Table of Contents
1. City by City
4. Where to Say
Many people think that Tokyo is just a city; but it is actually a prefecture (similar to the States in America) and also the name of a city within the Tokyo prefecture. Imagine New York State, but with a Japanese twist.
With the similar dynamic to New York State and New York City, Tokyo is packed with many amazing cities and beautiful suburban towns outside the city area. From the world famous Harajuku area of Shinjuku (made popular to the western world by Gwen Stefani), to the Ginza district, known for its high-end fashion stores and Tsukiji Fish market, your tour options are tremendous. Honestly, if you want to get the most out of your visit to Tokyo, I recommend you research a list of cities that you are interested in seeing in advance. Tokyo, in my opinion, is the most overwhelming place in Japan to visit without prior planning because this prefecture offers visitors so much.
Mentioned below are cities and towns where I have visited over the course of my numerous trips to Tokyo. With the guidance of my host mom, local friends, and as a previous member of a cultural program, I had the privilege of visiting numerous locations in Tokyo. I look forward to discovering more places and to share them with you!
City by City
If there is one part of Tokyo you must visit while in the city, it is Shibuya. Many people from all over the world come to be a part of and a witness of the “Shibuya Crossing”: a crosswalk directly outside of Shibuya station where it seems like hundreds of people cross the street at the same time from every street corner. You may have seen time-lapse videos of Shibuya Crossing made by photographers who come to this intersection just to record hours of footage of people braving their way to the other side of the road.
Also, across the street from the station is a statue of a dog named “Hachiko, the faithful dog”. Hachiko was an Akita dog who used to wait for his owner everyday in front of the train station at the end of the work day. Then, they would walk home together. Even after Hachiko’s owner passed away, Hachiko still came and waited for his owner outside the station. After Hachiko passed away, the city commemorated Hachiko and his owner with a statue of the dog to keep the memory of him and his owner alive. It has become a popular tourist sight where people come to take pictures with Hachiko’s statue.
Shibuya even has a lively nightlife, with a variety of clubs and bars. The first time I visited Shibuya on a Friday night I noticed there were a few bars/lounges and shops owned by Americans and Africans. It was shocking and satisfying to see some of “us” owning businesses there.
In between Shibuya and Shinjuku resides the eccentric, youth-inspired, Harajuku. This is the epicenter of all things trendy in Japanese pop culture. Take a walk down Takeshita-Dori (‘dori’ means street) and experience the crowded, narrow street filled with eccentric fashion shops and bright, interesting cafes. I love ducking into the trendy fashion clothing and accessories stores to see what unique item I can find. You should try a delicious crepe or try eating at one of the “cat cafes” .
Once you walk to the end of Takeshita-Dori and crossover to the other side of the street, you will feel like you have entered into a whole other town. Nope, you are still in Harajuku, but this part of the city is so much more quieter and relaxing. You can find high-end brand stores like Supreme, STUSSY, and Bape, just to name a few. I think the sneakerheads, like me, and those into hip-hop culture fashion would appreciate this area. There are also some delicious restaurants and cafes on this side as well. I recommend you just take the time to walk around, side streets and all, because this area holds a lot of gems.
This part of the city can be accessed from either Harajuku station (Yamanote line) or Meiji-Jinguame station (Chiyodo line & Fukutoshin line).
Taito City
Asakusa
Things to See:
Nakamise Street – This is a very popular street lined with mom & pop shops selling souvenirs and regional foods and sweets. It also leads down to the entrance of the Tokyo’s oldest temple in Japan Sensoji.
Sensoji – Honoring the Buddhist God of Mercy, Kannon, Sensoji is Tokyo’s oldest temple and next to it is the Asakusa Shrine, also the oldest in Tokyo.
Chiyoda City
Imperial Palace
Chiyoda city houses the grounds of the Imperial Palace. The palace is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Relocated from Kyoto, the grounds contain buildings for the royal family, a museum, the palace, archive building, beautiful gardens, and a moat that surrounds the property. The inner palace grounds are only open to the public on January 2 (New Year’s Greeting) and December 23 (Emperor’s Birthday). During this time the Imperial Family usually makes a public appearance on their balcony. On other days throughout the year you are only allowed to walk around the Imperial Palace East Gardens. From the garden you can see past the bridge leading to the front entrance to the palace, parts of the palace can be seen if you walk around the sides. A castle-like structure, which is the guard tower, can also been seen as you walk through the garden. Moats, stone walls, and trees surround the palace, so you can only take pictures from a far.
Across the street is Tokyo station. This station is wide, full of shops and restaurants. You can access the palace by walking 10 minutes from the station.
