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        <title>Been there | Tips</title>
        
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            Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love,
            live in or have just visited - are what make this guide.
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                <title>New York Bar</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33298</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Now Iconic, thanks to Lost in Translation, the New York Bar is situated on the 52nd floor of Shinjuku’s Park Hyatt Hotel. The bar has arguably the best views in Tokyo and if you venture up there in the day before 8pm you won’t have to pay the 2200¥ cover charge. However, the view at night is priceless. They have an outstanding whiskey list if you fancy doing your best Bill Murray impression. If not, the house cocktail list is wonderful. Try the sublime L.I.T: a fusion of Sake, Sakura liqueur, Peachtree and cranberry juice. The perfect accompaniment to the live music.]]></description>
                
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                <title>A great view of Tokyo</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23559</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Shiodome City Centre is a 42 storey building with great choices of bars and restaurants on the top two floors.  The view is as good as, or even better than, Park Hyatt.  <br><br>I've been to Fishbank for drinks and Izakaya En for dinner and both of them were very reasonably priced and food was very good. It's very close to  Ginza and Tsukiji but the nearest station is "Shiodome" on Oedo line.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21265</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Often referred to as Tokyo City Hall, this skyscraper offers amazing views of the city.  The building is located in the Shinjuku area of the city and the panoramic observatories that take up the top two floors are almost 240 meters high, offering an unrivalled view of the Tokyo cityscape.  The observatories are open to the public and are free to enter, making this a fantastic way to observe this Japanese metropolis.]]></description>
                
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                <title>‘Lost in Translation’ film locations</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21263</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The 2003 film, directed by Sofia Coppola, was shot entirely in Tokyo, mostly in the Shinjuku and Shibuya areas.  Two of the most iconic locations from the film: The Park Hyatt Hotel, where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson both stay, can be found right in the heart of Shinjuku and is regarded as one of the city’s best hotels; and the skyscraper with the large video screen can be found at the Hachiko exit of the Shibuya station.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Lights of Shinjuku</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21262</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[When visiting this area of Tokyo many people are taken aback at how bright and colorful the city becomes at night.  The Japanese capital is famous for its neon cityscape and the main road in Shinjuku, around the corner from the Kabukicho district, is the perfect place to take photos of the wall of lights that line the streets.]]></description>
                
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                <title>City Hall Observation Floors</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21252</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[For stunning free views of Shinjuku's ultra modern business district, and most of Tokyo, head to the high speed lifts that whisk you up either of the two 240m towers of this cathedral like government building by architect Kenzo Tange (Olympic gymnasium, Fuji TV centre, catholic cathedral,and further afield, Hiroshima peace park museum) Best place to see the sun set, and marvel at the extravagance of this 157 billion yen City Hall. While in the area explore Shinjuku metro, the worlds busiest station, and the teeming bar district. For a little solitude visit Hanazono shrine or the beautiful central park, imperial gardens or nearby iris filled Meiji Jingu gardens and shrine.]]></description>
                
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                <title>The Park Hyatt</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19920</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The real star of the beautiful Lost In Translation, this towering masterpiece is the best way of retreating after a bewildering working day in Tokyo. The New York Bar on the top floor is super-hip and the swimming pool/spa, on the 53rd floor, is breathtaking. If you don’t have the cash – or the expense budget – a normal room is certainly good enough, but if you do book a Park Suite (with its separate bedroom) or, best of all, its signature Diplomatic Suite: with its own library, dining room and grand piano, it is a spectacular way to wind down and wow your clients.<br><br>The only problem with the Park Hyatt is its location – Shinjuku is good for business irrefutably (it’s the Financial District) but it’s also fairly dull.]]></description>
                
