Tokyo

Name: Best of Japan
Brand: Contiki
Price: 66 ZAR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7

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Travel in Tokyo

The daily mad rush to the subways, bright lights, modern technology, and not to forget - Samurai culture and sushi make Tokyo seem like part of another planet.

FAST FACTS

Airport: Narita International Airport, Haneda Airport (mainly domestic)
Time from Narita airport to Haneda Airport by train Approx.: 1 hour 30 minutes
Express bus from Narita airport to Tokyo Station: 70 minutes/900 yen
Limousine bus from Haneda airport to Tokyo Station: 25-45 minutes/930 yen
Haneda airport to Tokyo Station monorail: Approximately 25 minutes/Fare: 650 yen
Taxi from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station: 19,924 yen
Taxi from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station: 5,499 yen
Transport: Bus, train, taxi, waterways
Toei one-day economy pass: 700 yen
Tokyo one-day pass: 1,590 yen
Toei streetcar one-day economy pass: 400 yen

ABOUT CONTIKI
From quick breaks to epic journeys, Contiki exists to connect young travellers with the time of their lives.

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Things to do in Tokyo

Go on a Tokyo City Tour

Your local guide will lead you into a fascinating city tour where you can explore, window shop at premium shopping areas, chill in one of the astounding botanical gardens, and try local street food. You'll get panoramic views of the city from the 202-metre high observation deck on top of Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. There's a lovely dinner and show waiting for you at the lively Robot restaurant when you finish the tour.

Check out Nakamise Street Shopping

As you enter Nakamise Street, you'll find traditional souvenirs, pretty little keychains, handicrafts, and food stalls serving freshly-roasted rice crackers and traditional sembei. If you've seen the movie Spirited Away and remember the colourful candy, you'll come across them out here. Dig into the stalls to find masks, lucky cats, fancy teacups, exotic fans, and quaint little sumo wrestlers that you can carry back home.

Visit Harajuku District

Here's your chance to get introduced to the neighbourhood that gave you Lolita girls, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and decora. A visit to Takeshita Street and its side streets near Harajuku Station brings you face to face with Tokyo's teenage culture - right from crepe stands, to fast-food outlets to used clothes stores to fashion boutiques.

Head to The Shibuya Crossing

This famous intersection is always packed with commuters, and shoppers coming from all directions. As you enter the busy junction, check out how traffic lights turn red in every direction. Pedestrians pour into the intersection from every angle, and traffic comes to a complete halt. This is organised chaos at its very best, and if you're in one of the upper floors of Starbucks, the scramble is a real experience to behold.

See The Imperial Palace - Home of The Emperor

When you travel with your local guide, you'll get insider information on the beautiful Imperial Palace, home of the Emperor of Japan. The palace is spread across 3 km with grounds dotted with lakes, unique flora and fauna. Even though Japan has turned into a democracy, it still remains a seat of political power with the Prime Minister's office and National Diet building located in the same complex.

Top Attractions in Tokyo

There's an almost overwhelming amount on offer in Tokyo, but we've done the research and come up with a solid top 5. Read on for our favourite attractions in this city.

Asakusa Senso-ji Buddhist Temple

Asakusa Senso-Ji is the number one destination for foreign tourists and for good reason. As you approach the main entrance, you can spot a 40-foot-high torii gate made of 1,500-year-old cypress. Also, spot people writing wishes on pieces of paper and tying them to the prayer wall, while others dip hands into a communal water tank to purify themselves.

Tokyo Disneyland & Disneysea

The Tokyo Disney resort one-day pass is a fantastic way to spend an enjoyable day at Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disney Sea. If you have the time, book separate passes for both. You'll have an incredible experience trying out the water slides at DisneySea in what is arguably the best Disney park in the world. It's a truly rewarding experience and costs much less than what you'd pay at Walt Disney Studios Park.

Tokyo Skytree

Until recently, Tokyo Skytree was the tallest structure in the world and is still an imposing structure at 634 metres above ground level. Designed in traditional Japanese architectural style, the earthquake-resistant system is a learning experience. You can catch 360-degree panoramic views of the city from Tembo Deck, located at 350 metres above ground level. If you're here during the spring season, catch special lighting and character events and enjoy the scenery of blossoming cherries.

Meiji Jingu

The largest Shrine in Tokyo is a testimony to Japan's original religion, still evident in the day-to-day lives of the Japanese. When you enter Meiji Jingu, you'll be in complete harmony with nature and learn why the Shinto religion has no holy book, no founder, and does not practice religious conversion. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the beautiful landmark has a forest with over donated 100,000 brought in from different parts of Japan.

Tsukiji Fish Market

Surprised that a fish market is included as an attraction? Tsukiji Fish Market has long been one of the favourite destinations for visitors not just because it is the world's largest fish market or the busiest, but because of the organisation and sheer capacity to handle volumes of fresh daily catch. Entry is first come first serve, so make sure you're among the first 120 people entering the complex at 4:30 AM in the morning.