Jimmy Chim

Home | Essays

Tokyo Travel Tips

Tips on finding a suitable hotel

  • Stay close to major subway stations
  • Check scores (e.g. location) on bookings.com, GMaps, TripAdvisor
  • Pick an area that your family prefers (e.g. Shinjuku/Ginza would be busiest with lots of shopping, near Imperial Palace would be more relaxing with more outdoor/space etc) – obviously price too. Hotels are on the smaller side.

Things to do before the trip

  • Reserve tickets to famous museums (e.g. Ghibli Museum is advanced reservation only)
  • Turn on data roaming or find another way to get internet
  • Reserve “nice restaurants” – in general above $50 (8000 yen) per person consider reserve
  • Airbnb experience can be nice too if you want someone to guide you for a half day activity
  • Consider bookmarking things you want to do on Gmap – so you can see where they are for planning and when you are there
    • Roughly speaking, you can divide your days into neighborhoods, e.g.
    • West: Shibuya, Omotesando, Ebisu, Shinjuku
    • Central/Ginza
    • North/East: Ueno, Akihabara

Transportation notes

  • Get IC card when you land (Suica or Pasmo work the same) – it works like a clipper card. Whenever you see the IC card logo (vending machines, convenience stores) you can use it
  • Tokyo has two major subway systems/companies that run different lines: Tokyo Metro and Toei. They only connect at certain transfer stations. To get from one system to another, you likely need to exit and reenter. It’s possible that two stations look close to each other on the map, but they aren’t actually connected.
  • Google Maps works well when looking up public transit options with real-time schedules, train platforms, how many stops it will take, which entrance/exit to use
  • Uber works too, though a bit more expensive

Other tips:

  • Tokyo has some really nice big parks and serene temples if you need a break from the hustle, some examples:
    • Meiji-Jingu has a nice garden/outdoor area
    • Yoyogi park
    • Imperial Palace – East Garden
    • Ueno (Park) – Also close to Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Zoo 
  • If you want to see an old Japanese neighborhood with wood structures, Yanaka is an interesting area to visit. Suggest to go after 11am when more shops are open
  • If you like tea, try high grade matcha, sencha, and gyokuro (unique to Japan)
  • Ginza probably has the most shopping. Biggest Muji, Uniqlo in the world.
  • Even though IC card works at many places, it’s always convenient to carry some cash and coins (especially 100 yens) – can come in handy when you need a locker or something

Food:

  • Places I liked (mostly cheap eats):
    • Kikanbo (spicy ramen) – was ~45 min wait. 
    • A few other things to try for experience: conveyor belt sushi, yakiniku (bbq), sukiyaki (pot in sweet soy sauce)/shabu shabu (hot pot), tempura, eel (unagi)
    • “Pissing alley” in Shinjuku was an interesting izakaya/yakitori (skewers) experience, though people may smoke
    • Basement of most department stores e.g. Mitsukoshi Ginza (B2F) have fantastic Deli. 
    • Top levels of most department stores have a selection of sit down restaurants.
    • Sushi ten Tokyo ($55 omakase with 20 dishes) – we went to the one in Roppongi 
    • Restaurants are really all over. GMap rating is a decent guide.
  • Reservations