Tsukiji Market
This is the most famous and one of the largest fish market in the world. Wholesale markets in Tsukiji distribute fish, food, and flowers throughout Tokyo. It’s a major tourist sight because of the busy atmosphere, where workers, buyers, and sellers move in a rush throughout the marketplace. The market consists of an inner and outer market area. My host mom and I came during lunch time, but all the wholesale buyers and sellers had finished their main auctioning for the day. Usually if you come early in the morning between 5am to 11am, you can watch the fish auction in action. There is a tuna auction at 6am to 6:30 am where visitors are allowed to enter, but with a pre-approved entry pass that can be obtained at 5am.
Akihabara
Akihabara is the mecca of video games, anime, manga, and all things electronics. Store after store the street is lined with colorful shops and specialty cafes with staff dressed up as unique maids and butlers. It’s definitely a sight to see!
Must Visit Attractions
Tokyo Disney is definitely a must visit place if you have the time and the money, of course. My host mom and I spent the day before planning which rides and areas of the park we wanted to visit because I guarantee you Tokyo Disney is a full day trip. Here are some tips I picked up from my host mom and her friend who had inside scoop on visiting the park:
Before Going to the Park
Print out a map of the park to pre-plan and become familiar of all the sections of the park
Plan in advance the rides/attractions you are interested in going to.
On your map circle the locations of you “Must Visit” rides/attractions.
Circle the locations of the Fast Passes of your “Must Visit” rides/attractions.
Check this site to see the calendar that illustrates the the estimated number of visitors each day.
Purchase your tickets online in advance
If you don’t plan on staying in the park all day, be aware that the waiting times of rides/attractions become shorter during the nighttime.
Going to the Park
Transportation: the best way to get to the park is by train
While at the Park
Standby Passes: it’s best to arrive when the park opens to reserve a time slot for your “Must Visit” rides/attractions.for certain rides that require a Standby Pass to enter, such as the Splash Mountain and the Monster’s, Inc. rides.
Stand in lines as soon as possible for any foods, such as turkey legs and the American Waffles, you are most interested in eating, because some of these lines become extremely long.
First-Time Visitor Gift: If it’s your birthday or you are a first-time visitor, inform one of the workers that walking around the park and they wil give you a special gift!
Night parade and fireworks: if you still have the energy, stick around for the night parade and the fireworks
Here is an English guide put together by the park for First-Time Visitors: Online Guide.
Looking for a bit of Japanese historical culture, well the home of Kabuki is down the street from Tsukiji Market. If you book in advance, you can check out a live classic Kabuki performance.
In the Koto City region of Tokyo are two teamLab modern museums: Planets and Borderless. It’s not your ordinary museum. Inside are multiple interactive rooms you can either manipulate with your body or with their app on your cell phone. I went to teamLabs Borderless and once inside, I had to change my pants to shorts and ditch my sneakers and socks because there were rooms where you had to walk through water, other filled with cool lights and huge balloon balls. It’s quite the experience. Watch my Tokyo vlog below to check out my experience.
Places to Eat
Cafes
Tokyo city is synonymous for their cafes. All around the city, tucked away down side streets, you can find tiny cafes serving delicious bakery treats and drinks. A hipster type area known as Omotesando, Shibuya, has attracted young people from across the prefecture with their unique cafes and small shops.
Urth Caffe became popular as many young people would post their delicious looking drinks on Instagram causing others to check out what the cafe had to offers. That’s how my Tokyo friend found out about the cafe and prompted us to enjoy their matcha boba tea on a summer day back in 2017. There are a few Urth Caffes around the city and they even have locations in California.
Where to Stay
Whether you want to stay at a hotel or experience a city hostel, Booking.com exactly what you’re looking for and they always offer accommodations at a discounted rate compared to the hotel’s actual website. Many places offer no prepayment until you arrive at the spot. Tokyo does have your usual hotel chains such as The Marriott, Hilton, The Ritz-Carlton, and many others. But if you are looking to experience the hostels or capsule hotels, there are plenty available at cheaper rates. Capsule hotels are dormitory-style accommodation where you share restrooms and sleep is cubby hole type beds. I have stayed is a couple hostels where travelers share the same room and restrooms, but I was able to get a room to myself.
Are you interested in traveling to Japan and would like a customized itinerary and need help with booking your accommodations? Or are you interested living in abroad in Japan and working in Japan, and would like advise from someone who has lived there before and have contacts in Japan that can help you as well?
Book your consultation now and I would love to help you through your traveling plans and journey abroad!
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