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Quick answer: Yanaka is the Tokyo that survived: low wooden houses, eighty-odd temples, cats sunning on stone walls and the beloved Yanaka Ginza shopping street: the shitamachi (old downtown) at its gentlest. Come on foot, leave the itinerary loose. Yanaka Ginza The retro shopping street of every Japanese film set: croquette stands, tea merchants, cat-themed […]

Quick answer: Shimokitazawa is Tokyo’s thrift-and-theatre quarter: a car-free maze of vintage shops, curry houses (the neighbourhood obsession), live-music basements and reborn railway land (Bonus Track, reload) full of indie cafes: scruffy, creative and completely addictive. Vintage hunting Dozens of second-hand shops within ten minutes’ walk: Americana, 90s Japanese brands, one-rack curators and by-the-kilo warehouses.

Quick answer: Nakameguro is Tokyo’s canal-side cool: cherry trees arched over the Meguro River, specialty coffee (Onibus, plus the spectacular Starbucks Reserve Roastery), vintage shops under the railway arches and small standing bars that hum after dark. Pair it with neighbouring Daikanyama for Tokyo’s best half-day walk. Walk the Meguro River The canal is the

The most romantic anniversary trips are Paris, Santorini, Maui, the Amalfi Coast and the Maldives.

Comfortable, accessible and rewarding destinations for older travelers include Portugal, Japan, Italy, Switzerland and Canada.

The most dog- and pet-friendly destinations include Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and much of the USA.

The best whale watching is in Iceland, Alaska, Maui, Baja California and the Azores.

The leading sustainable destinations are Costa Rica, Slovenia, Norway, New Zealand and Bhutan — built around conservation and low-impact travel.

The world’s great music festivals include Glastonbury (UK), Coachella (US), Tomorrowland (Belgium), Fuji Rock (Japan) and Primavera Sound (Spain).