48 Hours In Tokyo

Fast-paced and glitzy, polite and aesthetically inclined: Tokyo might seem like a bundle of contradictions, but it can actually get the seemingly disparate elements to work together for an enchanting whole.

- Anita Rao Kashi

TEMPLE RUN

No matter what your plans are in Tokyo, there’s no way you can miss the city’s most famous sight: Asakusa. Located in northeastern Tokyo, the Asakusa district is home to the city’s oldest temple, Senso-ji. A long avenue, packed with shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, kimonos and an array of sweets, leads to the Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. In front of the main entrance is a huge cauldron filled with sand in which the devout stick masses of incense sticks, giving it a foggy and surreal look. A giant chochin, a Japanese lantern covered in red paper, adorns the entrance behind which is the deity, supposedly recovered from the river Sumida in the early 7th century by fishermen. The temple is flanked by a five-storeyed pagoda. Adjacent to it is the Asakusa Shrine, a Shinto shrine, dedicated to the people who founded Senso-ji. Less ostentatious than the main temple, the shrine is nevertheless considered sacred by the Japanese.

TOKYO DRIFT

For an incomparable view of the city, the place to head to is the observatory deck of the Tokyo Tower (¥900). An imposing communication tower, it is a latticework structure inspired by — and uncannily similar to — the Eiffel Tower. It offers 360-degree views of the city and is worth making the effort, especially for a night view. Head also to the Roppongi Hills, an area of chic and luxury high-rises located on an elevated portion of the city. Around sunset, it is possible to catch sweeping panoramic views of the city from amid the buildings.

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