48 hours in Tokyo: Insider’s guide to the Japanese capital

Words by Rebecca Barnes

There are few places on earth as exciting and progressive as Tokyo. And with 24 million visitors a year making the journey to experience this wonderfully out-of-this-world city for themselves, it seems our love affair with the Japanese capital is stronger than ever.

But with so much to see and do, make sure you factor in at least a couple of days to make the most of this truly 24-hour metropolis.

Tokyo’s calendar is brimming with festivals, while April is the month the city comes alive with color, thanks to the cherry blossom or sakura tree, coming into bloom.

With unique and fascinating cultural traditions, the city has many influences which you’ll see in its arts such as origami and ikebana (flower arranging).

There are thousands of top-rated restaurants, cafes and places to eat in Tokyo, with sushi the most iconic. As you’d expect, you’ll find everything from conveyor belt restaurants to rice robots serving your food.

Shopping is also unsurpassed – those after designer labels should head to the polished pavements of Ginza, where luxury reigns supreme. If gadgets and tech are your thing, then Akihabara, nicknamed Electric Town, is the place to be, with retro gaming stores and electronics retailers a-plenty. Here’s the Sailawaze guide to making the most of your time…