TOKYO IN
DAYS
Explore the many faces of Japan’s capital WORDS: KRYSIA BONKOWSKI
DAY 1
SHINJUKU & HARAJUKU Dive headlong into two of Tokyo’s most colourful, must-visit neighbourhoods. Begin in Harajuku’s Omotesando Avenue and Cat Street where edgy boutiques rule and all things kawaii (cute) reign on Takeshita Street. Pick up a decadent crepe for breakfast from the stalls on Takeshita, find a spot to perch and indulge in top-notch people watching. If your visit falls on a Sunday, venture to Yoyogi Park to see Harajuku’s most dedicated cosplayers dressed to the nines. For a more traditional cultural display, discover Tokyo’s
10 INSPIRING VACATIONS MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2020
greatest Ukiyo-e woodblock print collections at the nearby Ōta Memorial Museum of Art. Before a fun dinner in Shinjuku, wander through the serene Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for a glimpse at cherry blossom trees and don’t forget to stop by the greenhouse. Futuristic Shinjuku buzzes with shoppers and salarymen by day and a playground of neon by night – it’s also impossible to go hungry here, on any budget. From Michelin-starred sushi to vending machine ramen, night owls will feel at home in one of the many smoky izakaya (casual bar) of Memory Lane beside Shinjuku Station or the bars of the Golden Gai. For something extra special, see Shinjuku from above at the Park Hyatt’s New York Bar.
