Taking in Tokyo

BY MAUREEN N. MARATITA
Journal Staff

Photos by Maureen N. Maratita

For island travelers looking for a weekend break, or a pit stop on the way to the U.S. mainland, the attractions of Tokyo and the country remain.

It’s been some years since I last visited Japan, but I have visited it several times previously.

Haneda Airport. Photo by Maureen Maratita

If you are taking advantage of the new Haneda flight to visit Tokyo for the first time, tourist attractions include the Imperial Palace and its gardens, a number of museums, and various sky towers, such as Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree for the views. Many of these attractions also have malls and department stores below, and nearby. And of course, Tokyo has the closest Disneyland to the islands of Micronesia.

Traveling by rickshaw is a fun way to get around town. Photo by Maureen Maratita.

This visit offered Editor Pauly Suba and I a chance to get out on our own and explore not only Akasaka where our hotel was, but the wider Tokyo areas of Roppongi and Shibuya.
The sophisticated area of Akasaka has its own malls and shops, and restaurants and bars. It’s also within walking distance of the livelier Roppongi.

We walked and took the metro during our stay. It’s easy to navigate and it’s affordable.

I bought Japanese hard candy (which I have a weakness for), chocolate, tea and a T-shirt for my husband. Pauly bought Mothers Day gifts, chocolate and snacks. We were fortunate to have a 7-11 in the basement of our hotel, the Hotel Mystays Premier. There are a number of convenience store chains in Tokyo as well as independent ones. They are well stocked with what travelers are likely to forget, on-the-go items, currency exchange machines, and the makings of meals for busy commuters. And it seemed there are Don Don Donki stores everywhere.

The population of Tokyo is 37 million-some, of which almost 600,000 are foreign nationals. The city is clean, and has a reputation for being safe, also at night. The second night we ventured out to a bar not far from the hotel, together with some of the delegation from the Northern Mariana Islands among our group.

Our host at the bar came over, asked where we were from, and wished us an enjoyable time in Tokyo.

I first visited Japan in the late 1980s. Many more people speak English now. The clothing worn is as international and as varied as most other capital cities, but we did see two ladies in kimonos on the metro, traveling separately.

Haneda Airport is conveniently close to Tokyo. Compared to Narita Airport, Haneda Airport offers an impressive variety of restaurants before entry to the secure side, so it’s worth making time to enjoy either Japanese food, French pastries, or Middle Eastern Food, before you go through.

Likewise, before you exit into the secure side, clothing, Japanese zori sandals, ceramics and other souvenirs are available for visitors. Viewing galleries offer impressive views, which include Mount Fuji, and for families there is a child friendly Toy Park and a Racing [Car] Park are on offer. There’s also a gallery with artwork and cultural displays.

I would like to thank the Guam Visitors Bureau for the opportunity between official engagements to explore the city, and particularly for the rickshaw ride. My rickshaw ride was a fast 30 minutes and Ebisuya’s Kasumasa Murata said he takes visitors on rides six days a week, six times a day. At the equivalent of $65, the ride offers a unique view of the streets and the panoramas of the city.

Will I take the Guam-Haneda flight again?

For sure. There is much to see of Japan just three and a half hours away. And Haneda offers not only multiple connections domestically and to the U.S. mainland, but a convenient connection to airlines flying to Europe. I am looking forward to taking that route again and connecting to a flight to London. mbj