Tokyo

Travel tips for Tokyo and Kyoto from a return trip after 22 years: Asakusa, Shibuya, shrine etiquette, yakiniku, kimono rental and Fushimi Inari at night.

Nightlife in Shibuya and Shinjuku, from Nonbei Yokocho and Omoide Yokocho to Golden Gai's tiny bars, plus clubs, karaoke and how to avoid Kabukicho scams.

Food experiences in Tokyo worth booking: a Shinjuku sake walk, a Tsukiji market tour and a mochi class, plus phrases for ordering, paying and dietary needs.

Plan your visit to Sensoji Temple in Asakusa: walk from Kaminarimon down Nakamise to Hozomon and the main hall, with history, night views and kimono tips.

Yodobashi Akiba fills nine floors by Akihabara Station with cameras, games, toys and gadgets, plus a restaurant floor and a golf and batting range up top.

Cost of living in Tokyo broken down: central rent, utilities, internet, a beer, a coffee and transport, with a quick comparison to New York and Los Angeles.

Getting around in Tokyo is easier once you know the Yamanote loop, the nine Tokyo Metro and four Toei lines, and which private lines run out to Odaiba.

All you can drink, or nomihoudai, explained: how Japan's 1 to 2 hour drinking plans work, the menu and unfinished-drink rules, and the food izakaya expect.

Shopping in Tokyo's Asakusa: souvenirs on Nakamise, better crafts on the side streets, kitchenware on Kappabashi and craft supplies in Asakusabashi.

Meiji Jingu, built in 1920 for Emperor Meiji, is Tokyo's grandest shrine. Free entry, a giant torii gate, Shinto weddings, New Year crowds and Yoyogi Park.