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Welcome to the hotelbook.com podcast. Today we visit Tokyo, one of the world’s most exciting cities.
And we’re going to take a brief look at a must-see area of the city, Shibuya.
Shibuya is a wildly crowded, fun, lively and vibrant part of Western Tokyo. There are a number of classic sites to be seen in Shibuya but also some unusual ones too. Starting with a classic, you can see the famous capsule hotel, Central Inn Shibuya. Unfortunately, women aren’t allowed inside, but guys are welcome to enter and take a peek at the tiny capsules or pods that can be purchased for the night. It is highly unlikely that you’d voluntarily spend a night in one of these tiny capsules. They are most popular with young Japanese businessmen who have had a few too many after-work drinks and have either forgotten their way home, or missed the last train.
The territory of Shibuya was once fought over by rival department stores. The main outcome of these retail wars is that there are now lots of really great shops in the area. Take your pick from the Tokyo Department Store or the Seibu-owned Shibuya 109. A warning about buying clothes in Japan: Japanese fashion is great; you’ll see plenty of variety and original items that you won’t find anywhere else. However, the sizing may scare you a bit. At home you might well be used to buying small-sized items, but in Japan be prepared to look for items marked as large. Japanese sizes are set with a Japanese purchaser in mind.
An unusual place to visit is perhaps the NHK Broadcasting Plaza. NHK is one of Japan’s international broadcasters; you’ve probably seen their somewhat whimsical reporting style via satellite TV. For 200 yen you can take a tour of their studios which are open from 10am to 6pm, and under 12’s get in free.
Shibuya is also known for the tale of Hachiko. Hachiko was a dog that was left by his master at one of the exits of Shibuya Station. The master died before making his return journey, but day after day, year after year, the loyal dog Hachiko waited outside the station for his master to return. On March 8, 1935, Hachiko himself died. Many people were touched by this story, so a funeral was arranged for Hachiko, whose body now rests in the National Science Museum. You can still see Hachiko standing outside the exit of Shibuya Station—a small statue commemorates his devotion to his master.
Not far from Shibuya is Harajuku, the infamous wild fashion area in Tokyo. Here you’ll find shops selling a special combination of the super-cute Hello Kitty merchandise, US hip-hop gear and riotous British punk outfits. It’s great to check out Harajuku on a Sunday when the streets are filled with performers and kids showing off their latest clothes and creations.
Stay at a hotel in the heart of the action. The Shibuya Excel Hotel is located right at the centre of Shibuya so it is close to all the sites I’ve been talking about, and also for exploring the whole city. The Shibuya Excel Hotel is a four-star hotel, with facilities to meet the needs of all visitors. Within the hotel you’ll find rooms equipped with all modern conveniences and contemporary Japanese design. There are two restaurants, one Western, the other Japanese, where you can eat with a panoramic view of Tokyo. If you’re travelling for business you’ll find excellent facilities available for you in your room, or on the specially designated business floors.
The Grand Palace Hotel in Tokyo has four stars and is our second recommendation. The most significant feature of The Grand Palace is its location. If you have been to Tokyo before, you’ll know about the spectacular woods and gardens surrounding the Imperial Palace. The Grand Palace Hotel overlooks the Imperial Palace and gardens. Not only will you have great views, you’ll have access to Tokyo’s incredible transport system which will allow you to explore this extraordinary city.
Thank you for joining us today on the hotelbook.com podcast. For more information on the hotels mentioned and other great travel information, check out blog.hotelbook.com.
why mostly the capsule hotel not allow women guest?
Posted by: siong yee | May 24, 2006 at 02:22 PM