If you plan to stay in Tokyo for more than a week or two, you may want to consider a fully furnished and serviced apartment. This type of accommodation offers hotel services, such as front-desk and cleaning services by a bilingual staff, but usually has more spacious rooms and you can avoid long walks through large lobbies. There’s no hassle of trying to rent and furnish an apartment on your own; you can move right in with nothing but your suitcase. Applications are processed within 24 hours and there are no security deposit, agent fee, key money or move-out cleaning and utility charges. Serviced apartments are also more affordable than hotels for families and groups requiring more than one bedroom, and provide the option of cooking in your room. The locations of serviced apartments usually provide easier access to convenience stores, supermarkets, inexpensive dry cleaners, etc. than large hotels do. Their closest train or subway stations are often local stations as opposed to major transportation hubs, which can be easy to get lost in and take more time to navigate. Tokyo Journal has come up with a list of the go-to serviced apartments in Tokyo based on locations with easy access to public transportation. These companies, with their helpful and bilingual staff, offer multiple locations throughout the city, each made complete with kitchenettes and in-room washers and dryers, unless otherwise noted.
Anaheim is home to the iconic Disneyland Resort and two of Southern California’s professional sports teams. Fans of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks can watch the hockey team on ice at the Honda Center, the city’s award-winning concert venue that will host indoor volleyball during the 2028 Summer Olympics. The other team, the Los Angeles Angels, play baseball in Angel Stadium of Anaheim, known as “The Big A.” It is the fourth-oldest active MLB stadium in the U.S. The Southern California city has a lot to offer — whether you are eating in the trendy Packing District or visiting the Anaheim Convention Center for a large-scale event such as VidCon, Anime Expo, WonderCon or the NAMM Show. Here is Tokyo Journal’s top pick for places to stay in Anaheim:
Seattle is home to the Space Needle, the first-ever Starbucks, Pike Place Market, the Market Theater Gum Wall and other iconic attractions. It’s also got a thriving food scene, making the city a destination for all foodies. The best way to explore Seattle is on foot. Sports fans can catch a game at CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field, or indulge in Pacific Northwest culture at the Seattle Art Museum, the Museum of Pop Culture and the Pacific Science Center. These are Tokyo Journal ’s picks for some good centrally located, modern and historic places to stay in Seattle:
The Central Coast of California and its four regions — Monterey Bay, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura — make up what is known as “The Original Road Trip,” a classic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s a seemingly never-ending stretch of beautiful views, beach towns, extravagant resorts, wineries and historical attractions. There is something for everyone on what has become known as the ultimate Californian experience for tourists and locals. Tokyo Journal recommends Paso Robles, an approximately three-hour drive north of Los Angeles or south of San Francisco, for its proximity to fine wineries, Hearst Castle, the Paso Robles Events Center, the Ravine Water Park, downtown Paso Robles and more. Wine enthusiasts can explore Paso Robles Wine Country, where an abundance of wineries produces more than 40 diverse wine grape varieties.
Yosemite National Park is the most revisited park in the United States, and it’s no wonder with the grandeur of Half Dome, Glacier Point, El Capitan, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Falls, the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall, and its vineyards. Action seekers will enjoy rock climbing, horseback riding, archery, swimming and biking. Winter activities include sledding, tubing, snowshoe hiking, skiing and snowboarding. Here is Tokyo Journal’s recommendation for a luxurious stay while visiting Yosemite. This luxury, boutique hotel is a short drive to astonishing waterfalls, soaring granite icons, giant sequoia trees and stunning natural monuments.
TJ’s hotel reviewers headed to San Francisco and Scottsdale to experience the best places to stay. Here are our favorites.
