Travel guide for TOKYO

Information

Climate

In winter (November to March) the days are dry and clear. Temperatures are usually between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius. February is the coldest month. In spring (March to May) it sometimes rains, but with temperatures ranging from 11 to 15 degrees Celsius it is quite mild. The rainy season lasts from mid June to late June. – it may rain heavily butt it doesn't necessarily rain every day. Temperature and humidity is high. Summer (July to September) temperatures may get up to 37or 38 degrees and humidity is too high. Both days and nights are too hot and muggy. The autumn begins in September – usually with a lot of rain and the occasional typhoon. As November approaches the days become clearer and less humid, and temperatures become more comfortable.

Location

Tokyo is the official capital of Japan and consists of 23 different cities, each one with its own special attractions.

Money Issues

The currency is the Japanese Yen. You can exchange cash and travellers cheques in currency exchange bureaux, post offices and banks. You may also use credit cards as most of them are accepted in the larger hotels and stores. Finally ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards; only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some major stores.

History

Tokyo suffered two major catastrophes in the 20th century. The first was the Great Canto Earthquake and the other was the World War II (75000 to 200000 killed and half of the city was destroyed). After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt, and showcased to the world during the city’s 1964 Olympics games.

How to get there

By plane which brings you to the biggest airport of Tokyo, the Narita Airport nearly 70 kilometers northwest to Tokyo. The fastest way to arrive to Tokyo is to use the Narita Express to Tokyo Station (55 minutes).Alternatively a cheaper but slower is the local Keisi train to Nippori/Ueno (80 minutes). I have been multiple times to Tokyo , Narita Express costs me 2940 YEN and the local Keisi train 1000 YEN.

Trasportation

Tokyo has the most extensive mass transit system in the world. Trains and subways are fast, clean, safe, and reliable but also confusing.( The confusion arises from the fact that several railway companies operate at Tokyo). Buy your tickets from vending machines at each station. At many stations, the touch screen vending machines show the information in English (as do station signs). If you can’t figure out how much it is to the destination, buy the cheapest ticket and pay the difference at the Fare Adjustment Machine at the end. You should avoid rush hours if possible, trains get overcrowded very easily. Most train lines at Tokyo run from around 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. You can also rent a bicycle which is the most common form of local transport in Tokyo (1920 YEN a day). Since there aren’t many bicycle lanes and drivers pay little attention to bikes, in heavy traffic do not hesitate to cycle on the sidewalk. Tokyo is great for walking, too. The city is extremely safe even at night and walking is the best way to discover its treasures.

While there

Accomodation On-line hotel reservations in TOKYO

Most of the hotels in Tokyo are clean, safe and have good service. As far as the cost is concerned, the most expensive but with many amenities are the International hotels (Most of the high-end international chains are well represented) that are exactly what you would expect. Most of them have a wide range of Western and Japanese restaurants, room service, direct-dial telephones, minibars, fitness centers and swimming pools. In case you just need a place to sleep and leave your luggage, you may rent a room at a Business hotel. Each room has a telephone, a writing desk, a television, slippers and a prefabricated plastic bathroom unit with tub, shower, and washbasin; the bathrooms are scrupulously clean. The hotel facilities are limited usually to one restaurant and a 24-hour receptionist, with no room service or porters. Capsule hotels (most of them are men only) are generally the cheapest option. They are literally plastic cubicles stacked one on top of another. In case you choose a Capsule hotel keep in mind that Washing and toilet facilities are shared. Finally if you plan to stay more than one week, you can try weekly mansion. These are flats you can rent for short periods of time for reasonable prices. Rates are around 5000 YEN per day for one or two people.

Children

In case you take the children with you, do not miss the chance to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort which is a carbon copy of the theme park in California in the United States. The resort consists of Disneyland Park and DisneySea Park, along with several hotels.

Food

Nigirizushi (fish pressed onto rice) known around the world simple as sushi, Monja-Yanki a tasty version of the Hiroshiman half-pancake. You may also consult the free magazine Hot Pepper which offers a guide to local restaurants in Japanese but provides pictures and maps to the restaurants.

Amusement

The party never stops at Tokyo and you can find nice bars and restaurants almost everywhere. If you are looking for a more Japanese experience, visit Shibuya (attracts mainly students and young professionals) for cool nightclubs and dancing. A little further from the city center are Shimokitawaza , Koenji and Nakano which are full of good bars and restaurants. You may also visit Akasaka where nightlife mainly takes place on two streets, Ta-machi-dori and Hitotsugi-dori, and the small alleys connecting them. There one can find several cabarets and nightclubs, and a wide range of wine bars, coffee shops, late-night restaurants, pubs, and "snacks" -- counter bars that will serve (and charge you for) small portions of food with your drinks, whether you order them or not. Izakaya (Japanese style watering holes) are generally the cheapest option. They offer food and drink in a pub like atmosphere. The cheaper chain izakaya is the Shirokiya.

Activities

Culture

Tokyo is vast: Tokyo's districts vary wildly by character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda, from the hyperactive youth culture mecca of Shibuya to the pottery shops and temple markets of Asakusa. If you don't like what you see, hop on the train and head to the next one, and you will find something entirely different.

Sport Events

The Japanese Grant Prix usually falls towards the end of the Formula one season and has over the years provided much excitement, and often been the track to crown the season’ s champion. In 2007 the race will move from Suzuka to the Fuji Speedway in the Shizuoka Prefecture.

