The Espresso America cafe overlooks Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge.
FOR ROMANTICS
Odaiba is one of Tokyo's popular shopping, residential and entertainment zones.
Located on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, its name means "platform" in Japanese and points to its early beginnings as the site for a marine cannon battery installed to defend the capital from foreign attacks.
Suggested itinerary:
Start at Aquacity Odaiba, which features a boutique strip stretching 300m and a gourmet zone sprawled over 15,000 sq m.
Proceed to Decks Tokyo Beach, a megamall that houses various theme parks based on Tokyo during the 1930s and Hong Kong.
There is also Venus Fort, popular with couples for its romantic ambience, thanks to European-style street scenes and a ceiling with changing skyscapes.
Otherwise, for a closer view of the beautiful Tokyo Bay, check out Odaiba Kaihin Park or the city's Statue of Liberty at the Observation Deck, a favourite photo spot for many visitors.
If you have an extra hour, hop on the Daikanransha, a Ferris wheel that offers breathtaking views of the city at 115m high.
At night, the structure comes alive when its 120,000 neon tubes churn out nearly 120 colour combinations across 16 patterns.
Best spot:
Espresso America, a café at Decks Tokyo Beach, which overlooks Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge.
Many couples, some with pet poodles in tow, spend their weekends here.
FOR TREND-SETTERS
Cosplay fashion hub Harajuku is also famous for its dessert crepes.
Harajuku is a hub for fashion addicts, especially those into cult streetwear labels, Gothic ensembles and cosplay (abbreviated from "costume play", which refers to the hobby of dressing as a favourite character from a comic or animation series).
Suggested itinerary:
Let the shopping spree begin at Takeshita Street, located just across the road from Harajuku JR station.
The main street and alleyways are jam-packed with fashion, toys, accessories and fast food eateries, and therefore thronging with shoppers especially on weekends.
A must-have at Harajuku is a dessert crepe, which offers assorted combinations of fruits and sauces, topped off with fresh cream.
If you miss the little takeaway counter at the entrance, stop for one at the midjunction - where two crepe counters are located opposite each other.
Best spot:
Break away from the hustle and bustle with a stroll down to Meiji-jingu Shrine.
Located on the west side of the station, its serene grounds are perfect for couples who want to spend some quiet moments. This is also where many Japanese traditional weddings are held.
Don't miss the Iris Garden, filled with over 100 varieties of the flower, and Meiji Shrine Inner Gardens, which amasses over 125,000 trees and shrubs from throughout Japan.
FOR SHOPAHOLICS
Omotesando is where outlets of brands such as Louis Vuitton (its biggest in the world), Ralph Lauren (one of its largest ever) and MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art, its first store outside the United States) are found.
Affectionately referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees, the street is lined with beautiful zelkova trees.
Suggested itinerary:
Omotesando Hills, a premium mall that contains more than 130 shops and 38 apartments.
Designer fans will have a field day bagging labels such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo and Harry Winston, while art lovers can admire masterpieces at the numerous galleries here.
Best spot:
Quite frankly, anywhere along Omotesando. With Tokyo's best-dressed trekking up and down the sloping stretch, people watching is truly a pleasure.
FOR PARTY ANIMALS
Shinjuku, the city's commercial centre, began as a post station where travellers and their horses could stop for the night before they headed off to Edo (the former name of Tokyo).
Suggested itinerary:
Apart from the shopping - East Shinjuku boasts huge shopping complexes like Takashimaya Times Square, Isetan, Mitsukoshi and Marui - the area is also known for its entertainment.
Kabuki-cho, nicknamed The Town That Never Sleeps, is the city's most famous red-light district but generally safe even for foreigners.
Best spot:
Park Hyatt Tokyo, the super-luxurious accommodation featured in the movie Lost In Translation. Or Four Seasons Hotel, which boasts the city's largest rooms and is the most expensive hotel in Tokyo.
FOR THE CASH-RICH
The well-heeled taking their pooches to enjoy the scene at Ginza, an upmarket shopping district.
Roppongi, named after the six zelkova trees used to mark the area, is a favourite hangout for expatriates and the upper echelons of society.
Although better known as a watering hole (thanks to the pubs and bars in the area), it has been enlivened greatly by Roppongi Hills, which opened in 2003.
Roppongi Hills was built as an integrated development where residents could live, work, play and shop in proximity, and therefore enjoy more leisure time and better quality of life.
Otherwise, there is always Ginza, which is packed with the country's most exclusive department stores such as Mitsukoshi and Matsuya, along with brands like Gucci, Coach and Burberry.
On weekends, Ginza's Chuo-dori Street is closed to traffic and transforms into the famous Pedestrians' Paradise.
Suggested itinerary:
No visit to Roppongi Hills is complete without dropping by Mori Tower, a 54- storey integrated development for work and play. Besides six storeys of dining and shopping options at the tower, the neighbourhood also has the beautiful 4,300 sq m Mori Garden.
And if you love Japanese variety shows and dramas, barely a stone's throw away is the premises of a television studio, TV Asahi. Here, you can check out props and stills from numerous productions, including the popular animation series Doraemon.
Best spot:
Tokyo City View, which offers a panoramic 360-degree view of the city at 250m above sea level.
The Daikanransha Ferris wheel offers breathtaking views of the city at 115m high
Photos: Lawrence Lim
Top photo:Shinjuku has a good mix of designer and nameless brands
This article first appeared in The Straits Times special, "Holiday Escapades", on Oct 21. It was published by the Special Projects Unit, Marketing Division, SPH.
