Page 31 - FlipBook

Good-Value Japan
First-rate sushi, inventive cocktails and World Heritage sites, all without breaking the bank.
THE DETAILS
ISETAN - Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Karasuma- dori, Shiokoji sagaru, Shimogyo-Ku, Kyoto kyoto.wjr-isetan.co.jp
JAPAN RAIL - japanrailpass.net
NEW YORK BAR - 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo; 011-81-3-5322-1234 tokyo.park.hyatt.com
PEAK BAR - 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo; 011-81-3-5322-1234 tokyo.park.hyatt.com
TSUKIJI - 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 011-81-3-3542-1111; tsukiji-market.or.jp
STAY
RCI AFFILATED STAYS IN JAPAN INCLUDE:
Conrad Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan
Located just a few steps away from Ginza, the upscale shopping and entertainment area, Conrad Tokyo is
a luxurious modern icon with breathtaking views. Consistently ranked amongst Tokyo’s finest hotels, Conrad Tokyo features a Michelin-starred restaurant, Tokyo’s finest spa and a superb collection of Japanese contemporary art.
(RD88) 7 nights from AU$4779/NZ$5029 Hotel
Grand Prince Hotel - Kyoto, Japan
The Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto features spacious guest rooms, elegant banquet halls, restaurants, and a Sukiya- style teahouse in the Japanese garden, offering you the quintessential Kyoto experience.
(RE19) 3 nights from AU$579/ NZ$609 Hotel (RE20) 4 nights from AU$1459/ NZ$1529 Hotel
Just because you’re travelling across the globe doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune—or skimp on a good time. Here are a few wallet- friendly ways to enrich your trip.
TOKYO
Consider taking advantage of your jet lag and heading to Tsukiji, Tokyo’s fish market, on your first morning. Arrive around 4 a.m. if you want to watch the famous tuna auctions, at which chefs bid on 400 pounds of fish. If you prefer to sleep in a little longer, you can skip the auction and still go to the market for breakfast. Several small restaurants open to the public at 9 a.m. You may wait half an hour or more, but it’s worth it to dine on some of the freshest sushi in the world. For less than AU$39*, a chef will prepare 12 pieces in front of you. Between bites of salmon or roe, you can sip complimentary miso soup and green tea.
Fans of the film Lost in Translation can reminisce about the indie flick at the Tokyo Park Hyatt’s ritzy New York Bar. On the top floor of a 52-story skyscraper, the bar offers spectacular panoramas of Tokyo, an extensive cocktail list and nightly jazz performances. Settle your bill before the show begins to avoid the AU$26 cover charge (8 p.m., Monday– Saturday; 7 p.m. on Sunday). Or spend the evening at the hotel’s Peak Bar, on the 41st
floor, instead. A few of the movie’s scenes were shot there as well, and the Peak Bar offers one big advantage: the Twilight Time special. For AU$39 you can watch the sunset with unlimited drinks and canapés from five to nine nightly.
KYOTO
If you’re planning to travel outside Tokyo, you may want to purchase a Japan Rail pass. A one-way train ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto costs $145, while the seven-day rail pass allows you to travel around Tokyo and to surrounding areas (including Kyoto) for a flat fee of AU$157. The pass must be purchased before arriving in Japan.
Kyoto is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, many of which are Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines. Temples often charge an entrance fee, while shrines rarely do. Although the fees generally aren’t expensive, they can quickly add up.
After a day of sightseeing, return to the train station for fresh sushi at bargain prices. The station contains a department store known as Isetan, where you’ll find a variety of sweets, and a large selection of prepared food. The grocery store sells some of Kyoto’s most delicious sushi at low prices, and slashes those prices even further about a half hour before closing, at 8 p.m.
ENDLESS VACATION 29