Three Stops: Tokyo
1: Traveling to Japan on a quick business trip? Too drunk to make it home? Are you perhaps on a tight budget? Then the ‘capsule’ hotel is what you’re looking for. Similar to a beehive or cocoon, they were first introduced in Osaka, Japan in 1979. They are stacked cylinders or box-shaped rooms about four feet wide and six feet long with a TV, light, and mattress.
In Tokyo there are at least ten of these types of hotels, some of which house up to 700 capsules. The typical cost is around 3,500 yen per night and restrictions may include males-only lodging and or no smoking. What you’re comfortable enduring will determine your experience. I stayed for two nights and found it challenging but tolerable. There was a mix of male clientele from around the world and everyone seemed to adapt to the communal living arrangements and respect each other’s privacy (except, sad to say, several idiot Americans who woke everyone up one night). It’s definitely not for the claustrophobic. If you’re looking for an affordable stay in the Tokyo area and can adjust to micro living space then hop inside a capsule and get some rest.
2: Tokyo city is a vast sea of buildings stretching for miles in every direction. Getting a grasp of all of it was next to impossible until last year when the newly-built Tokyo SkyTree Tower was finally opened to the public after nearly four years of construction. Standing in at 634 meters (2080 feet), it is a marvel of hand-welded, earthquake-resistant engineering that is taller than the Canton Tower in China by 34 meters, twice the size of the Eiffel Tower (300 meters), and nearly seven times the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 meters). The tower is also a huge tourist attraction bringing in millions of visitors to the shopping areas and viewing decks. Although well organized, waiting times for tickets can exceed two hours and costs 2,000 yen for the first level (350 meters) and an extra 1,000 yen for the highest level (450 meters). In order to fully enjoy the experience, plan on arriving early, and shop and eat at the lower levels (or in surrounding neighborhoods) while you are waiting. Make sure your camera has fully charged batteries. Seeing the vastness of Tokyo and Mount Fuji in the distance on a clear day/night is worth the wait and price.
3: If you’re interested in views of Tokyo Bay during the day and a colorful display at night, then the Rainbow Bridge walk is the perfect choice. Located at the northern part of Tokyo Bay and within walking distance of Tamachi Station, the 800 meter-long (2,600 feet) Rainbow Bridge has two decks and carries multiple lanes of traffic, a train line, and two walkways (no bikes allowed on either side for some reason) with a small rest stop in the middle. It takes about 25 minutes to cross the bridge on foot, offering views of the bay area and parts of the city skyline. On the other side you can go to the the Odaiba waterfront development in Minato and rest or walk the beach area. At night the bridge is closed to pedestrian traffic, but it changes from regular white to a rainbow of colors that light the skyline and provides a relaxing atmosphere. It’s free of charge and great for sight seers, joggers, and photographers.