The Star: July 06, 2017

The Star 39
Travel
Latest Christchurch news at www.
.kiwi
Thursday July 6 2017
BUSY: The crowds of Shibuya are a warm-up to the throbbing entertainment mecca of Shinjuku (centre). Try the Robot Restaurant.
Explore Tokyo’s entertainment mecca
• By Mike Yardley
LIKE MUCH of Tokyo, the
once war-torn moonscape of
Shibuya is a glitzy, buzzing
district of skyscrapers, shops and
entertainment.
Outside the railway station, I
ventured to Shibuya Crossing,
nicknamed The Scramble, which
lays claim to being the world’s
busiest pedestrian crossing.
I’ll take their word for it.
Beneath the dancing blaze of
giant video screens, watching the
sea of humanity cross the street,
from all quarters, is a stunningly
engrossing spectacle, like massmovement
ballet.
By the time the next light phase
rolls round, each street corner has
been fully reloaded with a fresh
stock of humanity, like a seamless
video loop. Braving the crowds
of Shibuya is a warm-up for the
throbbing, pulsating entertainment
mecca of Shinjuku.
Over 3 million people pass
through the world’s busiest train
station each day, and Shinjuku’s
entertainment excesses sprawl
to the east, in a head-spinning
spangle of neon-drenched lighting
and LED screens. Strip-clubs,
pachinko parlours, jazz bars, love
hotels, fetish bars and cabarets all
jostle for attention in notorious
Kabukicho, Tokyo’s notorious
red-light district.
Don’t flash your wallet too
openly in these parts – and males
on their own can expect plenty of
attention from big-talking touts.
Adjoining Kabukicho are the
evocative alleyways of Golden
Gai, a throwback to Tokyo’s earlier
days, home to a time-warped
tumble of tiny drinking dens,
many who hook punters in with
trademark gimmicks, whether
it’s a signature drink, off-the-wall
décor or outlandish staff costumes,
like troll toys or hospital uniforms.
Champion and Albatross are
two of the tourist favourites, but
aside from these larger bars, gawp
up a few staircases to see what
takes your fancy. Shinjuku is also
home to the mesmerising and
glittery escapism of the Robot
Restaurant.
BEAUTY: Andaz Tokyo is a lifestyle hotel revolution. The bathrooms are a wooden haven while the guestrooms exude purity of form.
This mind-boggling sci-fi subculture statements. Grab a My bathroom was a beautifully
cabaret show and its garishly sweet crepe and stroll through the wooden haven, fitted out with
FAST FACTS
illuminated interior represents pageant.
a deep Japanese soaking tub, •I arrived into Tokyo from
a mash-up of the crazy, tacky The whole Gothic meets glamrock
aesthetic is still huge, giving contemporary creature comforts. stone’s throw from centrally-
fabulous rain shower, and all the Osaka, at Shinbashi Station, a
and raunchy. Three metre robots
dance and gyrate like gigantic rise to the name goth-loli girls. Additional frills include fluffy located Andaz Tokyo.
electronic puppets with bikiniclad
singers, alongside raging spanned the frilly French maid cotton pyjamas, yukata. In trade-
of the storied Yamanote
Other costume styles I spotted slippers, robes and customary Whether it’s riding the rails
aliens, mechanical sharks, heavily-armed
mermaids, demonic with blood, and a multitude of a sweep of treats.
Tokyo, or purring through
kit, nurses uniforms splattered mark Andaz fashion, you’ll enjoy Line, which lassoes central
taiko drummers and futuristic superheroes.
The sociability factor is to the the countryside on a
ninjas in this laser-lit, neon-gushing
extravaganza. From spectacu-
day for this exuberant exhibition complimentary Happy Hour to-the-minute timetabling
Sunday apparently is the prime fore in the Andaz Lounge, where Shinkansen bullet train, the
lar battle scenes to bizarre romantic
ballads, this eye-popping orgy not something a bit dodgy about hotel’s convivial atmosphere. I travelling to Japan, purchase
of teenage costume play. Is there drinks and snacks heighten the doesn’t miss a beat. Before
of wacky live entertainment pulls 14-year-old girls dolled up like particularly loved the Rooftop a Japan Rail Pass, which
in the crowds.
French maids?
Bar’s terrace, an unrivalled perch delivers excellent value for
For a complete change of
Perched on the top floors of for cocktails at sundown.
money, total flexibility and
scenery, be sure to peruse Tokyo’s the 52-storey Toranomon Hills The setting is also heavily in-demand
for lavish weddings, which
travel convenience. Contact
catwalk cool district Harajuku, skyscraper, Andaz Tokyo embodies
the best of the lifestyle hotel
Rail Plus, the experts in rail,
where fashionistas, high-end divas
and teenage girls in particular revolution. The hotel’s ultra-
terrace features Tokyo’s highest
to secure a pass to suit.
you may well sneak a peek at. The
www.railplus.co.nz
•Add a Queensland stopover
come to flaunt their latest looks. spacious guestrooms, with lavish stand-alone chapel.
to a Japan getaway. After
You’ll also find the Rockabilly living quarters, faithfully showcase
Japan’s cultural emphasis on yourself in the Andaz Tokyo offerchurch
to the Gold Coast,
However you choose to immerse flying direct from Christ-
guys strutting their stuff here –
like Asian Elvis Presleys.
beauty and purity of form. ings, this seductively stylish and Jetstar’s 787 Dreamliner
Nearby, Takeshita-dori and Cat The floor-to-ceiling windows sociable hotel is a class act. services deliver added comfort
at unbeatable value, as
St are where to head if you want serve up show-stopping skyline
vistas that sweep across to specials, head to https:// you wing your way to Tokyo.
•For best rates and seasonal
to check out the style tribes of
teenage girls, strutting their latest Tokyo Bay and as far as Mt Fuji. tokyo.andaz.hyatt.com/ For extra-comfort, upgrade
to the best-value Business
Class experience to Japan.
Wide leather reclining seats
with a 96cmin seat pitch
allowed me to get a decent
in-flight sleep, although it
is not a fully lie-flat affair.
Whether you’re flying in
business or economy, bag a
bargain fare deal and seat to
suit at www.jetstar.com
SOCIAL: Cocktails on the rooftop bar of Andaz Tokyo.