50 reasons Tokyo is the world's greatest city
Tokyo -- a city hard to describe. But we've given it a shot.1. The world's most sophisticated railways
With 13 subway lines and more than 100 surface routes run by Japan Railways and other private companies, Tokyo's railway system seems like it was designed to win world records. It's rare to find a location in the metropolitan area that can’t be reached with a train ride and a short walk. Now, if only the government could devise a way to keep middle-aged salarymen from groping women onboard.
Tokyo Sky Tree. (Tim Hornyak/CNNGo)2. Sky-high one-upmanship
When officials in Tokyo learned that the new Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower in China would be 610 meters tall -- the same height that was planned for Tokyo Sky Tree, then under construction -- they did what any rational person would do: They added 24 meters to the top of Sky Tree to preserve its claim as the world’s tallest tower. Now complete and scheduled to open in May, the Guinness-certified structure features shops, restaurants and an observation deck that lets you see almost all the way to Guangzhou.
3. Tongue-gasmic food porn
You could spend hours drooling over the elaborate pastries and picture-perfect sushi rolls at Istean’s recently refurbished, super-stylish depachika. Square watermelons and ¥50,000 matsutake mushrooms are displayed with gallery-like reverence. Other highlights: Eat-in counters run by some of Tokyo’s snazziest restaurants and free samples of food and booze on weekends.
Check out the depachika at Isetan, Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya and Matsuya.
Shibuya scramble crossing. (Flickr/su.bo)
4. Street crossings are like a battle scene from "Braveheart"
The scramble street crossing outside of Shibuya Station is easily the world's busiest, with a thousand peoplerunning into the middle of the street, weaving together in a huge organic mass. The scramble perfectly summarizes the essence of Tokyo's true tourist landmarks: not old buildings, but lots and lots people coming together in celebration of culture.
Outside the Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station
5. The Emperor will see you now
Visit the Imperial Palace on December 23 or January 2, and you’ll see something impressive: Its owner. Emperor Akihito and family make a twice-yearly public appearance at the Inner Palace grounds for the monarch’s birthday and a New Year’s greeting. If you’re tall enough, you’ll be able to glimpse the man-god himself amid a sea of Rising Sun flag-wavers. Map
Harajuku crossing. (Flickr/The_Other_View)
6. Youth fashion stores by the hundreds
Even with the arrival of Forever 21 and H&M, there are countless independent fashion boutiques in the Harajuku area -- all dedicated to generally insane forms of youth fashion. If you count adjacent Shibuya, Omotesando and Aoyama into the region, you have the world's largest fashion district: featuring basically every single major designer brand in the world.
7. Three words: Punk bath house
Several times every year, an otherwise unassuming little public bathhouse named Benten-yu is converted into a makeshift "live house" called Furo Rock, where musicians rock out in between the bathtubs. Fully clothed, we assure you. At ¥3,500 a pop, tickets can be on the expensive side (and it's more than a little echo-y in there), but hey -- it's wet and wild. Minus the wet part.
Bentenyu: 2-27-13 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi, map
8. More Michelin stars than anywhere else
When France's lauded Michelin Red Guide announced it would release a Tokyo edition -- the first one to cover an Asian city -- many scoffed at what they perceived to be a mere marketing ploy. But they awarded the area's restaurants a total of 293 stars in the "Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2012" edition of the guide. It's only fair; Tokyo sports 160,000 known eateries, over 10 times the number in Paris. There are a few three-star standouts in the Tokyo Guide -- Kojyu in Ginza, serving delicate traditional Japanese cuisine; Joël Robuchon in Ebisu, the Tokyo stronghold of the famed celebrity chef; and Quintessence in Shirokane-dai, whose young French-trained chef has finally achieved recognition in the Japanese culinary hierarchy, thanks to his inclusion in the Guide. More than anything, though, Michelin has proven something that most Tokyoites already know: this city is undoubtedly the gastronomic capital of the world.
Yodobashi Akihabara. (Flickr/wyzik)9. The electronics stores are like theme parks
The Japanese have taken their love of the latest electronic gadgets and modern appliances to a new level withYodobashi Akiba, the largest electronics store in a section of Tokyo known for being the center of gadget, video game, and anime culture in the city. Going into any electronics store in Akihabara is like stepping into a wonderland of flashing lights and monstrous screens, but Yodobashi ups the ante by offering six massive floors of televisions, stereos, appliances and game consoles, with three more floors dedicated to restaurants, juice bars, bookstores and music shops.
