An intermediate guide to Tokyo.
Hello again from Tokyo. The Rugby World Cup is now in full swing here in Japan and everyone is getting into it, especially as the Japanese team is doing so well. I went to the Fan Zone for the first New Zealand pool match against South Africa, but the rest of our pool matches were not that exciting. I'll definitely be going back to watch the finals though. We have also just experienced one of the worst typhoons to hit Japan in 60 years, which was a bit terrifying to say the least. I was one of the fortunate ones who didn't even lose power, but I was well stocked up on food and water in case the power went out and water was cut off. Some areas of Nagano and Shizuoka prefectures were hit hard, and it could take a while for those areas to return to normality. My thoughts go out to those who were badly affected, and the families of those who lost their lives. Hopefully it won't take long for these areas to recover.
Last year I wrote a post titled 'A beginners guide to Tokyo', and having lived here for almost 2 years, I thought it was time for an updated version, an 'intermediate' guide if you will. I'll be giving an overview of some things to do in each area and then giving it a rating out of 10. So let's get into it.
1) Monzen-Nakacho. I have been here a couple of times for work, but the other week a coworker suggested that I check out a park that's kind of nearby, so I decided to make a day of it and I was pleasantly surprised. There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in the area. I found a particularly aesthetically pleasing cafe called Monz Cafe that I think will be a new regular hangout spot for me. There are also a few different temples and shrines in the area that provide some tranquility amongst the hustle and bustle. I did check out Kiba Park that my coworker mentioned, and it was a lot bigger than I expected. There are barbecues available for all your summer barbecue needs, and it's perfect for families, pets and salarymen on their lunch break alike. It had a suburban vibe, and there's actually an art museum located within the park as well. If you find yourself in this area, then definitely check it out. Monzen Nakacho is on the Oedo or Tozai subway lines, and Kiba is on the Tozai line, one stop from Monzen Nakacho. Rating 7/10
2) Jiyugaoka. This area feels like a little Europe, and I'm here for it. There's even a makeshift canal designed to look like Venice in Italy. There are a lot of nice cafes and it just has an all round relaxed vibe. A few stations away is Todoroki Ravine, a secluded area that you would never guess is in Tokyo. It really does provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of the centre city, which I love. If you want some more information on Todoroki, then check out this website. The entire area is great if you're after some cute insta pics. Jiyugaoka is on the Oimachi line and the Tokyu Toyoko Line. Todoroki station is on the Oimachi line. Rating 8.5/10.
3) Kichijoji. This area is one of the more 'hipster' areas of Tokyo, and it's well worth a look. There's Inokashira Park, one of my favourite parks in Tokyo, which is gorgeous any time of year, but especially during spring and autumn. There are also a lot of unique shops, including thrift stores, gift stores and more. In addition, it is close to the Ghibli Museum for all the Studio Ghibli fans out there, although this does require reservations in advance. Kichijoji and neighbouring Koenji are definitely up and coming areas, and they are becoming more desirable areas to live and work in. Kichijoji is located on the JR Chuo Rapid line and the Chuo Sobu local line. Rating 8/10
4) Marunochi. The area surrounding Tokyo Station and Hibiya Park is known as Marunochi, and it's a very diverse area in terms of things to see. It has the transport hub of Tokyo Station which contains a huge underground shopping area, Hibiya Park and the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. It is also a business area, and as such the aesthetic is very sleek and modern. I really love this area for a break for the senses which can be overwhelmed by the lights, sounds and craziness of other areas of the city. The combination of the history of the palace and the modern business buildings really sums up Tokyo- a mix of old and new- and I'm in love with it. Sometimes though, I do feel slightly out of place walking around here in regular clothes during the week as everyone else is typically dressed for work. The nearest stations are Tokyo Station (too many lines run here for me to list them all haha) and Hibiya Station on the Hibiya and Chiyoda subway lines. Rating 7.5/10
5) Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is a lil bit crazy. There's a lot going on here, from the abundance of bars and restaurants to Sunshine City, which is a huge mall containing an aquarium and observatory. In Sunshine City, there's also a Pokemon centre for all the hardcore Pokemon fans out there. Ikebukuro station is one of the busier, more confusing stations in Tokyo, with many train lines leaving from here. I don't spend a lot of time in Ikebukuro, but I would recommend checking out the area. It reminds me a lot of Shinjuku with neon signs and lights everywhere. Definitely fulfils all the expectations people have when they visit Tokyo. Ikebukuro is on the JR Yamanote, Shonan Shinjuku and Saikyo lines, and on the Marunochi, Fukutoshin and Yurakucho subway lines. It is also on the Seibu Ikebukuro line and Tobu Tojo line. Rating 8.5/10
6) Azabu-Juban. This is a food lovers paradise, especially if you're after foreign foods that you can't find anywhere else. Azabu-Juban is home to a large number of import supermarkets, so if you are desperate for a taste of some snacks from home, you'll probably have the most luck finding them here. There are also some great restaurants include Frijoles, one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to. It is relatively close to Tokyo Tower and Shiba Park, both of which I highly recommend. Azabu Juban is located on the Namboku and Oedo Subway lines. Rating 8/10.
7) Naka-Meguro. Naka Meguro is located next to the Meguro river, and during the cherry blossom season it's one of the most popular places to be. I'm not sure if this is just a seasonal thing or if it happens year-round, but when I went during spring, there were a lot of stalls lining the river selling food and drinks, which created a lively atmosphere. The world's biggest Starbucks reserve cafe is also located here. Aside from the beauty of the river and cherry blossoms, you can enjoy some traditional Japanese sculpture at the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture. Meguro is considered to be one of the more desirable areas of the city to live in, and you do kind of get that vibe wandering around the area. If you love Starbucks, cherry blossoms and are feeling a little bit boujee, Naka-Meguro is for you. You can either walk from Meguro Station on the Yamanote line, or Naka-Meguro Station on the Hibiya subway line. Rating 8.5/10.
So there you have it, seven more places to add to your list if you're ever in Tokyo. Even after almost two years of living in Tokyo, there are still more places that I haven't explored. There is an endless amount of discovery to be done in a bustling metropolis like Tokyo and that's one thing I love about living here. This city is like an onion and you just keep peeling layers off and learning more about the city each time.
Hope you've enjoyed this insight into Tokyo, and it gives you some more inspiration beyond the typical touristy spots that everyone goes to.
Until next time,
Hannah. xx
Last year I wrote a post titled 'A beginners guide to Tokyo', and having lived here for almost 2 years, I thought it was time for an updated version, an 'intermediate' guide if you will. I'll be giving an overview of some things to do in each area and then giving it a rating out of 10. So let's get into it.
1) Monzen-Nakacho. I have been here a couple of times for work, but the other week a coworker suggested that I check out a park that's kind of nearby, so I decided to make a day of it and I was pleasantly surprised. There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in the area. I found a particularly aesthetically pleasing cafe called Monz Cafe that I think will be a new regular hangout spot for me. There are also a few different temples and shrines in the area that provide some tranquility amongst the hustle and bustle. I did check out Kiba Park that my coworker mentioned, and it was a lot bigger than I expected. There are barbecues available for all your summer barbecue needs, and it's perfect for families, pets and salarymen on their lunch break alike. It had a suburban vibe, and there's actually an art museum located within the park as well. If you find yourself in this area, then definitely check it out. Monzen Nakacho is on the Oedo or Tozai subway lines, and Kiba is on the Tozai line, one stop from Monzen Nakacho. Rating 7/10
2) Jiyugaoka. This area feels like a little Europe, and I'm here for it. There's even a makeshift canal designed to look like Venice in Italy. There are a lot of nice cafes and it just has an all round relaxed vibe. A few stations away is Todoroki Ravine, a secluded area that you would never guess is in Tokyo. It really does provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of the centre city, which I love. If you want some more information on Todoroki, then check out this website. The entire area is great if you're after some cute insta pics. Jiyugaoka is on the Oimachi line and the Tokyu Toyoko Line. Todoroki station is on the Oimachi line. Rating 8.5/10.
