TOKYO

東京

Tokyo, the city that lives in the future. Set foot in the Akihabara district and you'll know what I'm talking about. There is nothing, that isn't there and there's everything that you can ever imagine. Tokyo seems like a different world, a different planet with advanced technic. I tried to imagine how the world would look like if Japan had taken over the rule. We'd probably be flying instead of walking and having VR classes. There are 47 Neighborhoods and countless things to do and see. You could easily spend one month in Tokyo and still get the feeling of not having seen anything. I know for sure, Tokyo is my absolute favorite city!

NICE TO KNOW

Usually there are signs for pretty much everything, even how to fold the toilet paper for optimal use, no kidding. If you should ever face a situation where you can only find the Japanese letters, I made a post below, so you can compare the words to figure out what they mean ;-)

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES YOU CAN ONLY GET IN JAPAN

Sleep in a CAPSULE HOTEL!

Watch SUMO WRESTLING in the SUMO TOWN RYOGOKU

Take pictures in a PURIKURA BOOTH and add all kind of dolly filters!

Rent a KARAOKE room and sing to your hearts content!

Have a warm butt while doing your business - seriously, the TOILETS are awesome!

Drink all variations of SAKE!

Have a Moscow Mule in the ROBOT RESTAURANT!

THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Since it is impossible to see everything in only a few days, I break it down to the things, that are the most…the best…ah damn. Let’s say, I tried to include as many things as I could in the itinerary list, so you can get the most out of your days in the freaking amazing city! Make sure to check out the other posts about Japan, to see if there is a quirky café, a weird restaurant, some funny stores and activities or anything else you don't want to miss out on in your planning.

A DAY WELL SPENT

Start the day by strolling through the GINZA Shopping District and have a coffee at the KIT KAT CHOCOLATORY AND CAFÉ. Once you've checked out the NAKAGIN CAPSULE TOWER, head to the TSUKIJI FISH MARKET, where you can grab the freshest lunch you've ever had. Try a FATTY TUNA BOWL!

SHIBUYA

SHIBUYA CROSSING! That is what you're thinking, when you hear Shibuya, right? But there is much more to the district than "only" the worlds most famous crossing. For example one of the HACHIKO statues is right next to the crossing. If you are looking for the newest album, there is a huge MUSIC STORE in the same building as STARBUCKS, you can't miss it. A famous shopping complex is the SHUBUYA 109, where you can also get a nice view on the crossing below. You can either spend the day SHOPPING and EATING in this area or head to Harajuku, although I recommend you to check out Harajuku first thing in the morning.. Walk on the Fire Street pass the Starbucks, where you'll find a DISNEY STORE and TOWER RECORDS.

HARAJUKU

Visit the Harajuku quarter early in the morning. You'll know you're right, because you find yourself in a Cosplay heaven. What I loved about Harajuku are the different SNEAKER STORES - freaking cool! And of course you'll find tons of quirky shops and shrill fashion stores along the TAKESHITA DORI, street of the Japanese TEENAGE CULTURE. Can you find the adorable THE ZOO ICE CREAM shop, with cute animal Ice Cream? Instead of going straight on the main street, try to find the CAT STREET. There are all kind of well-known Flagships Stores. Grab a drink at the RA.A.G.F RABBIT CAFÉ and head over to the YOYOGI PARK to recover from the crowds.

PARKS

A perfect place to get some fresh air after the Harajuku Street is the YOYOGI PARK, right next to the busy quarter. And after an exciting day in the Akihabara District, you can stroll in the UENO PARK, get a drink at one of the vending machines or even see a PANDA at the UENO ZOO. You'll find a market at the UENO STATION, where you can scoff some sticky-licious STRAWBERRIES on a stick. Another beautiful green spot is the SHINJUKU GYEON NATIONAL GARDEN.

GIANT CLOCK

If you feel like walking, make your way to the GHILBI CLOCK at the SHIODOME to see Tokyo's only CUCKOO CLOCK jumping into action at 3PM.

TOKYO TOWER

Head towards the SHIBA PARK, from where you'll have an amazing view on the TOKYO TOWER. Naturally, walk to the tower and check out the ONE PIECE store. We didn't go up, since we had other plans for our sunset.

PARKS

Do it like us and head to the RAINBOW BRIDGE for a beautiful SUNSET and NIGHT VIEW.

(you can also lose yourself in this breath taking view after a day in Odaiba)

***Climb the ROPPONGI HILLS for an other amazing view!***

ELECTRIC TOWN

AKIHABARA, that place is just crazy. If you don't believe me, grab a Matcha Latte at one of the MAID CAFÉs, you'll never question me again. Oh, and don't miss out on the BIGGEST SEX SHOP IN THE WORLD - no kidding. Besides that, buy something technological in that huge, futuristic electric town or play your thumbs wound in one of the countless GAME ARCADES. If that's nothing for you, there are plenty of delicious CREPÉ PLACES or you can try out a new fashion style in one of the COSPLAY STORES.

