In my previous column, I partially answered a reader's query regarding what to see and do in Tokyo. Specifically, I discussed the process of arriving in Japan, transportation alternatives and hotel options. Today's topic follows the same vein but will concentrate on the best way to tour Tokyo's sites and possible restaurant choices.

 

Although I'm not a big fan of guided "group" tours, I highly recommend taking a bus tour of Tokyo for the first-time visitor who wants to pack as much as possible into a finite amount of time. The reason is that unless you have lots of time and are not afraid of getting terribly lost, it is just easier and in the end, more enjoyable to be driven around to all the major sites.

 

After years of traveling back and forth to Tokyo for business and pleasure, I have learned to maneuver around this sprawling city with a certain degree of confidence and success. It still takes a lot of time to get from point A to point B, however. Finding the station, catching the right train, changing trains, switching to the subway network, climbing stairs, finding the correct exit, hiking to the site you want to see, then doing it all in reverse ... and again to go to the next place - well, you get the picture.

 

The Japanese have certainly perfected the art of doing "bus tours" by making them not only comfortable and convenient but also quite informative. The full-service bus drops off the group at the exact place of interest, with an English-speaking guide, and picks the group up afterward to go to the next site.

 

The bus route is meticulously laid out to make it time-effective, hitting the major points of interest in a very organized and efficient manner. When my cousins came to visit, we signed up for a half-day tour that took us to all the major places of historic and cultural interest in Tokyo. I loved it because it took the pressure off me to be host, tour guide and Japan expert. It made the best use of our limited amount of time, while being very informative and interesting.

 

No city on earth - with the possible exception of New York - has as many restaurants and bars as Tokyo. One can find any type of food, from Ethiopian to Mongolian to South American ... and anything and everything in between. For the visitor who wants to experience the real Japan, a traditional sushi bar would be a good choice because you can't get any fresher fish anywhere else. In fact, sometimes the fish is still moving when the master chef sets the plate down in front of you. Not for the fainthearted, for sure.

 

If seafood or fish isn't your thing, there are other wonderfully delicious delicacies that are quite agreeable to the Western palate. "Yakitori" (skewered chicken), "tonkatsu" (breaded pork tenderloin) or "tempura" are some examples.

 

For meat lovers, a visit to a typical "yakiniku" restaurant would be a treat. These restaurants are actually Korean in origin but are prevalent and abundant all over Japan. In the center of the table is a "hibachi" grill, where the meat is cooked. The uncooked meat is brought to the table, and each person grills the meat to their liking. Side orders of vegetables can be ordered to be grilled alongside the meat, and of course, white, sticky rice is eaten, along with mugs of beer to wash it all down.

 

Nightlife in Tokyo is world-renowned, especially the area called "Roppongi." This part of Tokyo seems to be a magnet for foreign tourists wanting to barhop and dance the night away. It is a bit too seedy for my tastes, but it's worth a gander to those who want to see what Tokyo's nightlife has to offer. In recent years, this area has tried to clean up its image by creating tony areas for dining and shopping but at night can still be a bit dicey.

 

Even though Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world, it's quite safe, especially for tourists. It is very rare for tourists to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous people in Japan. Taxi drivers are well-known for their honesty, unlike other big cities, where you have to be on your guard in order not to be taken for a ride. Also, Japanese taxis are neat, clean and always in good mechanical condition.

 

One area that does have a reputation for being a tad bit dangerous, especially at night, is Kabuki-cho. It is here that much of the sex-related industry is located, with Asian and Japanese gangs being visibly present. In the old days, many of the big movie theaters were in this area, making it necessary to venture there. Today, bigger, more modern, and much more elegant theaters dot the city, making it less likely to have to go to this part of town.

 

Tokyo is a fun city to visit, because there is so much to see and do. In my next column, I will detail specific places to visit, shop and enjoy.

 

By TODD JAY LEONARD

Columnist