Tokyo - One of a Kind Travel Guide

TOKYO

A one of a kind luxury travel guide

Cherry Blossoms at Chidorigafuchi Park

Photo by Getty Images

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” - Anonymous

Kaminarimon Gate from above

Photo by Mos Design

Letter from the editor

Helping travellers to find and explore a treasure trove of hidden travel gems and immerse themselves in extraordinary travel experiences is the reason Travel Associates was established. Drawing on years of industry experience and a genuine passion for travel, our team of travel experts will personally curate the best travel experiences and deliver tailor made, one of a kind experiences that could never be calculated by an algorithm.

To inspire you to invest in a journey that you’ll be richer for taking, we’re dedicating this magazine entirely to Japan’s vibrant capital, Tokyo, an ever-evolving city where tradition and innovation collide to create a cosmopolitan and cultural wonderland like nowhere else on earth. From its modern icons to its living monuments to bygone eras, we’re taking you beyond Tokyo’s bright city lights to delve beneath the surface of this timeless destination.

Yours in travel.

In partnership with

Sensō-ji Temple, Asakusa

Photo by Tsukada Kazuhiro

CONTENTS

8 - 11 Uncover Tokyo’s Hidden Gems 12 - 13 Tokyo City Map 14 - 21 Tokyo City Guide 22 - 25 Luxury Accommodation Guide 26 - 31 Tokyo Food Guide 32 - 35 Time-honoured traditions 36 - 41 A travel expert’s one of a kind itinerary 42 - 47 Stop to shop 48 - 50 Find your one of a kind travel Advisor

UNCOVER TOKYO’S HIGHLIGHTS & HIDDEN GEMS

Captivating visitors for centuries with its enchanting culture, innovative architecture and mouthwatering cuisine, Tokyo’s traditional and cutting edge are intertwined.

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Photo by Nicolas Corta Avila

From its skyscrapers draped in fluorescent signage and the bustling crowds that scurry across Shibuya’s Scramble Crossing to its 1000-yearold temples and shrines, Tokyo’s frantic fusion of innovation and tradition meld into one seamless, and unapologetically eccentric, whole.

One minute you might be strolling along jawdropping streets streaked with neon light and colour, only to find yourself falling into the rabbit hole of preserved temples and ancient Japanese traditions bathed in their glow moments later.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Photo by Getty Images

Sensō ji Temple

Photo by Yu Kato

Alleys of the Shinjuku district Photo by Redd F

Find moments of quiet at Meiji Jingu, a Shinto Shrine set in a soothing forest just minutes from the riot of colour that is Harajuku’s Takeshita Street. Make the pilgrimage to Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, then take to the top of the iconic Tokyo Skytree, the tallest structure in the city, for mindboggling views. Cruise along the Sumida River under historic bridges before heading to Toyosu, home of Tokyo’s new fish market and teamLab Planets, for an afternoon of plunging into wholly immersive crystal worlds, light gardens and water filled ponds of projected koi. Slurp down old school soba noodles then head up to the top of the iconic Tokyo Tower, which at 333 metres high offers incredible views. Explore ancient Tokyo at Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, located in the grounds of Koganei Park around 25 minutes west of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station by train, then return to Shinjuku, Tokyo’s Jaw-Dropping Neon City for a glimpse into the future.

There’s a serene, green side to Tokyo city too, with sprawling city parks like Yoyogi, a tranquil green space filled with forests and fountains that is Tokyo’s answer to New York’s Central Park. Pretty Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden’s meandering paths and calming gardens, and the Imperial Palace East Garden also provides pretty moments of peace. Ueno Park is Tokyo’s top spot for Spring’s magical cherry blossoms while Rikugien, a park dating back to the Edo Period, becomes a blaze of colour in autumn.

Tokyo Tower

Photo by Azizbek

The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace

Photo by Engin Yapici

But there’s so much more to Japan’s charismatic capital than meets the eye. The expansive city stretches even further outwards than it does upwards, and you’ll find sweeping mountains, forests and even a smattering of jewel-like subtropical islands surrounding the cloud-bursting neon beanstalks of the city centre. Go west to Tokyo’s Tama region to explore Mount Takao, a popular hiking spot that runs a cable-car and chair lift and a summit beer-garden in summer. Or take the trek up Mount Mitake, a holy mountain dotted with shrines, temples and Buddhist shukubō guest houses, which are open to tourists. And for beaches, emerald seas, otherworldly landscapes and steaming onsen, head south to explore Tokyo’s Izu Islands, a smattering of small volcanic islands service by an overnight ferry service.

