{"id":5435,"date":"2009-12-13T01:06:45","date_gmt":"2009-12-12T16:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=5435"},"modified":"2009-12-13T01:06:45","modified_gmt":"2009-12-12T16:06:45","slug":"sunday-tangent-headachingly-bad-japan-travelogue-by-daily-beasts-new-travel-columnist-jolie-hunt-go-to-town-on-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=5435","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Tangent: Headachingly bad Japan travelogue by Daily Beast’s “new travel columnist” Jolie Hunt. Go to town on it."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hi Blog. Sunday Tangent time: I saw one of the worst Star Trek (TOS) shows ever (one that makes you say, “Give me my 50 minutes back!”, and no, it wasn’t “Spock’s Brain” — it was “Catspaw”; enough said). \u00a0 In the same genre of howlingly bad copy and information, let me send along this little ditty of Japan travelogue by a Ms Jolie Hunt, whose qualifications are, quote:<\/p>\n

“Jolie Hunt travels on her own dime for more than 50 percent of the year. She is the global head of public relations for Thomson Reuters, appointed April 2008. Prior to that, she served as global director of corporate and business affairs for IBM Corporation She was the director of PR for the Financial Times. She lives between New York and London.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her “Catspaw Article” follows. Go to town on it. And better yet, follow the link back to The Daily Beast\u00a0and see how fellow commenters go to town on it as well.<\/p>\n

Why don’t we Japan-residents ever get any of these sweet gigs? At least they wouldn’t have to pay us intercontinental airfare. \u00a0And we’d know what we’re talking about. Arudou Debito in Sapporo<\/p>\n

=============================<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Gal With a Suitcase<\/h1>\n

by\u00a0Jolie Hunt<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

The Daily Beast, undated,<\/strong> spotted by AG November 30, 2009 http:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/blogs-and-stories\/2009-11-27\/gal-with-a-suitcase-2\/full\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/a>\"Jolie<\/div>\n
Our new travel columnist visits Tokyo, a place at once colorfully chaotic and contemplatively serene\u2014and more accessible to Westerners than ever before.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Welcome to Tokyo, home of Harajuku, supersonic toilets, and food that can make even the sturdiest stomach reconsider career options. Every traveler wants to visit Tokyo, but making the schlep (and it is a schlep, from virtually anywhere) is an entirely different matter. But believe me, it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n

I hadn\u2019t been to Tokyo in three years and what struck me on a recent three-day visit was how the city seems vaster, yet more accessible for Westerners, than it did when I was last here. Now nearly everyone, from your cabbie to your masseur, can manage a few words in English. And speaking of cabbies, Tokyo\u2019s are glorious. All wear white gloves, have doily-adorned seats, and accept American Express. And no more renting one of those weird cellphones when you visit; 3G now works here. All these comforts and conveniences have a way of making Japan feel less foreign\u2014almost, I dare say, like any other major city.<\/p>\n

This can be a chaotic, rebellious place, where fashionistas in Hello Kitty haute couture strut the streets of Shibuya, and young punks with 10-inch Mohawks screech from makeshift stages in grimy underground clubs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thankfully, what remains unchanged are the enchanting Japanese. Many of the clich\u00e9s remain true: flawless etiquette in every encounter (even if I was occasionally called \u201cmister\u201d), exquisitely prepared food, perfect-in-every-way service, and masterful in the art of the business deal. I like that life here retains a tinge of formality, too. Take, for example, press releases, hand-delivered to all journalists in the Nikkei by a bike-messenger every day\u2014no blast email, no fax.<\/p>\n

But just when you think you\u2019ve got Japan figured out, it surprises you. This can be a chaotic, rebellious place, where fashionistas in Hello Kitty haute couture strut the streets of Shibuya, and young punks with 10-inch Mohawks screech from makeshift stages in grimy underground clubs.<\/p>\n