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                <title>The Conrad Tokyo</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19919</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The Conrad Tokyo’s major attraction is its location. Walking distance from the Hamarikyu Garden and the legendary Tsukiji Fish Market (amongst other tourist delights), this is the place to stay if you don’t have a weekend (go for the Hyatt if you do) but do have time to explore in the evenings. The in-house Gordon Ramsay restaurants are also a bonus. Book an Executive Room or an Executive Suite; the latter is exceptional value given its 83 square metre size.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Steaks in the sky</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19917</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The New York Grill on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt is heaving every night, it serves some of the best seafood, poultry and red meat I’ve ever tasted in Japan (no mean feat). There’s also a super-high celebrity quotient.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Tokyo Bar With Great View</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19899</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Japanese bar with fantastic view and great cocktails.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Park Hotel Tokyo</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17354</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[An excellent modern hotel in the Shidome district, with staggering views in every direction, and extremely helpful staff, this hotel is close to metro and JR stations, and within walking distance of the fish market, Ginza, and numerous reasonably priced restaurants. The hotel itself has a Michelin starred restaurant serving traditional Japanese food.<br><br>Our only quibble was that like many things in Japan the entrance to the hotel is so understated that it is easily missed, so it is rather hard to find when arriving jet-lagged from the train. Limousine bus would be better, as it goes straight there.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Xex</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2697</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Literally the best restaraunt/bar you will find in Tokyo (nay the world), and it's on the 42nd floor atop of the Mori Atago building.<br><br>Great atmosphere and the best view of Tokyo you'll get over Lobster (recommend at night).]]></description>
                
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                <title>Odaiba</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2677</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Basically Tokyo-on-sea, a big slab of reclaimed land in Tokyo bay where you can go and chill out, eat/drink/shop, enjoy sea breezes, even go to the (artifical) beach! There are stunning views of Tokyo (especially at night), and it's one of the few places in Tokyo where you can enjoy the great outdoors. There's a massive ferris wheel for even better views and you can even rent a dog to walk!! One of the best things about it though is the journey there - it's worth going just to enjoy the monorail ride across the enormous Rainbow Bridge.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Roppongi Hills</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2615</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[For an unparalleled view of Tokyo try the Mori building at Roppongi Hills. Unlike the Metropolitan Building it costs 1,500 yen but it's bang in the centre so the views are much better. Included in the price is the art gallery, which puts on some wacky shows.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2636</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[One of the highest buildings in the skyscraper district of Shinjuku, where you can see views of Tokyo and the area around it, including Mount Fuji (only on clear days in late winter/early spring). The plus point is that this is one of the only things you can do in Tokyo for free. The viewing area opens about 10am and closes about 10pm.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Mori Building, Roppongi Hills</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2630</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Roppongi Hills is one of the largest new developents in Tokyo, with the massive Mori Building at the centre. JPY1,500 buys you entry to the Tokyo City View, offering spectacular views from all directions (depending on the air pollution. You'll get the best views in February). On the same floor you'll also find the Mori Urban Institute for The Future, which has incredible fully-detailed scale models of both Manhattan and central Tokyo, and is likely to bring out the Godzilla "must destroy this thing!" instinct in you.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Climbing Mount Fuji</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2625</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[This essential Japanese icon is just a short (2 or 3 hour) bus or train ride from the centre of Tokyo. In the climbing season, which runs from the 1st of July to the 27th of August,the buses from Shinjuku even run all the way to the fifth station called Go Gome for 2,600 Yen (13.00GBP)<br><br>Well over 200,000 people climb to the summit each season and when you do reach the top (about 7 hours after leaving Go Gome) the hardest part may be finding somewhere to stand and watch the sunrise, if your hands are cold there are vending machines selling hot coffee and soup!<br><br>For a more "wild" experience I would suggest climbing the mountain in October. Usually the typhoons have abated by then and the snow not yet arrived making the climb safe and easy and above all colourful. Most of the refuges that dot the path to the top are closed so you should be prepared for a little more of a mountain experience; but the Fuji San Hotel at the 8th station stays open to the 15th and can provide bunk accommodation and a meal for around 6,000 Yen (30.00GBP). Out of season the lodges are relaxed and friendly places unlike during the climbing season. Splitting the climb here and doing the short, 2 hour, climb to the summit the next morning is a more enjoyble way climb this amazing peak.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Shinjuku Starbucks</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2597</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[This branch of Starbucks is located at the busy Shinjuku intersection on the first floor. Get in there and grab a window seat and sit and watch Tokyo go by outside.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Mount Takao</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/533</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Less than an hour outside Tokyo, the Mount is popular with weekend hikers, so go during the week to escape the crowds. Visit Yakuoin temple near the summit or simply wander through the densely wooded foothills. The peak, 600 metres above sea level, offers views of Tokyo, Yokohama and, of course, Mt Fuji.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/518</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[The journey up to the two observation decks on the 45th floor takes almost a minute and, unusually for Tokyo, costs nothing. There are splendid views of the city and, depending on the weather and time of year, Mt Fuji can be seen in the distance.]]></description>
                
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