Landing in Tokyo is like landing on a different planet, with little (if any) familiarity.
But don’t let this discourage you.
There are plenty of reasons why it should be on your 2025 bucket list, and ten of them are below, from sumo wrestling to fascinating temples and world-class hotels.
MOVING IS VERY EASY
The city is safe and easy to navigate: subway signs are in English and the lines are color-coded.
ADAPTS TO TIGHT BUDGETS
It’s incredibly cheap. In this year’s Post Office Travel Money report, Japan topped the table as the cheapest long-haul destination thanks to the strong performance of the pound against the Japanese yen.
SUMO WRESTLING
Harriet Sime watches a sumo wrestling match in Tokyo (file image) and says “it’s exciting to witness such an ancient and traditionally secret sport up close.”
Sumo wrestling as a spectator sport is seeing growing interest from foreign tourists in Tokyo, leading to dining experiences popping up across the city around the time of the official sumo (basho) tournaments, which They are held six times a year (January, May and September). , are not in action.
At the Asakusa Sumo Club in the heart of Tokyo, tourists sit at tables around a 4.5 meter wide clay-filled ring, known as a ‘donyu’, to watch two former professional sumo wrestlers fight in a three-round contest.
The two-hour interactive show begins with a traditional geisha dance before the MC introduces the wrestlers and guests are presented with sake and trays of chanko-nabe’, a hearty chicken and shiitake mushroom stew traditionally eaten by wrestlers, along with with edamame and tofu. -wrapped rice and fried chicken. Before the first round begins, the wrestlers, dressed in red and black mawashis, throw handfuls of salt into the ring as a symbol of good luck.
And then they lunge, pushing, shoving and grabbing in an attempt to maneuver each other to the ground or out of the ring (winning techniques).
It’s exciting to witness such an ancient and traditionally secret sport up close, and a must-see when exploring Japan (getyourguide.es).
WORLD CLASS HOTELS
Harriet checks into the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo At Otemachi
There’s a lot of competition when it comes to luxury hotels in Tokyo, but one property that stands out from the five-star crowd is the Four Seasons Tokyo in Otemachi.
Spanning the top six floors of a 39-story skyscraper, its location offers the best of both worlds: located right in the heart of the city’s busy, skyscraper-studded financial district, but just meters from the Palace’s 280-acre expanse Imperial. , where the Emperor and his family reside, and which can be visited on foot for free.
The hotel offers what has to be one of the best breakfast buffets in the world (think local delicacies baked in the hotel bakery, trays of miso soup and udon noodles topped with salmon roe, soda on tap). But be warned: You’ll find it nearly impossible to tear yourself away from the expansive spa, which houses five treatment rooms, Japanese-style baths, and a 20-meter pool with panoramic views of the city (you can see Mount Fuji in a clearing). day).
Fancy a trip on the bullet train? Tokyo Station, where bullet trains pass every two to three minutes, is just a 10-minute walk away (fourseasons.com/otemachi).
SHIBUYA CROSSING
The Shibuya crossing stops all vehicles every 80 seconds, as up to 3,000 people wait for the traffic light to turn green before rushing in all directions across five pedestrian crossings.
A visit to Tokyo, one of the busiest junctions in the world, is not complete without a trip to Shibuya. Instead of directing the flow of cars and pedestrians simultaneously, the Shibuya crossing stops all cars every 80 seconds, when up to 3,000 people wait for the light to turn green before rushing in all directions through five crosswalks.
Yes, it has been filled with tourists, but that adds to the chaos. For the best vantage point, head to the Starbucks on the north corner and sip a coffee while watching the ant-like figures scurry below.
The intersection is most impressive after dark on a Friday or Saturday night, when the crowds are denser and illuminated in neon lights by the billboards and flickering television screens above.
TSUKJI FISH MARKET
Harriet at the Tsukji fish market, one of the largest fish trading centers in the world.
Hundreds of crowded merchants sell an encyclopedic array of creatures (some dead, some alive) at the Tsukji fish market, one of the world’s largest fish trading centers.
Be sure to dine at one of the market stall restaurants, most of which specialize in, you guessed it, seafood.
Not a fan of fish? There’s plenty on offer for meat lovers and vegetarians, from smoking stalls offering platters of marbled wagyu beef to counters packed with omelettes on sticks (in fact, every food variation seems to be presented on wooden sticks).
There are also a variety of specialist gift shops selling everything from kitchen knives to rubber boots.
You will need at least three hours to get the most out of it.
MEIJI JINGU TEMPLE
Choose Meiji Jingu (above) instead of Senso Ji Temple, says Harriet
Tokyo’s grandest shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, whose reign (1868-1912) coincided with Japan’s transformation from an isolationist state to a modern nation.
Built of cypress wood, the main shrine is located in a grove, but occupies only a small fraction of the extensive forested grounds, which contain some 120,000 trees collected from all over Japan and several imposing wooden torii (gateways). Head here on a Saturday and you can attend a local wedding, where a procession follows the bride, who is dressed in a white hood called a wataboshi, and walks under a giant red parasol. It feels like you’re a world away from the nearby neon-lit districts of Shibuya and Shinjuka.
Exit through the southern doors and you’ll pass a massive wall of beautifully painted hanging sake barrels, donated by brewers of the national drink from across Japan. (It’s also a great place to take photos.)
Choose Meiji Jingu instead of Senso Ji temple (the most visited in the city). Controversial, I know…
BULLET TRAIN
Hop on a bullet train in Tokyo for a high-speed ride through cities, farms and past snow-capped Mount Fuji.
The Japanese didn’t invent train travel, but they perfected it.
Instantly recognizable by its striking sloping nose and sweeping aerodynamic curves, the Shinkansen was the world’s first high-speed train and quickly became known as the bullet train. The trains travel at speeds of up to 200 mph, carrying passengers picking up bento boxes through cities, farms and past snow-covered Mount Fuji. The carriages are quiet, spacious and offer reversible seats.
When traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto, choose a seat in advance on the right side to enjoy the views of Fuji.
SECURITY STORES
With the pound strong against the yen, there has never been a better time to buy cheap vintage clothing in Tokyo. A former farming town in the city’s west, Shimokitazawa is a creative, modern neighborhood with a lingering atmosphere of old Tokyo and one of the largest concentrations of secondhand shops in the city.
Narrow streets, painted with murals, are lined with cafes and chic shops filled with vintage clothing, battered books and vinyl records.
Be sure to visit Flamingo, Joe’s New York Exchange, and Chicago, all of which house racks of clothing carefully organized to fit every style and subculture. It is the perfect antidote to hectic urban life.
VIEWS, VIEWS, VIEWS
Step inside any high-rise building or rooftop bar and the views will amaze and inspire you as Tokyo’s sprawling landscape unfolds, stretching to distant lands as if you’ve landed on a planet of endless cities.
Dress up for cocktails at Park Hyatt Tokyo, featured in Lost in Translation, on your first night in Tokyo. A perfect introduction to one of the best cities in the world.