Whatever lures you to this titan of technology and tradition, you’ll find Tokyo a safe, sophisticated and utterly irresistible city where conscientious cleanliness is a given and politeness is a national pastime, and its tangle of one of a kind temptations have never been more alluring.

Mt.Mitake

Photo by Getty Images Hachijō-jima, Izu Islands Photo by Getty images

TOKYO City Guide

We uncover some of Tokyo’s most fascinating and vibrant neighbourhoods.

With a population of almost 15 million, ever-evolving Tokyo sprawls both outwards and upwards. Divided into 23 city wards that split into numerous smaller districts, generally defined by the nearest train or metro station, you’ll find each offers its own one of a kind identity and pockets of worldclass shopping, dining and cultural gems.

TOKYO City Guide

Tokyo Station, Marunouchi

Photo by Getty Images

1. TOKYO STATION & MARUNOUCHI

Tokyo Station is one of the city’s major transit hubs, connecting the entire country through its Shinkansen bullet train network. But what lies beneath is an underground mall and a maze of underground shopping and dining streets including Tokyo Character Street and Ramen Street. Take one of the Marunouchi exits to visit tree-lined and cobblestoned Marunouchi Naka-dori for high-end shopping, art and coffee. It’s just a short walk to the Imperial Palace, the residence of Tokyo’s Imperial Family. Surrounded by wide moats and meticulous gardens, the palace occupies the site of the original Edo-jō, where the Tokugawa commanders in chief resided from the early 17th century until it was overthrown in 1868.

2. SHINJUKU

Shinjuku is an urban playground that’s famed for its neon lights, wide shopping streets and countless shopping complexes, bars and restaurants. By day Shinjuku is swarming with office workers and by night it transforms into a buzzing entertainment mecca that lures locals and visitors alike. But take a 10-minute stroll from the heaving underground labyrinth that is Shinjuku Station, fed by an astounding 3.6 million people every day, and you’ll find Tokyo’s answer to New York’s Central Park.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden boasts 58 hectares of parklands, 20,000 trees and a charming traditional Japanese tea house and offers a pretty and peaceful antidote to the fluorescent-draped skyscrapers at Shinjuku’s heart.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shinjuku

Photo by Thor Alvis

Naka-dori, Marunouchi

Photo by Getty Images

3. SHIBUYA

Visit the Times Square of Tokyo, Shibuya, with its crazy scramble crossing which sees as many as 2,500 people cross with each change of lights. It’s quite the spectacle as you watch people scatter in all directions in agile synchronization. Shibuya Sky, a 360-degree open-air observation deck at the rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square, offers the best views of the crossing and Tokyo itself. The centre of modern Japanese culture, Shibuya is one of the most energetic districts in Tokyo, its streets unfurling from the crossing like tentacles to countless restaurants, sophisticated shopping, entertainment, and an intriguing independent art scene. Keep an eye out for the Hachiko Statue, an unassuming monument honouring the most loyal dog in Japan.

Shibuya Crossing from above

Photo by Kazuo ota

4. HARAJUKU & OMOTESANDO

Harajuku, like Tokyo itself, has a personality that’s both serene and extreme. Best known for colourful Takeshita Dori, the epicentre of Japanese teenage culture and a rainbow of kawaii sugary delights, the district is a surprising haven of serenity. Located adjacent to Harajuku Station is Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. One of Tokyo’s most important shrines, a visit will puncture the chaotic bubble of Takeshita dori with ethereal shards of tranquility. Neighbouring Omotesando is Tokyo’s tree-lined answer to the Champs-Elysees where you’ll find fine dining, chic cafes, high-end designer stores and cutting-edge new generation fashion.

5. SHIMOKITAZAWA

Just minutes from the sky bursting towers of Shinjuku and Shibuya is character packed Shimokitazawa, a lowrise haven for hipsters that somehow missed the boat when Tokyo was sprouting skyscrapers. Tokyo’s answer to New York’s Williamsburg or Melbourne’s Fitzroy, self-contained, street art-strewn Shimokitazawa is like something from a boho fairy tale and you’ll find a treasure trove of stores overflowing with vinyl, rare books, bric-a-brac and vintage clothing. Scour the shelves for used couture and 70’s throwbacks then pop in to one of the craft cafes and brewpubs to watch live bands. Or enjoy an edgy production at one of the neighborhood’s amateur theatres.

