Tokyo has inspired countless films, among them “Lost in Translation,” the award-winning 2011 movie influenced by director, screenwriter and producer Sofia Coppola’s many trips to Tokyo in the early 2000s. Coppola, however, is not alone in her love for the Japanese capital. Many of her Hollywood peers have professed their love for this ultra-modern megalopolis; Quentin Tarantino and Jessica Alba have both been quoted saying how much they love the city, while Lady Gaga calls it her “favorite place.” Tokyo is indeed one of the most beloved cities in the world, but, truth be told, also one of the most expensive. So, how do you travel to Tokyo like a celebrity sans a Hollywood salary? Read on to find out.
Have sushi for breakfast (K-Stew did!)
Sukiyabashi Jiro serves the best sushi in the world. Don’t trust us? Just ask U.S. President Barack Obama, who has declared the establishment’s sushi the best he’s ever had in his life, or the Michelin guide, which has appointed this 10-seat sushi bar three stars. It’s true that its owner Jiro Ono, who has been the subject of the 2011 David Gelb documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” is a culinary living legend, yet securing a reservation at his Ginza restaurant (or even his son’s Roppongi Hills offshoot) is almost impossible. And if you ever do, well, it will only set you back at about $300 USD (approximately P$14,000) for the standard 20-course sushi set.
A waaaay cheaper alternative? Actress Kristen Stewart was once spotted enjoying a sushi breakfast at one of the sushi bars in Tsukiji Fish Market, where you can get your fill of fresh sushi for only about USD$20 to USD$30 (approx. P$930 to P$1,400).
Drink like Tarantino
Director Quentin Tarantino once told “Japan Times,” “I love the city of Tokyo, I like the Japanese nightlife scene, I have a lot of friends here, and I feel very comfortable with the Japanese.” So, where does a cool guy like him hang out in Tokyo? In the city’s coolest bar neighborhood located in Shinjuku called Golden Gai, of course. Just like Francis Ford Coppola and Johnny Depp, the “Kill Bill” director frequents the bar La Jetée, where they charge ¥1,000 (approx. P$400) for seating and a minimum of ¥500 (approx. P$200) for a drink.
For those on a budget, there are numerous bars in this same area with no cover charge, among them NaNa, Araku and Easy Rider.
Shop like Lady Gaga
Tokyo’s Ginza district is certainly paradise for anyone who loves to shop. Apart from department stores Mitsukoshi and Matsuya, it is also home to a Dover Street Market boutique, which sells the latest designer duds from Comme des Garçons and Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy. Shops on Ginza, however, are on the pricey side of things, so if you wish to indulge in a little retail therapy without breaking the bank, you can opt for Tokyo’s vintage shops around town such as Shibuya’s Boy and Nude Trump, Daikanyama’s Eva Fashion Art or Harajuku’s Dog, which is Lady Gaga’s favorite vintage boutique in Tokyo.
Plan a side trip a la Jessica Alba
In 2012, Jessica Alba and her family went on a trip to Japan, where she visited Tokyo Disneyland and even squeezed in a side trip to Kyoto. Nestled among the mountains of Honshu, Kyoto is considered Japan’s most beautiful city, with its majestic temples, colorful shrines, scenic gardens and intriguing forests. From Tokyo, the fastest way to reach the city is via the high-speed bullet train (or shinkasen) for about ¥20,000 (approx. P$8,200), but the cheapest way to travel would have to be the overnight buses for about ¥6,000 (approx. P$935). Another option is to take a one-hour-and-a-half Jetstar flight to nearby Osaka‘s Kansai Airport from Tokyo’s Narita Airport, which can go for as low as ¥2,500 (approx. P$1,000) for one-way during seat sale season, so always be on the lookout.
Don’t be afraid to try new things like Lena Dunham
Leave it to Lena Dunham to mix business with pleasure. On a trip to Tokyo last August to shoot scenes for her TV show “Girls,” the New York native found some time to try out Japan’s famous Ganban’yoku or hot stone spas. Known for the detoxifying and beautifying benefits, guests are asked to lie on body-sized beds filled with mineral rocks. And the best part about these spas aside from feeling refreshed and re-energized after a 90-minute session? They are also cheaper than regular spa treatments.
Main image: istockphoto/ferrantraite
