Japan is a country I have long wanted to visit, with incredible mountain scenery, a long history of culture, tradition, incredible cuisine with authentic sushi on offer everywhere you turn and of course, one of the world’s most chaotic and quirky cities – Tokyo.

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Funky Tokyo

FUNKY – the best word I found to describe Tokyo, in the greatest way! I loved everything about this buzzing city. Tokyo is so unique, wonderful, and at times completely whacky, but that is precisely what makes it such a sought after city for international visitors. I’m a bit weird and funky myself so maybe that’s why I felt instantly at home here.

My favorite thing about Japan is the people and how open-hearted they all are. The Japanese are among the kindest and friendliest people that I’ve met in Southeast Asia. They’re gentle, inquisitive, helpful, and incredibly polite. They will go out of their way to answer any questions; even if they didn’t speak English well they always tried their best to help! It was so amazing to experience that. I even had the sweetest man draw me a map to the place I was looking for!

TIP: Buy Lonely Planet’s travel guide to Tokyo and you’ll always have all the information you need right at hand! Maps, sights, public transport, restaurants, hotels etc. It’s a comprehensive guide and a great travel companion.

Eat your Way Through Tokyo

Tokyo is filled with incredible cuisine around every corner. Take your taste buds with you and try everything! The king of Japanese fast food is ramen. You will find heaps of ramen shops all over the city. Many places are very cheap and delicious!

Let’s talk SUSHI – my favorite! I could easily eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you’re also a sushi lover, Tsukiji Fish Market is your HEAVEN! What an experience to see this market in full bloom so early in the morning. If you want fresh fish, this is the place to be! Be adventurous and try everything. I didn’t make it inside to the tuna auction, but I did get to see the hustle and bustle outside the biggest wholesale seafood and fish market in the world. It was crazy!

TIP: Be careful because you can get ran over by the high-speed fish carts, keep your head up!

The Districts of Tokyo

Shinjuku means shopping, eating, and partying. It is truly a city itself with huge department, music, and electronic stores and hundreds of bars and restaurants. The neon skyscrapers of Shinjuku offer Tokyo’s most vibrant night views. I loved walking through these streets. This place reminded me of Vegas and had similar vibes, which you can all assume is a great thing!

Takeshita is the popular Japanese youth driven street in Harajuku. It’s such an interesting street and area to walk around, as there is a unique culture in Harajuku that you can’t find anywhere else. It is full of unusual and trendy clothes with cafes, restaurants, many snack places to satisfy your sweet cravings (crepes for days) and the cat and owl café. The youth are very fashionable here, some may refer to their style as quirky, but I love the way they embrace their individuality everyone just seems to be him or herself, and I loved that.

Shibuya crossing is the only attraction you want to be busy! It is hard to explain with words the adventure of seeing so many people “just crossing the street” but it is a must see/experience if you are in Japan. At night, the billboards are all-lite up and look amazing. I crossed about fifteen times, just because! I had a blast. If you don’t want to get caught in the craziness, there are view spots from the second floor of the mall and starbucks has a wonderful view spot as well.

Tip: Be warned that this street can get extremely crowded, so I would try avoiding on the weekends if possible.

What to do in Tokyo

Sensoji, Japan’s oldest temple is a delightful place to get a feel for historic Japan. It is beautiful! If you appreciate the Japanese culture and history, you will love this place. Asakusa has a lovely array of craft shops and eateries around with the temple located in the center. Kimono-wearers were in abundance and I loved it! Just walk around and enjoy the peace and appreciate the beauty of the Geishas walking around with their beautiful and colored kimonos. If you would like a photo with them, just ask! They are so friendly and willing to take a photo. You can’t really escape the crowds here, as Sensoji is a top attraction. Don’t miss out on this beautiful place!

Sumo wrestling – If you are lucky enough to be in Tokyo during one of the three annual Basho held in the city and want a real, authentic culture experience don’t miss out on Ryogoku Kokugika. Japan’s national sport, a full day packed with intense ancient traditional sumo wrestling competitions. Make sure you pre-book your tickets online as they sell out quickly.

Animal cafés – To really enjoy Tokyo, I think you need to embrace the weird and wonderful. Visiting the Hedgehog Café definitely fits those criteria. It’s adorable and hedgehogs are so friendly and cuddly. You will love it. There are also other animal café’s around Tokyo. They recently brought in a new few café’s and it’s becoming quite the hit for tourist.

Shinjuku labyrinth is an underground shopping center and it is the biggest in Japan reaching 10km. You will definitely get lost under there and don’t try relying on your phone. It won’t be any help underground. I got lost multiple times and finally refused to go back down after about the third time. It really is something to experience though. There is everything in the underground city and is a characteristic of Shinjuku.

TIP: Buy Lonely Planet’s travel guide to Tokyo and you’ll always have all the information you need right at hand – Maps, sights, public transport, restaurants, hotels etc. It’s a comprehensive guide and a great travel companion.

Where to Stay in Tokyo

Wasabi hostel – I highly recommend this place. I had a very pleasant stay here and it’s inexpensive compared to other places around Tokyo! It’s a traditional Japanese style guesthouse located right next to the train station (Mikawashima). The capsules are spacious and rooms are clean. The staff is wonderful and very helpful.

Train system is awesome but just a heads up that nothing is written in English so just ask your way through. Everyone there is happily willing to help you!

Last words

Tokyo is the main gateway to Japan and a great city to spend a few days discovering it’s many pockets from the hustle and bustle of Shibuya & Shinjuku, over to the quiet peace and serenity of Japan’s public parks, and all the way through to Tokyo’s gaming district; Akihabara.

Be sure to allow yourself at least 3-5 days in this city as there is much to see and do including tourist hot spots like the Mieji Shrine; Sensoji Temple, Ueno Park for remarkable cherry blossom viewing in Spring; Harajuku for young fashion, nearby Omotesando for grown-up fashion, Tokyo Tower for impressive views at sunset, and if you have more time – day trips to Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Sea (unlike any Disney park in the world), or nearby Mt. Fuji.

Useful links to Tokyo

A Few Days in Tokyo, Japan – Wandering on

Tokyo Itinerary, 7 Days – Asia Travel Bug

The Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide – The Blonde Abroad

Tokyo Travel Diary 2017 – Stolen Inspiration

The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary for Tokyo Japan – Travel Pockets

The Complete Guide to: Tokyo Travel – Urban Adventures

What to do in Tokyo: A 5 Day Itinerary – Nerd Nomads

First Time in Tokyo? The Complete Tokyo Guide – Girl Eat World

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