Darwin Room, Shimokitazawa

Photo by Susann Schuster

Hugo Boss Building, Omotesando

Photo by Getty Images

6.GINZA

The wide boulevards of Ginza are dotted decorously with numerous luxury department stores and high-end brands such as Hermès, Chanel, Dior and Cartier. Take a break from splashing the cash on designer duds to nibble delicately on macarons at the extravagant Ladurée tea shop and lounge, or devour Crêpe Suzette at Henri Charpentier Ginza Maison. While there’s a French air to Ginza, you’ll still find plenty of distinctly Japanese delights. The sophisticated matcha-inspired desserts at Jugetsudo’s tea shop and ichigo daifuku – an exquisite mochi treat filled with white bean paste and strawberries at Ginza Kanra, are highlights.

7. AKIHABARA & KANDA

Geek central, Akihabara is Tokyo’s neonlit titan of technology. Head to modern electronics mecca Chuo Dori and its many offshoot alleys for everything from one-man stalls specialising in electronic components and software to colossal department stores heaving with computers, cameras, electronics, and gadgets. Akihabara is also ground zero for Tokyo’s otaku (fan) culture with many stores devoted to anime and manga. Neighbouring Kanda is as famous for its delicious and inexpensive local curry and soba noodles as it is for the stunning Kanda Myojin Shrine, which has a history dating backing almost 1300 years.

Kanda Myojin Shrine, Kanda

Photo by Xtra, Inc

Chuo Ward, Ginza

Photo by Getty Images

8. ROPPONGI

Home to a number of foreign embassies, as well as the upmarket shopping and lifestyle districts Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown, this area is known for its foreigner-friendly nightlife scene and is packed with restaurants, bars and clubs. But Roppongi is as arty as it is party, boasting some of the best galleries in Tokyo. The National Art Center, Japan’s largest, showcases curated exhibitions from Japan and around the world, while the Mori Art Museum showcases contemporary art from diverse artists such as Ai Weiwei and designer and artist Tokujin Yoshioka. After your fill of art, head to Mori Tower’s Sky Deck, which at 238 metres high offers exceptional views of Tokyo.

The National Art Center, Roppongi

Photo by Yu Kato

City Guide TOKYO

9.UENO & ASAKUSA

Ueno in northern Tokyo is a world away from the neon lights of Shibuya and Shinjuku. Best known for Ueno-Ken Park, Tokyo’s most popular spot for cherry blossom viewing, the area is home to Tokyo Zoo and its star attraction, Giant Panda “Xiang Xiang.” There’s also a proliferation of cultural attractions including significant temples and museums. Just around the corner is Asakusa with its atmosphere of Edo Tokyo. Stroll along the vibrant Nakamise Street, lined with traditional craft shops and street-food stalls, to the impressive red Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) of Tokyo’s most popular temple, Senso-ji, a 7th century Buddhist temple strung with huge chochin lanterns. If you’re in the mood for upscale dining, excellent restaurants can be found along the Asakusa waterfront.

Asakusa Temple, Asakusa

Photo by Shawn Tung

Ueno Park, Ueno

Photo by Redd F

10.ODAIBA

As you navigate its tangle of skyscrapers, it can be easy to forget that Tokyo is a waterfront city, until you take the monorail across the 798-metre span of the Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba, a series of manmade islands in Tokyo Bay populated with shopping and entertainment precincts. Visit specialty shopping malls including Aqua City Odaiba and Decks Tokyo Beach, each filled with high end outlet stores and specialty retailers, plus state-of-the-art attractions, and even theme parks. Explore a world of technology at Miraikan, the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Then board the futuristic Hotaluna Water Bus, which offers lovely views from its open-air roof deck, and provides a fun, safe way to explore Tokyo’s waterways, with terminals at many of the city’s major attractions.

Hotaluna Water Bus Photo by Adobe Stock

Miraikan, Museum of Emerging Science Photo by FLY:D

Luxury ACCOMMODATION

GUIDE

Nowhere is Japan’s unique fusion of tradition and modernity more obvious than in its impressive hotels. Accommodation ranges from ultra-modern suites that teeter at the top of sleek skyscrapers to artful and elegant retreats that immerse guests in Japanese culture even as the city gently whispers them to sleep.

Travel Associates’ travel advisors, drawing on years of experience and a genuine passion for travel, can custom design your holiday, including hand-picking a one of a kind luxury hotel, making your perfect Tokyo holiday effortless.