Yodobashi Akiba: 1-1 Kanda-hanaoka-cho, Chiyoda-ku. +81 (0) 3 5209 1010
10. You can commute to the mountains
When the concrete Tokyo gets to be too much, just head out to the wonderful Mount Takao in West Tokyo. Accessible by a single train from Shinjuku, the mountain is particularly famous for its easy hike to the top, stunning autumn foliage and special soba-noodle culture.
To access Takao: Take the Keio line to Takao-san-guchi Station. Takes a little less than one hour.
11. Earth's biggest fish market is in its best sushi neighborhood
Given Japan's penchant for seafood, it's not surprising that the world's largest fish market (and one of the largest wholesale markets, period) is located in Tokyo. Handling more than 2,000 tons of seafood each day, Tsukiji-shijo ("market") is a haven for fisherman, auctioneers and buyers for Tokyo's best restaurants. As an added bonus, here the freshest sushi and most delectable grilled fish lunches can be had at reasonable prices -- assuming one can stand the mad rush of patrons.
Edo-Tokyo Museum. (Flickr/OiMax)12. Even the serious museums are weird
Edo-Tokyo Museum is the best place to relive the old traditional style of life in Tokyo, when it was called Edo in the 15th to 19th centuries. The building exterior, however, looks like a giant space cruiser on a "Buck Rogers" backlot, propped up on stilts. This is perhaps an attempt to fuse past, present and future Tokyo into one space.
Edo-Tokyo Museum: 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, +81 (0) 3 3626 9974
Tokyo Dome. (Flickr/Kanegen)13. Take me out to the ball game (again and again ...)
How baseball-obsessed is Tokyo? It’s one of only three cities in the world -- Chicago and Seoul are the others -- with two big-league stadiums in its central downtown area. The Yomiuri Giants, who play their home games at Tokyo Dome, are loved and detested in equal measure (think New York Yankees), while the more-approachable Yakult Swallows do their thing down the road in cozy Jingu Stadium.
14. You'll never want for expensive antique robot toys
Eight floors of heaven for anime fans, Mandarake Complex represents the flagship of the Mandarake chain of vintage anime ephemera. The seventh and eighth floors are like a museum of Japanese toy history -- only everything is for sale. Although their prices are higher than you'll find in other shops and bargaining is out of the question, you would be hard pressed to beat the selection.
Mandarake Complex: Sotokanda 3-11-12, Chiyoda-ku, +81 (0) 3 3252 7007, noon-8 p.m.
15. The public parks are as pretentious as it gets
Meticulously constructed according to the good Dr. Enryo Inoue's arcane personal tastes, Tetsugakudo's numerous small buildings are all dedicated to renowned philosophers. Outdoor features include a supposedly haunted tree and a "Time-Space Clearing" that is -- and we quote -- "intended to represent the philosophical dimension." It's a big patch of dirt.
Tetsugakudo: Matsugaoka 1-34-28, Nakano-ku, +81 (0) 3 3951 2515, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., closed first Thursday of every month
Sugamo. (Flickr/saname777)16. It's the best place to shop if you're over 60
Variously referred to as the "Granny Ginza" and "Harajuku for Little Old Ladies," the Sugamo Jizo Dori Shotengai shopping street has aged along with the local residents. Looking for the latest fashions circa 1962? You've found the right place. Black-and-white stills of long-forgotten movie stars? Check. It's also filled with stores that sell traditional sweets and trinkets, most of them on the cheap side.
Walking distance from JR Sugamo Station.
17. You can blow an entire year's salary on a round of drinks
Gone are the Bubble-era days of gold-leaf-wrapped sushi, but that profligate spirit lives on in the "Diamonds are Forever" martini at the Ritz-Carlton: chilled Grey Goose vodka with a lime twist, poured over a one-carat diamond. A good martini is hard to improve upon, but everything’s better with a little bling. Cost: ¥1,800,000
Ritz-Carlton: 45/F, 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, +81 (0) 3 3423 8000
K-Pop in Tokyo. (Courtesy Kohji Shiiki)18. The K-Pop boom is old news
As the rest of the world finally gets around to discovering the glories of Korean pop culture, Tokyoites are stifling a yawn. That’s because anything worthwhile coming out of the K-Pop boom washes up in Tokyo’s Koreatown first. This enclave of souvenir shops, barbecue eateries and bars stretches over several blocks near the bustling mini-city of Shinjuku.
