Tokyo's energy can be savored on a quick trip

One could easily spend a week exploring Tokyo and only scratch the surface. But if time is short, two days are probably enough to get the flavor of this Asian megalopolis.

Afterwards, stick around and make Tokyo your base of operations for several excellent day trips into the Kanto region's hinterlands to experience a more serene side of Japan.

Japan's train system is ultra efficient and offers great access into and out of the city.

TOKYO STARTING FIVE

1. Akihabara. Any itinerary must include a visit to Akihabara's Electric Street, where you can recharge those jet-lagged batteries simply by tapping into the incredible energy that surrounds you.

Synonymous with all things electric, Akihabara is actually a conglomeration of many smaller and medium-sized electronics and appliance stores jammed into a radius of several square blocks.

If it runs or plays on either AC or DC — even perhaps the band AC/DC — chances are you'll find it in Akihabara, along with a growing collection of other shops devoted to Japanese comic book (manga) and animation (anime) genres that have gained world-wide popularity in recent years.

2. Shinjuku. Tokyo's equivalent to New York City's Times Square. High-rise office towers dominate the skyline, while street level allows you to really get a feel of the city's pulse.

You might also catch a glimpse of Japanese pop culture in the flesh by spotting some Shinjuku Girls, who dress and wear over-the-top makeup so as to appear like characters from manga and anime.

3. Tsukuji Wholesale Fish Market. Holy Starkist! Where else can you see a 125-pound slab of maguro (tuna) awaiting its chance to become sushi? Or how about watching live eels being gutted before your eyes? Charming? Hardly. Fascinating? Very.

The market, the largest of its kind in the world, is a lesson in organized chaos as buyers and sellers gather every day, except Sundays and alternate Wednesdays, to deal in a wide array of fish and shellfish to supply the city's restaurant and grocery needs.

Whereas it's the early bird that gets the worm, it's the early tourist who gets the best photos, as much of the morning's action has already concluded prior to 6 a.m. But don't fret if you hit the snooze button on your hotel clock a few too many times, because there's still plenty to see, even if you arrive as late as 7 a.m.