Japan’s finest luxury stays as recommended by our expert travel advisors

PARK HYATT TOKYO

Perched at the top of a gleaming Shinjuku skyscraper, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is Tokyo’s most iconic hotel, thanks in no small part to its starring role in the movie Lost in Translation. But this movie star has substance as well as style. Timeless interiors boast clean-lines and neutral colours, while walls of glass invite in views of the city and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji. Service is flawless, and guests will enjoy the hotel’s stunning 47th-floor swimming pool, urban spa and selection of high-end culinary offerings including the famous New York Grill & Bar, with its 360-degree views.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book

HOTEL GAJOEN TOKYO

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is an enchanting gem where 1930s glamour meets contemporary cool. The all-suite hotel is tucked away in the quiet residential district of Meguro, just 10 minutes from Tokyo Station. The 60 suites are modelled after tea rooms, each with its own private sauna, Jacuzzi and lounge. Art lovers will enjoy the hotel’s galleries, filled with an impressive collection of Japanese pre-war art. Its gardens too are a masterpiece of design with a flowing river and waterfall.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book

THE TOKYO STATION HOTEL

Superbly located in the heart of Tokyo, the lavish and lovely The Tokyo Station Hotel adds an air of golden-age glamour to the Marunouchi district. This sparkling gem is housed in the magnificent confines of historic Tokyo Station, with vaulted ceilings, polished floors and preserved period features offering a touch of vintage elegance. A contemporary spa with a hot spring, and 10 outstanding dining venues serving fine French, Italian, and Japanese cuisine complete the glamourous picture.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book

Hotel New Otani Tokyo EXECUTIVE

HOUSE ZEN

A green sanctuary in the centre of Tokyo, just moments from Roppongi, Shinjuku and Ginza, Executive House Zen is a hotel within a hotel, occupying two extraordinary floors of Tokyo’s Hotel New Otani, close to Tokyo’s Imperial Palace. Overlooking a stunning 400-year-old Japanese Garden, Executive House Zen offers traditional Japanese hospitality, spacious rooms with spectacular views and lavish bathrooms with Ferragamo amenities and special touches like Pierre Hermé croissants in the lounge. Guests can also access New Otani’s 38 restaurants, serving Japanese and international cuisines, and the Executive Lounge.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book

HAKONE KOWAKIEN TEN-YU

A contemporary take on the traditional Japanese ryokan, Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu is a hidden treasure nestled among mountains, forests and volcanic hot springs outside of Tokyo city in Hakone. It is a true sanctuary offering traditional Japanese service, traditional tatami matted rooms and painstakingly prepared Japanese cuisine. Along with the ryokan’s open-air onsen, which offers exquisite views, all rooms have their own private open-air bath, and there are Japanese-inspired treatments in the cosy spa.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book THE TOKYO EDITION, TORANOMON

From its jungle-like lobby to its serene, minimalist rooms and suites, and iconic views over the Tokyo skyline, Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon is a standout. Offering a one of a kind experience in contemporary luxury, the hotel spans the upper levels of the gleaming 38-storey Tokyo World Gate skyscraper in upmarket Toranomon. Just a 10-minute walk or quick metro hop from the buzz of Roppongi and the iconic Tokyo Tower, the hotel provides a sophisticated urban escape with premium dining, entertainment and fantastic amenities.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book

A Taste of

A one of a kind gastronomic paradise, Tokyo is a city where you’ll find whimsical novelty restaurants cosying up with unabashed sass to Michelin-starred fine-diners, and a cornucopia of casual but incredible street eateries that offer visitors an epicurean experience on every corner.

From plump gyoza dumplings to delicate sashimi, golden tempura to rice-filled sushi, Japanese food is universally adored. Whether it’s a skewer of chicken at a hole-in-the-wall yakitori joint, a steaming bowl of ramen or udon noodles purchased via vending machine, or a traditional multi-course kaiseki feast, dishes are prepared with the utmost finesse and devotion to fresh, seasonal produce.

Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world

Selection of Sushi Photo by Getty Images

For the best ramen in town, head underground to the enclave of ramen shops at Tokyo Station’s Ramen Street. The lines can get a little long but whether you order a steaming bowl of tonkotsu and shio ramen or thick noodles served tsukemen-style with dipping sauce – it will be totally worth the wait. Alternatively, head to insider’s secret, Shinigawa Ramen Lane , where another astounding selection of ramen shops await, all in an aromatic row. If slurping soba noodles is your preference, head to the area around Kanda station where you’ll find dozens of wooden restaurants run by sixth-generation noodle specialists who’ve been serving handmade soba noodle dishes here for over 100 years.

