Tokyo, Japan

Can I just start out by saying that this is the busiest yet cleanest city I have ever been to in my life? It was wild because I saw zero trash anywhere, but also zero trash cans either... which makes me wonder. Are there little invisible trash collecting minions that Japan invented, and we weren't made aware of? Hmmm... anyway, my dream destination finally came true! I absolutely fell in love with this country. I can't wait to dive in and give you all my tips and recommendations. For starters, I stayed at Hotel SUI Kanda by Abest and the location was nice because it was close to the public transportation but also not exactly the city center.

During our 11 days in Japan, we visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Mt. Fuji. Since there is a lot of information to cover, I have decided to organize it by cities.

How to get there:

I flew into Tokyo from Los Angeles, CA. Transportation is great here! I took the train everywhere and it was so effective and convenient. Prior to booking your trip to Japan, I suggest getting a pass through Japan Rail. To get to downtown Tokyo from Narita Airport I took the Keisei Skyliner to Nippori. You can also take the Narita Express train. Keep in mind, the latter tends to be more expensive.

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My favorite spots:

  • Sensō-ji. An ancient buddhist temple. It’s considered Tokyo’s oldest temple. It’s by far the most gorgeous one I laid my eyes on. Located in Taito city, it’s very near to a lot of other must see monuments/landmarks. The temple has a titanium tiled roof that maintains the historic image but is stronger and lighter.

  • Nakamise shopping street. Here you will find anything and everything. Food, drinks, clothes, souvenirs, and local specialties. It’s really quite unique and fun to get lost in. I bought so many things. Mochi, green tea, cups to take home, art work, etc. There are more than 50 shops so you wont be disappointed.

  • Harajuku. Such a fun street to shop on. I bought the CUTEST shoes here. I still have yet to wear them around LA but I will soon. There are so many fun shops and you will spend all your money. Be prepared. I have never seen anything like it and it’s such a great street to get lost in.

  • Visit an Izakaya. There are a few you can visit. It’s basically an alleyway filled with cafes, bars, and places you can eat at. I went one day during the rain and had the best ramen of my life. It is pictured/labeled below.

Tokyo, Japan - Izakaya

Sightseeing/Activities:

  • Robot Cafe. Book here.

  • Tokyo Tower

  • Meiji Shrine

  • Shibuya Crosswalk

  • Nightclubs in Shinjuku! (I had the best time at WARP SHINJUKU)

  • Cat and Shiba Inu cafe (both separate, you pay to sit and play with these cute little creature…a dream, right?)

    Food:

  • Kawaii Monster Cafe. Okay, wow. This cafe is literally the outcome of Hello Kitty on drugs. I have never seen so many colors before in my entire life. It’s safe to say, I definitely got lost in the ridiculousness of this place. Everything from the food, music, decor & drinks are vibrant and don’t lack luster. If you love all things Kawaii, I totally recommend coming to this spot! The food isn’t great but fun, that’s for sure. The desserts are literally just sugar and colors, which is natural for sweet stuff.. I know. Located in Shibuya City. UPDATE: THIS LOCATION IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED! :(

  • Pompompurin Cafe Harajuku. Such a cute little cafe. I am obsessed and would love if they opened one here in Los Angeles. This is located in Harajuku. It’s upstairs and kinda hidden so keep your eyes peeled. My friend and I were just strolling down the street and saw the sign for it and then followed it up the stairs. To our surprise, it was literally filled with all things Pompompurin. Super fun. I got the milk tea. Refreshing after a long day of walking around in the sun.

  • Tsurukame Shokodou (つるかめ食堂)

  • Omoide Yokocho.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Pay attention to the time of year you’re going. Typically, June - October is typhoon season in Japan. I went during August. I got lucky and didn’t experience any typhoons, but the weather was weird. It was very hot and humid, and then it would rain, but still be really hot and humid. Towards the end of my trip, the weather mellowed out and was decent. It was still hot, but with a cool breeze.

  • Try to stay in a hotel that has a laundry room if you’re traveling during the hot season. My clothes were drenched in sweat within minutes of me walking around, so I had to make sure I did a load of laundry to keep them clean throughout my trip.

  • Carry water with you. It’s hot during the summer, as I stated a million times, and finding a refill station can be a little tricky.

  • Tokyo is a major city, so a lot of people speak English, luckily. Naturally, though, you will encounter non-English speakers, so please be nice and try your best to communicate. Japan is a great country filled with amazing people.

Danielle Giordano