All of Tokyo is a pedestrian paradise, with all corners of the metropolis accessible on foot thanks to one of the most intricate public transport systems in the world. But traveling by train and by foot can make it hard to get a handle on the overall geography of the city. Even the locals in Tokyo still get lost from time to time among the colorful shopping avenues of Harajuku or neon-lit streets of Shinjuku. There are a thousand things to do and sights to see on the streets of Tokyo every day, but to really get a handle on how the city moves as a whole, you've got to gain a bit of perspective.

I got a chance to do just that recently, visiting Excel Air Service, which offers helicopter cruises over Tokyo and Yokohama. Operating out of Urayasu directly next to Tokyo Disney Resort(R), the helicopter cruises of Excel Air take guests high above Tokyo's streets for an unforgettable view that shows an entirely new side of the city.

Excel's free shuttle service runs from Maihama Station, and quickly takes passengers to the Urayasu heliport. Arriving 30 minutes prior to my scheduled cruise, the waiting room was decked out in holiday decorations during my visit. The room had a warm atmosphere with plenty of young couples relaxing on the comfortable couches, chatting while enjoying the view of nearby Tokyo DisneySea(R). Checking in was painless, and after a brief wait it was our turn to take off.

Seats were assigned after a safety lecture, and my group proceeded to the helipad. Onboard, at least one person from every couple gets a window seat, making a great excuse to slide close to your partner at the window. I'd never ridden in a helicopter before, but taking off was surprisingly smooth as we quickly climbed above the Tokyo Bay. Flying out over Tokyo Disney Resort on the Diamond Course offered by Excel Air, the theme park lights immediately made for a dazzling view.

Settling in to our cruising altitude of 700 meters, the lights of Tokyo continued to spread out far into the distance. Landmarks like the Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, and Roppongi Hills, normally divided by multiple train transfers, were all visible in one sweeping view. It really was a completely different way to see Tokyo. On foot, the skyscrapers and department store advertisements tower above train station exits at Ikebukuro and Shibuya. From the air, not only could we see the entire area around these city centers, but also how they connect to one another.
After 20 minutes, our nighttime cruise came to an end and we touched down back at the Urayasu Heliport. My first thoughts upon exiting the helicopter were, "I bet the daytime cruise is just as impressive." Excel Air's Diamond Course was a wonderful, romantic experience that literally let me see Tokyo on an entirely different level.

If you would like to learn more, visit Excel Air's homepage
Reservation terms and conditions are at the link
Or, contact Excel Air directly:
Excel Air Service, Inc.
TEL: +81-47-380-5555 (outside Japan)
047-380-5555 (within Japan)
Open: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekends and holidays
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. weekdays

We are very pleased to offer in partnership with Excel Air a chance for one lucky JAPANiCAN.com reader to win a pair of tickets for a Diamond Course nighttime helicopter cruise! Read on for details.

Prize: 1 pair of Diamond Course tickets (approximate flight time 20 minutes)

Entry Method: follow @jtbjapanican on Twitter and use Twitter's retweet function to share the contest post. You will need to create a Twitter account if you have not done so already.

Contest Deadline: February 15, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Japan Standard Time (UTC +9)

Prize Claiming: On February 15, one winner will be randomly chosen and notified through Twitter's messaging feature. The person chosen will have three days to respond to the message to claim their prize. If no response is received in three days, a new winner will be chosen. Once a response is received, the contest winner will need to provide us with their desired day to take their helicopter cruise, their desired flight time (from nightfall to 9:00 p.m.) and the full names of the two passengers that will use the ticket. A flight reservation confirmation e-mail will be sent to the contest winner.

Notes: A free shuttle bus is available from Maihama Station to the Urayasu Heliport. Winner will be responsible for transportation to and from Maihama Station on their own.

Notes on Twitter: To enter, contestants must follow @jtbjapanican and retweet the contest post.
Only one entry per person is allowed. Anyone found to be using multiple accounts to enter this contest will be disqualified.