Tokyo/Akasaka

Akasaka (&#x8d64;&#x5742;) is one of Tokyo's central business districts, full of corporate headquarters and expensive hotels. The area is directly adjacent to Nagatacho, one of Tokyo's prime concentrations of bureaucracy, and only a stone's throw from the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda.

By train
Akasaka-Mitsuke station on the Metro Ginza and Marunouchi subway lines is at the northeastern edge of Akasaka. The station is connected by a handy, if rather long, tunnel to Nagatacho station on the Namboku, Hanzomon and Yurakucho lines. Tameike-Sanno (Namboku/Ginza) is also in the area and a good access point for Hitotsugi-dori, the main thoroughfare through the Akasaka district.

Travelers from Narita Airport can take the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno, then transfer to the Ginza subway line (&yen;2,110, 90 min.), or add 15 minutes but lower the cost to &yen;1,190 by taking the limited express instead of the Skyliner. The Narita Express isn't cost-effective unless you hold a rail pass, in which case you can travel to Tokyo Station and change for the Marunouchi line (85 min. total), paying only the subway fare of &yen;160. Haneda Airport passengers can take the Keikyu line to Shimbashi, changing there for the Ginza line (&yen;720, 40 min.).

Many of the tourist attractions can also be reached by getting off at.

By bus
The Airport Limousine Bus makes convenient hourly runs (sometimes twice an hour) between Narita and major hotels in Akasaka (&yen;3,000, approx. 80-120 minutes).

See
In 2007, Akasaka Sacas opened to great fanfare. Much like the nearby competing Roppongi Hills or Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka Sacas is made up of Akasaka Biz Tower, chock-full of eateries and several shops, Akasaka BLITZ and ACT Theatre, and of course the iconic TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) building.



Eat and drink
At night corporate Akasaka loosens its tie and comes to life: the blocks bounded by Sotobori-dori (&#x5916;&#x5800;&#x901a;&#x308a;) and Hitotsugi-dori (&#x4e00;&#x30c3;&#x6728;&#x901a;&#x308a;) are packed full of expensive restaurants and nightclubs, second only to the Ginza in swankiness. Both Japanese and international cuisine are very well represented, with places like Tenichi for tempura and Shabuzen for shabu-shabu, and others representing Indonesian, French, Mexican, Russian, Indian, Italian cuisines... If you name it, you'll probably find it.

Most restaurants cater mostly to the expense account set and are correspondingly expensive at dinner time (&yen;10000 and up is not uncommon). The best deals in Akasaka are therefore at lunch, since no matter how high their prices go in the evening, all these restaurants offer excellent lunch menus for &yen;1000 or so.



Akasaka is famous for its Korean restaurants:



If you are on a budget try the lunch box from a supermarket.



Sleep


Akasaka's hotels are all in the business/luxury category and charge a premium for their location.