Tokyo: tips and tricks

This giant metropole is a world of contrasts with up-and-coming neighborhoods like Akihabara and Harajuku and majestic temples such as Sensō-ji, all the while shrouded within the shadows of Fuji-san. Do include it in your trip, however, there are much more cities and places to explore besides Tokyo which will better reflect the traditional, Japanese culture. While Tokyo has your typical Japanese people, overly friendly albeit slightly coy, they live a more “isogashii” or busy lifestyle. Now, how to survive and really experience this city?

Season

Best season for visiting Tokyo is in the spring and fall, actually this is true for all of Japan. Spring for the obvious reason of the blossoming of the Sakura or cherry blossom which is a spectacular sight, when Japan is covered in pink petals. There are even festivals to celebrate this occurrence, however, since it’s a popular season, you’re bound to run into more tourists and have a more expensive trip. Like the spring season, fall is beautiful for the colouring of the tree leaves or kouyou. The weather is usually gentle and warm until November. Try to avoid the summer season, for the simple reason that Tokyo tends to get very, very hot (sometimes temperatures of 40 °C) and uncomfortable due to the humidity, which is not ideal for a city trip. Japan has typhoon seasons which range from July until October. They can be very severe, so make sure to check the weather before you plan your trip.

Airport

Tokyo has two airport, Haneda and Narita. While Narita is the bigger of the two, it is farther from the city center. Plus Haneda tends to have cheaper flights and easy access to the city center. Just take the Keikyu subway line to Shinagawa, one of Tokyo’s biggest stations, which is only 15 minutes away. The ticket machines at the airport is near the entrance and filled with employees who are eager to help you in case you need assistance.

Transport

Tokyo is a big, big city. Therefore, doing everything on foot is probably impossible. However, there’s no need for panic, since they have a very wide transport network. The subway is by far the easiest way for getting around and also quite cheap, plus the prices are in accordance to the distance you travel. Buying them from the machine can be quite a pain but English is available, though make sure you also study the kanji (Japanese characters) of the station you want to go, since some stations like Shinjuku mostly display them in Japanese. Japan is known for its nearly perfect time schedules, therefore, the staff will tend to apologize if they’re 30 seconds late.

Accommodation

It can be a pain to find cheap accommodation in Tokyo, especially if you prefer to be near its center. Try looking for the more quiet neighborhoods such as Shinagawa, they are still close by and more likely to be within budget. Avoid lodging in districts like Shibuya and Shinjuku, for they are very touristy and expensive.

Hostels are the way to go, especially in Japan, where they are more likely to be clean and secure. The one I can really recommend is the ARTnSHELTER hostel in Shinagawa. Relatively cheap, clean, beautifully minimal rooms and a 3 min-walk to Samezu station which also happens to have direct connection to Haneda airport. The staff are young, attractive, Japanese people who are always willing to give a helping hand. TIP: you can rent a pocketWIFI if you want to have internet connection whilst exploring the city, which can be quite useful in a lost-and without-a-map situation. The hostel gives artists the opportunity to exhibit their works on the ground floor, so you’re bound to see some interesting art displayed there. There, they also have the common space with a bar and sitting area. This place is always occupied by artsy folks, so make sure to share some sake with them on your lazy nights.

Food

Japan is the land of great food, so you generally won’t eat bad while being there. My tip is to try as many different foods as you can, even the ones which may seem untasty at first, you might just be pleasantly surprised! Village Vanguard Diner is a great burger place in Harajuku, Ippudo are famous ramen joints, I especially enjoyed the one near Akihabara, though my absolute favourite restaurant was the one close to the ARTnSHELTER hostel, namely Matsuri. A small family restaurant which serves typical delicious Japanese foods, especially the tempura. If you’re alone, you will be seated at the bar and can watch how your dinner is prepared with the utmost care and love. Be sure to be on the lookout for it, since it doesn’t even show up in Google Maps.

Drinks

Izakaya are typical Japanese bars where you can enjoy a cool glass of Kirin beer or try some delicious sake whilst eating small Japanese dishes. They are great to do with friends and large groups. You’ll see that a lot of businessmen will come here after a hard day at work. All izakaya are great, but do go to the small ones in little streets in the less populated neighbourhoods.

