Tokyo

Tokyo is the best city in the world. That’s a bold statement, I know, but I stand fully behind it. No where is cleaner, quieter, politer, weirder, prettier, and tastier.

Tokyo is:

Elegant.
Orderly.
Efficient.
Weird.
Clean.
Easy.
Confusing.
Polite.
Quiet.
Distant.
Beautiful.
Sprawling.
Rules.
Delicious.
Perfect.

Before you go…
Watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

And book your transfer from the airport with Klook.
Sorry, but after a 15-hour flight, no one needs to spend even a second trying to figure out (probably very easy) transportation to your hotel.

Upon arrival, do the typical tourist things…
There are 800 million sites that will tell you to go to Shibuyu Crossing at 5:00 pm, shopping in Harajuku, visit the Senso-ji Temple and Meiji Shrine, and “climb” the Tokyo Tower. DO ALL OF THESE THINGS.

But, also…

Take a walking tour (or just wander) Yanaka, an “old city” that survived the war and multiple earthquakes. It’s very quaint and nostalgic and not in a touristy way. I would actually consider living here if I moved to Tokyo.

Have sushi for breakfast at the Tsukjii Market. You can also sign up for a tour to see the auction. I didn’t, and I don’t regret it.

Window shop in Marunouchi, a fancy upscale shopping near Ginza.

Visit the Nezu Museum, which I didn’t get to go to. It looks wonderful. Near it is a cozy wine + dessert bar called Down the Stairs. Nearby is a gorgeous cemetery.

Spend an afternoon in The National Art Center of Tokyo — everything here is spectacular, from the art to its architecture (see photo ->). It’s in Rappongi Hills, a San Fran-like section of town. (One of the sons of Jiro Dreams of Sushi has a restaurant here.)

Have a drink in Ginza Music Bar, sister property of Tokyo Music Bar which is my favorite place for an after-dinner drink in Mexico City. There’s a DJ who spins vinyl and there’s sake by-the-glass. Have multiple drinks in Shinjuku Golden-Gai.

Where to eat:
Anywhere. Seriously. Bad food does not exist in Tokyo.

Where to stay:
I stayed in two neighborhoods: Tokyo Dome and Ginza. Preferred Ginza by a landslide. I recommend splurging on a modern, skyscraper hotel for the top-level service and the views. I stayed in 4-Star Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier and loved it.

Neighborhoods to see:

• Shibuya: Famous for the iconic Shibuya Crossing, it’s vibrant, young, and great for shopping and nightlife.

• Shinjuku: Come here for skyscrapers, neon lights, and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Kabukichō is Asia’s largest red-light district.

• Harajuku: Gwen Stefani made it famous. Stroll the quirky shops on Takeshita Street. The park around Meiji Shrine is a peaceful escape.

• Ginza: An upscale shopping district with truly incredible facades.

• Asakusa: A taste of Old Tokyo and home to Senso-ji Temple, the city’s oldest temple. A good place for street food.

• Akihabara: The mecca for anime, manga, and gaming.

• Roppongi: Known for nightlife and expats.

• Ueno: Known for its park, museums, and local shopping on Ameyoko.

• Kichijoji: A charming and lively neighborhood home to Inokashira Park and streets full of cafes and boutiques.

• Shimokitazawa: Bohemian, indie, and vintage, good for shopping and live music.

Helpful hint: Tokyo is huge and you’ll need to take the subway. It’s so clean and quiet it’s almost eerie. Anyway, to make this process simple, download the Suica transit for your digital wallet. You can reload it easily from your phone, and all you’ll need to do to take a ride is open the card on your phone and tap it at the turnstile. You can also buy random things with this digital card, like vending machine drinks and museum tickets.

Note about the food: If you are strict vegan or vegetarian, Japan is not going to be easy. I’m mostly vegan but I will eat fish, and even THAT was a challenge. Be flexible, or come very prepared with a map of vegan restaurants to visit.

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