Contents |
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1. Tokyo Journal Editorial Inside this issue |
20. Travel to Yosemite Luxury European hotel |
2. The First Fashion Show in Cuba (二ヵ国語) Junko Koshino's international fashion |
21. Travel to Central Coast, California Paso Robles hotels, wineries, restaurants & castle |
3. Streetstyle Glamour Fashionistas pave the way to fashion |
22. Travel to Seattle Chic, modern, historical & luxury hotels |
4. Mifune: The Last Samurai Documentary filmmaker & Mifune interviews |
23. Travel to Anaheim & Chicago Hotels for convention-goers |
5. Actor Tatsuya Nakadai 60 years of film, television & theater |
24. Travel to Las Vegas Upscale hotels & spectacular shows |
6. Multicultural Model Rola From Bangladesh jungles to the global catwalk |
25. Serviced Apartments in Tokyo Furnished apartments for business travelers |
7. Tito Time in Tokyo Jackson brother on 50 years in entertainment |
26. Tokyo Hotels Luxury & modern hotels + ryokan experience |
8. DJ Steve Aoki International electronic dance music king |
27. Yosakoi Dance Festival So you think they can dance! |
9. Soulrocker Michael Franti Musical mission for health, happiness & equality |
28. Supermodel Jessica Minh Anh in Japan Modeling in Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukushima |
10. CNN News Anchor Erin Burnett From investment banking analyst to journalist |
29. Illuminate Education Altruism within the company and beyond |
11. Ambassador of Japan Heritage Musician Marty Friedman |
30. Steve Killelea's Groundbreaking Peace Initiative Measuring the economic benefits of peace |
12. Sex Pistols Bob Gruen's punk photo flashback |
31. Photo album from Cuba (二ヵ国語) Hiroyuki Suzuki's midsummer night's memory |
13. Barges of the Dead Donald Richie struck by seashore haunting apparition |
32. Living "As" Nature, Not "With" It Mind management for satisfaction |
14. David Nunan's Global Classroom Teaching to the heart and head |
33. How the Japanese build success into their products Quality in product manufacturing |
15. Mari's Homemade Cooking Recipes Miso-simmered mackerel |
34. Garrity's Japan From Tokyo to Soka |
16. Koshu Wine Uniquely indigenous to Japan |
35. Haitian Culture Various styles of Haitian art |
17. New American Comfort Chef Ben Ford's pork belly lettuce wraps |
36. Product Reviews for the Busy Traveler TJ's shopping recommendations |
18. Fig and Ham Tart Expat cucina's tasty tart recipe |
37. Tournament of Roses America's new year celebration |
19. Travel to San Francisco & Scottsdale Northern California & Arizona hotels |
38. Yoga Lifestyle A wabi-sabi contemplation |
In April of 2016 Tokyo Journal announced the first ever Top 10 Ranking for the reader's favorite Japanese entertainment icons, food, pop-culture, and travel locations. Over the course of 2016 we asked Tokyo Journal readers to vote for their favorite things in Japanese entertainment, food, pop-culture, and travel locations. This first year proved to be successful with over 500,000 votes submitted by readers from all over the world. Here are the top 3 winners for each category and stay tuned for the 2017 rankings.
> Japanese Entertainmant
> Food in Japan
> Japanese Pop Culture
> Japan Travel
Japanese TV & Dramas
1. Satomi Ishihara
2. Akari Hayami
3. Haruka Ayase
1. Flowers for Algermon
2. Mysterious Thief Yamaneko
3. From Five to Nine
1. Tomohisa Yamashita
2. Takuya Kimura
3. Kazuya Kamenashi
1. Nobuta wo Produce (2005)
2. Long Vacation (1996)
3. Hana Yori Dango (2005)
1. Smap x Smap
2. Momoclo Chan
3. Shabekuri 007
Japanese Movies
1. Ring
2. Ju-On
3. Sadako 3D
1. Battle Royale (2000)
2. Seven Samurai (1954)
3. Godzilla (1954)
1. Ken Watanabe
2. Takuya Kimura
3. Takeshi Kitano
1. Hayao Miyazaki
2. Akira Kurosawa
3. Takeshi Miike
1. Seven Samurai
2. High and Low
3. Hidden Fortress
Japanese Music
1. X Japan
2. The GazettE
