GETTING THERE

DAY 3:

Nature calls

MORNING Tokyo may be known for its skyscrapers, but the city is also remarkably green, with incredible natural areas just a short train ride away in the Mount Takao area. From Shinjuku Station, head west on the Keio Line Limited Express to Takaosanguchi Station. Less than an hour after setting off you’re surrounded by forest and waterfalls.

Hike to the summit of Mt Takao, where you’re rewarded with stellar views as well as cold beverages at Takao Beer Mount (June through October) – its claim to fame is that it’s the highest beer garden in Tokyo at 500 metres above sea level.

AFTERNOON After a sneaky drink and treats from the Japanese buffet, resume your explorations at mountaintop Takaosan Yakuo Temple, a Buddhist shrine dating back to 744 AD. There’s a restaurant serving vegetarian cuisine, if you decided not to indulge at Beer Mount.

End your day soaking in healing springs at Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu, with its multiple hot and cold pools as well as sauna and spa – you deserve a massage, right? If dinner beckons, the on-site restaurant serves specialties like tororo soba (buckwheat noodles topped with grated mountain yam).

DID YOU KNOW

There are some strict hygiene and etiquette rules around bathing in onsen. Many are gender-segregated, and most do not allow you to soak if you have tattoos. Always check ahead before you visit.

THIS PAGE, BOTH IMAGES: Exploring Takaosan Yakuo Shrine © Marcus Winkler/Unsplash RIGHT: Green therapy at Mount Takao © Picturecells/Shutterstock

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Getting there – safely

From the moment you take off in Australia to the moment you arrive at your Tokyo hotel, here are your travel essentials.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Exploring Tokyo is a breeze © Leungchopan/ Shutterstock; touching down at Haneda Airport; a Business Class meal on ANA; Tokyo awaits LL NIPPON AIRWAYS (ANA) is Japan’s largest airline, with connections to more than 40 destinations across Japan from Tokyo .

Service, whether at the airport or in the air, is of the highest standard, which means that when you touch down at Tokyo Haneda Airport from Sydney or Tokyo Narita Airport from Perth, you arrive refreshed and ready to explore the Japanese capital.

At a time when travel safety is more important than ever, ANA is at the top of the airline game. It has received a 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating (the only one of its kind in the world) from SKYTRAX, in recognition of its effective measures through ANA Care Promise to create the safest possible travel environment for passengers. This is no small feat – it’s the highest possible rating from SKYTRAX, and ANA is one of only four airlines in the world to receive full 5-Star recognition.

SKYTRAX evaluated more than 190 of the airline’s protocols with respect to countering the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases. Everything from implementing outstanding airport processing standards that incorporate a range of advanced contactless technology, to developing innovative approaches to customer handling and the adoption of strict social distancing protocols for checkin, boarding and arrival.

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Learn more about ANA’s health and safety measures and the ANA Care Promise.

GETTING AROUND

Tokyo’s transportation system may well be the best in the world. Whether you’re zipping about on superfast trains, cruising across bays or commuting in the cleanest taxi you’ll ever jump in, the city is a breeze to explore. And it’s becoming even easier, thanks to an increasing number of multilingual signs, and the fact you can navigate stations, hop on and off buses, and even take waterbuses using a single JR Rail Pass or travel card.

Travelling over ground, underground, at slow-speed or ultra-fast-speed are all a reality. The streets are also crowded with taxis – many with English signage – and a vast network of buses criss-cross the city. Central Tokyo itself is relatively small meaning renting a bicycle is a practical and fun way to explore as well.