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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quarters of Harajuku or the high-rises of Shinjuku. Neighborhoods like these make
Tokyo lovable and livable.
What's more, once visitors get to know Tokyo better, they learn that you can't judge
Tokyo by what it looks like on the outside, for this is a city of interiors. Even those con-
crete monsters may house interiors that are fascinating in design and innovation. In the
basement of that drab building could well be a restaurant with wooden beams, mud
walls, and thatched ceiling, imported intact from a farmhouse in the Japan Alps; on its
roof could be a small Shinto shrine, while the top floor could house a high-tech bar or a
tony French restaurant with dreamy views over the city.
And beneath Tokyo's concrete shell is a thriving cultural life left very much intact. In
fact, if you're interested in Japan's performing arts as well as such diverse activities as the
tea ceremony or sumo, Tokyo is your best bet for offering the most at any one time. It is
rich in museums and claims the largest repository of Japanese art in the world. It also gets
my vote as the pop-art capital of the world, so if you're into kitsch or
anime
(Japanese
animation), you'll be in high heaven. And if you're into style, you'll find Tokyo a mecca
for cutting-edge fashion and innovative design.
While Tokyo isn't representative of all of Japan, just as New York isn't representative of
the entire United States, it's a fairly good barometer of where the country is heading, if
not the world. I can't imagine being bored here for even a minute.
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THE MOST UNFORGETTABLE
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
•
Taking Part in a Festival.
Tokyo and
its surrounding cities offer a myriad of
annual festivals, ranging from proces-
sions of portable shrines to ladder-top
acrobatics. Be ready to battle good-
natured crowds, as festivals can be
unbelievably packed. See “Tokyo Cal-
endar of Events,” in chapter 3.
•
Strolling a Japanese Landscaped Gar-
den.
There's no better escape from
Tokyo's urban jungle than a stroll
through one of its landscaped gardens,
especially in spring when irises, wiste-
ria, peonies, azaleas, and other flowers
are in bloom. Top picks are Rikugien
Garden, Shinjuku Gyoen, and—in
nearby Yokohama—Sankeien Garden.
See “Parks & Gardens,” in chapter 7,
and “Yokohama,” in chapter 11.
•
Soaking Away Your Cares.
Tokyo now
has its own hot-spring spas, thanks to
drilling that released therapeutic waters
from deep below the surface. Top on
my list is Oedo-Onsen Monogatari, a
theme-based spa that emulates bathing
houses of yore, with its feudal-era rep-
lica architecture, shops, restaurants,
indoor and outdoor baths, and more.
See “Five Unforgettable Ways to
Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture,”
in chapter 7.
•
Hunting for Bargains at Flea Mar-
kets.
You never know what treasure you
might find at one of Tokyo's weekend
outdoor flea markets, where vendors
sell everything from used kimono to
antiques and curios. Go early, and be
sure to bargain. See “Shopping A to Z,”
in chapter 9.
•
Experiencing the Serenity of the Tea
Ceremony.
Developed in the 16th cen-
tury as a means to achieve inner har-
mony with nature, the tea ceremony is
a highly ritualized process that takes
years to learn. You can experience a
shortened version at several Tokyo
hotels. See “Five Unforgettable Ways to
