Tokyo has the ultimate urban cityscape with several cultural elements sprinkled all over the city. The capital of Japan is a mega-metropolis with several shore excursions and highlights. Tour the city to get marvelous glimpses of the Imperial Palace, other shrines, and Buddhist temples. If you have extra time, travel to Mount Fuji for impeccable views and nature trails. Tokyo Tower, Sankeien Gardens, Sensoji Temple, and the Meiji Shrine will be the key sites on your cruise to Tokyo.
The city of neon signs, stylish shops, and five-star restaurants lies amid the endless buzz of neon lights. There are also unbeatable landscapes and festivals, as well as a rich culture beyond the bustle of the city. Here are some significant highlights of Tokyo.
Discover the intangible cultural heritage of the Bunraku puppet show by taking a tour in Osaka. A hands-on adventure picking tea in Shimizu's countryside awaits you when you grab a wicker basket and head out into the fields. An onsen hot spring bath offers health benefits and a warm social atmosphere. Discover how grains and vegetables are used to make Japan's spirited elixirs during a tour of Kagoshima's shochu manufacturing facility.
Get awe-inspiring panoramic views of Japan's most popular tourist attraction, the active volcano Mount Fuji. You'll also discover Akita's Oga Peninsula, home to the mythical Namahage creatures and Godzilla Rock. Explore the majestic Shiretoko Peninsula, one of Condé Nast Traveler's 7 Cruise Wonders of the World.
Nagoya's medieval castle offers an insider's look at the life of samurai warriors. In Sakaiminato, experience a traditional "yakiniku" lunch. In AmamiOshima, skilled artisans create delicate pongee silk with a unique vision and native Tochigi bark and iron-rich mud. The land of festivals, Japan, offers many opportunities for visitors, including the Awa Odori Dance Festival in Tokushima or the Nebuta festival in Aomori, where you can see excellent parade floats up close.
Discover the world's best designer brands on the streets of Ginza. You can pick up cultural knickknacks while walking through Nakamise and enjoying an iced coffee. Dollar stores offer a wide selection of odd, funny, and cute items, which are great for finding quantity. As soon as you enter the new Toyosu Fish Market, you will be in seafood nirvana. Enjoy the freshest seafood of your life at the early morning tuna auction. At the famous HakushuTeppenyaki restaurant in Shibuya, enjoy a juicy portion of Kobe or Wagyu beef.
There's so much to do and see, eat, and sing in Tokyo-the ancient temples to all-night karaoke bars. It's hard to put into words everything you'll experience there. Spend a day strolling under cherry blossom trees along the Sumida River, eating sushi and udon noodles at the Tokyo National Museum, or visiting the beautiful Meiji Shinto shrine. The city center is sprinkled with several green spaces to relax when needed.
To better get a sense of perspective and find your way around a city, especially one the size of Tokyo, it can be helpful to find a high point from which to view the city below. The view from the top of the Tokyo Skytree is a panoramic one, and I was privileged enough to have been there last year. It is still possible to spot the city's prominent landmarks even on a less clear day. However, if you can get a day without much haze, you will be able to see up to Mount Fuji.
Our taste buds were taken through Yurakucho, Ginza, and Shinbashi for this 3-hour food tour in Tokyo. The food we had was delicious, but this night we got a glimpse into the culture behind it that we hadn't experienced before. As you walk from the food outlets running under the train tracks through Ginza and the glitzy and glamorous streets of the Shinbashi district, you'll experience a diversity of culinary styles.
This is a good option if you want to spend a day out in nature and get a different view of Japan within the greater Tokyo area. From the midpoint of the mountain, you can take a ropeway or chairlift to the top and the bottom. From there, you can walk on broad paths and stairs for the rest of the way. A restaurant and a monkey park are located on the mountain. You can also enjoy a relaxing soak in the onsen at the bottom of the hill. You can reach this area quickly by train, and the train station is located right at the base of the mountain where the ropeway starts. Most people visit Mt Takao in the autumn when the trees display spectacular displays of color. Still, there is no need to wait for autumn to see this mountain. You can see both Tokyo and Mt Fuji from the top.
Disneyland is probably the happiest place, especially if you're taking your young kids. They'll enjoy the rides, shows, and characters that are familiar to them. The Disney Resort is easily accessible by train from Tokyo city, but you'll generally need to transfer a few times. When traveling with the family, it's easier to take the bus than the train, which can cost a little more than the train.
