Tokyo Weekender - November 2017

[ PROMOTION ]
WAYS TO REALLY LET
THEM KNOW YOU’RE
IN TOKYO
Looking to share your Tokyo
experiences with your friends and
family back home? These are a few
things you shouldn’t miss out on
AIM HIGH
While they’re not as iconic as
the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower
and the massive Skytree have
their own charm. They’re
spots where you can feel just
how big the city is, but also
photogenic subjects in and of
themselves. Getting to both
places lets you explore different
parts of Tokyo, too: Tokyo
Tower is a stone’s throw from
Roppongi, and neighborhoods
like Asakusa and Kuramae lie
in Skytree’s long shadow.
SHARE A SHRINE
Sacred spots for Shinto, Japan’s native religion,
jinja (shrines) are also wonderfully picturesque
locations, whether large or small. While the biggest
ones, particularly Meiji Jingu, get a lot of attention,
we’ve got a soft spot for Nezu Shrine, which isn’t far
from Ueno Park. Although it really comes into its
own during the spring, when the azaleas bloom, its
tunnel of torii gates and its lovely gardens make it a
year-round winner.
GO POP
Japanese popular culture is
one of the things that draws
visitors to Tokyo in droves.
And if you’re looking for
places to experience it,
you’re spoiled for choice in
the Big Mikan. Akihabara is
an old favorite, filled with
video arcades and maid
cafes, Harajuku is ground
zero for teenagers and
twentysomethings in the
latest fashion, and Nakano
Broadway has shops dedicated
to almost any kind
of subculture you could
imagine.
SEE TSUKIJI – WHILE YOU
STILL CAN
They’ve been planning to move Tsukiji
Fish Market to a new location for several
years now, but because of issues with the
new site, good old Tsukiji, the largest fish
market in the world, is still in the same
place – for now. Whether you get there
before dawn to catch the auctions, or just
roam around the stalls, this is one spot
that you should see before it makes its
(eventual) move.
HIT THE ALLEYS
Tokyo’s skyline is known for its massive skyscrapers
and its blisteringly fast pace, but its yokocho (alleyways)
are places where you can experience another
side of life in the world’s largest city. Filled with
small bars and eateries, these narrow byways make
for perfect spots to taking pictures – and whiling
away a boozy evening. You can’t go wrong at Shinjuku’s
Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho, or Kichijoji’s
Harmonica Yokocho.
DON’T GO WITHOUT A SIGNAL
No matter where your travels take you in Japan,
you don’t want to miss out on uploading your
pictures and posts, finding your way around, and
staying in touch with your friends while you’re
on the go. When you rent a Pocket WiFi from
Global Mobile, you can be online all the time,
with blazing fast LTE. Service is available for as
little as ¥200 a day. For more details, visit
www.gmobile.biz/softbank/inbound.
54 | NOVEMBER 2017 | TOKYO WEEKENDER