Cities like Seoul and Hong Kong have fast become meccas for tourists craving a taste of vibrant city life mixed with a slice of Asian culture. With booming tourism industries, quirky must-tries, unique must-dos and a colourful melting pot of cultures all in close quarters, both are strong contenders for the title of Asia’s coolest city, but it’s the colourful metropolis of Tokyo that stands up strong and pips them at the post.
Pioneers of technology
It’s no secret the Japanese are a tech-savvy bunch. Game-changing inventions like DVDs, cameras and robots have seen them at the forefront of the digital revolution for decades, and with the likes of the Shinkansen and talking loos sat proudly on their list of worldly contributions, they’ve really done a great job of making the rest of the world look like technophobes. If you’re a tech geek, make your way to Akihabara (otherwise known as the electric city) for a full on attack of the senses. As you walk along the main strip, neon lights, booming music and wall to wall activity will ensure there’s no chance of you forgetting where you are and what you came for. Not afraid to show you who’s the boss of technology, Sony have an expansive showroom showcasing their latest, most innovative products, ranging from phones to robots. You can even visit restaurants where ordering sushi on an iPad that is delivered by conveyor belt is just a standard day at the office. It’s a forgone conclusion- Tokyo is the ultimate place to silence the geek within you.
Trend-setters in fashion
From mega malls to boutique shops, Tokyo is undoubtedly a shopping mecca, it’s no wonder trend-setting in the fashion world is something this nation does incredibly well. Take Harajuku fashion for example. It all began with a handful of mavericks who had a penchant for brightly coloured clothing colliding with a conquest of patterns on one single piece of material. From here it escalated into a globally known trend. The trends of Tokyo start at grassroots level in shopping districts like Shibuya and Harajuku before seeping out to the masses. Street fashion is huge here so you can expect to see more and more labels joining the Uniqlos and Issey Miyakes that have come before them.
History, culture and the future collide
One of the things that makes Tokyo a strong contender for the title of Asia’s coolest city is undoubtedly its history. The remnants of the country’s past has not been lost over time, with everything from temples to shrines and historic castle ruins boldly on display for all to see. Japanese culture is also at the heart of everything. Whilst many Asian countries have succumbed to western culture allowing the English language to take a strong hold in speaking, advertising and tourism, in Japan, Japanese is still in number one. You can still see women in traditional dress, catch age-old forms of Japanese performance such as Kabuki, enjoy traditional architecture and even watch sumo wrestling. All this collides with the future of technology and lives in perfect harmony to deliver the best of both worlds.
There’s space to escape
Like many Asian cities, you can find anything your heart desires at the drop of a hat, whether that’s cuisine, entertainment or relaxation but there’s something Tokyo can offer that its competition find more difficult. The opportunity to retreat. Escaping the bright lights and bustle is simple here, with low-density residential areas situated in pockets around the city for you to explore on foot. You’ve also got the tranquillity of the parks found at the heart of the city, the serenity of the traditional spas, the opportunity to soak up silence at temples and shrines, as well as the relaxed confines and service to be enjoyed at unique luxury hotels in Tokyo.
Culture, traditions, charm and appeal all intact, Japan still manages to provide the tourist with a first-rate efficient, well-connected modern day experience. Tokyo is linked to suburbs far and wide via subway and train, and the entirety of the country can be reached via bullet train in just a matter of hours. How many Asian countries can boast such impeccable travel conveniences? You needn’t waste time queueing at airports for domestic flights, as you can visit those rural, hard to reach areas for a taste of Japanese life outside of the cities at speeds of 180 mph.
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Suze - Luxury Columnist
September 20, 2016 at 9:27 amI’m really keen to visit Japan, as you say, the technology side of the place is fascinating and they’re definitely trendsetters
Ian Garstang
September 23, 2016 at 6:57 amIt’s truly an amazing place, as there is always something new to discover. At first, everything seems so alien, but after a few days, you’re hooked and you never want to leave.
Awint Waliya
September 23, 2016 at 7:34 amHi Ian Garstang!! Interesting Facts you shared about Tokyo city. These facts are really intriguing for the travelers who love to visit romantic places like this amazing city.
Ian Garstang
September 23, 2016 at 12:21 pmTokyo has so much to offer from Cat Cafe’s to Sumo tournaments… There really is something for everyone.
Sheena
September 24, 2016 at 4:38 pmI’ve been to most of Asia & have to agree that Tokyo is the very cool – traditional & contemporary, culture & technology, there’s no mix like it anywhere in the world. And like you said, there’s many places you can retreat to outside the city for times when you need a bit of peace & tranquility.