Despite famed Tsukiji Central Wholesale Fish Market’s moving to Toyosu in October 2018, the Tsukiji outer market shops and restaurants are still sharing the freshest spoils of the sea. You’ll find loads of tiny restaurants serving up sublime sushi and kaisen-don (rice bowls topped with sashimi). But it’s not just about seafood. The five-seat Kitsuneya has been operating for 75-years, and the queues for a bowlful of its Horumon don, a rice bowl topped with beef or pork offal, start as early as 6.30am.

Tsukiji Market

Photo by Redd F

Chef preparing fresh food at a Tokyo market

Photo by Gabriel Forsberg

At Tokyo Bay enjoy a traditional tempura experience at one of its many tempura bars, many of which still retain their original Edo atmosphere. Or at Ryogoku – home of the sumo stadium and stables – dine like a sumo on chanko, a stew full of meats and vegetables that’s extremely healthy when eaten in moderation, as opposed to the gargantuan servings the sumo scoff to maintain their remarkable waistlines. And for various incarnations of yakitori using meats, tofu and vegetables sizzled over a hibachi, dive into one of the 60 izakayas (Japanesestyle bars) secreted in the depths of Shinjuku’s Memory Lane. Yotsuya Arakicho , located alongside the neon streets of Shinjuku, is another culinary hotspot. Once a geisha district, its atmospheric cobblestone alleyways are now a maze of around 320 bars and eateries, from the tiniest reservation-only gems to Michelin-starred Arakicho Tatsuya .

Yakitori alley, Memory Lane, Shinjuku-ku

Photo by Alexandre Chambon

Speaking of Michelin stars, Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world. There are a whopping 432 restaurants in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2022, including 12 three-star restaurants, 41 twostar restaurants and 150 one-star restaurants, as well as 229 Bib Gourmand restaurants. Several sparkling standouts include threestar Sushi Yoshitake where guests will enjoy an epicurean adventure that combines creativity and tradition at. Flawless two-Michelin starred Narisawa is another favourite for its culinary creations. Reinvented kaiseki – an elaborate traditional multi-course meal – at Den, a World’s 50 Best restaurant regular, is another must for the epicurean traveller.

Narisawa, Minato City

Photo by Narisawa

Den, Shibuya Ku

Photo by Den

If you prefer your food with a side of whimsy, themed restaurants are a Tokyo specialty. From Ninja waitstaff and performers in the labyrinth-like dining area of Ninja Tokyo to the kawaii cuteness of an Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant and adorable anime style cream puffs at Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory , Tokyo has you covered.

If you do have a sweet tooth, you’ll also find the locals queued up at Kanmi Mitsuya in Asakusa for glutinous shiratama dango mochi, or you can join the candy-haired teens at Harajuku for an equally vibrant onslaught of rainbow-hued sweet treats. For something sugary but a little more refined, Maranouchi’s Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki’s decadent matcha croissants and black sesame eclairs are rated among the best in the world. Or stop to nibble on Ginza’s Ladurée macarons, between diving into the district’s department stores heaving with multiple floors of eye-popping culinary delights.

Ninja Tokyo waitstaff Photo by Ninja Tokyo

Enjoy a cream puff in Tokyo Photo by Susann Schuster

Ladurée, Ginza Photo by Ladurée

Eating etiquette:

Whether your consuming street eats or fine dining, Japanese etiquette surrounding eating runs deep. It’s important to remember that while visitors aren’t expected to know everything, it’s considered poor manners to walk while eating, to rest your chopsticks on your bowl or to spear your food with them. One should also endeavour to clean their plate as waste is not appreciated. When it comes to communal dining, it’s considered impolite to take the last piece without asking your fellow diners first. While manners are important, the good news is that slurping is encouraged and is considered a sign of appreciation.

WE RECOMMEND

GOURMET TOKYO EXPERIENCE

Enjoy five nights at the luxurious ANA InterContinental Tokyo in an upgraded Classic High Floor Room with breakfast daily and a gourmet package incorporating a Tokyo Highlights half-day private tour and sake tasting class, an Ebisu Street Food Private evening tour, and a Tempura Cooking Class with a local Englishspeaking guide, and the service of a dedicated Travel Advisor.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book

LUXURY TOKYO & CULTURAL CURIOSITIES

Pay for three nights and stay for four in a deluxe room at the five-star Shangri-La Tokyo with complimentary Wi-Fi, breakfast daily for two guests per bedroom and a US$100 hotel credit per stay. The package also includes a Private Made in Japan & Tokyo Cultural Curiosities experience and, of course, the service of a dedicated Travel Advisor.

