Basics of Tokyo
Tokyo, the biggest city in the world, I found to be super clean and super safe with many courteous people.
Things That I Found Surprising in Tokyo:
- You can do more than anticipated in one day. I thought I’d have to stay in the same area of the city all day, but I learned that it’s very quick, easy, and cheap to get to another part of the city via train.
- People walk on left side of sidewalks
- Cars drive on the left side of road
- Elevator go-ers stand on the left while people walk up/down on the right (a few exceptions)
- Taxis and Ubers open the back doors for passengers from their front seat
- Cars are courteous to pedestrians
- Bowing* is common (and fun)
- Accommodations are small (efficiently done)
- Everything is small except food servings (!)
- Napkins are scarce
- Everyone takes the train and it can get super crowded
- Trains are easy to navigate with Google Maps or Apple Maps
- Inside the train people are very quiet
- Streets are very clean
- Toilets all have lots of features – bidet, self-cleaning, noise machine, etc.
- Toilets are all different. Look for tornado looking icon for flushing.
- People are very polite.
- Tipping is not expected or encouraged
- Money is exchanged via a plate, not directly given to the cashier
- Vending machines are commonplace right on the side of the road
I found every person in restaurants and shops to be more than friendly, polite and accommodating to every question.
*Bowing! It is still common in Japan with old and young. If someone is sitting then the bow is a big dip of the head. If standing then the bow is from the waist. Of course, it feels strange to bow back the first time, but after that it comes naturally and feels really nice!
Top Things to do in Tokyo, Japan
Getting Around in Tokyo
Trains
Get Suica card on Apple Wallet before leaving home. (Not the Suica app.) Money is deducted from this Suica card after you complete your trip. Tap your Apple Wallet at the turnstile into the departure train area and then tap it at the turnstile to exit at the arrival station. It’s so easy!
Metro trains within Tokyo are easy to navigate. Put the destination in Google Maps or Apple Maps and hit the train icon. Your phone will give you step by step instructions on which train to take, platform, number of stops and time of departure and arrival. Follow color and number of train route.
Tokyo station, because of its enormous size, did throw me for a loop on my first day in Tokyo. (I think it was because I actually had to leave the station and cross a street for another route which I did not fully understand at the time.) Fortunately, there is an info desk there with a live person who can assist. Note that people in the train area are generally very quiet.
If there is money left on your Apple Pay Suica card you cannot get a refund. However, you can use the card to purchase food and items at many stores (including Bic Camera) or some restaurants and even 7-11. Look for the Suica sticker on the door.
Rideshare
It’s good to know that if you just cannot or don’t want to figure out the train system, Ubers (which are actually taxis) are abundant and very reasonably priced. Plus they’re impeccably clean, reliable and the drivers open and close your door from their driver’s seat!
Accommodations in Tokyo
As usual, I connected with hotels.com to find the right type of lodging. I stayed in Akasaka which I really loved. It seemed to be slower paced than many of the areas in Tokyo with a mix of upscale and local restaurants. Note that most everything is small in Tokyo (if you’re from the US) so the hotel rooms will be very efficient.
A concern to me, before I got to Tokyo, was to stay in an area that was centrally located. Although, once I was there, I realized that centrally located was not really necessary, since the train system is so simple, quick and inexpensive.
I stayed at the Sui Asakasa by ABest which has a free traditional breakfast, was easy walking distance to restaurants and shops, and the train stations. I also loved that before heading out for the day the staff at the hotel asked if we would like the Kiribi ritual. They tapped rocks together, which cast sparks on our backs, in order to impart fortune and ward off evil, blessing us on our journey! It was awesome!
Recommended Restaurants in Tokyo
Ramen Tomo is a small, traditional ramen restaurant in Akasaka. I loved their rich chicken salt ramen! Note that the portions are large. I also loved that this restaurant did not seem touristy, and there were many locals eating here.
Conveyor belt sushi Sushi Go Round, in the Tsukiji fish market, is fun and unusual! I was poured matcha tea on arrival, shown where the soy sauce, wasabi and ginger was located and encouraged to take plates down from the conveyor belt. The freshness of the sushi was perfect (mostly what I call “real” sushi – sashimi) and only a few sushi rolls. Also, it was incredibly inexpensive in the end!
To be honest, I did feel a bit rushed and watched which seemed kind of weird, but the fun outweighed the weirdness.
Tea Cafe Aoyama Flower Market Green House was an absolutely enchanting tea cafe in a magical greenhouse wonderland. It’s covered in plants and flowers wall to wall. Even plants growing under and tulips sprouting through the glass tables. Absolutely spectacular. Not to mention the large variety of tea and delicious French toast.
Meiji Jingu Shrine
The Meiji Jingu Shrine is a peaceful oasis in the middle of this very busy city. I loved the shrine’s tall forest which was created by transplanting approximately 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan. The shrine was built in 1920 for Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken who led Japan through a period of rapid modernization.
There are very wide pathways surrounded by trees, the traditional Japanese gate (Torii-gate, which represents the boundary between the secular area and sacred area), gardens, main sanctuary, museum, sake barrels, etc.
Interestingly, the forest is considered sacred, so there has been no human intervention after the initial planting.
