Tokyo

Return to Tokyo: Feast your way through Nagano and Kanazawa after your winter ski vacation

Tokyo is a mecca for all things delicious, yet if you venture further afield you will discover even more to tantalise your tastebuds. With Japan gradually reopening its borders (guided tours have been available since 10th June 2022), it’s time to get one’s winter holiday planning underway in time for unrestricted travel for Australian visitors….

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Kengo Kuma: From the Japan National Stadium to public toilets, good design is universal

The creator of the 2020 Olympic/Paralympic centrepiece is building stylish public toilets and looking at the city like a cat. With the Olympics and Paralympics proving a welcome distraction from the current issues impacting our daily lives right now, Kengo Kuma, is a man you should know. He’s the Japanese architectural icon behind the Japan…

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Exploring Tokyo’s Tsukiji and homemade sushi with ‘Tours By Locals’

Tokyo and all of its food, culture, nightlife and more can be challenging to explore on your own. And if you’re a traveller passing through, there’s also the added pressure of wanting to maximise each moment of your limited time in the big city. Local guides are a great way to experience immersive travelling. Tours…

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Exploring Koga: one of Japan’s secret attractions, and an ideal Tokyo day trip

When first-time tourists visit Japan, they often take such a well-trodden route that it has a nickname within the Japanese tourism circles. Known in the industry as ‘the golden route,’ this commonly explore circuit travels from Tokyo to Osaka and Kyoto and often Hiroshima. While it’s a stunning and undeniably rewarding path to take, the…

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Tokyo Lamington opens a Sydney flagship in Haymarket

It appears that the recent collaboration between Koko Black and Tokyo Lamington was indeed a sign of bigger things to come, with the Tokyo-born dessert store officially opening a flagship in Sydney today. Founded by N2 Gelato mastermind Min Chai and former Black Star Pastry alum Eddie Stewart, Tokyo Lamington is an ode to Australia’s…

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Tour Diary: Rackett takes the Machinations Tour to Tokyo, Japan

One of the absolute highlights of the live music scene in Australia in 2018 was catching Rackett. Their high-energy glam punk rock was incredibly great fun. It was always a night of immense passion, great musicianship, and total commitment. At the core was their lead singer Bec Callender, the driving force behind the band. A…

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Pocket Change: Japanese machine helps you save while travelling

According to Japan’s tourism organisation, JNTO, Australians were the highest spending tourists in Japan in 2018, dropping an average of 242,050 yen per person (or AUD $3,075) per visit. After 2020, Japan is expected to hit 40 million annual tourists, so we can only expect that number to grow. Us Aussies love to spend in…

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Qantas and Virgin will compete for new services to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport

Those who have been to Tokyo before would know that the immense Japanese capital has two airports; one more convenient than the other. Narita, probably the best known and most frequented, is furthest from the city, while Haneda is highly sought by visitors as the most convenient of the two. This is largely due to…

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Marriott announce new luxury Autograph Collection hotel for Tokyo

Marriott International are about to welcome a second Japanese property into their coveted Autograph Collection, announcing the signing of mesm Tokyo. Located at the exciting Takeshiba Waterfront Development Project, the hotel will occupy 10 floors of the multipurpose WATERS takeshiba building, offering guests a highly personal, individualised experience befitting the storied collection of unique hotels…

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Wishing the Sony Walkman a Happy 40th

Do you remember your first Walkman? I know I do. I recall feeling like I had a universe in my pocket. Well, not in my pocket. Clipped to the belt near my packet. Either way, I had a tiny, sleek box that would accept a cassette and click shut with a satisfying “schlick” noise. I’d…

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Tokyo’s latest co-working space makes being a digital nomad so much easier

Tokyo may be one of the most popular travel destinations for Aussies right now, but it doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for being a “digital nomad” city. Given that space is a premium, language barriers still very much exist, and Japan’s love of rules and paperwork, it’s a reputation that in the past has been…

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Flight Review: Does flying in AirAsia’s Quiet Zone make the seven hour Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo flight more bearable? (D7552)

When I think about taking a budget flight, I tend to fly for a maximum of 4 hours – about the length of a flight from Perth to Sydney. Anything longer than that and I’d never think twice about flying any budget carrier. But I had a 7 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo…

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Tokyo’s famous Wagyumafia opens first international venue in Hong Kong

Famed for their exclusive wagyu beef omakase menus, Tokyo’s Wagyumafia has officially begun expanding outside of Japan, with their first international location opening up in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Fitting into a modest 18-seat space on Oi Kwan Road, the members-only restaurant (non-members can still go, but they’ll get a pared down menu) has unsurprisingly…

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Travel Deals: Jetstar is offering $259 flights to Hawaii; $229 flights to Vietnam

There has been some juicy flight sales coming out of Australia as of late, and we’re not even two weeks into 2019 yet. The latest is coming from Jetstar who have launched their “International Resolutions Sale”, running from now until the 16th January (or earlier if sold out – which is looking highly likely). So…

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Six international food festivals worth travelling for (before 2018 is over)

The final three months of 2018 bring plenty of opportunities for gastronomic tourism (the best kind of travel), whether you’re heading over to North America, travelling around Asia or just keen on a road trip in your backyard. These six highly curated food festivals are well worth getting off the couch for, from historic long-running…

