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Tokyo in a Weekend - Fast and Furious

Description:

Two days to see Tokyo is like taking one potato chip: it's just not enough. That being said, the city offers so much to see and do, you can't go wrong taking a sampling of the best, and leaving the rest for later. Plus, Tokyo's layout and fast, efficient public transportation system lend themselves easily to quick hops from place to place, without much time wasted. To take in some highlights in one weekend, you have to live like the city breathes: fast and relentlessly.

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Author: Alex

Day 1 - Tokyo

Start off at Shinjuku station: the world's busiest. Hopefully you'll be there early enough to catch the morning madness – even on the weekend, this place doesn't stop. And neither should you. Unless you plan on spending half the day here, resist the urge to map this subterranean labyrinth and take the West exit toward Nishi Shinjuku, the skyscraper district. Your destination is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku), which offers perhaps the best view to be had of Tokyo from its 45th floor observation deck, for free. There are two towers; choose the south one if you can. Stand in awe of what you've bitten off to chew in two days. For lunch, splurge on some of the best Shinjuku (and therefore Tokyo) has to offer at one of its many restaurants, like Kozue, on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt. Here, you'll also have impressive views of the surroundings, and can even take in Fuji on a clear day. Next, it's a quick train ride to Shibuya for the requisite crowd-watching. Do some shopping and walk the streets of this only-in-Tokyo spectacle. On the weekend it's particularly crowded, but isn't that what you came for? Hop on the Oedo line to Roppongi, which will be your base for the rest of the night. The shiny new Roppongi Hills complex shouldn't be missed, and it offers many options for dining in a convenient space. Try the wine bar across from the cinema for small bites and a nice drink selection. From here, you'll need some time to relax, and no trip to Japan could be complete without a soak in an onsen (hot spring bath). Thankfully, Azabu-Juban Onsen offers just that, nearby. Refreshed and ready, hit Roppongi's main line-up of foreigner-friendly bars and nightclubs. For late-night edibles, try the ramen (a Japanese must-eat) at Daihachi. On the weekend, the action doesn't stop until the dawn, so you could easily do without the hotel tonight. If you must sleep, stay at the Roppongi Plaza Hotel. Take advantage of the love hotel's hourly rates and only-in-tokyo experience.

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Shinjuku Station

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Location:

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Shinjuku 3-chome
Shinjuku-ku
163-8001 Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 50 2016 1603

Shinjuku

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Location:

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Shinjuku
163-0601 Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 3 5321 3077

Park Hyatt Tokyo

Location:

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3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku
Shinjuku-ku
163-1055 Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 3 5322 1234

Shibuya

Location:

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Area around Shibuya Station
Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 03 5321 3077

Roppongi Hills

Location:

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6-10-1 Mori Tower
Minato-ku
106-6155 Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 03 6406 6000

Azabu-Juban Onsen

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Location:

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1-5-22 Azabu-Juban
Minato-ku
106-0045 Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 (0)3 3404 2610

Daihachi

Location:

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7-12-1 Roppongi
Minato-ku
106-0032 Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 (0)3 3405 0721

Roppongi Plaza Hotel

Location:

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Roppongi Daiya Heights 6F, 7-15-13 Roppongi
Minato-ku
106-0032 Tokyo, Japan

Phone:

+81 (0)3-3478-0811

Day 2 - Tokyo

You spent the first day in West Tokyo; now, see the East. First, grab a traditional (and cheap!) Japanese breakfast of fish, rice, and miso soup at Yoshinoya, Japan's favorite fast food joint. Next, get on the train to Akihabara for some electro-lust. You can pick up many of next-year's gadgets at good prices here, especially if you scour the duty-free shops. Pick up a quick lunch of curry-rice, the otaku (uber geek) favorite. Find your way to the new, ultra-modern Tsukuba Express line, and spend only 4 minutes getting to Asakusa, Tokyo's historic center. Here, browse the street stalls, picking up munchables and getting all your souvenirs on the way. You'll end up at Senso-ji Temple (you had to see one, right?), which offers everything a temple should. Say goodbye to Tokyo with a cruise on the Sumida River to Odaiba. You'll get a great overview of eastern Tokyo this way, passing beneath many of the river's famous bridges. In Odaiba, take as much time as you can to check out the island's modern architecture, then head to the beach. Watch the sun go down behind the Tokyo skyline and then head back to Shimbashi station on the monorail over Rainbow Bridge. It's an easy connection back to Narita from there.

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