Tokyo

Food + Drink

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Places

  • Sumida Hokusai Museum, contrary to popular belief, I don’t like museums that much (sorry)! But I liked this museum because I like seeing the printing blocks in person and they were worth seeing IRL.

  • Kyojima neighborhood in Sumida has preserved nagaya buildings that folks have converted into art spaces and businesses. If you’re in Tokyo in October, check out the Sumida Expo! It’s an open house.

    • Tea shop: satellite kitchen. The guy that runs it plays violin out his balcony window in the evening.

    • Coffee shop: MuuMuu where the owner makes kendama, which are on display.

    • Nepalese food: Art & Nepal if you want a Japanese food break.

  • Kappabashi Dougu Street. Check out Kitchen Street. A street full of kitchen wares and some fun giant tea cups, chef’s head, and beatle.

  • Yumenoshima Botanical Gardens, this area of Tokyo is weird because it got pretty majorly damaged during the 1923 earthquake and got heavily bombed during the war. It's built on a landfill but this botanical garden is great. Also close to Tokyo Disney.

  • Tokyu Hands is a dedicated craft goods department store.

  • Loft is a department store. There is a whole floor for stationary goods.

  • Don Quijote is the Walmart of Japan

  • I don’t think I need to list any of the regular tourist attractions. Google will tell you!

  • Wander through some doris (Japanese word for street). There is usually at least one in every neighborhood. They are strips of shops and cafes that are usually only for pedestrians. Harajuku probably is the most popular one for people watching. Here is a good list.

  • If you want to go a bit outside of Tokyo, the prefecture above Tokyo, Saitama, has a fun spot that is 'old Japan' that is like Kyoto without the insane amount of tourists. Kawagoe is known for sweet potatoes and eel. Lots of good grilled eel spots around.