Japan’s capital city is a truly mesmerising place. A myriad of stimuli competing for your attention and a constant buzz of jingles, neon, giant TV screens, and pop music help to make Tokyo one of the most thrilling and futuristic places on earth.
A vast and complicated sprawl when you look at the rail map, Tokyo is actually several distinct cities, each with its own character, atmosphere and function – the broad leafy avenues of Omotesando, the hi-tech stores of Akihabara, the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, the bright lights of Shibuya and the narrow market alleys and parks of Ueno.
Tokyo is Japan’s city of lights: at dusk the neon flickers on and the daytime rules dissolve over glasses of sake and beer. The city has no single entertainment hub, and each district has its own atmosphere and draws its own crowd. Few cities can rival the possibilities of Tokyo after dark, and there really is something for everyone, from Roppongi for the club crowd to Odaiba for the modern-day romantic.
Though much of the city is hectic, exciting and crowded, it’s easy to find respite in tranquil parks, palace gardens and historic temples not far from each busy hub.
