Page 10 of North & Central Asia by Audley Travel

roppongi at night tokyo tokyo take an evening stroll through the shinjuku district of tokyo and every preconceived image of modern japan will be there to greet you the thronging crowds decked out in the wildest fashions towering skyscrapers flashing neon and all the noise and excitement of what is perhaps the world s ultimate metropolis shinjuku is tokyo but so are the smoky senso-ji temples of asakusa and the green oases of hamarikyu-en garden and meiji jingu shrine tokyo is a city of countless subcentres each with its own style atmosphere and interest location is key here and we recommend staying in one of the excellent international hotel options on the circular jr yamanote railway line from here we can organise a city tour or provide comprehensive pre-departure notes to help you to explore independently savour an early sushi breakfast at the amazing tsukiji fish market explore historic asakusa with its temples and traditional handicrafts before plunging into the glitter and extravagance of the shopping and entertainment districts of shinjuku shibuya and ginza tokyo also holds countless attractions for younger visitors including celebrated anime director miyazaki s studio ghibli museum tokyo disneyland and harajuku mecca for japan s fashion-conscious youth nikko kamakura only a couple of hours to the north of the capital the small mountain town of nikko feels like another world here beneath the cool cedars stands the fabulous toshogu shrine mausoleum to the first and greatest tokugawa shogun on whom james clavell based his famous novel the superb carvings of the shrine including the original `see no evil hear no evil speak no evil monkey carvings complement the beautiful mountain setting after a thorough exploration of the shrine precinct we recommend heading up the hairpin road to enjoy the fine scenery of lake chuzenji for tokyo-ites the tranquil seaside town of kamakura is a favourite getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city dotted with secluded shrines and temples remnants of the town s brief halcyon days as capital of the nation kamakura is also home to the great bronze buddha kamakura great buddha mandarin oriental tokyo the mandarin oriental is tokyo s newest and most luxurious international hotel as one would expect from the mandarin oriental chain this hotel offers only the finest in luxury and style the rooms are fabulous spacious and so well equipped that you will probably not want to leave conveniently located within walking distance of glamorous ginza in one of tokyo s most prestigious neighbourhoods the hotel offers breathtaking views over the dramatic cityscape of downtown tokyo indulge in one of the fantastic treatments on offer at the spa at the mandarin oriental or savour the fine cuisine at one of the popular restaurants as the lights of the city twinkle below mandarin oriental tokyo 10

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