Here’s the scenario: You’re on a short business trip to Tokyo for an important meeting. You have a wife with 2 young kids at home. You’ve always been fascinated with Tokyo so you give yourself one day to see all there is to see in the city before rushing home to your family. Or, you booked a nice cheap flight to Southeast Asia with an awful layover in Tokyo, – getting in at 7am and departing on a redeye home. What do you do? What – do – you – do?
Luckily, you found just the right blog and the experts to go with it. Here goes:
Breakfast at the hotel – Eat Your Wheaties (so to speak)
Breakfast at a hotel in Japan isn’t your toast, eggs and bacon. It’s a feast. Larger hotels separate Western and Japanese fare in completely different venues. A Western breakfast serves your typical buffet food, ommelette stations, and some Japanese staples (porridge, rice, fish, soup) that give you the best of both worlds. If you’re spending multiple nights at the hotel, definitely try the Japanese breakfast. A typical traditional Japanese breakfast consists of steamed rice, miso soup, a few protein dishes (usually fish or pork), and pickled vegetables. It’s not exactly a hearty meal but Japanese breakfasts are super nutritious, light, and strike the perfect balance of flavors and textures. As an added bonus, the restaurant is always of traditional Japanese decor in a quaint zen-like setting so your morning always starts off relaxed. So don’t go skipping your breakfast (sorry no Wheaties here).
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Meiji Shrine, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. As you approach this remarkable landmark, the first thing you’ll notice is the beautiful Torii gate, and feel the peacefulness and serenity of the shrine with many trees and greenery surrounding it. It’s a real nice change of scenery from the concrete jungle in the rest of the city. A visit here starts your day fresh, recharging the soul with nature and spirituality.
Harajuku & Omotesando
From Meiji Shrine, a short walk takes you to two of Harajuku’s top spots. Omotesando and Takeshita Street. Omotesando is a fashionable street with high-end shops often compared to Paris’ Champs-Élysées. The street is lined with gorgeous trees, high-end shops and plenty of people-watching opportunities. Then, head over to Takeshita Street where Japanese youth pop-culture is pervasive throughout the area with its array of eclectic shops and accessory boutiques that cater to the hippest of all Japanese. Pop Culture in Japan has its own unique history, music, and language, and is very much a central part of youth culture in Japan. Here on Takeshita Street, you’ll see young people flock to take part in the latest fashion and music trends often dressed in colorful, even outrageous Cosplay costumes, hair and makeup. It’s a feast for the eyes!
Tsukiji Market
After spending the morning strolling about the city, it’s time for some chow. Hop on the subway to Tsukiji Market, formerly the world’s largest fish market is now a local market that sports an impressive array of local seafood and produce, and lots of great eats. Here, you can sample some of Japan’s freshest sushi and sashimi at one of the many sushi stalls, or try some Ikayaki (grilled squid) on a stick or a aven-an-uni (sea urchin sandwich) at a local street food stand. Tsukiji Market is an absolute heaven for the foodie.
Ginza & Imperial Palace East Garden
Now that your tummy is full, we’ll walk it off with a 30-minute stroll to the Imperial Palace, passing the famed Ginza District on the way. With super high-end designer shops in the likes of NYC’s Fifth Avenue, most of us will just window shop our way through this glam neighborhood, unless of course, you’ve got a special purchase you long to make at Hermès Ginza. In addition to big-name stores and fancy restaurants, Ginza is also home to several museums and art galleries including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Modern Art, and the Ginza Graphic Gallery.
Your half-hour walk is rewarded with the Imperial Palace East Gardens, a peaceful oasis in the midst of the bustling city that is part of the Imperial Palace grounds. Stroll through the well-manicured gardens, admire the beautiful flowers, and take in the sights and sounds of nature. The tranquil setting and beautiful scenery make it the perfect place to unwind and recharge.
Sensoji and Asakusa
After a nice break at the gardens, hop on the Asakusa Line for Sensoji Temple, one of the most important Buddhist temples in all of Japan and the oldest in Tokyo attracting more than 20 million visitors per year. Sensoji is an absolute must-see for the first-time visitor. After the temple visit and maybe partaking in some of the rituals or prayers yourself, explore the charm of Asakusa which has a long history dating back to the Edo period. The district is home to a number of traditional 2 or 3-storey homes and shophouses reminiscent of Old Japan. Take a stroll along the famed Nakamise street, an open-air pedestrian shopping arcade lined with colorful shops selling souvenirs and mouthwatering street food. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a festival which often takes place here.
Tokyo SkyTree
Not far from Asakusa is one of Tokyo’s newest marvels – The Tokyo SkyTree. Rising high above the city, TOKYO SKYTREE is the capital’s newest attraction and as of 2018, the tallest tower in the world. There are two observation decks at the SkyTree – Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria. The windows of Tembo Deck offer 360-degree vistas stretching all the way out to Mt. Fuji. For an even higher vantage point, there is a second deck, Tembo Galleria, at 450 meters. While the views are spectacular all day long, watching the sunset and the city lights come to life below is particularly romantic.
Shibuya
No visit to Tokyo is complete without taking part in the Shibuya Crossing. Shibuya Crossing is one of the busiest intersections in the world. On average, over 2.4 million people cross Shibuya every day. At peak times, up to 3,000 pedestrians hustle through these crossings (five of them). It’s a popular spot for tourists to experience this chaotic but well-orchestrated scene and catch a glimpse of Tokyo’s hustle and bustle. But Shibuya is so much more than just crossing the street. It is by far one of my favorite spots in all of Tokyo. This is where locals come out to eat, shop and play after dark. It’s a hub for shopping, food and nightlife, and always full of energy and excitement. Here, there are plenty of affordable restaurants and quaint Izakaya joints (Japanese pubs), bars and nightclubs that are open late into the night. Depending on what time of the afternoon you get here, enjoy a well-earned a beer at a local pub and/or a light snack at a Yakotori joint as you people-watch the day-in-the-life of the typical Tokyoite.
Shinjuku
Last and certainly not least, we end the night (perhaps) in Shinjuku. It’s got everything you’d want for a night out. Lots of shopping here but I’m sure you’re done with that by now. Shinjuku has got just about everything under the moon – Karaoke Bars, Pachinko (Japanese pinball parlors), robot-themed restaurants, nightclubs, a redlight district, and of course food. Omoide Yokocho is not to be missed. It’s a hidden alleyway nestled between skyscrapers and glam shopping malls lined with traditional stalls and Izakaya lit up with red lanterns. Omoide Yokocho, or “Memory Lane”, offers a variety of local Japanese fare in a quaint, only-in-Japan setting. My advice? Don’t stuff yourself at the first place you see – izakaya-hop a few of these cool joints and meet a few friends along the way.
Bonus Round (overtime): Roppongi
If you’re still awake, somewhat sober, and want to squeeze a tad more into your Tokyo adventure, jump in a taxi over to Roppongi. It’s considered the city’s most popular nightlife district among foreigners sporting a plethora of foreigner-friendly bars and Irish Pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs. Not a whole lot of culture and charm but definitely a healthy party scene.
OK, there you have it. The blueprint for experiencing the best-of-the-best in one of the world’s most exciting cities. For an itinerary centered around food, fun and nigtlife, check out our 7-night Eclectic Japan Tour that features Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, browse through our many handcrafted private Japan tours here.
