Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Oct / Nov 2017: The Travel Issue | Page 36

Kawagoe
TAS TE OF TOK YO
The perfect blend of rich history and hyper-modernity, Tokyo
can’t help but tantalize: As a city of contradictions, it is the
ideal place for an urban break that comes with a varied menu.
Traditional temples? Check. High-tech high rises? Check.
Cheap eats and slick cuisine? Check and check. Here are our
top tips for a taste of it all during a long weekend in Tokyo.
by Annaliese Watkins
CROSS THE LINE AT
SCRAMBLE CROSSING
Shibuya is Tokyo’s most energetic dis-
trict, home to everything from buzz-
ing nightclubs and cool record stores
to fashion boutiques and must-try
restaurants — the image of Tokyo
you’ve likely envisioned from movies
like Lost in Translation.
Though visitors will undoubt-
edly stay to sample everything this
neon-lit ward has to offer, they of-
ten come to experience Scramble
Crossing. One of the busiest pedes-
trian crossings in the world, the bus-
tling intersection is awash with cars
36 WANDERLUST
one minute, before traffic stops to
allow hundreds of people to take to
the road. Though some of the swarm
are simply there to get to the other
side, plenty will stop along the zebra
crossing to take a snap of the ocean
of faces before them, glowing be-
neath the beaming billboards.
Getting there: Take the Metro to
Shibuya Station and head for the
Hachiko exit.
THE OLD CHARM
OF KAWAGOE
A trip to Japan wouldn’t be com-
plete without some exposure to the
country’s rich Edo past. While most
history buffs will plump for Kyoto,
there’s an Edo alternative found in
Kawagoe, just one hour outside Tokyo.
Known as “Little Edo,” after the old
name for Tokyo, Kawagoe has been
well-preserved since the 17 th centu-
ry. Today, it’s the perfect day trip for
both Tokyoites and tourists. Slowly
amble through the historic streets —
not a high-rise in sight — taking in
the traditional Kurazukuri architec-
ture and laid-back ambience. Tucked
between the castles and clay-walled
buildings lie historic temples, Candy
Alley (which is just as sweet as it
sounds), and glimpses of a time that
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