Tokyo

Still reeling from this past spring's earthquake and tsunami as well as a generally sluggish economy, Japan has had a tough time in 2011, but it remains as charming and inviting as ever - especially if you need a quick break from Beijing.

We took a trip to Tokyo last week (from September 10-15) and enjoyed a memorable five (and a half) days in the capital - a bit of a splurge money-wise, but not altogether unreasonable if you're on a moderate budget: Our air tickets cost around RMB 4,500 each (including tax - prices double once the October holiday week hits) and the hotel worked out to be about RMB 1,200 a night (including service charge and tax)

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