Shopping

There is no reason to travel to Tokyo to buy European designer clothing (global label prices in Tokyo are typically higher than anywhere else in the world). Concentrate on Japanese goods that are hard to get elsewhere, especially electronics, funky fashions and antique furniture. Such things can be found in areas easy to reach by public transportation. Shibuya and Harajuku are the best known shopping areas for funky, youthful clothes and accessories. In case you are looking for Japanese themed handicrafts and souvenirs, you may visit the Oriental Bazaar and the Nakamise arcade in Asakusa. Both also have a wide variety of clothing in foreigner-friendly sizes, which can be very difficult to find elsewhere. You may also visit Akibahara which is a high-tech heaven. The best deals in Japan can be found in Akihabara, but prices are generally comparable to those in American discount stores. West of Akihabara, in Jimbo-cho, you'll find pretty much whatever you're looking for in dictionaries and art books, rare and out-of-print editions (Western and Japanese), and prints.

Monuments

Museums

If you are interested in Tokyo‘s history art architecture and culture, plan a visit to the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Edo was the old name of Tokyo since its foundation in 1590. Closed to Ueno Station, enclosed to the Tokyo Metropolitan Imperial Gift Park, the National Museum boasts the largest collection of Japanese art in the world. Exhibits range from antique kimonos and delicate pottery to woodblock prints and archaeological finds.

Historical monuments

Visit the city of Kamakura (50km southwest of Tokyo) which was the political powerhouse of Japan in the middle ages. Because of its historic importance Kamakura boasts many monuments, temples and shrines of interests to tourists. The most important sight of Kamakura is the bronze statue of the seated Great Buddha located at the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple. You may also plan a visit to the Imperial Palace which is regarded as the heart and soul of Tokyo. The present palace was completed in 1888 and is still home to the emperor of the Japan. Its ground and surrounds provide a much needed open green space which is open to the public. Guided tours of the palace are offered, but are only in Japanese, although an English audio guide is provided. To the north of the Imperial Palace lies the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, built to commemorate Japanese war dead and now regarded as home to the souls of about two a half million who perished in conflict, mostly in World War II.

Modern monuments

The highest spot in Tokyo is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. Its twin towers have viewing platforms that are absolutely free, and offer a great view over Tokyo. Another good option in the World Trade Center Building which offers excellent views of Tokyo Tower and the waterfront, due to its marvelous location.

Not to miss

In case you visit Tokyo at summer, do not miss the Fireworks. Almost every weekend throughout Tokyo and Japan there are large fireworks or hanabi displays, sometimes with more than one event held on the same day. Be warned, fireworks are extremely popular in Japan and the crowds are worse than the Tokyo rush hour! Do not miss the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival. Heralding the beginning of spring, cherry trees burst into a riot of pink and white blossoms all over a city drawing thousands of holidaymakers daily for cherry blossom viewing (hanami). The cherry blossom, or sakura, is Japan’s national flower and symbol of Japan. Lose yourself in the dazzling neon jungle outside major train stations in the evenings. Shibuya and east Shinjuku at night can make Times Square or Piccadilly Circus look rural in comparison, it has to been seen to be believed.

Be Cautious

I like driving a lot, but in Tokyo try to avoid travelling by car. Tokyo is a gigantic warren street with no names, with heavy traffic and very expensive parking. Send your bags into town before you arrive—Tokyo is crowded. Lugging even a moderately sized suitcase through the subways and up stairs can be difficult, particularly during rush hours.

Best routes

Use the Water Bus ferries along the Sumida River and in Tokyo Bay. It is a relaxing way to see the waterfront areas of Tokyo. But take care to arrive well before the departure time in case the tickets are sold out.

Out

If you have time for a route outside Tokyo, plan to visit the dormant volcano of Mount Fuji (100km southwest to Tokyo). It‘s symmetrical cone towers and Mt Fuji, with its snow-crowned summit, has become as symbolic of Japan as the country’s flag. The closest town to the volcano is Fuji Yoshida, from where buses leave frequently for Fuji. There are six trails to the summit, of which the Kawaguchico Trail is the easies, quite manageable even by children. It is also worth to visit the Yokohama, the country’s largest second city. Yokohama can be reached in less than 30 minutes by train from Tokyo, and the main reason for visiting Yokohama is to view its futuristic new city centre, and perhaps take a stroll through Japan’ s largest Chinatown.

Value 4 money

Noodle shops, curry shops, and bakeries are often the best option for people eating on the cheap. They are everywhere. The noodle bars on every corner are great for filling up and very cheap. You buy your meal ticket from a vending machine at the door with pictures of the dishes and hand it to the serving staff. The one question you will typically have to answer for the counterman is whether you want soba (smaller diameter) or udon (larger diameter) noodles.

Impressions

Tokyo could be described as too good to be true. People dress in the latest gear, excellent restaurants serve up delicious food of all varieties, and the trendiest nightclubs keep things hopping. The public transport system is punctual and one of the most efficient in the world; and shops and vending machines provide necessities and luxuries both day and night. Best of all, experiencing the best of what this city has to offer is inexpensive and often free. In the crush and rush Tokyo remains, remarkably, one of the world's safest cities with a low crime rate and local people who are only too willing to spare the time and effort to assist a stranger.