Destination Spotlight: Tokyo
In his days of newbie IgoUgo status, becks
laid down the law of Tokyo with five
journals on the glowing metropolis. He diverted to tales about his
native German land, but later returned with three more Tokyo journals,
insisting that "bargain" isn't a word lost on the mecca of unbridled
consumerism.
Excerpted from Slightly Off
the Beaten Track in Tokyo
In Tokyo, old and new, modern and traditional, Japanese and foreign often sit
comfortably next to each other. Most buildings in Tokyo are relatively new:
those that were spared by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 were most likely
destroyed by firebombing in 1945. Few structures predate World War II, although
many old shrines and temples were reconstructed after the war in exactly the
same way as before.
Any visit to Tokyo should include a visit to the largest Shinto shrine (Meiji
Jingu) and the most important Buddhist temple (Sensoji). Also, don't miss the
new high-rise buildings of ultra-modern Shinjuku. Shopping in Tokyo is
expensive but a treat, with a level of service rarely equaled outside Japan.
Follow a tradition for the jetlagged and make an early-morning visit to the
Tsukiji fish market, or, in winter, take in Mount Fuji.
The city has a population of close to 12 million, with a further 20 million
living in the Greater Tokyo Area. (Central Tokyo has a population density of
about 13,000 per square kilometer.) In searching of a tranquil, slightly
off-the-beaten-track spot, it would be wise to realize right from the start
that you will not be alone at whatever place you fancy to visit—others will
have similar plans. The trick is to avoid the tens of thousands at Shinjuku
station and head for quieter places, often easily reached by public
transportation.
There are many parks and gardens in central Tokyo. Korakuen is my top choice,
although the larger Rikugien Garden is favored by many. The densely forested
garden at the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts is also a pleasant surprise and a
relaxing way to end a visit to this superb museum.
The Fukagawa Edo Museum brings back memories of old Tokyo, and though visited
far less often than Meiji or Asakusa, the shrines and temples listed are famous
and important.