The New York Times recently ran a story on the previously unheralded Marunouchi District of Tokyo.

For most of its life Marunouchi has been overshadowed by its glitzy neighbor, Ginza. Because it is located on the opposite end of Tokyo Train station, Marunouchi was quite literally on the wrong side of the tracks. That has been changing recently. The cold atmosphere of office buildings and industrial space has given way to a something completely different: a hip alternative to Ginza.




Upscale hotels and outlets for the latest designers line the streets. Some of the newest and most exciting cuisines can be found in Marunouchi's eateries.

Unfortunately for budget travelers, new is not synonymous with cheap. If you expect to get anything, including dinner, for under $100, you'll probably be disappointed.