Before we get to the tips, one little bento box of warning: Tokyo isexpensive<\/em>. If Sofia Coppola were making her movie in 2009, I\u2019d propose the title\u00a0Cost in Translation<\/em>. The only place I\u2019ve been that\u2019s more outrageously pricey is Moscow, and you typically get caviar as part of that experience. If you\u2019re on a budget, don\u2019t come\u2014you haven\u2019t a chance in the world. Instead, arm yourself with the phrase\u00a0takai neh<\/em> (\u201cHow much?!\u201d) and be prepared to shell out. GWS learned this lesson the hard way when trying to buy a basic hair band that would cost no more than $12 anywhere else, but here was quoted at $79. Suffice to say, I did not leave Japan with a new head accessory.<\/p>\n

Hotels<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Park Hyatt <\/strong>remains a fave. It boasts jaw-dropping views of Mt. Fuji on a clear day, and the infamous New York Grill on the 52nd floor, which I tend to give a miss due to the oppressively loud jazz music. There\u2019s a delicious breakfast at Girandole on the 41st floor, and big, heavenly beds in every one of the 178 rooms, including 23 suites. Skip the gauche, \u201870s-styled spa called \u201cClub on the Park,\u201d but do everything else. Service is\u00a0mwah<\/em>\u2014superb concierge. Its location in the Shibuya area is a bit of a haul, but nowhere is perfect. Starting at 35,700 yen (about $400.)<\/p>\n

3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
03-5322-1234
www.tokyo.park.hyatt.com<\/p>\n

Few do it better than\u00a0The Peninsula<\/strong>, a three-minute walk from uber-posh Ginza, across from the Imperial Palace. The neighborhood is gorgeous, and the 24th floor\u2019s restaurant, Peter, is a destination in and of itself. Also a big fat winner is their spa, Espa. 314 rooms and 47 suites, from 60,000 yen (around $685. Ouch.)<\/p>\n

1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
03-6270-2888
www.tokyo.peninsula.com<\/p>\n

Claska<\/strong> is, strangely, one of the only designer-boutique options in the city. 12 rooms (nine Western, three traditional tatami style) and a hopping lobby scene, but you must book early. It\u2019s out of the way, but it\u2019s reasonable: rooms from 12,600 yen, or approx $120 for a single.<\/p>\n

1-3-18 Chuo-Cho, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
03-3719-8121
www.claska.com<\/p>\n

Eat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Robataya<\/strong>. You just have to. This Roppongi institution is the ultimate in kitsch dining experiences. Western faces line the small, den-like robatayaki restaurant, where two large Japanese men kneeling over a grill will cook up whatever fresh food you\u2019re in the mood for. It\u2019s utterly delicious. I recommend the Kobe beef skewers, fresh shrimp, and any type of veg. Be prepared for a loud welcome and a wacky host called Suzuki. It\u2019s expensive, naturally, but it\u2019s the best meal I\u2019ve had in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

1F, 7-8-4, Roppongi, Minatuo-ku, Tokyo
03-3408-9674
www.roppongi-robataya.com<\/p>\n

Make your reservation now at\u00a0Aronia De Takazawa<\/strong>. This stunning restaurant is impossibly delicious and is fully booked far in advance. With only 10 seats, it has some of the most palate-pleasing fare Tokyo has to offer. Set menu, so your only job is getting in.<\/p>\n

2\/F Sanyo Building, 3-5-2 Arasaka, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
03-3505-5052
www.aroniadetakazawa.com<\/p>\n

Their mantra is simplicity and their food lives up to it. Promising an \u201calluringly comfortable time,\u201d\u00a0Higashi-Yama<\/strong>\u2019s 10-course tasting menu is a veritable sashimi-gasm. No English menu, so just nod and smile. Closed Sundays.<\/p>\n

