Culture ancient and modern
Start your cultural tour of Tokyo at
Senso-ji, a bright red Buddhist temple in
Asakusa dedicated to
Kannon, the deity of compassion. Across the
River Sumida, explore Tokyo’s history from foundation to present day at the
Edo-Tokyo Museum, featuring life-size models of the city’s old buildings. See Tokyo’s youth in full costume on
Jingu Bridge outside
Yoyogi Park on Sunday afternoons; from here, walk to the imposing
Meiji Shrine. At
Hotel Okura Tokyo, one of Tokyo’s stalwart hotels, watch the elegant ritual of a tea ceremony. Cool contemporary art is on display at the nearby
Mori Art Museum.
Gadgets and garments
A Tokyo city break will leave you spoilt for shopping choices.
Mitsukoshi and
Takashimaya are Tokyo’s oldest department stores; visit their stately
Nihonbashi locations for designer fashions and kimonos. Head to
Isetan department store in Shinjuku for trendy clothing, or to the streets of
Daikanyama for up-and-coming designers. Tech lovers should visit sci-fi
Akihabara district for a world of electronic goods. Head to
Tokyu Hands in
Shibuya for clever knick-knacks and gadgets.
Taste sensations
A walk along
Ginza’s streets reveals tiny sushi bars serving jet-fresh fish. For a fun evening of
izakaya-style (pub-style) food and theatrics, dine at
Gonpachi in
Nishi-Azabu, decorated in old inn style, or savour Japanese barbecue served on wooden paddles at high-end
Inakaya in
Roppongi. North-west in
Shinjuku, cosy yakitori restaurants serve inexpensive skewers of tasty chicken, meat and vegetables.