Ian Garstang
September 26, 2016 at 11:13 amThanks Sheena… I can’t wait to go back 😉
Kenny
September 25, 2016 at 2:49 amThanks for sharing! To me, I love love love the food and there’s great Japanese cuisine in any corner of the city!
https://knycxjourneying.com/2015/06/14/yummylicious-tokyo/
Ian Garstang
September 26, 2016 at 11:16 amThe food is fantastic… Thanks for sharing your post.
Vicky @ A Backpack Full of Adventures
September 25, 2016 at 6:56 amGreat post, Ian – I’ve never been to Japan but would love to visit sometime. It sounds like Tokyo is quite an eclectic place, which I absolutely love – and those temples look beautiful!
Ian Garstang
September 26, 2016 at 11:18 amThanks Vicky, It’s well worth adding to the bucket list as I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. From food to fashion or tech to temples, there is so much to see and do. Thanks for commenting.
Christopher
September 28, 2016 at 1:09 amI’be been a huge fan of Japanese Anime ever since I was a kid. Pokémon are cool and I love technology. Tokyo has been on my go-to-list for awhile now. Great post. I pinned it too 🙂
Ian Garstang
September 30, 2016 at 9:26 amThanks for your kind words and pinning the post. I too am a huge tech fan and love Japanese movies. If you love Anime then Japan should be on the bucket list 😉
danik the explorer
October 8, 2016 at 11:46 amBy the looks of this post and I havent visited the capital, Tokyo looks totally amazing! 🙂 Great read
Ian Garstang
October 10, 2016 at 4:48 amThanks Danik, it’s certainly one of my favourite capital cities in the world!
Miranda
October 9, 2016 at 2:35 amI love that there is so many ‘escapes’ and greenspace in Tokyo. I didn’t realize there were so many tranquil spots there until I read this blog post. Thanks!
Ian Garstang
October 10, 2016 at 4:52 amThanks for commenting Miranda. There are so many great parks in the city that are even more special during sakura season.
Lisa
October 9, 2016 at 5:56 pmI have wanted to visit Japan for many years now and just can’t seem to get there. It looks like such a cool place to explore. It seems to have a little bit of everything. Thanks for sharing I will pin this for future reference!
Ian Garstang
October 10, 2016 at 4:53 amIf you ever get the chance, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s one for the whole family. Thanks for pinning!
Daisy J. Crawford
October 9, 2016 at 6:16 pmI want to go to Tokyo sooo bad! But my fiancé is scared I’ll overload on Hello Kitty products. And probably some Japanese cookery. It’s on my bucketlist!
Ian Garstang
October 10, 2016 at 4:56 amThanks for commenting, Daisy. That is a risk he should be willing to take in exchange for the trip of a life time! Keep chipping away at him. I’m sure if you gave him free run of the tech stores he’d love it.
Christine | The Traveloguer
October 10, 2016 at 3:59 amI would love to visit Tokyo, especially for the technology and street style!
Ian Garstang
October 10, 2016 at 4:57 amThere’s certainly plenty of tech to hand, which I’m a big fan of myself! Thanks for commenting Christine,
Elisa
October 10, 2016 at 4:18 pmI have visited most of Asia but Japan . . . don’t think it is my cup of tea. A pity you did not write more about the spas thing, that could have changed my mind! 😉
Ian Garstang
October 11, 2016 at 4:22 amPerhaps I can do a low down on the spas and onsens for my next post as they really are quite special. Thanks Elisa!
Yenor
October 10, 2016 at 4:49 pmYes, definitely technologically advanced, that’s for sure! The food and culture I find incredibly interesting also,but unfortunately I am yet to travel to that part of the world. Oh well, maybe sometime next year. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ian Garstang
October 11, 2016 at 4:35 amThe culture is so different from back home, but that’s what makes it such a fantastic place to visit. Next time you’re in Asia, you should make it top of the list! Thanks Yenor.
Nic
October 10, 2016 at 4:50 pmCannot agree more, Tokyo is such a cool place and was were we chose to go on our honeymoon!! We just have to return one day!!
Ian Garstang
October 11, 2016 at 4:39 amThanks for commenting Nic. That’s an amazing choice for a honeymoon. People don’t realise that Tokyo is actually quite a romantic place to be. What could be better than dinner for two overlooking a skyline like Tokyo’s!
Nancy
October 10, 2016 at 9:56 pmTokyo seems to have it all especially if you are a techie! What I love is the cross from ultra modern to the exquisite architecture of Japan’s historic temples. Its breathtaking! Definitely a place everyone should visit sometime in their lifetime.
Ian Garstang
October 11, 2016 at 4:41 amI couldn’t agree more Nancy, it’s one of those places you need experience in person to truly appreciate how diverse a place can really be. Thanks for commenting.
Alice Teacake
January 2, 2017 at 1:22 pmI visited Japan 3 years ago now and it totally blew my socks off. There’s certainly no other place like it. Tokyo was an absolute playground for me and I highly recommend going to the Robot Restaurant for absolute delightful madness 😀