Tokyo, Japan Travel Guide

A friend of mine recently got back from a trip to Japan, and since it seems like everyone I follow on social media has been visiting there this year, I have been reminiscing about our trip to Tokyo a distant 10 years ago now.

It’s hard to say exactly why we chose Tokyo as our second destination after Kevin’s brother’s wedding in Korea. I suppose the fact that it was close is the obvious answer, along with my affinity for Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2. In hindsight, knowing that we were traveling with Kevin’s parents, we would have maybe chosen Bali or something similar instead. Did we like it? Yes, but. It’s ultra-modern while at the same time seeming outdated. As a woman described it to us at a bar when we were there: “Tokyo is like New York City in the 90s.” It’s a bit hard to explain, but that description feels accurate.

That being said, we did have a great time there. Here is our list of the best things to do, eat and where to stay.

Top Things to Do in Tokyo, Japan

Wander Through the Harajuku Neighborhood

Harajuku is a vibe, particularly on Takesihita Art Street, where teens run amok in their school uniforms or crazy clothes, hopping from shop to shop. Unique Tokyo fashion is on full display and while the street is very crowded, it’s a must see.

Check Out the Tsukiji Fish Market

This famous fish and seafood market was originally opened in 1935 and has been supplying Tokyo’s sushi restaurants with the catch of the day ever since. Back in 2014 they were still doing the live auction at Tsukiji - this spirited sale takes place at the crack of dawn as restaurant owners and suppliers fight over the best and largest fish as it comes in. In 2020 the auction and inner market were moved to Toyosu Fish Market. Being on vacation and all, we didn’t make it to the auction when we were there, but we did head there to see it and get lunch and snacks.

Shibuya Crossing

This large intersection, surrounded by state-of-the-art billboards and high rise displays, seemed to us like Tokyo’s version of Times Square. The unique part of a visit here is when all vehicle traffic comes to a stop and people cross from all directions. The nearby Shibuya neighborhood is a great spot to do some shopping - we found some cute boutiques and a comic book store where I bought some Japanese comics for my dad.

Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Shrine) & Nakamise Shopping Street

On the advice of our hotel concierge, we took a boat tour along the Sumida River that stopped close to the Sensoji Temple, where we were able to get out and explore. Built in 645, it is Tokyo’s oldest temple and visiting it was a highlight of our trip. The temple is a prime example of Buddhist architecture and the Asakusa Shrine, located next to the main temple building, is worth seeing. Just outside the temple is the Nakamise Shopping Street, where vendors sell everything from t-shirts to swords to the mysterious ice cream burgers.

Get a Drink in Golden Gai

Golden Gai, in the Shinjuku neighborhood of Tokyo, is a maze of alleyways filled with hundreds of tiny bars. We were amazed at the construction of the area - many seemed comparable to shacks that looked like they could fall down any minute. Each one we stepped into had a special atmosphere or theme. In one, I sang karaoke (a Patsy Cline song) to a large group of tourists. In another, we started talking to a salaryman (a white collar male worker) who kept talking about the Blues Brothers when he found out we were from Chicago.

Rent out a Private Karaoke Room

In both Korea and Japan, I fell in love with the private karaoke rooms that you can rent. On our last night in Tokyo, we planned to get a room at Karaoke Kan in Roppongi for just an hour and then move on. Several hours later, we finally paid our bill. Much like I imagine gamblers feel, it’s so easy to get sucked into a private karaoke room and lose track of time. Servers bring you drinks and snacks while you belt your heart out to a wide variety of American pop hits.

Tokyo Tower

The Tokyo Tower, a red-colored structure that easily resembles the Eiffel Tower, was near our hotel so we checked it out one day. It’s worth a trip to the top, as the views over Tokyo were incredible.

Walk Through a Scenic Park

Despite the urban sprawl, Tokyo does have a decent amount of green space and makes for a nice break from all of the hustle and bustle. When we were there, we went to two parks - Hibiya Park near the Imperial Palace and the Hama-Rikyu Gardens that have nice ponds and traditional bridges.

Top Places to Eat in Tokyo, Japan

Sushi at Tsukiji Fish Market

Sushi in Tokyo usually falls into two categories: 1. Extremely expensive and really good, or 2. Cheap (relatively) and mediocre. If you head to the aforementioned fish market, you can hop into one of the small stalls nearby that have decently priced, high quality sushi.

Gonpachi

As I mentioned before, I love both Kill Bill movies, but the first one is my favorite Tarantino film, so when I found out that we could go to the restaurant that inspired the scene from the movie, I dragged Kevin and his parents there. You can definitely see the comparison and the food was surprisingly good for a simple izakaya.

Ichiran Ramen

Craving some tonkotsu ramen, we researched and found Ichiran Ramen in the Shinjuku neighborhood. Aside from having incredible ramen, this was a fun dining experience. You walk in and are transported down a long hallway where you eventually come to a vending machine that allows you to choose the type of ramen you would like. Since it was all in Japanese, we asked the group behind us to help and they choose very well. We both got the tonkotsu ramen and a beer. After receiving your tickets from the machine, you walk through a curtain into a small room filled with tiny booths. You find an empty booth, sit down and wait. After a minute or so, a small window opens up and you hand them your ticket. Within seconds, the window opened back up with our beer and bowls of ramen. It was definitely some of the best ramen I had ever had and was such a fun experience.

Yakitori

We really enjoyed the yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) at Yakitori Hachibei but there are many great places around the city to enjoy some meat on a stick. One tip we found when searching for restaurants is look up. Since there are so many high rises, many restaurants advertise with signs out front but you have to go inside and up an elevator to find them on the floors above. This can also lead to great views of the city as well.

Honorable Mention: Robot Restaurant

From some internet research it looks like we may have lost the Robot Restaurant to Covid (or they turned into a different Cabaret restaurant instead). We were lucky enough to see a show here and IT. WAS. INCREDIBLE. The lights! The dancers! The robots! It was such a wacky adventure and one that I feel became an instant core memory.

Where to Stay in Tokyo, Japan

Hotel Okura

Kevin and I don’t often stay in nicer hotels when we travel - like many, we opt for more inexpensive Airbnbs, especially now that we are traveling with Maeve. That being the case, we don’t often have good hotels to recommend to other travelers. Yet I will highly recommend the Hotel Okura in the Minato area, with one caveat.

The Hotel Okura was originally built in 1962 to prepare for the 1964 Summer Olympics. Given the timeframe of construction and the upkeep over the years, it was a mid century masterpiece. Lantern-like light fixtures covered the lobby, providing an orange glow over the brown and green deco furniture. The hotel owners decided to demolish the main building before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but due to an uproar from the architecture community, they had the son of the original architect recreate the lobby so that it is identical to the original. Aside from the physical structure, the rooms were so comfortable and we found the service extraordinary.

Book a Stay at The Okura Tokyo

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