tokyo, part 2

can you fully know a city until you lived here? well i did. 5 full weeks in tokyo!


things to note: 
  • tokyo is a very cash based system. get a lot of money out of the ATM and don't expect to use your credit card too much. you can also get a suica card at the train station, which you can use for the train and many other bakeries, grocery and convenience stores.
  • the best way to get into tokyo is by train. you can take the monorail or the keikyu line. google maps is great for public transit. taxis/uber can cost upwards of $100
  • if possible, fly in/out of haneda, not narita
  • if you plan to travel outside of tokyo, get the smartEX app and buy your shinkansen (bullet train) ticket with your suica card. it's ticketless and SUPER easy to use and make modifications, if needed. 
  • be aware of how and where people walk. everything is very orderly on the sidewalk/crossings and on the elevator, don't stand still on the right side
  • people speak very little english in tokyo. learn a few important words: 
    • thank you (arigato gozaimas)
    • excuse me/sorry (sumimasen) 
    • good morning (ohayo gozaimasu)
    • hello (kon'nichiwa)
    • goodbye (sayonara)
    • this is delicious (oishi)  
what to eat:
  • ramen
  • umeshu: delicious plum wine (try it on the rocks) 
  • soba noodles and tempura
  • sushi, obvs
  • onigiri (rice balls) from lawsons (or other convenient stores)
  • everything matcha
  • yakatori (chicken skewers)
  • fried chicken
  • grilled leeks!
where to stay (some neighborhoods i would recommend): 
  • shimokitazawa (hipster/vintage area of tokyo - my favorite neighborhood)
  • ometosando (super cute and neighborhoody)
  • ebisu
  • near yoyogi park
  • shibuya
  • i recommend these listings: 
    • https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21027172: between harajuku and shibuya. highly recommend but about 10 min walk from station; great views, very spacious, nice separated bathroom situation
    • https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9014224: not super homey but great location in shimokitzawa 
    • https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6995174: i love this listing but i don't know this neighborhood super well, stayed here on my first trip to tokyo
    • https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1263000: haruko is my favorite airbnb host ever. this is in jiyugaoko (a bit outside of tokyo) but this experience is amazing. she speaks very little english but it's still really special. neighborhood is adorable.
things to check out:
  • sunday farmers market at UN university (super cute and cool)
  • golden gai area (recommend bar called albatross) - very touristy but very worth it. don't miss this
  • commune 2nd - cool food truck area
  • electric city
  • yokocho: super cool drinking hall thing in ebisu (really recommend this) 
  • yoyogi park 
  • public 6 bar (not local, but fun) then go dancing at a life in roppongi
  • cat street near harajuku
  • tokyo loft: super cool 5 story floor full of fun stuff
  • tokyu hands: 5 story craft store 
  • minami aoyama shimizu yu: traditional bathhouse. cannot go if you have any tattoos
restaurants:
  • gyoza, delicious izakaya and class beer drinking place: here
  • afuri (healthier and yummy ramen) 
  • standing sushi bar in shinjuku (across from hooters) - high quality sushi for price. i recommend getting the engawa aburi style (flamed) 
  • miyota in ometosando (soba and tempura)
  • watanabe soba in shinjuku (authentic soba noodles and tempura) 
  • trunk hotel (trunk kushi food is really good) 
  • kushiyakimonjirou in ebisu (really amazing skewers. recommend this menu) 
  • zekkocho teppen (絶好調てっぺん) in shinjuku (go down the alley and its on the 9th floor). super interesting and awesome dining experience. kind of like japanese bbq. delicious fish and don't miss the butter rice. need reservation and ask for english menu
ice cream: 
  • gomaya kuki in harajuku (delicious white and black sesame) - don't miss this. i recommend the multigrain white with darkest grade black
  • japanese ice ouca in ebisu
  • try different grades of matcha ice cream (check out options here)
a few more things in my super old blog: tokyo, japan - fall in love with asia all over again

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