Even if you've come from a city as hectic as London or New York, nothing can fully prepare you for the sensory assault that is Tokyo. The scale, crowds and quirks of Japan's capital can leave hardened travellers truly culture-shocked, whilst the language barrier and baffling street layouts have the potential to bamboozle even the most experienced map-readers.
But no-one should miss it.
Many international visitors end up staying just a few days in Tokyo, whether as a stopover en route to Australasia or as an introduction to the rest of Japan; if your visit here is set to be a flying one, here are top tips for getting the most out of a relatively brief stay...Welcome to the neighbourhood
Tokyo is really a series of distinct urban centres that flow into each other over an absolutely vast area. There is not one central area, but several. The atmosphere and architecture of these diverse mini-cities is jarring, so hopping between them (taking public transport or a cab for much of the time - Tokyo distances are deceptively big) proves consistently intriguing. Try these for starters:
Nowhere else in Tokyo - and possibly the planet - will you encounter such a massive swarm of fellow human beings in suits as in Shibuya, particularly during rush hour. This lively district delivers the sort of Japan experience that many foreigners would expect; neon aplenty, huge video screens on the side of shiny skyscrapers, enormous street junctions and hundreds upon hundreds of stylish shops and eateries.
Less trendy and more business-oriented, the streets of Shinjuku are slightly seedier and a tad run-down in places (there's even a red-light district), giving a more edgy and arguably more interesting feel.
Meanwhile, at Asakusa the vibe is considerably different. Buildings are lower-rise and older, with western influences less prevalent, meaning the area retains a much more traditional Japanese feel. Visitors flock here to see the Sensoji shrine, the city's most impressive temple complex which is thronged by market stalls and souvenir shops. More on this later...
Shopping fiends will get massively excited by the Ginza district, whose tidy, tree-lined avenues laden with stores like Tiffany and Zara have echoes of upmarket Western retail meccas. Japan isn't a cheap country so this is no place for bargain hunters, but the range of stores in a compact area is impressive - and trying to make sense of a huge Japanese department store is an unmissable Tokyo experience.
Tokyo has traditionally been associated with electronics and gadgetry, and visitors seeking a geek-tastic shopping experience will particularly love Akihabara. A mind-boggling number of outlets here peddle hi-tech wares of every kind, from iPods to laptops to robots that walk. Price differences between here and back home aren't as striking as they might have been in previous years, but expert shoppers might save a few quid and pick up some kit that isn't out in Europe yet.
Next: Five things not to miss...
