SPAR Inpiration

Holidays

The Top Three of Asia

With soaring skylines and buzzing downtowns, the grand dames of Asian cities - Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo - are metropolises not to be missed in your lifetime. And as we discover on our whistle-stop tour, all three have a serene side making them our top destinations in Asia.

Photographs by Howard James Fyvie & Aqeelah Harron

Hong Kong

With a throbbing heart based around Kowloon and Hong Kong island, this city blends Asian and Western influences with ease. Start your day in an international hotel and finish it in a local Cantonese restaurant. Shopping is big here but when you’re tired of the malls, head out to discover the territories’ enchanting beaches, islands and waterfronts.

Don’t miss...

Dusk at Victoria Peak, the highest mountain on the island, and watching the city lights come on
Taking the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour, is a trip worth putting on your bucket list for a magical view of the city, especially at night
Eating street food at Temple Street night market, from noodles to hotpot.

Photographs by Nina & Vincent Michaelsen

Singapore

While Singapore feels like the more sensible sister to Hong Kong, it still packs a glamourous punch. Well-dressed locals fill the city’s many malls, restaurants, cinemas and bars and even the most reluctant shopper will be enticed by great deals on electronics. Take a breather in the sublime Botanical Gardens, a lush oasis amid this thriving city-state.

Don’t miss...

A traditional Chinese acupressure massage in Singapore’s Chinatown
Eating chilli crabs while wearing a plastic bib, a messy but worthwhile culinary experience
A side trip to the Indonesian island of Bintan and its 30-km long beach. Just one hour by ferry.

Photographs by Tim Hiorns

Tokyo

Trend-setting, boundary-pushing, quirky and chaotic, Tokyo has many labels and lives up fantastically to all of them. From cutting-edge gadgets to extreme fashions and crowded pavements, this city is a blast on your senses. But the city has a quieter, more traditional side to be found in shrines, parks and small local eateries.

Don’t miss...

The live tuna auctions at the Tsukiji Fish Market, perfect for jet-lagged early risers
Cherry blossom season in March and April at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Hiring a private booth for a karaoke session, a Japanese national pastime.

With acknowledgement to SPAR Savour Magazine