68 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER INDIA | MAY 2018
THE FOCUSTravel Wise: Tokyo
NOT-TO-MISS SPOTS
Ultimate View
At 2,080 feet, Tokyo Skytree
is the tallest freestanding tower
in the world, and—on a clear
day—you can see all the way to
Mount Fuji from the observation
deck on the 350th floor. (A
high-speed elevator climbs a
staggering 1,150 feet
in just 50 seconds.) Feeling
more daring? Take a second
elevator up to the Tembo
Galleria on the 450th floor.
When you’re back on Earth,
hop on the Japan Rail train one
stop to the renowned Asakusa
Shrine, where you can thank
god—or rather, its three Shinto
gods—for your safe return.Cool-Kid Neighbourhood
Shimokitazawa is a quick
train ride from Shibuya and
a much needed respite from
the madness of central Tokyo.
You’ll notice the narrow streets
and alleyways here are lined
with dogwood trees; in 1912
the mayor of Tokyo gave
Washington, D.C., a gift of
cherry blossom trees, and D.C.
sent dogwoods in return. Here
you’ll browse an eclectic mix ofvintage stores, shop for tea
at Shimokita Chaen Oyama,
and enjoy a cake doughnut
made with soy milk at Ikkyu
Donut before sipping a cocktail
at Flower Bar Gardena (a
flower shop that doubles as
a watering hole).Best Bespoke Goods
At Kakimori—a chic, local
stationery store that’s walking
distance from Asakusa
Station—customers queue
at opening to make their own
bespoke notebooks. Choose
the cover, the paper insert, andbinding, and watch a master
craftsman put it all together
before your eyes. K.Itoya, a
branch of Tokyo’s more-than-
100-year-old stationery store
Itoya, offers a similar service
in Ginza.Most Beautiful Bookstore
At Daikanyama T-site, in
Shibuya, shop a deep selection
of Japanese car magazines
and T-shirts from Tacoma
Fuji Records; then browse
a vintage-magazine library
upstairs while enjoying an
adult beverage.Although Shibuya Crossing
is said to be the busiest
in the world, with, at peak
hours, more than 2,000
people crossing the street
in all directions at once, the
crowd flows harmoniously.