Born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and an American father, Chris Peppler spent his college years in the US before returning to Japan. As well as being a narrator and actor, Peppler is best known outside Japan as the presenter of Tokyo Eye 2020, a series that explores the Japanese metropolis as it undergoes a transformation in the run-up to the 2020 Olympics.

The show is broadcast on NHK World TV, which celebrates Tokyo’s incredible diversity − from art and travel to cookery, science and technology. We asked him to share his remarkable knowledge of this marvellous city, to get recommendations on some of the more unfamiliar things to see and do in Tokyo.

ENERGY OF YANAKA
“The Yanaka area is part of downtown Tokyo and it has a unique ambience of nostalgia and rustic charm – it’s very different from the metropolitan feel of other parts of the city. From ancient temples to art museums and galleries, there’s plenty to see. But Yanaka is also a very spiritual place for me in that it has this great ‘qi’ or life energy. It’s the kind of place you should go when you’re feeling bad, as you’ll immediately feel better.”

COSPLAYER’S PARADISE
“Ikebukuro has become a hot destination for female anime and manga fans in recent years. At the heart of the Ikebukuro district, which is nicknamed Otome Road – Otome means ‘young lady – there’s a shop called Acos Ikebukuro. It’s a cosplayer’s paradise, with one of Japan’s biggest selections of officially licensed merchandise. On the second floor, there are racks upon racks of costumes.”

OODLES OF ORANGE NOODLES
“There’s a ramen shop called Soranoiro in Kojimachi, Chiyoda Ward, which serves up staples like soy sauce ramen alongside other exciting dishes. The broth is a brilliant golden hue, which is achieved by mixing heirloom chicken stock with carrot puree, and the bowls are topped with a colourful array of dishes, from cabbage to carrots. The noodles are a bright orange colour, as the chefs knead powdered paprika into the dough. There are tasty options for vegetarians and vegans too.”

A SPOT OF AVANT-GARDE IDLING
“SuperDeluxe in Roppongi, Minato Ward is a very popular spot for enjoying Tokyo’s art scene at night, recently dubbed ‘Asia’s best spot for avant-garde idling’ by Time. The space hosts a wide range of events, including music concerts, film screenings, club nights and opportunities for creatives to present their ideas. Almost every night, you’ll find some kind of genre-bending creative happening going on here.”

CORRIDOR OF PRAYER
“Fukagawa Fudo-do is a temple in Monzen-nakacho, Koto Ward, founded about 300 years ago. Inside, there is a free exhibition offering an introduction to the world of Buddhism, where you can walk through the 75m prayer corridor. Its walls are lined with crystal cases containing 10,000 wooden Buddhist statues. Beneath the multitude of deities is a giant string of prayer beads. As you run your hand along it, you make a prayer.”

Our man on Planet Japan was TV presenter and radio DJ Chris Peppler. His TV show on NHK World is available on Sky, Freesat, TVPlayer, Virgin Media and via a dedicated app.