Leisure

Dining

Tokyo boasts more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city, but don't overlook the humble noodle houses and sushi bars that nestle in between. Sample local cuisine such as crispy tempura (lightly battered and fried fish or vegetables) and miso soup (stock with soybean paste). Wash it down with sake (fermented rice wine).

Head to the Tsukiji district, home to the lively Tsukiji Fish Market, for the freshest sushi in Tokyo. Cheap, cheerful Sushi-Zanmai is one of many sushi bars right in the market. In the more sophisticated Imperial Hotel, Nakata is one of Tokyo's oldest sushi restaurants. Tidy rows of raw tuna sitting on plump rice cushions line the glass cases on the bar.

Inakaya in Roppongi is an upscale robatayaki, or Japanese grill. Select your raw ingredients, and the chefs will cook them in front of you. At /so/ra/si/o/ in Shiodome, dine on Japanese fusion cuisine while taking in impressive views of Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge.

Shopping

For a souvenir-shopping sprint, try the popular Oriental Bazaar in Jingu-mae. With all kinds of Japanese craftwork under one roof, it's a good destination for kimonos, wood-block prints, delicate dolls, antique furniture and much more. For manga comics and DVDs, pop into a branch of Mandarake.

Different specialty shops cluster in different districts. Hundreds of electronic stores make Akihabara nirvana for gadget fans. Jinbocho is known for its bookshops, and Harajuku for its cutting-edge fashion boutiques. Weekend flea markets stocked with all kinds of curios set up around Shinto shrines. Barter for antiques at the largest and liveliest of them all, the Togo Shrine Market.

Things to do

If sightseeing time is limited, head up the Mori Tower for sweeping views of the city. From the 52nd floor, you can spot the twinkling suspension cables of Rainbow Bridge, boats bobbing on Tokyo Bay, soaring skyscrapers and - on a clear day - Mount Fuji. Go up one more floor to explore the contemporary collections at the Mori Art Museum.

Escape the urban frenzy with a peaceful stroll around the Imperial Palace's East Gardens or Tokyo's oldest temple, Senso-ji. In the springtime, head to Ueno Park and picnic beneath trees laden with fragrant cherry blossoms. The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka's Inokashira Park is dedicated to the studios that produced Spirited Away, among other animation classics. Fans can learn more about the art of manga cartoons and watch special screenings. In the evening, head to Ginza's Kabuki-za Theatre for traditional Japanese drama with colorful costumes and masks.