Tokyo Tips

tokyo.md

• Get a Pocket WiFi. That plus Google Maps is the best way to find your way around Tokyo. Walking, busses, metro, trains etc.
• get a suica card for paying trains, busses, 7-11 etc . If you have a newer iPhone you can get a virtual Suica and pay with Apple Wallet.
• Remember that many restaurants / bars are not on street level. Don’t be afraid to venture to the upper floor restaurants.
• Go on day trips! Nikko, Atami, Mt Takao. Hakone is nice as well, but requires two days to fully appreciate.
• Visit parks! Unnecessary tip given the season, but Tokyo has amazing parks.
• Visit Odaiba. Strange 90s futuristic man made island.
• Eat plenty of the cheap Japanese comfort food. Curry, ramen (try all types, can recommend Tsukemen with noodles on the side), Sushi (of course). Generally, food is of extremely high quality everywhere, so generally no need to splurge.
• People are generally extremely friendly and eager to please. This is great, but also remember that people might like to avoid saying no or be unfriendly. So it’s worthwhile thinking a step ahead when asking people for favours. For example, if you ask somebody for directions they might feel obliged to walk you the entire way to where you are going, even if it’s several blocks.
• Restaurants usually have menus with pictures or on wax display outside, so ordering without knowing the language is usually no problem at all. Just signal with fingers how many seats you need when you enter and they’ll seat you. Sometimes there’s a queue, often with chairs where people simply move closer and closer to the entrance. Just watch everybody else and you’ll get it.
• Tipping is not expected.
• Stores can often sell you things tax-free if you’re on a tourist visa. You’ll need to buy for a minimum amount and bring you passport and the items must leave the country. But if you’re buying clothes or games or anything else expensive, it can save you some money.
• Recommending specific places is always hard since taste vary. Also, there’s such an abundance of amazing stuff to do in Tokyo. However, some of my long standing favorites are:
  • Go to a convinience store and buy a a few drinks (beers, highballs [whisky + soda]), some pre-packaged foods and head to a park and just hang out for a few hours and watch people. Especially nice on sundays. The southerrn parts of Yoyogi part is great for this for example.
  • Genki Sushi in Shibuya. Hardly the best sushi in town, but sushi ordered on touch screen and delivered to your seat on tiny moving platforms is great.
  • Ichiran. Not the best ramen in town, but something to experience with their private booths and quirky ordering procedure.
  • Try Yakiniku (grilling stuff on your own at your table). I usually go to one of the Blackhole restaurants in Shinjuku. Your hotel can likely help you place a reservation.
  • Go to Don Quijote (or Donki for short). Store that sells EVERYTHING. I often visit one to buy a few pre-packaged Ichiran noodles to take home.
  • If you like cooking, visit the restaurant street (Kappabashi). It sells everything you need to start a restaurant. Knives, cookware, utensils etc. Often very cheap. Well, not the knives.
  • Daikanyama and Shimokitazawa are two hipster neighborhoods where you can simply walk around, buy stuff, get coffee etc.
  • Slightly north of Akihabara there’s an old school that’s been turned into art studios. Worth a visit if you’re into contemporary art. 3331 Arts.
  • Visit the shopping malls attached to train stations (and owned by the train companies!). Isetan in Shinjuku for example.