Exit at the Harijuku exit to continue the day in the fashion district.
Harijuku Fashion District
This fashion district includes both large and small stores from exclusive to boutique in a busy shopping district. The main street being Takeshita Street.
Go Cart Through Tokyo
Monkey Kart is an unusual and crazy go cart adventure! You actually ride through the busy streets of Tokyo, in an adult-sized onsie, led by a guide who is also in a go cart! It was absolutely exhilarating and, to be honest, somewhat scary! Each person gets their own go cart to drive.
My tour was through the streets of Shinjuku, the trendy vibes of Harajuku and even through the Shibuya crossing! Many times we were cruising along slowly due to traffic; however, we also were able to drive fast and loud appreciating every bump on the road at speed!
Be sure to have your international driver’s permit before arriving in Japan. I was able to get it from AAA for only $20. Well worth it.
Samurai Restaurant and Show
The Samurai Restaurant is an interesting, entertaining and wonky spectacle of several shows pieced together. It is 90 minutes long with intermissions every 15 minutes. The breaks are somewhat awkward as the flow of the show as an entirety breaks up, but intermissions are needed as each individual show was overwhelming to the senses – singing, dancing, floats, etc. Altogether, I liked this pop culture craziness and was very entertained!
Apparently, the restaurant is located in the red light district of Shinjuku Kabukichō. I did not even realize that we were in this area with the exception of one suggestive billboard! Anyway, the show is not at all risque and the lobby is a crazed collaged conglomeration of brightness (hard to explain).
Note that the Samurai restaurant is the former popular Robot Restaurant which went out of business during Covid. I used Rakuten Travel Experiences to get tickets for a decent price which included a Bento Box that I liked and was enough for my dinner.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
This is the busiest pedestrian crosswalk in the world! 2.4 million people per day cross here. I was there during lunch time on a weekday, and I felt like there were just as many tourists taking selfies of themselves walking across the large intersection as there were “real pedestrians.” There are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars in this area, so there is always something to cross the road toward.
Sensō-ji Temple
Sensō-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple and the oldest established temple in Tokyo completed in 645. The structures in the temple include a pagoda, several halls and several gates.
I love to be a part of rituals of cultures that are different from my own. The rituals I enjoyed at Sensō-ji Temple:
- cleansing ritual (symbolic purification called temizuya) of washing hands with water, rinsing mouth with the water and then washing hands again
- bowing while walking underneath the gates (it’s considered respectful to veer left or right of the exact center)
- incense burning (just outside the main hall) while people take their hands and direct smoke onto their body to symbolize healing
- Inside the main gate people were tossing coins into a large box while monks were milling around in the foreground. The ritual here is to toss the coin, bow your head and clap twice. Then say a short prayer. This symbolizes tossing away any impurities within.
- Omikuji is fortune telling just outside the main hall. Choose a metal box with a fortune. If the fortune, omikuji, is favorable then take it home. If it’s not favorable then tie the fortune to a “tree” nearby.
Nakamise Street (at Sensō-ji Temple)
This festive street (right next to the temple area) houses many booths, both indoor and outdoor, nestled in beside each other selling a variety of Japanese cultural items including many that are homemade, antiques and souvenirs. You can even purchase a Japanese kimono for all sizes. Plus all the popular Instragram-able popular traditional Japanese snacks. The atmosphere is very festive!
Tsukiji Fish Market
This fish market was confusing to me when I looked it up ahead of time. If you read about it you will see that the “main fish market for suppliers and buyers has moved.” That means that the wholesale market moved elsewhere. However, this did not seem to lessen the lively, charming, and real experience of the Tsukiji Market. Sometimes called the Outer Market.
First of all – the fish market is huge! There are the main areas and many small alleyways to explore. It’s like entering another world. There are lots of people meandering about purchasing fresh fish, meats, eggs, fruits and vegetables, grains, homemade items, prepared snacks, cooking utensils, tableware, knives, etc.
You can eat lunch here at the small restaurants, cafes, and stalls, both indoors or outdoors, and your food will be cooked as you wait.
Akasaka Area
Akasaka is an upscale, slower paced area than many parts of Tokyo. There is a whole section dedicated to Harry Potter with the Harry Potter Cafe, sorting hat photo opp, indoor shopping mall that’s Harry Potter themed, the magical staircase and even a Japanese production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Tokyo Tower
The Tokyo Tower was built to resemble the Eiffel Tower. Tickets are for the main deck or top deck. I went to the main deck which had excellent panoramic views of Tokyo. Pro tip: Take the stairs down just one floor. It’s a lot less crowded and even has some windows in the floor!
Ginza Shopping District
The Ginza Shopping District has every exclusive shop you can imagine! It’s fun to browse! Also, if you head down some of the side streets there are more affordable shops.
teamLab Planets
I did not know what to expect from this experience. It was an overwhelming sensational afternoon with sights, sounds, smells and even tactile incorporated. Every room was well thought out to give each person a sensory immersive experience.
I absolutely fell in love with the floating flower garden. As you walk through the garden of hanging orchids you feel one with them! It seems the plants move up and down in accordance to where you are moving. It’s breathtaking.
I hope this guide helps you enjoy your adventure in Tokyo!
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