Tokyo to-do
After two separate trips to Tokyo with Alex for 2 weeks at a time, I have friends and family ask me for a rundown on what to do, where to go, unique places we've discovered and how to get there. I am by no means an expert, but we're definitely self-led travellers, using our phones and our feet to discover the best of any city we land in.
Here is a list of places to go and things to do in Tokyo. Mostly food, of course. All accessible by train/short walk so make sure to load up your Suica cards.
I have listed which ones are over 18s only for anyone travelling with kids.
I suggest using one google maps account (make sure you're signed in) and starring the places as "want to go" before your trip to see what's close and then change them to favourites so you can go again easily.
Enjoy!
x Lucy
GENERAL:
Tokyo skytree
- best view of Tokyo
- you can buy tickets there or online
- we paid for express entry to avoid the queues on the way up
1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tōkyō-to 131-0045, Japan
It's not really close to anything else, so go there on a sunny morning or afternoon and plan around it. Closest to Ginza.
Yep, that's the shadow of the tower
Ginza
Food:
1. Tsuro TonTan Udon
- best udon ever
- there might be a queue
- exit ginza station into Tokyo plaza and go up to the food levels
- I loved the classic beef udon
東急プラザ銀座, 5 Chome-2-1 Ginza, 中央区 Tōkyō-to 104-0061, Japan
Bibs optional
2. Lower floors of Tokyu Plaza where you come in off the train, there's lots of bakeries and interesting food places, but Udon wins.
3. Cafe de l'ambre
- a very old-school coffee place
- iced and hot coffees, where you're instructed not to stir before sipping
- the also do cocktails
- cash only
8 Chome-10-15 Ginza, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō-to 104-0061, Japan
Activities:
Ginza really is the main designer shopping district, not many other "activities".
Good on a Sunday if you want to catch locals in their Sunday best Kimonos etc
1. Uniqlo flagship store
- largest in the world, I think it's about 12 floors
6 Chome-9-5 Ginza, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō-to 104-0061, Japan
Shinjuku
Food:
1. Aliyah Cafe
French toast (good for after dinner/dessert)
- tiny place underground
- literally nothing else on the menu, but it's amazing
山本ビル, 3 Chome-1-17 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0022, Japan
2. Blue bottle coffee
- famous American coffee roasters
4 Chome-1-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0022, Japan
3. New York Bar at the Hyatt Regency Hotel
- this is the bar from Lost in Translation
- killer view, costs $20pp after 7pm, so go early (5pm) and leave before 7
- drinks and food aren't cheap, but it's all delicious
2-7-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, 2 Chome-7 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
4. Alley bars (over 18s only) in Kabushiko/golden gai
- this is a little section of (very small) small bars, each with their own unique theme
- try 5 gallons
Japan, 〒160-0021 東京都Shinjuku-kuKabukichō, 1 Chome−1, 1-1-8 Kabukichō, Golden-gai 3 bangai
- try albatross
Japan, 〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−1−7
- just pick a random bar and if it looks weird, move to the next one
- some have cover charge, some don't
- some are members only, but most aren't
- just be prepared to be squished and happy
5. Kirin City (good for after Robot Restaurant) - bar/pub
うなぎ新宿こばやし, 9, 3 Chome-25-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0022, Japan
6. Garden house
- good for brunch or lunch while shopping
〒160-0022 4F, 4 Chome-1-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0022, Japan
Activities:
1. Robot Restaurant (over 18s only)
- book online here: https://www.govoyagin.com/
- don't bother getting food included, just have a snack beforehand
- it's definitely something most enjoyed after a few drinks
- one of those "only in Japan" experiences
- I think the ticket includes one drink which you get from the bar in the waiting area
- more drinks (mostly beer) available during intermission
新宿ロボットビル, 1 Chome-１-７-１ Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0021, Japan
2. Lumine Est (multi-building department stores)
- there is Lumine est, lumine 1 and lumine 2
- start with Lumine est
3 Chome-38-３８番-１号 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0022, Japan
3. Shinjuku Gyoen Gardens (park)
- not sure what this would be like in Winter, but it's a lovely park with different ponds/lake and buildings
Enter here:
Unnamed Road, Naitōmachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0014, Japan
Shibuya
Food:
1. About life coffee
- only if you're a real coffee addict, as it's a bit of a walk up the hill and it's literally a hole in the wall, but it's really proper coffee
1 Chome-19-8 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0043, Japan
2. Sushi conveyor belt (good for lunch)
- legit the best/most authentic sushi train you will find
- highly doubt your meal will cost more than $15 per person
- try the toro/fatty tuna if they have it
Japan, 〒150-0043 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Dōgenzaka, 2 Chome−9−10
3. Han No Daikokoro
- BBQ restaurant (lots of meat)
- on the fancier side, but you get bibs >_<
2 Chome-２丁目-２９-８ Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0043, Japan
So much meaty goodness
Activities:
1. Shibuya 109
- famous womens/girls boutiqe multi-floor mall
- you can't miss it, just look up
2. General shopping
- it's really up to you what you're looking for, so I suggest just wander around without too much direction and see what takes your fancy
Why not make some friends along the way?
