Tokyo,
Japan

Logistics

Getting a Pasmo or Suica card is super helpful - it’s a prepaid cash card that you can use on any of the subway/train lines instead of buying separate tickets each time (different lines are owned by different companies). And you can even use it in some convenience stores / machine-order ramen restaurants

Stay

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo Autograph Collection
Muji Hotel (at the top of the 6-story flagship Muji store)

Eat & do

Golden Gai
a dense area of 6 alleys with probably 100 bars each one is super tiny and has a different theme. I loved a blues bar and a literary/film bar


Cafe de l'ambre
a traditional, wood-paneled coffee shop since 1948 - one of their specialties is an egg yolk coffee


Godaime Hanayama Udon
I had a delicious cold udon/tempura bowl here. There was a long wait (you write your name on a list outside) but it was worth it


Tsukiji Market
the iconic fish market / tuna auction has moved to another location, but the external market stalls are still along the water at the old site.


Shimakitazawa neighborhood
a bit out of the way, but calmer, with tons of vintage shopping and live music venues

• Frankie’s - Australian coffee shop
• B+B (Books+Beer) - a bar / bookstore - I think I bought the one book in English that they carried
• The Cage - a bar/music spot under an overpass with stalls for food and vintage clothes

Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukichō
a chaotic, 6 story mall with everything you could want (and delicious bubble tea) … a bit overwhelming if it’s the first thing you do after the flight!


Roppongi Hills shopping center

• Kapital - a delightful clothing store (with a few other locations) - I had to go after reading this David Sedaris article
• Eggcellent - brunch spot
• Mari Art Museum - a fairly small/manageable modern art museum

Map