1-21-23 Higashiyama, Meguro-Ku
03-5720-1300
www.simplicity.co.jp<\/p>\n

Do<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Set your alarm for a visit to Tokyo\u2019s infamous Tsukiji Market<\/strong>. It\u2019s worth rising in darkness to spend an hour or two slinking amongst the frenetic commercial activity of this working fish market. The tuna auction takes place from 5 to 6:15 a.m. and must be seen to be believed. Be mindful of mad fishermen on moving vehicles; they do not stop for tourists. And dress accordingly\u2014this place is covered in slime. Wear with old sneakers or boots and be sure your trousers don\u2019t drag. I couldn\u2019t bring myself to eat sushi this early, but if you\u2019re game this is the freshest catch on earth. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n

5-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045
03-3542-1111
www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp\/<\/p>\n

Meiji Shrine and Harajuku<\/strong>. A trip to the Harajuku area is daunting, but if Gwen Stefani can do it, so can you. Elaborately costumed Japanese teenagers converge here every weekend in a bizarre Japanese youth-culture ritual that has no parallel anyplace else on earth. Tucked away on the opposite side of the Harajuku train station is one of the city\u2019s hidden gems, the Meiji Shrine. Set in a serene park oasis in the middle of Tokyo, a visit here gives visitors a real sense of history and traditional Japanese culture. On a weekend you may witness a wedding, or families paying their respects at the temple, or\u2014my favorite\u2014beautifully attired children in kimonos and slippers.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve found Zen, venture into the chaotic experience of\u00a0Takeshita Street<\/strong>. <\/strong>A guidebook I read aptly called it \u201ca conveyer belt of black hair.\u201d If you\u2019re brave enough to shove your way through the crepes-eating teenagers (yes, crepes) you\u2019ll be rewarded with sensory overload in its purest form. Push through to the end and you\u2019ll come out to Omotesando Hills, where top-brand shops abound. If seeking a late lunch, one of the few options past 2 p.m. is\u00a0Sin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Avoid<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not leaving yourself enough time to get to and from the airport. It\u2019s two hours from Narita International into central Tokyo. Cabs cost $300, or there\u2019s the\u00a0limo bus<\/a> that stops at the big hotels.<\/p>\n

Beware of eating at places without prior recommendation. Oftentimes you\u2019ll be given a set menu, which offers little choice for diversion. GWS spent many nights staring in horror at plates of indistinguishable fried creations, or worse, raw ones. (Is that uncooked chicken?) Your Japanese hosts may be confused by your reticence. My advice? Be gracious, and carry a granola bar.<\/p>\n

======================<\/p>\n

Jolie Hunt travels on her own dime for more than 50 percent of the year. She is the global head of public relations for Thomson Reuters, appointed April 2008. Prior to that, she served as global director of corporate and business affairs for IBM Corporation She was the director of PR for the Financial Times. She lives between New York and London.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now read the comments up at the site:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/blogs-and-stories\/2009-11-27\/gal-with-a-suitcase-2\/full<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ENDS<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday Tangent time: I saw one of the worst Star Trek (TOS) shows ever (one that makes you say, “Give me my 50 minutes back!”, and no, it wasn’t “Spock’s Brain” — it was “Catspaw”; enough said). In the same genre of howlingly bad copy and information, let me send along this little ditty of Japan travelogue by a Ms Jolie Hunt for you to scratch at:<\/p>\n

Excerpt: “I hadn\u2019t been to Tokyo in three years and what struck me on a recent three-day visit was how the city seems vaster, yet more accessible for Westerners, than it did when I was last here. Now nearly everyone, from your cabbie to your masseur, can manage a few words in English. And speaking of cabbies, Tokyo\u2019s are glorious. All wear white gloves, have doily-adorned seats, and accept American Express. And no more renting one of those weird cellphones when you visit; 3G now works here. All these comforts and conveniences have a way of making Japan feel less foreign\u2014almost, I dare say, like any other major city.”<\/p>\n

Open season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,22,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bad-social-science","category-cultural-issue","category-tangents"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5435"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}