Talk to your Travel Associates Travel Advisor to book

Ramen dish

Photo by Bon Vivant

TIME-HONOURED

Traditions

For a city in such a perpetual state of flux, you’ll barely need to scratch Tokyo’s shiny, neon-lit surface to find yourself immersed in its rich traditions.

Sensō-ji temple

Photo by Adobe Stock

With one foot inching towards the future, you’ll find Tokyo still has the other firmly planted in the past. A great starting place to explore its timeless traditions is among the city’s 1000-year-old temple complexes and centuries-old Shinto shrines. Start with a visit to Asakusa where you can walk in the footsteps of monks and geisha in streets dating back to Edo times, towards the stunning 7th century Sensō-ji temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most significant temples. Harajuku’s Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to revered Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken and surrounded by a serene forest, is another must visit that provides a more peaceful pocket of tradition.

Less well known, but no less of a treasure is Gōtokuji, a hidden gem in the Tokyo suburbs that is said to be the ancient birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko (waving cat). Follow the tree-shaded path of this serene slice of Tokyo, passing the Butsuden Buddha Hall, until you stumble upon a clowder of thousands of bright beckoning waving cats stacked high around a statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Or make the pilgrimage to Mount Mitake. Two hours from the city, this is the Tokyo less travelled: a one of a kind world of ancient worship, traditional cuisine and breathtaking natural beauty, as far removed from the neon forests of Sinjuku and Shibuya as one could imagine.

Meiji Jingu shrine

Photo by Adobe Stock

Gotokuji Temple Photo by Melvina Mak

One of the most elegant ways to explore Japanese culture is through a tea ceremony in a traditional tearoom with tatami flooring. The enigmatic ritual, governed by an ancient code, is a ceremonial way of preparing and serving powdered matcha green tea. The host will prepare the tea in front of guests, using specific equipment and graceful hand gestures. The drinking of the tea is also ritualistic, and guests will be guided through the mindful process as they enjoy their tea with a spoonful of inner peace.

There’s more untouched Japanese culture to be experienced at performances of arts which have been enjoyed for centuries such as traditional Kabuki and Noh theatre, and Bunraku puppet shows. Experience the thrill of Taiko drumming, a lively combination of music, movement and high energy, or take part in a taiko workshop for a handson experience of this unique cultural experience.

Traditional Tea Ceremony

Photo by Getty Images

Traditional Japanese drummer Photo by Adobe Stock

You might even like to immerse yourself into the ancient traditions of the Samurai. Get kitted up in traditional hakama and kimono for an immersive Batto (Japanese swordsmanship) course where, using a real katana (sword), you will learn the discipline, etiquette, respect and the art of Samurai swordsmanship, under the tutelage of a Batto master.

After visiting shrines and temples, sipping gracefully on tea, or learning the art of the Samurai, why not dip your toes into one of the city’s calming, steamy Onsen (a hot spring). A centuries-old tradition, there are plenty of bathhouses in Tokyo city. Two of the best for visitors are Spa LaQua, a sprawling bathhouse inside Tokyo Dome City, and the tranquil Saya no Yudokoro in Itabashi, surrounded by traditional-style buildings and a Zen Garden. But always remember to carefully follow Onsen etiquette.

Traditional Samurai swords

Photo by Getty Images

Spa LaQua, Tokyo Dome City Photo by Spa LaQua

5 nights in Tokyo

Travel expert Meaghan Wolf’s one of a kind Tokyo itinerary. One of the world’s most futuristic cities, but still immersed in ageless traditions, Tokyo is like nowhere else on Earth.

Contact me for more information

Explore the Alleyways of Tokyo

Photo by Jezael Melgoza

Encompassing 23 city wards, each boasting its own distinctive charm and atmosphere, Travel Associates’ travel experts can create personalised travel experiences that will take your Tokyo travel itinerary to the next level. Even with just five days, their extensive destination knowledge can see you flit from urban adventures and culinary quests to immersive traditional experiences, and still be left with time to uncover Tokyo’s colourful local secrets and hidden gems. With its rich heritage, a stay at the the meticulously refurbished The Tokyo Station hotel offers opulent and unique accommodation, along the historic Cupola domes of Tokyo Station. Its strategic positioning means there are literally hundreds of restaurants, stores, and easy to navigate transportation - right under your feet. Simply purchase a Suica card at any train station or online to use on intercity trains and buses.

