Leisure

Colin Rundle, an Australian University lecturer, is something of an expert on theme bars and karaoke in Tokyo. "My favorite theme bar has to be Kagaya in Shimbashi, a restaurant/bar where the manager asks you to choose a country and then serves and entertains you in the manner of that country; for example, if you choose Brazil, you might get a Samba dance and much more.”

Unique Tokyo

If Japan is changing in that it is becoming affordable these days, it remains still very much the same in its capacity to offer the visitor unique experiences they could never get in any other country in the world.

Theme bars and karaoke

And, as if Tokyo isn't weird and wonderful enough, a new addition to the nightlife scene is theme bar/restaurants, which seem to be springing up everywhere. Examples include a ninja restaurant in Akasaka and an Alcatraz-themed bar in Roppongi, to name just two. The recent blockbuster film Lost in Translation, set in Tokyo, brought the joys of the local karaoke scene to the wider world. Now, the theme trend has spread to karaoke booths, like Lovenet, where it's even possible to have a singing party for a group in a jacuzzi!

Ninja Akasaka Restaurant

Spas and super spas

On the subject of baths, Japan has something of a reputation. Indeed, bathing is almost the national pastime. Natural hot spring bath resorts, known as onsen, are located throughout Japan, many within easy reach of Tokyo, and almost always in beautiful natural surroundings. These are ideal for weekend breaks, where you can relax with friends in the hot, health-giving waters, while enjoying a flask of sake.

A more urban and utilitarian pleasure, are the old style sentos, or public baths, which are still found in most downtown neighborhoods. These old-fashioned bathhouses provide hot baths, without natural spring water, and are often the centers of community life, such as Tsubame-yu in the heart the Okachimachi neighborhood.

In recent years there has been a trend to bring the out-of-town onsen experience to weary Tokyoites with the rise of ‘super spas,' big, city-center bathing complexes, using authentic hot-spring water, where office workers head to get pampered after a hard day at the office. The most famous of these in Tokyo is Spa LaQua, in Suidobashi, where 2,565 yen allows you in for the whole day. It is located in the middle of a vast amusement park, which includes a scary-looking roller coaster. So if you want some excitement before you take to the calming waters, go ahead!

Oedo Onsen Monogatari

The biggest onsen experience in Tokyo is the Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba. This onsen, which uses spring water tapped from 1400 meters underground, provides not only respite for the weary body, but also a history lesson for the curious mind.

The resort is modeled on the public bathing houses of the Edo period. There are different bathing areas, such as indoor and open-air baths, as well as foot massage baths, which are decorated with artwork and design derived from ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the fifty-three stages of the Tokaido. This was the road running from Tokyo to Kyoto during the Edo era that was a favorite subject of the renowned artist Hiroshige. The foot massage, sand, and steam bath areas, as well as the aesthetic/massage salons and snack bars are unisex — here you can stroll around in your choice of ukiyo-e motif-design yukata for free.

Queensway Massage Salon

Massage

Another leisure industry that has seen a recent boom in Japanese cities is massage. Traditionally associated with the out-of-town onsen, massage, like onsen, has made the transition to the cities and a plethora of places offering this service has sprung up. Queensway is one of the most popular chains, offering a foot massage course at 2,625 yen for 25 minutes. Immediately after work and lunchtime are the busiest times, with office workers seeking to unwind and relax.

Temple lodging

If karaoke, theme bars and super spas are not really your thing and you are in search of an altogether different Japan, it is still possible to access the rich tradition of culture and the arts that this nation is famous for.

Temple lodging or shukubo, as it is known, is a great way to experience a quieter, simpler, more spiritual life. The stay includes vegetarian food, an early rise, and participation in morning Buddhist services. The most famous place for shukubo is Mount Koya near Osaka, where about 50 temples offer lodgings. Average costs are around 10,000 yen per night, including breakfast and dinner.

A glimpse of Zen

Many Zen temples hold zazen (a form of meditation) services that are open freely to new participants. One such temple in central Tokyo, Taisoji, for example, holds zazen every Saturday morning from 7:40 to 9:00 am. One Sunday a month, there is also a chance to hear a dharma talk in English during zazen, where you can learn more about Buddhism.