FUTURISTIC ISLAND ODAIBA

It's time for the popular TEAMLAB BORDERLESS. There are two different TeamLabs in Tokyo, but someone recommended me to visit this one. Buy your ticket in advance and make sure to have charged your camera! Don't forget to take a picture of the STATUE OF LIBERTY and make everyone believe you're in NYC!

...AND MUCH MORE

If you don't feel like shopping at the VENUS FORT MALL, how about a relaxing bath at the MONOGATARI ONSEN? You can grab lunch at the TARLUM BIANCO before exploring the FAKE BEACH, visit the TAKOYAKI MUSEUM, check out the TOYOTA SHOWROOM or catch a glimpse of Tokyos port from the OBSERVATORY SPHERE.

Talk to a creepy, realistic ANDROID EMPLOYEE in the AQUA CITY and if you haven't have enough of robots yet, make sure to find the GUNDAM STATUE in the DRIVER CITY. Find the spaceship in the futuristic technology MUSEUM MIRAIKAN.

If you, just like the Japanese (parents to movies like the ring and grudge) have a thing for horror, you can't miss out on the hunted ghost school DAIBA KAIKI GAKKO. And if you are more a softy like me, go see the FERRIS WHEELS, head there in the evening to see the colorful lights and have a drink at the spaceship-styled FLOATING JICOO BAR.

FORTUNE TELLING

Watch the SUMOs train in the morning at the AZUMAZEKI BEYA, before getting your fortune told for 100 Yen at the SENSO-JI TEMPLE. In between the gates of the temple you'll find the NAKAMISE DORI a cute shopping street, where you can eat the delicious red bean paste filled NINGYO-YAKI. Look for souvenirs at the ASAKUSA MARKET. As you know, I can't miss out on an amusement park, so make sure to visit the HISTORIC AMUSEMENT PARK HANAYASHIKI, where you’ll find rustic and retro attractions. Before you head to the ASAKUSA CULTURE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER to catch a nice view from the 8th Floor.

Can you find the GOLDEN TURD, next to the BEER MUG building?

Get your inner Chef on at the KAPPABASHI, afterwards have dinner at the HOPPY STREET and, as the name implies, start bar hopping in the many small IZAKAYA BARS.

RYOGOKU

Watch SUMO WRESTLING in the SUMO TOWN.

For lunch find a JAPANESE TAPAS restaurant in the UNDERPASS or try the Boar Hot Pot, CHANKO NABE, which is considered to be a speciality. As already mentioned, Japanese have a thing for cake, and so it seems do their dogs, since there are CAKE SHOPs for our fury mates!

Take it easy, stroll in the KYU YASUDA TEIEN GARDEN, stop at the EKOIN TEMPLE and take a bath at the EDO-YU. If you like to be more active attend a TAIKO DRUM class, check out the SUMIDA HOKUSAI, the JAPANESE SWORD or the EDO TOYKO MUSEUM. Remember the 47 Ronin, I talked about in the Kyoto post? Well, the RESIDENCE of LORD KIRA, is also in this neighborhood ;-)

Have dinner in an authentic and traditional surrounding at the EDO NOREN, where you'll find everything from Sushi to Soba. Then have a beer in the YOKOZUNA YOKOCHO or catch a performance at the THEATRE X and listen to some good live music in the SUNRIZE club.

FANTASTIC WEIRD SHINJUKU

Shinjuku is an area with countless things to do!

Shop day and night at 24h DON QUIXOTE Shopping complex where you'll find weird, funny and crazy goodies. If you can't sleep at night another option is to check out the 24h Bowling Alley, COPA BOWL.

Shop at THE FOUR EYED, a defunct love hotel or buy something electronic in the giant multi media tower YODOBASHI CAMERA SHINJUKU WEST.

Listen to some shrill retro J-Pop at DISK UNION SHOWA KAYO-KAN and recover your ears in Tokyos K-Town SHIN-OKUBO. Get you gamer-fix by playing 80's games on Gameboys at the 8 BIT CAFE or visit the old Geisha district KAGURAZAKA, where you'll now find all kind of shops. If you get hungry, you can fish your own lunch at ZAUO or eat some delicious Mushrooms n Eggs at GIFUYA. Afterwards you can hunt down GOZILLAs HEAD or share a drink with cats at DIE KATZE Café. Try a vintage corset at the ABILLETAGE or catch a comic storytelling play, SUEHIROTEI.

For a more relaxed day stroll in the SHINJUKU GOYEN NATIONAL GARDEN, visit the HANAZONO SHRINE and head to the TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING for an amazing view of Tokyo. Score a home run at the BATTING CENTER, you can get 26 Balls for only 300 Yen, otherwise head to THERMAE-YU to take a bath, it's open 22h every day. In the evening catch a movie at the MUSASHINOKAN movie theater, in Shinjuku since 1920. Or see a midnight movie at the WALD9 CINEMA. If you feel like socializing head to the ASIA YOKOCHO, where you can find amazing Rooftop restaurants and bars.

SHINJUKU NIGHTLIFE

The GOLDEN GAI, districts is famous amongst visitors for pub crawling in the old-fashioned tiny bars, which clash with the modern city. Down below a list of my favorite and some pretty unique locations for your night!