The Tokyo Station Hotel Lobby

Photo by The Tokyo Station Hotel

Day ONE

Day TWO

Keen to consume succulent sushi eaten fresh from the Fish Market, slurp a steaming bowl of noodles at Tokyo Ramen Street or dip into sublime sukiyaki and shabu-shabu at Ginza Yoshizawa? A private walking food tour is a great way to spend a day discovering the best culinary gems of one of the world’s great food cities. Your guide can also introduce you to one of a kind restaurants and experiences including outrageous themed restaurants and even movie destinations like Roppongi’s Gonpachi (famous for its starring in Kill Bill’s epic fight scene), as well as Michelinstarred marvels like three-Michelin-starred Nihonryori RyuGin where tradition and contemporary technique meet.

Start your Tokyo stay with a fullday private tour with a local guide. Invaluable when you first arrive, an English-speaking guide can help explain the city’s unique culture and etiquette, show first timers the best ways to navigate the sprawling city, as well as where and what to eat. You can choose a set itinerary of city highlights such as the ancient Buddhist temple of Sensō-ji or the ultra-modern Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest broadcast tower at 634 metres. Or customise a day to suit your personal interests, whether they lean towards technology, cuisine of history.

Ramen Shop, Shinjuku

Photo by Michael Gluzman

Sensō-ji, Buddhist Temple

Photo by Scott Milton

Day THREE

Immerse yourself into ancient traditions for a day. Take the path less travelled to explore some of Tokyo’s lesserknown temples and shrines. A local favourite offering a taste of old Tokyo minus the crowds is Yushima Tenmangu, a picturesque Shinto shrine perched at the top of a slope in Tokyo’s leafy and lovely Ueno district, which is home to some of Tokyo’s finest cultural sites. Tucked away inside Ueno Park, you’ll also find Kiyomizu Kannon-do, the remnants of the once glorious Kan’eiji temple dating back to 1632. Take a stroll down Ueno’s Ameyoko Shopping Street for traditional stores then spend your afternoon immersing yourself into one of the many museums found in the park. The Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and the National Science Museum are favourites.

Ameyokocho Shopping Street, Ueno

Photo by DLKR

Day FOUR

Take the Yamanote Circle Line from Tokyo Station to Shibuya, for a morning of shopping and sightseeing. Be sure to head up to Starbucks Shibuya in the eight-storey Tsutaya store for the best views of the famous scramble intersection just outside Shibuya Station where thousands of people scatter in all directions every few minutes. After lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants in busy Shibuya, spend a tranquil afternoon in Shibuya’s Yoyogi Park. Located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Yoyogikamizonochō, the expansive park is carpeted with green fields and more than 15,000 trees. Hire a bicycle to cruise along the park’s cycling path to uncover its many pockets of prettiness. If you time it right, Yoyogi is also one of Tokyo’s best spots for people watching as dance crews, cosplayers, and fashionistas converge here on weekends.

Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya

Photo by Getty Images

Torii Gate of Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi park

Photo by Adobe Stock

Day FIVE

Finish your Tokyo experience with one foot in the present and one in the past at Shinjuku. A forest of futuristic towers, this buzzing urban playground is home to department stores packed full of designer wear, as well as high-tech gizmos and gadgets at electronics megastores west of Shinjuku Station. A gracious way to bid Tokyo goodbye is in a traditional tea ceremony, known as chanoyu, or sado. Maikoya, just a short walk from Shinjuku Station, is the only place in downtown Tokyo where you can don a kimono to participate in this only-in-Japan experience, where tea is elevated to art through intricate and mindful movements.

Get dressed in a traditional Kimono

Photo by Getty Images

Stop TO

shop

One of the world’s best shopping cities, Tokyo’s tendency to compartmentalise means you’ll find dozens of specialised districts and streets. Here we delve into the best shopping hot spots for lovers of fine fashion, state-of-the-art gadgets, homewares and vintage gems.

Whether you’re devoted to department stores, salivating over the latest in high-tech gear, or hunting for vintage treasures, Tokyo has it all.

