The Good Life

The ten best things to do

(while) in Tokyo.

Nikkoko

Nikko is the one place you must visit while living in Tokyo. This is a complete guide to getting to Nikko, where to stay, when to go and what to see, the essential and the simply amazing. In these misty mountains just outside Tokyo rest the key to understanding the Japanese psyche, the myths that created and continue to keep the nation whole. If you do nothing else while in Tokyo, go to Nikko.

Mt. Fuji

The Japanese say 'He who climbs Mount Fuji once is a wise man, he who climbs it twice is a fool'. We take a look at Fuji San’s symbolism and reverence in Japanese culture contrasting the myth with the close up reality; a full guide to climbing Fuji San and understanding her significance.  

Sumo

Sumo isn’t just about big big people getting it on inside a 4.55 meter ring. This is probably one of the most underrated sports for crowd anticipation and excitement. Going to a basho at Tokyo’s Kukugikan sumo arena is a lot cheaper than you might image and a good insight into the legacy of Shinto fertility rites in Japan.

 

Yasukuni museum.

Understanding the many complex forces that coalesce to give any culture identity is never easy. Yet a trip to Yasukuni in Central Tokyo is essential in recognizing Japanese myth and history, post war social pressures and the current nationalist forces at play in contemporary Japanese society that effect everyone in the country, and many outside of it.

Tsukiji fish market.

The market's boisterous labyrinth of stalls showcases all manner of seafood from live sea eel to pickled octopus and in many ways reflects the well-ordered confusion of Japanese society. Tsukiji reveals as much about Japanese culture as it does about Japanese cuisine.

 

Kamakura

Kamakura is steeped in history and culture, and is one of the most popular and fascinating day-trips out of Tokyo. Well-stocked with restaurants and other tourist-oriented amenities, Kamakura has many different attractions. There are literally dozens of shrines and magnificent Zen temples, pleasant walks, lots of tasty eateries, a long beach, plenty of souvenir shops, and many different things to see. Kamakura’s piece de resistance, though, is the Great Buddha (Daibutsu 大仏), a must-see for anyone visiting the Tokyo area.

Noborito

For many years after 1945 Noborito was thought of as a rather boring bed town and company dormitory for workers to commute to more exciting destinations such as Kawasaki and Tachikawa, and of course Shinjuku. Certainly the morning stampede between the Odakyu and Nambu lines suggests no one wants to stay long. But Noborito has some pleasant surprises, not least the Taro Okamoto Art Museum and MinKa-En folk village.

Cape Tsurugi

In the first of many day trips we visit Cape Tsurugi and Jo-Shima to walk off some calories and see Tokyo from a different perspective.

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