19. Personal service is borderline stalky
From humble grocery stores to fancy boutiques, Tokyo’s standard of service is remarkably high. Unsurprisingly, the city’s top-class restaurants strive for excellence, and Aronia de Takazawa delivers service with a personal touch. Prior to your visit, you’ll receive a number of charming, chatty emails from Akiko Takazawa, the chef’s wife. During dinner, Mrs. Takazawa will take you step-by-step through the chef’s high-tech creations and make you feel as smart and sophisticated as the food.
Aronia de Takazawa: Sanyo Akasaka Building, 2/F, 3-5-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, +81 (0) 3 3505 5052
Umi-Hotaru. (Flickr/eesti)20. Highway rest stops are destinations
Rest areas like Umi-hotaru almost make up for the ridiculous tolls and endless traffic jams of Japan's highways. Umi-hotaru (the "sea firefly") is a giant, island-like concrete construct floating smack in the middle of Tokyo Bay at the crossover point between the Aqua-Line bridge and tunnel. It offers a number of restaurants and shops for those who need to relax before braving the remaining drive.
21. There are oodles of noodles
There are more noodle shops in Tokyo than any other city in the world. If we had to pick a current favorite, it would be Menya Goto, a tiny counter stall that serves incredibly flavorful bowls of ramen to the slurping masses lined up out the door.
Menya Goto: 3-33-7 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, +81 (0) 3 3986 9115
Manaboo manga café. (Flickr/eliazar)22. You can spend every waking hour surrounded by comics
At a manga-kissa, or "comics café," a few hundred yen per hour nets you a tiny booth with a reclining chair, Internet-enabled PC, an endless supply of all-you-can-read comic books, and bottomless soft drink refills. Ostensibly created for manga freaks, these miniscule rent-a-chairs are fast becoming popular for another reason: they offer young couples and salarymen alike a super-cheap place to kill time and catch some Zs. The extensive Manboo! franchise (despite a name and logo that border on copyright infringement) is the most recognizable manga-kissa, and its flagship storefront in Kabuki-cho is perfect for hostess-club Lotharios who've missed the last train home.
Manboo! Comic Cafe Shinjuku: 1-17-7 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, +81 (0) 3 5287 4688
23. Bats what's up
Tokyo calls forth an image of the glimmering city of the future, yet along the Kanda River -- flowing from Inokashira Park in Kichijoji to the Sumida River -- we humans have to share Tokyo with another busy inhabitant: bats. Lots of 'em. Every evening, you can see them storming the skies on any pleasant stroll along the river, but since they don't attack people, they're considered part of the ambience.
24. You can ride the world's shortest escalator 8,000 times a day
Kawasaki is not officially Tokyo, but we'd like to claim the world's shortest escalator -- in Kawasaki More's shopping center -- as part of our urban experience. We can't explain why this tiny escalator this exists, but you don't hear us, or Guinness, complaining. Feast your eyes here.
Kawasaki More's: Motomachi 7, Kawasaki-ekimae, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken, +81 (0) 44 211 1131
Chanel in Ginza. (Flickr/d'n'c)25. The most absurdly priced retail establishments on one block
Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Coach, Harry Winston -- and many more -- as far as the eye can see, each a dedicated storefront encased in a building of impeccable modern architectural design. Ginza is where to go to see and be seen and to spend more money than most salarymen ever dream of on fashion, handbags, and jewelry. Ginza used to be pithily described as Tokyo's 5th Avenue, but nowadays it's more accurate to call 5th Avenue New York's Ginza.
Best way to taste Osaka is through its takoyaki. Whether it's the 500-year-old soba recipe in the former imperial capital Kyoto, or a signature takoyaki restaurant in Osaka, there's no escaping Japan's history and culture in these two cities.
CNNGo TV this episode takes a look at some of the places in Kyoto and Osaka that the locals like to go, including the fortune-telling Kibune Shrine, a hilarious wrestling show and a coffee/antiques shop.
Honke Owariya
This soba shop in the heart of Kyoto has had plenty of time to get its recipe right.
Originally a confectionary shop, Honke Owariya has been serving up the traditional Japanese noodle dish since 1465. Back then, it served noodles in the imperial palace. Today, you can still enjoy your soba in the traditional surroundings of a restored confectionary shop.