Tokyu Plaza, Omotesando Photo by Ryoji Iwata

LabelsLuxury

Omotesando is a broad tree-lined street, often referred to as the Champs-Élysées of Tokyo. Running from upmarket Aoyama to trendy Harajuku, it lures lovers of luxury fashion, cosmetics and high-end accessories. Boasting one of the world’s highest concentrations of designer stores, in the area you’ll find cuttingedge labels and ultra-luxurious international brands such as Chanel, Dior, Cartier and Prada, alongside high-end Japanese designers including Issey Miyake, each bursting from masterpieces of architectural design.

Glamorous Ginza is another haven for lovers of luxury. Tokyo’s answer to Park Avenue, it’s home to the flagship boutiques of some of the world’s most coveted luxury brands such as Prada, Ferragamo, Cartier, Bulgari, Hermès & Tiffany & Co, along with popular high street brands.

Dover Street Market Ginza

Photo by Korie Cull

Designer shopping, Ginza Photo by Ryoji Iwata

delightsDepartment store

If you’re eager to splash some cash, head to one of Ginza’s many gargantuan department stores such as the iconic Ginza Mitsukoshi, the oldest department store in Japan, for 12-storeys of high-end brands and reverential customer service; Matsuya for premium fashion, beauty, and homeware brands; or GINZA SIX, where you’ll find more than 200 of Japan’s most fashionable outlets.

GINZA SIX, Ginza Photo by Mos Design

delightsDepartment store

Shibuya’s enormous department stores radiate out of and upwards from its famous scramble crossing. The newest shopping complex is Shibuya Scramble Square which boasts fine food, fashion and unique souvenirs that are available nowhere else in Tokyo. Best of all it offers the best views of the iconic crossing from its rooftop SHIBUYA SKY. Head to Tokyu Honten for clothes, high-end homewares and an impressive basement gourmet food hall. The recently renovated Shibuya Parco is also worth a deeper dive, with a multitude of luxury stores, restaurants, art galleries and entertainment offerings.

In neighbouring Shinjuku, eager shoppers will find a number of slick department stores including Odakyu. Directly connected to Shinjuku Station for easy access, shoppers will find popular cosmetics, brand name fashion, appliances, food and more. Takashimaya Times Square is a landmark department store near Shinjuku Station’s South Exit that’s bursting with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Chanel, as well as Japanese cosmetics. And trendy Isetan offers the finest in clothing, homewares and food, and is renowned for its arty and extravagant window displays.

View from Shibuya Scramble Square Photo by Hiroyuki Sen

Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square Photo by Hiroyuki Sen

Tokyo loves a vintage clothing store, and most are concentrated in specific areas. You’ll find hidden vintage gems in the stores of Harajuku and Shibuya, but the best spots for vintage shopping are in artfully eccentric Shimokitazawa and cool Koenji.

Just a few stops from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira Line, the pedestrian-friendly alleys of Shimokitazawa hide a treasure trove of stores heaving with vinyl and vintage gems from pre-loved couture to 70’s throwbacks.

Haight & Ashbury is popular for its 19th and 20th-century international vintage gear and one of a kind luxury items. Also located in Shimokitazawa, Harajuku, Chicago carries used name brands along with vintage kimono and yukata, while Harajuku Flamingo focuses on American vintage and stocks a good range of men’s gear as well antique furniture.

Two stops west of Shinjuku on the JR Chuo Line, Koenji has been dubbed Tokyo’s coolest neighbourhood. Here you’ll find an entire street devoted to pre-loved and vintage and unique upcycled fashion, along with an excess of bookstores, small bars, live music venues, and a diversity of international cuisine.

Shimokitazawa Vintage Shopping

Photo by Berto Macario

Vintage Kimonos Photo by Getty Images

If its technology that tickles your fancy, there’s nowhere like Tokyo. Take a stroll down Chuo Dori, the main street of the electronics mecca of Akihabara, before spearing down its offshoot alleys where everything from one-man stalls specialising in electronic components, to colossal department stores heaving with the latest in high end technology awaits. You’ll also find plenty of little gems devoted to anime and manga, the biggest being Mandarake.

If you fear being swallowed whole by the crowds at Akihabara, head to Nakano, adjacent to Shinjuku, where you’ll find local favourite Nakano Broadway, a multi-level mall packed with gadgets and gizmos and gaming goodies as well as Japanese pop culture collectables.

Akihabara

Photo by Jezael Melgoza

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Aerial view of Tokyo with Sensoji Temple

Photo by Ricky Chan