My Tokyo Experience Oct 12-15

I just got back from a 4 day 3 night trip to Tokyo and wanted to give my experience if anyone was interested. Solo traveller 20M from Canada.

# Day 1: Arrival from Seoul

**Arrived to hotel: APA Ueno Hirokoji**
Not a bad location, it’s about a 8 minute walk to the main area of Akihabara, and a 3 minute walk to Suehirocho station. $150 CAD/night

**Visited Ginza**
UNIQLO, MUJI, etc. : Shopping area but plan your route so you don’t go around and around

**Dinner: Yakiniku LIKE (in Akihabara)**
Fair price for the portion, they have wagyu but it didn’t really taste like the wagyu I had (more on that later), but you get what you pay for. Solid dinner! $12-$15 CAD.

# Day 2: Akihabara, Skytree, Sensoji

**Morning: met up with a friend and caught up, lunch at Fuunji (in Shinjuku)**

Would DEFINITELY recommend Fuunjil. It’s a hole in the wall type restaurant, with only about 12 seats. Order from machine and sit down type, but the broth is super super rich and thick, and the portion is excellently sized with thick cuts of pork. $11-$15 CAD.

**Afternoon: Akiba Kart, Skytree, and Sensoji**

Akiba Kart is the cheaper version of the normal go-kart experience you see online, it starts in Akihabara and just goes around the area. Shibuya kart takes you to Shibuya crossing I believe, but it’s double the price at $150 CAD, this one is only $75. Remember to get your international driver’s permit if you choose to go, but it was definitely a blast driving around in a go-kart.

Tokyo Skytree – pretty much what you expect, but the view is absolutely amazing and I got there at around 4:00, so stayed until sun started to set and got the most beautiful photo of the sunset. There’s also a mall underneath that you can explore, with a Pokemon Center and other cool popups like Kirby and Harry Potter.

Sensoji Temple – it’s a bit of a walk down the road to the temple area, but I went at night and the lit up area was super cool to see. If you’re not too interested in going inside, going at night is perfectly fine too to see all the lights. Would recommend right around sunset so more stores are still open on the road to the temple. You can also pay I think 100 yen to draw a fortune out of the cupboards, pretty cool. If its good you keep, if it’s bad then you tie it to the rack there to leave it there.

**Dinner: Jiromaru Akihabara**

This place is super cool! There wasn’t a line when I went, but people started lining up after. It’s a standing restaurant with about 10 or so seats. You go in and they offer you either a set menu (10 pieces for $30 CAD, with options for 15 or 20 pieces), or you can order specific cuts that you want to try. The idea is super cool, and I got the 10 piece menu and the meat was absolutely delicious. No complaints at all, and the standing part makes it unique. Would definitely come back next time.

**Evening: Stroll around Akihabara**

Mostly looking for anime stuff for my friend lol, but the general vibe is pretty cool. Lots of girls in costumes standing on the sides of the road waving to you for their maid cafes, but it’s not creepy in any way!! Lots of young people in anime stores and such, and definitely check out the arcades if you’re interested in that sort of thing. They’re a blast to play on.

# Day 3: Palace, Shibuya, Harajuku

**Morning: Imperial Palace**

My trip was last minute so didn’t get chance to go inside, but probably woulnd’t have anyways. Just mostly walked around to look at the sides of the palace, lots of people jogging and running around. Nice to go in the morning, but they do have guided tours so if you’re wanting to do that keep in mind the times.

**Afternoon: Shibuya Sky —> Harajuku –> Shibuya**

I had an early lunch at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka, nothing too special just a bucket item of mine to eat train sushi. The sushi was pretty good though and no wait time.

Shibuya Sky was great as well, although next time I might consider going in the evening (Again, last minute, hard to get ticket). But the daytime view is spectacular as well, would highly recommend going up to the cafe and getting an overpriced drink to sit down and admire it a little bit.

Went to Meiji Jingu from Shibuya, there’s a bus that you can take that will bring you almost directly to the entrance, just use Google Maps. Heads up its about a 10 minute walk into the shrine area itself from the bus stop. The shrine was pretty cool and you can do the fortune drawing thing as well, but since I already did it I didn’t go for it. You should wash your hand and rinse your mouth at the entrance (there’s signs instructing you).

Also explored Takeshita street, short walk from the shrine. Lots of shopping and eats, packed after lunch time but a really good atmosphere. Check out 2nd Street Harajuku for cool thrifted luxury clothes.

Then back to Shibuya for Hachiko Statue, and the L’Occitane Cafe. It’s quieter than the Starbucks and the line to get to the 3rd floor which was pretty quiet and empty was about a 20 minute wait time for a solo seat. Was worth the expensive tea to sit there and people watch for a bit. Also visited Nintendo store and the Pokemon Center – Keep in mind the pokemon center does tickets (Free) for entering. Got there too late so didn’t get to go in.

**Dinner: Ichiran Ramen**

Can’t go to Japan without visiting this chain! Line was about 20 minutes at 5:45pm, and you order from a little booth. Would recommend getting an extra egg, and **the matcha pudding**. Best thing I’ve had.

**Evening: Explored Shibuya more**

Just walk around and take in the sights if you have the time. It’s worth it for sure. You can also visit Shibuya Scramble Square which is the mall underneath Shibuya Sky, or Shibuya 109 (lots of women’s clothing), or Parco which is where Nintendo/Pokemon is.

# Day 4: Tsukiji Fish Market, Airport

It rained on the last day so kinda sucked, and it was pouring type of rain. Arrived at Tsukiji around 11:00, and there were already a fair amount of people even on rainy day. You can spend some time just walking around to look at the market and the street food (and there’s a lot). I ate at **Sushizanmai and Tsukiji Ihachi, and also had Strawberry Daifuku.**

The sushi was very good. It’s a conveyor belt sushi restaurant and their fish is super super fresh. There’s a pudding there that was very tasty and I’d recommend it. I also has Ihachi, which is a wagyu skewer place. One skewer will run you $30 CAD, but it’s worth it 100%. You also get a free shot of Sake if you follow their instagram. The strawberry daifuku was great too, 400 yen for one, but not sure exactly where it is. Wander around the market for a little and youll see it though.

Also tip: if you need to carry your suitcase to the market, it’s better to store it in the coin locker there. It’s 600 yen for the whole day I believe, and it’s right next to the tax free counter. Better than the subway ones as those tend to be filled up quick.

Let me know if you have any questions!