Harajuku
Food:
1. Afuri Ramen
- (they have one vegan option)
- start with something basic (and you can choose chicken instead of pork for all dishes)
- order at the vending machine then sit
- they open at 10am and it's very popular, so I suggest planning an early lunch around 11:30am
- walk there by exiting Harajuku station on the road side (not the park side) and turning left
グランデフォレスタ, 3 Chome-63-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 151-0051, Japan
2. Yakitori restaurant (not sure of name)
- we go here after walking down Takeshita st and then crossing over the road and veering left
- it's a tiny place, so you might have to wait.
- make sure not to miss lunch otherwise you'll have to wait til dinner
- run by old couple, they cook all sorts of chicken on skewers
- try to sit at the bar so you can watch the chef
Japan, 〒150-0001 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingūmae, 3 Chome−24−3
3. Dominique Ansel bakery (inventor of the cronut)
- famous bakery, arrive before they open to get first pick of all the sugary goodness and get a table
5 Chome-7-14 Jingūmae, 渋谷区 Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan
4. Cafe kitsune (cute cafe if you happen to head down this way)
- where all the cool kids hang out
3 Chome-17-1 Minamiaoyama, 港区 Minato-ku, Tōkyō-to 107-0062, Japan
Iced mochas
5. Kawaii monster cafe
- rainbow/kawaii cafe with random musical performance while you dine on magical food
- book online: https://www.govoyagin.com/
- we chose the earliest dinner booking
- lots of photo ops
- we chose the premium menu which was half good and half too random
- the basic menu seemed more "normal" like burgers etc
- our menu included rainbow spaghetti with rainbow sauce, some dishes in test tubes and dessert in a pink dog bowl that was actually delicious
Japan, 〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区Jingūmae, 4 Chome−31, 神宮前４丁目３１−１０, YM スクエア 4F
Activities:
1. Harry Hedgehog cafe
- not really a cafe, but basically a pre-booked 30 minute time slot to play with hedgehogs
- book online here: https://www.govoyagin.com/
- choose the first time slot of the day if you can
- you wait downstairs on the street and they come and get you for your time slot at the elevator
シャンゼール原宿２号館, 1 Chome-13-21 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan
2. Takeshita St
- I suggest doing this right after ramen
- start at the end closest to the station and if it takes long enough, you can head to the Yakitori restaurant for a 2nd lunch (yes) or early dinner
- take a photo at the top before you enter the crowd
- lots of kawaii shops with nik-naks and clothes
- don't go on a Sunday unless you love crowds
シャンゼール原宿２号館, 1 Chome-13-21 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan
3. MOMA Design store
- this little modern shopping centre has a few cool design stores, including a commes des garcons curated storage/home shop
- self explanatory, cool gadgets and stuff
Japan, 〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前Jingūmae, 5 Chome−10, 5丁目10−1, GYRE 3F
4. Omotesando (shopping)
- this is the main long road, many of the suggested places are along this road
- designer stores, boutique malls
5. Cat Street (shopping)
- boutiques and novelty shops
- Opening Ceremony store
- candy stores
Japan, 〒150-0001 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingūmae, 6 Chome−1, 神宮前５丁目１０−１０
6. Laforet
- multi-level women's clothing mini mall
1 Chome-11-6 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan
7. Tokyu plaza
- has a rooftop beer garden if you want to check out the view
4 Chome-4-30-3 Jingūmae, 渋谷区 Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan
Itinerary idea for a full day in Harajuku:
1. Ramen (11-12) or Dominique ansel bakery (10am)
2. Takeshita St
3. Hedgehog cafe (book online)
4. Yakitori restaurant (snack)
5. Look in shops listed below (department stores)
6. Omotesando, cat street
7. Kitsune cafe (if you walk that far)
8. Kawaii Monster cafe or other restaurant for dinner (book online)