Tokyo: skyscrapers, cosplayers and sex tourism
Tokyo does not have a “mandatory” historic center. The city is a combination of neighborhoods that are very different from each other and therefore deserve their own attention.
The first place to go is Sibuya. If only to visit the world’s busiest intersection, which can be crossed by several thousand people at a time. Once you’ve passed the intersection and blended in with the crowd, take a stroll through the streets.
Don’t miss the statue of Hachiko: the famous dog used to sit at this very subway station, and a monument to him was erected while he was still alive. Now it has become a place of attraction not only for tourists, but also for lovers who come here to make their vows of fidelity to each other.
From Shibuya, walk to the Harajuku neighborhood, where all the fancily dressed young people flock. It’s most colorful on Sunday, with cosplayers roaming everywhere. If you want to be part of the culture, check out the many stores along the street for a variety of offbeat vintage and modern clothing that few places have.
In half an hour by public transportation or cab from Harajuku, you can reach the next important point in Tokyo. Akihabara is a bustling shopping district for real geeks. It sells gadgets and accessories for all occasions, dolls, board and computer games, and any merch related to anime and manga. The diversity of Japanese subcultures is represented in Akihabara in all its glory.
In the same neighborhood there are also popular meido cafes, where guests are served by girls dressed as medieval European maids. You can have a bite to eat and watch a show with them.
If you want to add the adjective “gastronomic” to your shopping experience, head to Tsukiji Market. This was once the largest seafood market in Tokyo. Now the famous tuna auctions are no longer held here, but you can still see how skillfully the Japanese process and cook fish, oysters and scallops. The products on the counters are laid out neatly, all the conditions of commodity neighborhood are observed – no chaos and smell.
Finally, take a stroll through Ginza, a fashionable city center with luxurious restaurants. Here is the most expensive land in Japan, a square meter on average is valued at a million dollars. That is why world and Japanese fashion brands consider it a matter of prestige to have their boutiques in Ginza. You don’t have to buy something there, but to look at the shop windows and be glad that you already know more budget places – very much so.
To better understand an unfamiliar city, you need to see it from above. On your second day in Tokyo, go to Shinjuku train station for this purpose. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most visited in the world. Nearby is City Hall with a free observation deck on the 45th floor.
It is better to climb it in the morning and in sunny weather: then there is a chance to see the sacred Fujiyama.
North of City Hall lies Tokyo’s largest red-light district, Kabuki-cho. Rock bars, lav hotels, strip clubs – the neighborhood reveals the hidden sexual component of Japanese life. You can go on a self-guided sightseeing “tour” in the daytime, but it’s better to go in the evening. If you are interested in such things, of course.
One hour away is another neighborhood worth visiting in Tokyo, Asakusa. Here you will find Senso-ji, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Tokyo, whose name translates as “temple of young grass”. It is surrounded by a complex of five-tiered pagoda, a garden with a pond and all kinds of statues. Nikamise-dori Street, where trade has been going on since the 18th century, is located on the outskirts. Small stores are filled with traditional Japanese sweets, ceramics, wax paper umbrellas and folding fans.
After a stroll along Nikamise-dori, cross the bridge and climb the Tokyo Skytree TV tower for a bird’s-eye view of Tokyo. The only downside is that, unlike a visit to City Hall, there’s a fee, ranging from ¥2,100 to ¥3,100.
Kyoto: Geisha and the atmosphere of old Japan
Kyoto has been the capital of Japan for over a thousand years. The imperial spirit is still strong here, with numerous Buddhist temples and gardens, old wooden houses and shrines everywhere.
You should also allow at least two days to explore Kyoto. The best way to get here from Tokyo is by high-speed shinkansen train, which takes about two hours.
The best place to start is at Kinkakuji Temple, or “Golden Pavilion”, Kyoto’s calling card. The unique architectural structure with a gilded facade is beautiful from all sides, so you can take photos against its background from any angle. In front of the pavilion is the mirror-like Lake Kyokochi, which is adorned with several islands with pine trees growing on them.
