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Experiencing the real Japan

on a Tokyo Stopover.

by Bill Lee

In anybody’s book Tokyo has to be one of the world’s great cities. Amazing sights, sounds, shopping, entertainment – you name it, Tokyo has it. You can find everything here and it would be very easy to lose yourself in the city’s buzz and miss out on experiencing the serenity that is such an essential part of the true Japan.

Slap bang in the middle of this amazing metropolis is an area referred to as the ‘Shitamachi’ or ‘local flavour area’ of Tokyo. It’s actually part of the Ueno district and Ueno station is one of Tokyo’s major transport hubs, easily accessible from Tokyo’s Narita airport on the Keisei line railway – it’s a breeze, even for a first timer.

It had been several years since I’d been to Japan but by the time we were in a taxi from the station to our ryokan (Japanese Inn) I had already remembered the true joy of being in a country where everyone is so darned helpful and so darned polite – you feel so very welcome and oh so very safe. It wasn’t my first stay in a ryokan so there was no nervous anticipation of the unknown. You don’t need to worry about it anyway as the Japanese Inn Group cater for foreign visitors and the warm welcome you receive is a truly sincere one. It seems quite natural to remove your shoes before you step onto the tatami flooring of your room. Slip on your yukata, lay back on your futon and rest your eyes on the soft light drifting through the shoji screen – now you’re experiencing the real Japan! Of course you have to take a Japanese bath – but showers are part of the deal so no panic. And you should try a Japanese breakfast – who knows, maybe you’ll like it – there’s always some eggs and bacon not far away if you don’t.

Previous visits had been work related so I had always turned left out of the Sawanoya Ryokan back down into the ‘buzz’ that is international Tokyo. This time there was no business commitment (actually a wedding to attend, but that was another day) and, just as it is in life, turning right instead of left opened up a whole new world. Narrow streets lined with local shops, noodle bars, small businesses even a clock museum and everywhere, temples. Some tiny, some huge, but every one of them with a superb garden. No matter whether it be a hectare or a square metre the Japanese have a talent for creating tranquility in a garden that is so very pleasing to the eye. It was azalea festival time, and peony festival time – both were unbelievable. There is always a festival. We walked for hours and the next day we walked again. When your feet are about to drop off there are lots of great local eating places here, fantastic noodle bars, Chinese if you like and even an unexpected Italian restaurant - all surprisingly affordable. Those amazingly expensive Japanese experiences you’ve read about aren’t from this area of Tokyo.

Tokyo is an ideal stopover point if you’re traveling through to Europe. There are several air fares offering outstanding value that give you the opportunity to experience Japan en route. If you do something like we did it won’t cost you a packet and you’ll arrive at your destination feeling so much better for having taken the break. Check out Scandinavian Airlines in association with Qantas, a similar Lufthansa product or Japan Airlines. Email or call our travel experts to see which one of these deals is best suited to your itinerary.