Once the menu is presented, the strange and often thrilling journey outside the comfort zone begins. Though Japanese cuisine is based on the familiar — rice, noodles, soups, tofu, fish, livestock — it also appears to embrace most of the other creatures that inhabit the region, with the exception of Hello Kitty. About 450 types of seafood are sold at the city’s Tsukiji fish market, the main restaurant supplier, and chefs aren’t shy about serving up their odder parts, such as abalone liver, fugu fins and those squid guts.

“One of the interesting things about living in Japan is that you end up eating things you have no idea what it is, so you just have to go with it,” Spreckley says. “As long as you view it as a constant adventure, it can be fun. Things change all the time.”

Of course, for more enlightenment and ideas on what you should look out for and which you should better not dare try, head on for more Tokyo eats at the Tokyo Traveler.

Photo Credit: Gustty

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This 80-page guide contains regularly updated information on shopping and dining in Tokyo, plus sightseeing recommendations, a Tokyo subway map, as well as useful area and walking maps. The guide also has sections on Tokyo cuisine, sake and shochu – Japan’s national drinks – and tips on manners and etiquette when eating out.

The JAL Guide Tokyo will be available in first and business classes on all Americas routes, and on flights from Amsterdam, Brisbane, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Paris, Singapore and Sydney.

Image: JAL

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Every year the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the public track the sakura zensen (cherry-blossom front) as it moves northward up the archipelago with the approach of warmer weather via nightly forecasts following the weather segment of news programs. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April. It proceeds into areas at the higher altitudes and northward, arriving in Hokkaidō a few weeks later.

Join the locals as they hold “hanami” at the parks and marvel at sights such as these:

If you are a novice to cherry blossoms viewing in Japan, make sure you check out when the cherry blossoms are expected to bloom where!

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The first A380 flight to London will leave Singapore on Tuesday, 18 March 2008, and from then on, there will be daily flights between Singapore and London. A schedule of the flight times can be found here.

As for Tokyo, flights to this destination will start on May 20, 2008. You can find the schedule of A380 flights to Tokyo from Singapore here.

Where to next ? New York? Frankfurt? Being based in Singapore myself, I find these developments very exciting. It ups my chances of being able to experience the A380 soon!

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From traditional German Christmas pyramids, to Käthe Wohlfahrt gifts and trinkets, to Christmas fare such as stollen, gluehwein (mulled wine) and bratwurst — German tradition, right in the heart of Tokyo.

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Nearly all foreigners age 16 or over, including longtime residents, will be scanned. The only exceptions are diplomats, government guests and permanent residents such as Koreans who have lived in Japan for generations.

The fingerprints and photos will be checked for matches on terrorist watch lists and files on foreigners with criminal records in Japan. People matching the data will be denied entry and deported.

There have been complaints saying it’s like an invasion of privacy and that the Japanese government should not store and have access to such information on passengers. What do you think?

Photo: Wikimedia

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If you’re spending the New Year’s eve in Tokyo, celebrate it away from the city hustle and bustle, in the luxury of your hotel room, at the Mandarin Oriental.

Check in on Dec 31 and check out on Jan 2, and enjoy the turning of the calendar year with this New Year Package:

• Accommodation in a preferred room type for 2 nights
• Sommelier’s selection of a bottle of premium Champagne with engraved hotel’s logo and date, and served in-room with a seasonal fruit platter.
• A box of Osechi Ryouri (Traditional New Year’s food) with otoso, a ceremonial saké are prepared for the breakfast on New Year’s Day morning.
• A traditional Edo-fan on which the Chinese zodiac sign is beautifully printed and a pedestal for the fan, made especially for Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
• Special Dinner for the New Year’s day at Signature or Sense
• Special Lunch at K’shiki or Ventaglio
• Premier breakfast served with Champagne at K’shiki or in the privacy of your room on 2 January
• Free of charge for all on-demand movies for the duration of your stay
• For those guests reserving a suite, complimentary use of the Heat and Water Area at The Spa at Mandarin, Oriental Tokyo

For rates and reservations, check availability here.

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The autumn months are considered to be the best times to visit Japan, for example. Between September and November, there are a lot of fall festivals all throughout Japan. If you’re after viewing the magnificent autumn foliage (koyo), you’ve got to be at the right place at the right time. Here is a list of the approximate autumn leaf season for the various regions in Japan:

Hokkaido: mid September to late October
Tohoku: early October to early November
Kanto: early October to early December
Tokyo: mid November to early December
Nikko: mid October to mid November
Hakone: early to mid November
Fuji Five Lakes: late October to early November
Kansai: mid October to early December
Kyoto: mid to late November
Shikoku: mid October to late November
Kyushu: mid October to early December

For the most popular koyo spots in Kyoto, Tokyo and around Tokyo, check out the Japan Guide’s recommendations.

Photo Credit: niclaseric

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The pavements are thronged with people, all of them extremely well behaved: they won’t even think of crossing the road until the traffic lights say they can. The roads are crammed with slow-moving, strangely unfamiliar cars, so retro you’d think they were ancient but for the fact that they gleam. Electronic advertising hoardings sing quaint tum-ti-tum tunes for even the most sober and serious of sales messages. Welcome to Tokyo.

To find out where’s the best place in town to get what, let this feature article on Tokyo shopping from Time Out Travel be your guide.

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• fish auctions at the Tsukiji Market
• a bit of downtime at the Meiji Shrine
• a peek at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium
• Omotesando dori (window shopping is free )
• a coffee at the Kurage
• dinner at Ootoya
• some drinks and clubbing at Buri and Unit

More details about these and how to fit them all with $100 in your pocket, here.

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