Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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THE BEST OF TOKYO IN 1 DAY
Seeing the top sights of Tokyo in a single day requires a very early start, discipline, and a
bit of stamina. This “greatest hits” tour begins with an early morning spin through Japan's
largest fish market and a sushi breakfast, and includes a garden tour, a cruise, a museum
stop, swanky shopping, and a great meal.
Start:
Subway to Tsukijijo or Tsukiji.
1
Tsukiji Fish Market
You'll need a very early start here, but if
you've just flown in from the other side of
the globe, you'll be suffering from jet lag
anyway, so you should be wide awake by
5am. Head to Japan's largest wholesale fish
market for an action-packed morning.
After boats unload their catches from
around the world in the wee hours of the
morning, seafood auctions are held for
wholesalers (only a small area of the tuna
auctions is open to the public, 5-6:15am).
Wholesalers then set up stalls, hawking
about 450 different kinds of seafood; it's a
great education simply walking through
the aisles. The market is closed Sundays,
holidays, and some Wednesdays. See
p. 178.
4
Sumida River Boat Cruise
Inside Hama Rikyu Garden is a pier,
where you can board a sightseeing boat for
a 40-minute cruise up the Sumida River to
Asakusa. In the days of old Edo (present-
day Tokyo), taking a boat was the most
popular way to reach Asakusa and its
famous temple, and though the scenery
has changed, it's still the most relaxing and
interesting way to reach this destination.
Boats depart Hama Rikyu at 10:35 and
11:15am, with subsequent departures
every half-hour or hour. See p. 172.
5
Nakamise Dori
Asakusa is one of Tokyo's oldest neighbor-
hoods, filled with narrow lanes, traditional
Japanese homes, and shops selling hand-
made crafts and souvenirs. At the heart of
Asakusa is Nakamise Dori, a narrow
pedestrian lane lined on both sides with
booths selling a wide variety of Japanese
souvenirs—a good place to stock up on
inexpensive gifts for the folks back home.
On side streets radiating from Nakamise
Dori are also shops offering traditional
crafts. See p. 240.
6
Sensoji Temple
Nakamise Dori leads straight to Tokyo's
oldest and most popular temple, founded
in a.d. 628 to house the Buddhist goddess
of mercy and happiness. Destroyed during
World War II and lovingly rebuilt with
donations from the Japanese people, it
attracts 20 million worshippers a year, giv-
ing it a festive atmosphere virtually every
day. See p. 177.
4
2
SUSHI DAI
For the freshest sushi breakfast you'll
ever have, head to this tiny sushi bar
(
&
03/3547-6797
) on the market
grounds. See p. 138.
Take a taxi from Tsukiji Fish Market to Hama Rikyu
Garden, or walk for 12 minutes.
3
Hama Rikyu Garden
There are better, more famous gardens
elsewhere in Japan, but Hama Rikyu Gar-
den is convenient for a quick tour. Created
more than 300 years ago, today it features
a traditional Japanese garden complete
with moon-viewing pavilions, teahouses,
and other vestiges of its Edo-era origins, as
well as a bird refuge. The garden opens at
9am daily. See p. 184.
