Having reopened to the rest of the world earlier this year, Japan, and Tokyo specifically, is back on our travel bucket list. Home to ancient traditions, groundbreaking technology, ultra luxury hotels, and a whole lot of kawaii, Tokyo has something for everyone. Sip on plum wine, graze on omurice and make sure to time your trip in March to catch Sakura season and experience the city in a blanket of pastel pink cherry blossom.
Not sure where to start with your Tokyo itinerary? Read on for the ELLE UK guide to a whistlestop tour of Tokyo in just five days...
Day 1
Check yourself into the Tokyo Edition and nap away the jet lag in a seriously plushy bed with panoramic views of the city. A dip in the spa hot tub and a melt-in-the-mouth beef sando will make the 13 hour flight feel like it never happened.
Skip the trip and view the Tokyo Tower (aka Japan's Eiffel Tower) from the chic cream sofas in the lobby bar while sipping on a glass of champagne and people watching fellow hotel regular Brooklyn Beckham.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE TOKYO EDITION
Day 2
Jet lag overcome, it's time to see the city. Hop on the metro just a few seconds outside the hotel doors and head over to Harajuku for shopping, hedgehog cafes and the best people watching in the city. Prepare to eat rainbow-hued everything, and we mean everything. From teetering towers of ice cream, to multi-coloured corndogs and the must-eat rainbow stripe cheese toastie. Yes, really.
Spend the evening at Instagram's go-to immersive light experience (Kim Kardashian and Millie Bobby Brown are both fans), TeamLabs. Book your slot ahead of time to guarantee entry, remember to wear shorts (mirrored floors and water to wade through means long skirts are a no-go) and prepare to take a whole lot of selfies.
Day 3
Today's jaunt is to see some of traditional Tokyo with a visit to Sensoji shrine. Skip breakfast and head straight there where you can work your way down an avenue of Japan's best street food, from red bean Taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries) and handmade rice cakes, to fresh takoyaki (fried octopus balls) and sweet soy mochi skewers. Just remember to dip inside the stall to eat, drinking and eating on the street is generally frowned upon in Japan.
Full of golden cheese coins, make your way to the shrine itself. Find your fortune, burn an incense stick and marvel at the oldest temple in Tokyo. For foodies, you're just a walk away from Tokyo's legendary kitchenware district, Kappabashi. Discover everything from the perfect kitchen knife, to novelty chopstick holders, to an entire shop dedicated to every type of meal imaginable all reworked in plastic.
Hop back on the metro towards Tokyo's iconic Shibuya crossing and join the thousands of people making their way across the world's most famous zebra crossings.
Day 4
Hop over to the other side of Tokyo and check in to the newly opened Bvlgari hotel nestled 40 floors up overlooking the Imperial Palace gardens and the historic red brick Tokyo Station. After a couple of hectic days sightseeing, take a moment to pause in your ultra-luxe hotel room complete with Italian leather fittings, Dyson hairdryer, and marble-backed bath tub. Take the relaxation to the next level with a dip in the sky high hydropool set against glittering gold mosaic tiles, or plunge into the private onsen with the best views in the city.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE BVLGARI HOTEL
The evening's activities take you to the dubiously-named Piss Alley where winding roads are lined with bustling traditional bars and restaurants. Hop from one to the other making the most of the different menus - make sure to try the fresh orange sour and tempura shrimp. Round the night off with a must-do karaoke session and some sushi.
Day 5
For your final day in Tokyo take a walk around the Imperial Palace gardens and enjoy the rare greenery and cherry blossom trees in the center of the city, before heading to the airport.
George Driver was the former Senior Beauty Editor - Digital at ELLE UK.
