On The Ground

Insider tips for travellers to Tokyo

In a new series we explore the world with Cathay Pacific’s well-travelled people. This month: Tokyo

Jun Yanagisawa
Corporate Sales Manager, Tokyo
The hiker

Everyone loves the bustling city but we have nature in Tokyo, too. This summer a friend and I hiked up Mount Takao, on Tokyo’s western edge, less than an hour’s train journey from Shinjuku. In terms of hikes, it ticks all the right boxes: not too intense, you’re surrounded by greenery and temples and the views up to the 599-meter-high summit are stunning. To top it off, there’s a beer garden waiting for you at the summit and we finished the day at an onsen near the train station. Exactly what you want after a good hike.

Ben Hansen
First Officer, Hong Kong
The art lover

When I’m in Tokyo, I always visit the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills. There are always interesting contemporary artists on display. Most of the artists are from Asia and some works tend to push boundaries – it encourages you to think about things from a different perspective. I think that’s really important. There’s also a great viewing platform above the art museum that gives amazing panoramic views of Tokyo city. My biggest tip on travelling well (both in Tokyo and elsewhere) is to be mindful of living in the present moment. Taking photos to capture the scene is great, but is your camera robbing you of actually experiencing that moment? You’ll be surprised how much more detail you notice when you are present in the moment – so try putting your phone away.

Alvin Lam
Flight purser, Hong Kong
The road tripper

If you’re up for a totally different experience there are lots of great little trips you can do from Tokyo. Last winter, I went on a road trip with three friends to some fantastic spots in the Mount Fuji area: places like the snow-covered Lake Tanuki and Shiraito Falls. Foodies are spoilt for choice here. In Numazu, we crowded around a charcoal grill to cook a seafood platter of mussels, abalone, prawn, scallops and all kinds of fish. Driving down the eastern side of Shizuoka prefecture, we found a strawberry farm where, for about 2,100 yen (HK$160), you can happily pick as many of the fruits as you like. We were given a plastic container with a side of condensed milk, which beautifully enhanced the flavour of the strawberries.

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Discovery online brings together all the inspirational travel writing from our two inflight magazines, Discovery and Silkroad. Be sure to look out for the print editions when you next fly with Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon.
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