Bars

Tokyo

A stinking rich neon-lit metropolis; an Oriental monument to the gods of consumerism; a Japanese bow to America and the west. We think we know Tokyo even if we haven’t been there. But look closer, past the McDonald’s on street corners, the kids in baseball caps listening to hip hop and eating in Hard Rock and you’ll see something unique.

From the sushi and saki bars of Roppongi, to the design temples of Shibuya and the Bladerunner skyscrapers of Ginza, this is a hi-tech, surreal, sci-fi assault on the senses, a city like none other on earth. Say sayonara to what you think you know and fasten your seatbelts. Welcome to Tokyo. Continue to Tokyo’s best bars…

Fukuoka

Japanese kids all look like they’ve stepped off the cover of The Face and Fukuoka’s no different. The island’s second city is a large urban centre blessed with the abundant beauty of Hakata Bay. But you’ll enjoy the beauty of the bars even more. At places like Ritz Spooky Mix and O/D, DJs spin techno in minimalist settings from cloud-touching buildings where an air of hedonistic abandon adds to the buzz.

But there’s more to Fukuoka than bars and nightlife: enjoy traditional festivals such as the Hakata Dontaku Port Festival or Hakata Gion Yamakasa; sample delicious seafood caught fresh from the Genkai Sea and cruise around in a transport system that’s straight out of sci-fi. And don’t forget to sample the saki. Continue to Fukuoka’s Best Bars…

Hiroshima

Firstly, forget all your preconceptions and drag your thinking into the new millennium before you even contemplate Hiroshima. This is a really happening, beautiful city where the locals and visitors are really friendly. In the entertainment area of Nagarekawa and the trendy Jizo-dori/Kondu districts you’ll find everything from funky little 70s retro style bars and intimate cafes, to a thriving club scene feeding a vibrant youth culture.

The City Museum of Contemporary Art, which scooped the grand prize at the 5th World Festival of Architecture, the cherry tree-lined walkway in Central Park and the beautiful Mitaki Temple are just a handful of the many other highlights and surprises you’ll find here. Continue to Hiroshima’s Best Bars…

Kyoto

Kyoto is an amazing blend of traditional and modern architecture. In Rakuchu, the old city centre, you’ll find the old Machiya town houses where Geisha once entertained. Most are now shops but in one or ten you can sample hundreds of varieties of local tipples such as the evil ’shochu’! But whatever you do don’t pour yourself a drink - it’s extremely rude. Notable landmarks include the Heian Shrine, Toji Temple’s five-storey pagoda and Kinkakuji Temple (or Golden Pavilion) a wonderfully tranquil place to recover from a heavy night!

Visit in November and April and you’ll witness Japan’s obsession with the fiery-red Maple leaves and also with Cherry blossom ­ which they mention in the weather forecast! And if you’re cultured-out nip to Shizuoka and Yokohama during the World Cup to catch some action. Continue to Kyoto’s Best Bars…

Nagasaki

A beautiful city of half-a-million people on the southwestern tip of Kyushu, forever linked to the atomic bomb of August 9, 1945. Hypocentre Park, the A-Bomb Museum and Peace Park are among the reminders for tourists to visit. But Nagasaki is more than a moving memorial to that horrific event. Set on a wide bay and surrounded by lush green hills, it often reminds visitors of San Francisco and was in fact settled centuries ago by the Portuguese and the Dutch. Reminders of this can be seen at Glover Garden, a residential hillside in the south where the European homes have been reassembled.

The views from here across the city are spectacular. While western in outlook, Nagasaki is still far more traditional than Japan’s big cities: expect warmth and openness from locals, many of whom speak English. Most bars and clubs are in the colourful Maruyma district although the excellent Bar Soda is on a ship in the bay. Check out the Lantern Festival every February, which celebrates the city’s close association with the Chinese. And enjoy the cocktails at Cocktail Bar Joy. Continue to Nagasaki’s Best Bars…