3. Babymetal
1. Momoiro Clover Z
2. Morning Musume
3. *C-ute
1. Miwa
2. Yui
3. Ayumi Hamasaki
1. SMAP
2. KAT-TUN
3. ARASHI
1. Tomohisa Yamashita
2. Gackt
3. Jin Akanishi
Japanese Sports
1. Yuzuru Hanyu (Figure Skater)
2. Kei Nishikori
3. Kohei Uchimura
1. Mao Asada (Figure Skater)
2. Ai Fukuhara
3. Saori Yoshida
Japanese Food
1. Ramen
2. Takoyaki
3. Yakitori
1. Salmon
2. Toro (Fatty Tuna)
3. Tuna
1. Dassai
2. Kubota
3. Hakkaisan
Restaurant in Japan
1. Kawaii Monster Cafe
2. Robot restaurant
3. Maidreamin Cafe
1. Mos Burger
2. Yoshinoya
3. Pepper Lunch
1. Ishida
2. Houki
3. Wakkoqu
1. Les Cristallines
2. Troisgros Japon
3. Joel Robuchon
1. Pizzeria Da Napolistaca
2. Elio Locanada Italiana
3. Bulgari ll Ristorante
1. Outback Steakhouse
2. Hard Rock cafe
3. Denny's
1. Hibiki
2. Gonpachi
3. Nihonbashi-tei
1. Fonda de la Madrugada
2. La Jolla
3. El Caliente
1. CoCo Ichibanya
2. Manten Curry Rice
3. Curry House TIRI TIRI
1. Wako
2. Maisen
3. Katsuzen
1. Miyashita Sake Brewery
2. Baird Brewery Company
3. Abashiri Brewery
1. Asian Palm
2. Monsoon Cafe
3. Mango Tree
1. Gion Karyo, Kyoto
2. Nakamura, Kyoto
3. Ogata, Kyoto
1. Tempura Kondo
2. Ten-ichi Ginza Honten
3. Tempura Motoyoshi
1. Sukiyabashi Jiro
2. Sushi no Midori
3. Sushi Dai
1. Ichiran
2. Shibaraku
3. Botan
Japanese Sweets
1. Melon Pan
2. Crepes
3. Taiyaki
1. Higashiya Ginza
2. Tokyo Mise
3. Toraya Tokyo
1. Sweets Paradise
2. Rose Bakery
3. Ice Monster Omotesando
1. Pocky
2. Choco Pie
3. ALMOND
Japanese Anime & Manga
1. One Piece
2. Fairy Tail
3. Full Metal Alchemist
1. Akatsuki no Yona
2. Kimi ni Todoke
3. Orange
1. Pika-chu
2. Totoro
3. Rilakkuma
1. Howl's Moving Castle
2. Spirited Away
3. My Neighbor Totoro
1. Attack on Titan
2. One-Punch Man
3. Tokyo Ghoul
1. Wolf Children
2. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
3. The Girl Who Leapt Though Time
1. Dragon Ball Z
2. One Piece
3. Death Note
1. Kumamon
2. Funassyi
3. Gunma-chan
Cosplay
1. Touga
2. Reika
3. Linda Le(Vampy Bit Me)
Japanese Fashion
1. Galaxxxy
2. Angelic Pretty
3. 6% Doki Doki
1. Cecil McBee
2. Olive des Olive
3. Freak's Store
1. Comme Des Garcons
2. Junko Koshino
3. Kenzo
1. Kiko Mizuhara
2. Mirei Kiritani
3. Rola
Japanese Video Games
1. Final Fantasy VII
2. Kingdom Hearts 2
3. Persona 4
Japanese Destinations
1. Tokyo Disneyland
2. Universal Studios Japan
3. Tokyo Disneysea
1. Yokohama
2. Kamakura
3. Mt. Fuji
1. Kyoto
2. Ishigaki Island
3. Nara
1. Tokyo Tower
2. Shibuya Crossing / Hachiko Statue
3. Tokyo Skytree
1. Tokyo Station
2. Nakagin Capsule Tower
3. Omotesando Hills
1. Hakone Onsen
2. Kurokawa Onsen
3. Beppu Onsen
1. Takinoya
2. Shuhokaku Kogetsu
3. Hotel Hanayura
1. Niseko Grand Hirafu
2. Fujiten Snow Resort
3. Hakuba Happo One Ski Resort
1. Tadao Ando
2. Kenzo Tange
3. Kisho Kurosawa
1. Harajuku
2. Asakusa Temple
3. Odaiba
1. Tokyo International School
2. The American School in Japan
3. Yokohama International School
1. Sendagaya Japanese Institute
2. Akamonkai
3. Coto Language Academy
Japanese Hotels
1. Park Hyatt Tokyo
2. Palace Hotel Tokyo
3. Imperial Hotel Tokyo
1. Kyoto Guesthouse Roujiya
2. Nui. Hotel & Bar Lounge
3. Hostel Haruya Aqua, Kyoto
Japanese Leisure & Recreation
1. Shidax
2. Big Echo
3. Karaoke-kan
1. Club SEGA
2. SEGA GiGO
3. Shinjuku Playland Carnival
1. Sapporo Snow Festival
2. Awa Odori Tokushima
3. Gion Matsuri
1. Tokyo Bay Fireworks
2. Sumidagawa Fireworks
3. Edogawa Fireworks
1. Mitsukoshi
2. Matsuya Ginza
3. Isetan
1. Shibuya 109
2. Roppongi Hills
3. Omotesando Hills
1. National Museum Tokyo
2. Japan Ukiyo-e Museum
3. National Art Center
1. Tokyo National Museum
2. Edo Tokyo Museum
3. Samurai Museum
1. Ghibli Museum
2. Cupnoodle Museum
3. Sapporo Beer Museum
Tokyo Journal readers will be able to vote once a day for their favorite things in Japanese entertainment, food, pop-culture, and travel locations.
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