322 Kurumayachodori Nijo, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, www.honke-owariya.co.jp
Mefuku Antiques and Coffee Shop
Come for the coffee, but stay for the antiques at this machiya (traditional wooden townhouse in Japan) turned coffee shop in Kyoto.
If you're lucky, the owner may just be practicing the koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument.
830 Itchome, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, opens each month from the fifth to 10th, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., special curry menu at weekends; www2.ocn.ne.jp or maiko-net.com (Japanese only)
Kibune Shrine
Found in the mountains northeast of Kyoto, Kibune Shrine is soaked in history.
The water here is believed to be sacred. Many people come to the Shinto shrine for a mizuura-mikuji or paper fortune. The text on the fortune-telling paper is only revealed after dipping the paper into the water.
Northeast of Kyoto, 1112 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Sakyō-ku, Kuramakibunechō, +81 75 741 2016
More on CNNGo: Kyoto without the crowds: Escape like a local
Tako Tako King
In the food-crazy city of Osaka, competition among restaurants is tight. But if you want to enjoy one of Osaka's best-known dishes, takoyaki, your best bet may just be Tako Tako King.
They serve up the octopus dumplings straight off the grill, with a heavy side of blues music and energy from the staff.
2-4-25 Higashi-shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Osaka Pro Wrestling
There's a good chance you'll be able to catch the live wrestling, with this venue staying open for six days a week. Founded in 1998, Osaka Pro is Japanese comedy mixed with wrestling.
1-8-21 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, www.osaka-prowres.com
More on CNNGo: 72 hours in Osaka
Cormorant Fishing in Yangshuo, China @ Travel the World in 80 Days with Cathay Pacific
China Survival Guide: How To Avoid Travel Troubles and Mortifying Mishaps, Revised Edition
"The problems we talk about are for the most part neglected by most travel guidebooks. We tell you what hassles and headaches you might encounter and how to best deal with them. . . . If you should find yourself in a potentially awkward situation, we hope that we can get you out of it with very little drama."-from the introduction
Originally released in time for the China Olympics, this little book immediately caught on with first-time and seasoned travelers thanks to its compact format, affordability, and reliable information delivered with savvy humor. The authors have now improved their work with new sections on critical issues like air travel and appropriate clothing, lots of data updates and fresh recommendations, plus all-new photographs and captions to make the book even more fun to browse. Uniquely designed to address all the travails of being a foreign tourist in China, it includes practical checklists on transportation, lodging, walking, haggling, medical and bathroom emergencies, etiquette, crowds, and learning the twin arts of patience and persistence.
Here are just a few examples of this title's many unsolicited rave online reviews:
"Oh my gosh, the book's description of the crazy drivers, the toilets, the waiting in line, was so helpful."—Houston, TX
"I have been to China fourteen times, but still learned so much from this book."—Platte, SD
"I just returned from ten days in China and this book was by far my favorite."—Bainbridge Island, WA
Larry Herzberg and Qin Herzberg are professors of Chinese language and culture at Calvin College in Michigan. They travel to China every year, and have been featured travel experts on MSNBC and other outlets.
"The problems we talk about are for the most part neglected by most travel guidebooks. We tell you what hassles and headaches you might encounter and how to best deal with them. . . . If you should find yourself in a potentially awkward situation, we hope that we can! get you out of it with very little drama."-from the introduction
Originally released in time for the China Olympics, this little book immediately caught on with first-time and seasoned travelers thanks to its compact format, affordability, and reliable information delivered with savvy humor. The authors have now improved their work with new sections on critical issues like air travel and appropriate clothing, lots of data updates and fresh recommendations, plus all-new photographs and captions to make the book even more fun to browse. Uniquely designed to address all the travails of being a foreign tourist in China, it includes practical checklists on transportation, lodging, walking, haggling, medical and bathroom emergencies, etiquette, crowds, and learning the twin arts of patience and persistence.
Here are just a few examples of this title's many unsolicited rave online reviews:
"Oh my gosh, the book's description of the crazy drivers, the toilets, the waiting in line, was so helpful."—Houston, TX
"I have been to China fourteen times, but still learned so much from this book."—Platte, SD
"I just returned from ten days in China and this book was by far my favorite."—Bainbridge Island, WA
Larry Herzberg and Qin Herzberg are professors of Chinese language and culture at Calvin College in Michigan. They travel to China every year, and have been featured travel experts on MSNBC and other outlets.
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