cshimokita[Photo Forum Moderator]
10714
Re: What's the balance?
Oct 19, 2019,00:08 AM
It depends on who you are and what you are looking for in a (business) center. A parallel might be hot spring areas... some like the traditional inns and recently there have been what I call "pseudo" renovations, just covering the old but no depth of quality. Which might have a certain appeal to a younger crowd. If I am going to take the time and effort, I appreciate a certain level of real quality (traditional or modern hotel life)... maybe go less frequent and keep a level.
You mentioned Kichijoji, and it's a good example of a popular destination, even for tourists... easy access, the park, Ghibli Museum, reasonably good restaurants - not fine dining but quality at a good price, not as challenging / exhausting as Shinjuku or Shibuya... until recently Shibuya has not had great restaurants.
For daily life big box stores are convenient... everything in one area and competition keeping the price down. I don't think one needs to hang onto the traditional or historical... and one can always visit Nara for example.
As I mentioned, there are communities with different appeal... at one point I lived in a college community... it was fun... drinking places, food on a stick, theater, etc... now I like wooded paths along a river and the occasional British Pub, Italian, or tempura. Tonight it's take away sushi and wine while watching Japan vs. South Africa World Cup Rugby.
Any favorite destinations outside the big metro cities?
Casey