Tokyo's treats
This month CNN Business Traveller checks out one of Tokyo's most recent tourist attractions, samples lunch from a vending machine and takes a futuristic boat for the best views of Japan's capital. Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning Center Visitors are welcome to experience the simulated disasters at the Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning. Staff from the Tokyo Fire Department take visitors through replicated earthquakes and a smoke room to teach them how to protect themselves in a disaster. The center is a five-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo. Admission is free and it is open most weekdays apart from Tuesdays. Tel. 03-3590-6565 Vending machine noodle bars Japan's streets are lined with vending machines selling everything from drinks, toiletries, videos, magazines, condoms, CDs and also fast food. For lunch on the go, search out a digital vending machine noodle bar. Pictures of the dishes should guide your choice, or try choosing a cheaper option for a simple dish. Pick up the meal ticket and take it indoors to collect the steaming noodles. Remember: soba means thin, and udon is fatter noodles. The Himiko Water Bus For panoramic views of Tokyo take the Himiko Water Bus. This futuristic boat was designed by Leiji Matsumoto, Japan's best-known cartoonist. It is shaped like a tear drop and has windows on all sides. By day the boat gives panoramic views of old Edo and modern Tokyo. At night the floor panels are lit up and the bar opens. The boat takes passengers around the bay seven days a week and it can also be chartered for private parties. |
