Japanese arthouse

Think of Tokyo and the image that springs to mind is of neon lights and skyscrapers. But head to Yanaka on the northeastern fringes of the city, and you'll find something "strikingly different", says Benji Lanyado in the Guardian. This little-visited neighbourhood is dominated by "traditional houses and temples whose graveyards burst with cherry blossom in spring". Small, local food shops "spill on to the street", and most of the buildings are under two storeys high. For something more challenging than manga, art lovers can visit a contemporary art gallery, Scai the Bathhouse (pictured); the "beautifully preserved house" of sculptor Asakura Choso; and the Yuka Sasahara Gallery. ·