travel tips

HOW TO GET THERE:

Emirates flies to Tokyo (Narita and Hanida airports); in January, the cheapest flights were around R11 500 for a springtime return ticket.

GETTING AROUND:

The sky train, bullet train, metro and taxi systems are all very effective. None are cheap, but all are highly reliable.

ACCOMMODATION:

Several big hotel chains are available, or you can find Airbnb and guesthouse options. The Airbnb option is far more affordable. Depending on your requirements and the level of privacy you prefer, prices start in the region of R200 per person, per night.

FOOD:

The food at the market, grocery store and the supermarket-style eatery was affordable; equivalent to South African prices. Restaurants are somewhat more expensive.

WHEN TO GO:

Spring is cherry blossom season, but Tokyo has something different to offer throughout the year. I visited at the end of February/ beginning March, which is winter time in Tokyo, so there was a chill in the air but the sky was clear blue and the sun was out.

GOOD TO KNOW:

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, travel guide Frommers notes that Tokyo can be ‘blissfully empty’ during Golden Week (29 April–5 May) and the summer holidays (mid-July through August). But be warned, Japanese summers are hotter than you think and it is often unbearably humid as well. They even have a specific word for days with temperatures higher than 35°C: they are called

‘moshobi’ (sweltering days).