This Week in Tokyo – 15 January 2019

The latest edition of This Week in Tokyo – a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in and beyond the city. Check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond. This week’s edition is hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide, who has been guiding across the country as part of a fully-booked holiday period for Maction Planet. This week: Ten days with the Bakers; No Filter Fuji; Boaring ahead in 2019; Sunday morning Shinjuku and Godzilla under construction!

Featured image – Ten days with the Bakers: The Maction Planet year got off to an amazing start as I got to spend the first 10 days guiding the Baker family around Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond. We had so much fun and I miss them all – Ryan, Mia, Rachel, Cielle, Simone and baby Scarlet, who turned 6 months in Tokyo! Ryan and I were messaging after the trip and he sent me this: “I’m with Simone now.  (Still getting back on sleep schedules). I told her you emailed. She says the following: “I love you so much. I hope you come back very soon.️” I feel incredibly honoured to have been trusted to show them the city and country I love and cannot wait to see them back in the World’s Greatest Metropolis soon!

No Filter Fuji: No filter, no fancy camera, no special daytrips… just a quick touch of the trusty Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge pointed towards magnificent Mount Fuji at at 12:36 on Tuesday 8 January 2019 from the window of the Nozomi Shinkansen heading back to Tokyo. No Filter Fuji is the best Fuji!

Boaring ahead in 2019:  “This year, what’s your zodiac animal?” asks this poster from Mitsui Fudosan, who are promoting their Colourful Work Project.  Whatever animal you are, wherever you are in the world, I hope that this year brings you everything you hope for, and more.

Sunday morning Shinjuku: This is what Nishi-Shinjuku looks like on a Sunday morning… 06:40 on Sunday 13 January 2019 to be precise, as I was on my way to pick up Chloe, David and ‘the twins’ for 9 fun hours in the World’s Greatest Metropolis. It was well worth the early start as we got the jump on some locations which got very busy as soon as we left them! Chloe and David have been kind enough to both write reviews on TripAdvisor, which you can read here and here!     

And finally – Godzilla under construction: Much as I love the Big G, if he was right behind me I would not have parked my bike there and then nonchalantly walked away! Fans of Godzilla should head to the Tokiwabashi Godzilla Gallery where there is an exhibition of Godzilla movie posters on the barriers of the Tokyo Tokiwabashi construction site, just outside the Nihonbashi exit of Tokyo Station. From the original 1954 film through Godzilla: Final Wars to Shin-Godzilla and the latest anime trilogy, the 140m-long gallery chronicles the history and evolution of everyone’s favourite kaiju. They have been there since February 2018 and will be displayed until the end of January 2019. SKREEONK!

Maction Planet runs bespoke Private Tours and Experiences in Tokyo, and beyond. To book yours, contact us at info@mactionplanet.com