There are still plenty of days when I have to pinch myself, take a step back and remember I live in Japan. When I’m stuck inside for days at a time working, it can be easy to forget I’m somewhere meant to be explored as much as possible. That’s the crucial part of making the most of this experience — because you never really know how long it will last.
Last week I had the chance to be a tourist in my own town for a day, exploring some new and some familiar sights around Tokyo along with a fellow American blogger, Matt Stabile (Side Note: I found out he and his wife currently live on the exact street in Bushwick, Brooklyn, I used to live on. Craziness.).
While it may seem redundant to go back to places I’ve frequented often, it’s nice to be reminded of how fascinating they are when you experience them again through the eyes of a newcomer. I get to see how much I’ve learned and put my knowledge — and still-limited Japanese — to the test. I’m also reminded of how much of Tokyo, let alone Japan, I have left to see. It reinvigorates me to get out there.
Enjoy this tour of essential spots in Tokyo to visit that I’d highly recommend to anyone visiting Japan. Be sure to check back later this week to see what happened when we left the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to immerse ourselves in a much different pace up north.
Our first stop of the day was Tsukiji Kanno in Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast. I ordered my favorite combo — tuna and salmon eggs.
Dried blowfish for sale in Tsukiji. Poisonous parts removed, of course.
Real Japanese wasabi, also available at Tsukiji.
The first step in my kimono experience at Kimono Gallery in Ginza was getting my hair done. It was so hot out and it came out so well that I left it in all day!
Ready to hit the streets of Ginza. You can rent a kimono from Kimono Gallery for a day for a stroll or to attend a tea ceremony. It was fascinating to see all the steps it took to get dressed. I felt beautiful afterwards, even if it was a bit hard to breathe.
The tea room at Ginza Chazen, where we learned about the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Beautiful Japanese sweets made from beans. You use a single chopstick to slice pieces to eat, finishing the entire sweet while your matcha tea is made.
Watching the preparation of matcha. First, all the instruments are cleaned.
It was my turn to add the matcha powder — ground green tea leaves — to hot water and try out the whisking.
After the tea ceremony, we went to Kagurazaka Shizuku in Kagurazaka for lunch. After some appetizers, we enjoyed homemade tofu.
The next course was sashimi.
We grilled fresh duck in a piping hot skillet at the table.
Tempura followed.
The last savory course was udon.
And my favorite, matcha ice cream as the grand finale.
Taking in the view of Shibuya near from famous Shibuya Crossing from the Excel Hotel Tokyu (also in the top image).
After watching the scramble in Shibuya Crossing, we moved onto Golden Gai in Shinjuku to have some dinner. This area is famous for its rows of tiny restaurants and bars.
Following dinner, the group moved onto Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku for some electric entertainment to round out the night. You can read about my previous visit to Robot Restaurant here.
This is how a packed day ended. I couldn’t have been happier to check into the Hyatt Regency Shinjuku, especially since I was coming down with a cold. The tub was heaven.
Good time, thanks for the shout out!
Just fascinating! Love you in the kimono!
Great thank you for your posted TOKYO story, its very nice!!!