August 2019 29
Explore the center of Tokyo’s pop culture, Harajuku in a half day! Join the “Harajuku Fashion and Pop Culture Tour” and you can experience the best highlights of the neighbourhood including the important historical monument, the street of Kawaii culture and the colourful Instagram-Worthy cafe! See the link below and book the tour with special discount!
Ueno Park: Play, Learn and Relax
Short distance from Asakusa area, Ueno is the center of Tokyo’s old downtown area and where one of the biggest parks in Tokyo is located. Ueno Park consists of numbers of attractive facilities including museums, a zoo, historical monuments and rich nature. Ueno Park is highly popular during cherry blossom season, and it’s especially trending in recent years since the Giant Panda baby, Xiang Xiang was born at Ueno Zoo and she made her public debut.
You can easily spend a whole day, and along with the park, you should also visit Ameyoko street, another main attraction of the area. The street has vibrant and chaotic atmosphere with lots of discount stores, groceries, and street food stalls. Ueno and the surrounded has numbers of budget guests houses and it’s a popular area for backpackers.
Ghibli Museum: Explore the World of Studio Ghibli Movies
Studio Ghibli is a famous animation studio by Hayao Miyazaki who has produced numbers of popular films worldwide such as My Neighbour Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Ponyo on the Cliff. Ghibli Museum is the only museum in Tokyo that is dedicated to the work of Studio Ghibli, and if you are a Studio Ghibli film fan, you should definitely visit there.
The museum features the art and technique of animation, and some famous film characters such as a replica of Cat Bus from My Neighbour Totoro and a robot from Castle in the Sky. There are also a cafe and gift shop inside the museum. The museum is located at Inokashira Park in Mitaka City, Tokyo.
Advance booking is required for Ghibli Museum (tickets are not sold at the museum) , so make sure to reserve tickets online before visiting.
Stay at Ryokan: Experience Traditional Japanese Hospitality
Ryokan is a traditional Japanese style hotel, offering authentic Japanese rooms and hospitality in a historical building. Even though Tokyo is filled with modern accommodations such as luxurious hotels, stylish guest houses and capsule hotels, there are still numbers of great Ryokan style accommodations where you can experience the authentic Japanese staycation experience.
It’s a great way to learn Japanese culture and be surrounded by a peaceful and serine atmosphere. You may think that Ryokan style accommodation provides the high-end services and is quite pricey, but some Ryokan are cozy, rustic and more affordable than other hotels in Tokyo.