One experience you absolutely need to have in Japan is the famous tea ceremony or chado. Believe me, it’s worth the price. The one I really enjoyed was the Ippodo tea store, near the Imperial Gardens. The staff is really sweet and the tea delicious and beautifully served. Not to mention, you can buy your own matcha starter set for 45 euros, provided with tea utensils and high quality matcha.

Sightseeing

There is so much to see in this city. The temples of Asakusa, the architectural skyscrapers of Roppongi, the museums of Ueno and the gardens of Chiyoda. You won’t find a more diverse skyline than the one in Tokyo. Now, if you want to have a proper view of the city, I advise against going to the Tokyo skytree, unless you enjoy freakishly scary heights, going as high as 450 metres (entire building is 634 metres), making it the tallest tower in the world and second tallest structure after the Burj Khalifa of Dubai. However, the waiting line can be very long and it’s quite pricey. You’re better off going up the Tokyo Tower, located in Roppongi. While it is not as tall as the Skytree, it does give you a panoramic view of the city and on a sunny day you’ll even spot Fuji-san. Plus, it’s relatively cheap (the main deck is about 7 euros) and there is little to no waiting.

Make sure you wander around thesmall streets of the city, as you're likely to run into some amazing hidden gems. However, the touristy stuff is also worth to visit such as the Senso-ji in Asakusa, the biggest temple in Tokyo. There is a small street called Nakamise (‘mise” is Japanese for shop) filled with little shops to satisfy every tourist’s dream. One thing you must to when you’re at the temple is to draw fortune or omikuji from one of the wooden slots located at the right of the temple. For a few yens you can shake the omikuji box where a small stick will poke out from, it tells you the number, albeit in Japanese, of the slot where you can draw your luck from. Will your receive good or bad fortune?

The Imperial Gardensin Chiyoda are a must. Take your time to enjoy this place, since it’s enormous. Upon entering you’ll have a panoramic view of the surrounding buildings whilst being emerged in its beautiful greens. Wander around the bamboo forest or rest in the Ninomaru garden, its ponds are filled with numerous koi, such as the famous tancho kohaku with the red spot on its head.

If you’re a museum fan, Ueno is the place to go. The Ueno park houses about 7 museums and a zoo, plus it’s littered with little temples and ponds. It is definitely the cultural centerpoint of Tokyo. Being a huge dinosaur fan, I especially enjoyed the National Museum of Nature and Science, where you’ll spot a T-rex, velociraptors, triceratops and more. The upper floor is dedicated to Japanese, scientific discoveries, however, this part is only provided in the local language which is quite unfortunate. TIP: visit the museum shopfor the coolest gadgets, such as dinosaur erasers, dinosaur cups, dinosaur tattoos, …. did I mention I was a dinosaur fan?

After your visit to Ueno, do not forget to visit Ameyoko. It’s a small street near the park where you can literally buy everything. Kimonos, cheap electronics, fish or fruit on a stick, which do you prefer?

Shops

For electronics and manga, go to Akihabara. For eccentric clothing, go to Harajuku. Every district of Tokyo has its typical shops. If you’re a fan of design, visit Maach Ecutein Akihabara along the banks of the Kanda river.

Want to buy a kimono? You probably will be disappointed when you see its prices, but don't be discouraged! Chicago is a famous thrift store brand and you’ll find a bunch of them, for instance, in Harajuku. Here you can buy kimono for less than 50 euros!

For girl manga fans, I recommend Animate AKIBA Girl’s Stationin Akihabara, since they have an absolutely huge collection (7 floors). Psst! The entire upper floor is dedicated to the infamous BL manga, if you’re longing to see your favourite male characters in a passionate lip lock or more…

Useful information:

• ARTnSHELTER hostel: 1 Chome-19-10 Higashioi, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 140-0011, Japan
• Maach Ecute: 1 Chome-2-5-4 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0041, Japan
• Chicago: 6 Chome−31−2-1 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
• Ameyoko: 2 Chome 4-9-14 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
• Tokyo Tower: 4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan
• Matsuri: 1 Chome-3-2-6 Higashiōi, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 40-0011, Japan
• Village Vanguard Diner: 6 Chome-13-6 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
• Ippudo: 3 Chome-17-5 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
• Ippodo: 3 Chome−1−1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
• Animate AKIBA Girl’s Station:1 Chome-2-1-3 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
• National Museum of Nature and Science: 7-20 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8718, Japan
• Imperial Gardens: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan
• Senso-ji: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

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