The garden of stones at Ryoan-ji Temple is no less picturesque, and it takes only 20 minutes to reach it from Kinkakuji. The main highlight of the garden is its ingenious composition. Because of this, only 14 stones can be seen at a time, although there are actually 15 of them.
Another authentic Kyoto location is the Gion district, home to geisha, who with a bit of luck can be seen walking down the street in the early morning. And if you want to experience the atmosphere of old Japan, stay in one of Gion’s ryokans. These are traditional Japanese-style hotels where guests sleep on the floor, bathe in wooden baths or hot springs, and eat ethnic cuisine. In general, the best option to get acquainted with the country’s ancient customs and life.
A stroll through the narrow streets of Gion to Yasaka-jinja shrine Kiyomizu-dera temple and then is a great way to experience the spirit of the ancient capital, seeing traditional wooden houses and market stalls. Afterwards, you can stop by the Nishiki Market Food and sample Japanese street food. It’s incredibly tasty here.
If you have a free evening during your stay in Kyoto, check out the street that runs along the Kamo River and cuts off central Kyoto from the Gion neighborhood. This is a very colorful place with many restaurants and sake bars to suit all tastes and wallets.
Important: A hop-on/hop-off bus runs along popular tourist routes (including Kinkakuji and Gion) in Kyoto. You can use it to take a quick tour of the city.
Osaka, Nara, Kobe: samurai castle, deer and European spirit
The next stop on your first trip to Japan is Osaka, which is also accessible by shinkansen trains. Stay there for at least three days to visit neighboring Naru and Kobe.
There are many electric trains to both of these cities from Osaka. It takes 50 minutes to Nara and only about half an hour to Kobe.
Dotonbori Street, which runs along the river of the same name, is Osaka’s most happening place. It used to be a theater district, but now literally everyone comes here in the evenings. In some ways it reminds of New York’s Broadway: a cluster of stores where you can buy souvenirs and gifts, fanciful illumination and a scattering of neon signs. If you want to see the city from the water, a boat trip is a nice addition.
Some distance from the center and only ten minutes by cab from Dotonbori, there’s a five-story samurai castle – fans of traditional Japanese architecture are sure to love it. There are good views from the top, and nearby is a concert hall where world-class musicians touring Japan perform.
In Osaka you will also find an unusual skyscraper with a hole in the top – the Umeda Sky Building, where the highest observation deck in the country is located. Not far from the business center you will find another Japanese “red light district”. Foreigners are said to be welcome here (but I didn’t check).
If you’re a fan of more classic tourist attractions, you know Osaka has a very good oceanarium.
Afterward, it’s also worth traveling to Nara. People from all over the world come here to see the giant bronze Buddha statue at Todaiji Monastery, the largest wooden building in the world.
But even this attraction is no match for the deer that regularly melt the hearts of all visitors to Nara. They scurry between tourists in parks and near temples, unafraid of anyone and begging for food. While you’re feeding one, another may claw at your pant leg, begging for a treat.
And you should also greet them politely – just like the hippogriffs in Harry Potter: if you bow to a deer in the Japanese manner, it will do the same in return.
And finally, why go to Kobe? It’s simple – for the exquisite marbled wagyu beef, which is produced here. Before or after a tour of local meat restaurants, you can climb the harbor tower, visit the Kawasaki Museum, or stroll along the waterfront.
In general, Kobe is more interesting for Japanese people than for foreigners. It was the first place where Europeans began to settle in Japan, and after the earthquake of 1995, there are almost no old Japanese buildings left here (but the European quarter has been better preserved). Tourist groups specifically come to see what the West looks like. So you should not expect cultural experience from your trip – limit yourself to gastronomic experience.
Impressions of the trip
A week is certainly a very short time for Japan, but it will be enough for the first acquaintance. After it, you, like me, will most likely want to explore this amazing country further, to visit Hiroshima, Sapporo, Nikko and Fuji Hakone Izu national parks, Kyushu and Ryukyu islands. You can make this new route yourself, based on your preferences and time. After all, the main thing is desire.
