Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
clear days, you can see Mount Fuji,
making this the closest you can get to
dining on a cloud. See p. 143.
•
Eating Sushi and Sashimi:
Sushi res-
taurants have spread to the four corners
of the earth, but they're rarely as good—
or authentic—as those in Japan. Not
only do Japanese sushi chefs train for
years, but also the variety of fresh fish is
astounding. For an especially unique
experience, eat at Tsukiji Fish Market.
See p. 178.
•
Rubbing Elbows in a Yakitori-ya:
There's no better place to observe
Tokyo's army of office workers at play
than at a
yakitori-ya,
a drinking man's
pub that also sells skewered grilled
chicken and bar snacks. It's fun, noisy,
and boisterous. See “Eating & Drink-
ing in Tokyo, in chapter 2.
5
THE BEST THINGS TO DO FOR FREE
OR ALMOST
•
Catching the Action at Tsukiji Fish
Market.
Get up early your first morn-
ing in Japan (you'll probably be wide
awake with jet lag anyway) and head
straight for the country's largest fish
market, where you can browse through
stalls of seafood and sample the freshest
sushi you'll ever have. See p. 178.
•
Sitting Pretty in Shinjuku.
On the
45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government Office (TMG), designed
by well-known architect Kenzo Tange,
an observatory offers a bird's-eye view
of Shinjuku's cluster of skyscrapers, the
never-ending metropolis, and, on fine
winter days, Mount Fuji. Best of all, it's
free. See p. 199.
•
Walking the Imperial Moat.
It's an
easy, 4.8km (3-mile) walk around the
Imperial Palace moat, especially beauti-
ful in spring when the many cherry
blossoms are aflame. Don't miss the
attached (and free) East Garden. See
p. 182.
•
Appreciating the Beauty of Ikebana.
After seeing how flowers, branches, and
vases can be combined into works of art,
you'll never be able to simply throw
flowers into a vase again. You can learn
the basics of
ikebana,
Japanese flower
arranging, at several schools in Tokyo.
Exhibitions of ikebana are held regularly
at Yasukuni Shrine and department
stores. Shows are often free. See “Five
Unforgettable Ways to Immerse Yourself
in Japanese Culture,” in chapter 7.
•
Visiting Company Showrooms.
Sev-
eral of Tokyo's biggest companies have
showrooms, including Toyota, Pana-
sonic, and Sony, where you can ogle
their latest products for free. Panasonic
even has a cool house of the future
(reservations required). See “Specialty
Museums & Showrooms,” in chapter 7.
1
6
THE BEST OFFBEAT EXPERIENCES
•
Viewing Cherry Blossoms at Ueno
Park.
Ueno Park is famous throughout
Japan for its 1,000 cherry trees, attract-
ing multitudes of company employees
and organizations. It's not, however, the
communing with nature you might
think, as everyone drinks and eats,
seemingly oblivious to the shimmering
blossoms above. Observing Tokyoites at
play here is a cultural experience you
won't forget. See “Parks & Gardens,” in
chapter 7, and “Walking Tour: Ueno,”
in chapter 8.