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Hotel Review: Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Station gets by with a perfect location

The value of staying near Tokyo Station cannot be overstated, particularly for those relatively unfamiliar with the heaving, at times overwhelming capital city. Much has been written about the exceptional transport system of Tokyo, and this station is most certainly its beating heart, which is why a hotel like Courtyard By Marriott Tokyo Station is…

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Kimpton to open new luxury hotel in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighbourhood

During the last five years the number of Australians travelling to Japan has shot up by a remarkable 170 percent, and with officials predicting tourist numbers to hit 40 million by the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, it’s no surprise IHG are looking to substantially up their presence in the country. A big assist to…

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Review: Shangri-La Hotel – Supreme Comfort in the Heart of Tokyo

As forward-thinking Tokyo is, the idea of classicism still very much permeates many of the city’s institutions. Elegance and efficiency is a pathological expectation, and more often than not, those expectations are met tenfold. This is a large reason why, despite an overwhelming language barrier and high degree of cultural shock (for first-timers anyway), Tokyo…

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Review: MOXY Tokyo Kinshicho – a creative, colourful and playful hotel in Sumida Ward

Tokyo’s iteration of Marriott International’s energetic and youthful Moxy brand has done well to distinguish itself among the many traditional hotels that lie across the sprawling city. Located in the Sumida Ward, just five minutes on foot from JR Kinshicho Station, the property is a creative and playful entry to a neighbourhood most tourists wouldn’t…

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Spring is blooming at Tokyo’s National Museum of Modern Art

Spring themed masterpeices will be exhibited this year at the the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, Japan’s first national art museum, to coincide with the internationally recognised cherry blossom festival. Works will be on display from March 23 to April 8, and include Kawai Gyokudo’s “Parting Spring” depicting cherry blossoms, which is designated…

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Review: Motif Restaurant highlights exceptional produce from Hokkaido (Tokyo, Japan)

Very few words can describe just how exciting the dining scene in Japan really is. It’s almost dizzying to think just what kind of journey your palate will be taken through on a trip to the famously unique country, presenting you with everything from the standards like ramen, sushi and yakiniku through to the likes…

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Escaping Tokyo: Five perfect day trip destinations less than 90 minutes from the city

Tokyo is an amazing city, with bright lights, weird cafes and hidden watering holes – no matter how long you stay there’s always something new to discover. However for some the flood of neon and constant city bustle can get a little much, especially for us Australians used to a little space and the urge…

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Review: ANA InterContinental Tokyo’s sense of scale, luxury and location is hard to beat (Japan)

Last year respected website Haute Grandeur named ANA InterContinental Tokyo “Best Business Hotel” in the continent and “Best Lifestyle Hotel” in Japan; in addition, the property was also named “Japan’s Leading Business Hotel” by the prestigious World Travel Awards that same year. It’s certainly hard to argue with those accolades after witnessing first hand just…

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Hotel Review: The Strings by Intercontinental Tokyo (Japan) tames the business district with dulcet tones

With three properties across Tokyo it’s safe to say that, as far as high-end accommodation goes, the InterContinental brand is a dominant force in one of the world’s most famously vibrant cities. All three have had their fair share of awards and nominations, no less The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo which is positioned a stone’s…

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Exploring the six most interesting food museums in Japan (because that’s a thing)

Spend a little time in Japan and you’ll quickly realize it’s a food obsessed nation. From local specialties to unique twists on pretty much everything edible the country’s love for food is potentially unmatched anywhere else in the globally. Given their serious love for eating it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Japan is potentially…

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Bangkok’s Gaggan tops Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017

Just a few weeks ago the annual Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants were announced, heralding culinary perfection throughout some of the most famous foodie destinations in the world. Millions of restaurants were up for considerations as always, and while only one could top the entire list, it’s obviously an enormous deal to be recognised as one…

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Kit Kat sushi will be sold from pop-ups in Tokyo this February (Japan)

Last year Kit Kat Japan broke naive hearts across Japan as they announced that their “Kit Kat Sushi” concept was indeed an April Fool’s Day joke. But now it seems what started as a fun (evil) way to mess with their customers has now turned into a reality as website Tokyo Bargain Mania are reporting…

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Six regular events and parties to check out in Tokyo, Japan on a budget

With ridiculously cheap flight options, its relatively close proximity to Australia and the promise of endless cultural fascination, Tokyo has in recent years become a regular go-to destination for Aussie travellers. Though it enjoys a reputation for being an expensive destination to visit, when compared to our major cities, this idea is somewhat unfounded. That…

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Six “Alternative” Things to do in Tokyo, Japan

As impressive as Tokyo Tower might be, if you’ve been to Tokyo a couple of times you would concede that even the majestic Meiji Jingu can get a bit passe. The fact is, the mecca wonderland of Japan certainly has more to offer than meets the eye. I encourage you to jump in at the…

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Flight Review: On board EVA Air’s Hello Kitty Jet – Tokyo (Haneda) to Taipei, Taiwan (BR191)

On our latest Flight Review, we take you on board the Hello Kitty Jet with Taiwanese airline EVA, as Johnny flies from Japan to Taipei. Yes, the flight is full of just about everything a Hello Kitty Fanboy or Fangirl could want and then some… all the way down to the pink, themed cutlery you’re…

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