Fall (September through November), favored for its abundance of sunshine, autumnal foliage, and comfortable temperatures, and spring (late March through early April), when white and pink cherry blossoms take over the city, are the two most ideal times to visit. Winter (December through March) is frosty and the summer (June through August) is best to avoid—it’s hot, humid, and (somewhat counter intuitively) the busiest time for tourism. Airport Info. While two major international airports service Tokyo, each presents its own challenges. Traffic can make the trip into Tokyo take up to two hours—expect a fare of $2. Booking private car services like Tokyo- Taxi (8. Green Tomato (8. 1- 4. The Limousine Bus (8. A one- way ticket costs around $3. The more- convenient Haneda Airport, just 1. Asian airlines, and only allots a handful of slots to American flights. It takes half the time to get from Haneda to Tokyo than it does from Narita. Fixed rate taxis (from $7. Getting Around. Japan has one of the best public transportation systems in the world. Signs written in English signs are on prominent display, and stationmasters are courteous and helpful. For a short visit, purchase the Pasmo (a deposit of $5 needed, but you’re reimbursed when you return it), which can be used on trains, buses, and taxis. But be warned: most modes of public transportation in Tokyo don’t run overnight. Can’t Leave Without. Experiencing an authentic Japanese tea ceremony at the Imperial Hotel’s three- room Toko- an. Taking a sushi- making lesson. Tsukiji Cooking can arrange for private classes with a Michelin- starred chef, or a shopping excursion at Tsukiji fish market with an expert. ![]() The Tokyo International Film Festival (. The event was held biennially.Visiting a Sumo stable. In Tokyo, matches are held in January, May, and September, but private outings to a stable grants access to rikishi (wrestlers) anytime of the year. The neighborhood is filled with tourist for a reason, and it’s worth the detour. Also stop for traditional earthenware and some of the world’s best knives at Kappabashi (Kitchen Town). Kamata Hakensha (2- 1. Matsugaya, Taito- ku; kap- kam. English and Kama- Asa (2- 2. Matsugaya, Taito- ku; kama- asa. Local Dish to Try. No dish better represents Japanese food than sushi, but don’t expect the rainbow rolls from your takeout spot. Maki, raw fish rolled with rice and vegetables in nori (seaweed), and nigiri, rice topped with wasabi and raw fish, are most common, but regions throughout Japan have their own renditions. Tokyo’s Sushi Sawada offers a classic example—just don’t mix the wasabi and soy sauce, unless you want to insult the chef. ![]() I Come with the Rain is a 2009 neo-noir atmospheric thriller written and directed by Vietnamese-born French director Tran Anh Hung, starring American actor Josh Hartnett. A new generation of brewers has started a craft revolution in response, returning to the roots of its making. One of the best ways to explore sake is at Akita Pure Rice Sake Bar: Order the “nine- temperature” set, which demonstrates how temperature can influence flavor. The conditions make for the perfect backdrop for Illuminations, the yearly showcase of glittering LED light designs on display throughout the city. SPRING: Tokyo temporarily explodes with delicate pink and white blossoms in late March/early April. Take in the magnificent sakura and ume trees at sites around the city. Make like a local and bring a picnic. SUMMER: Sanja Matsuri, the Sanja Festival, is a major Shinto celebration hosted in late- May at Asakusa Shrine. Expect parades, music, dancing, and lots and lots of people. FALL: Tokyo’s leaf- peeping fervor just might rival that of New England, and it’s with good reason: red maple, gingko, and a variety of other trees offer a dazzling palette of autumnal shades. ![]() Gin Shinjuku Gyoen Park is a national garden and one of the capital’s best places to take it all in. Your ultimate guide to Tokyo. Grand Hyatt Tokyo. Though it shares a celebrity buzz with its sister hotel the Park Hyatt, the effortlessly sleek Grand is pleasingly low- key. Its location in the upmarket Roppongi Hills complex might not suit those who like their Tokyo served straight up, but by the same token it provides a restful retreat. And having high- end shops and restaurants, a 5. As is the Nagomi spa (though there’s a charge for guests) which, in addition to the usual list of artful treatments, has a lap pool, steam and sauna and a luminous white jacuzzi. Though not flashy, the guest rooms are extremely comfortable and well thought out, with dimmable lights, Bose stereos and free high- speed internet, and a tub you could park your car in.
A 1. 0th anniversary renovation has added Oxford chairs, original washi paper artwork and Bluetooth connectivity to the amenities.
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