3) Kichijoji. This area is one of the more 'hipster' areas of Tokyo, and it's well worth a look. There's Inokashira Park, one of my favourite parks in Tokyo, which is gorgeous any time of year, but especially during spring and autumn. There are also a lot of unique shops, including thrift stores, gift stores and more. In addition, it is close to the Ghibli Museum for all the Studio Ghibli fans out there, although this does require reservations in advance. Kichijoji and neighbouring Koenji are definitely up and coming areas, and they are becoming more desirable areas to live and work in. Kichijoji is located on the JR Chuo Rapid line and the Chuo Sobu local line. Rating 8/10
4) Marunochi. The area surrounding Tokyo Station and Hibiya Park is known as Marunochi, and it's a very diverse area in terms of things to see. It has the transport hub of Tokyo Station which contains a huge underground shopping area, Hibiya Park and the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. It is also a business area, and as such the aesthetic is very sleek and modern. I really love this area for a break for the senses which can be overwhelmed by the lights, sounds and craziness of other areas of the city. The combination of the history of the palace and the modern business buildings really sums up Tokyo- a mix of old and new- and I'm in love with it. Sometimes though, I do feel slightly out of place walking around here in regular clothes during the week as everyone else is typically dressed for work. The nearest stations are Tokyo Station (too many lines run here for me to list them all haha) and Hibiya Station on the Hibiya and Chiyoda subway lines. Rating 7.5/10
5) Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is a lil bit crazy. There's a lot going on here, from the abundance of bars and restaurants to Sunshine City, which is a huge mall containing an aquarium and observatory. In Sunshine City, there's also a Pokemon centre for all the hardcore Pokemon fans out there. Ikebukuro station is one of the busier, more confusing stations in Tokyo, with many train lines leaving from here. I don't spend a lot of time in Ikebukuro, but I would recommend checking out the area. It reminds me a lot of Shinjuku with neon signs and lights everywhere. Definitely fulfils all the expectations people have when they visit Tokyo. Ikebukuro is on the JR Yamanote, Shonan Shinjuku and Saikyo lines, and on the Marunochi, Fukutoshin and Yurakucho subway lines. It is also on the Seibu Ikebukuro line and Tobu Tojo line. Rating 8.5/10
6) Azabu-Juban. This is a food lovers paradise, especially if you're after foreign foods that you can't find anywhere else. Azabu-Juban is home to a large number of import supermarkets, so if you are desperate for a taste of some snacks from home, you'll probably have the most luck finding them here. There are also some great restaurants include Frijoles, one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to. It is relatively close to Tokyo Tower and Shiba Park, both of which I highly recommend. Azabu Juban is located on the Namboku and Oedo Subway lines. Rating 8/10.
7) Naka-Meguro. Naka Meguro is located next to the Meguro river, and during the cherry blossom season it's one of the most popular places to be. I'm not sure if this is just a seasonal thing or if it happens year-round, but when I went during spring, there were a lot of stalls lining the river selling food and drinks, which created a lively atmosphere. The world's biggest Starbucks reserve cafe is also located here. Aside from the beauty of the river and cherry blossoms, you can enjoy some traditional Japanese sculpture at the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture. Meguro is considered to be one of the more desirable areas of the city to live in, and you do kind of get that vibe wandering around the area. If you love Starbucks, cherry blossoms and are feeling a little bit boujee, Naka-Meguro is for you. You can either walk from Meguro Station on the Yamanote line, or Naka-Meguro Station on the Hibiya subway line. Rating 8.5/10.
So there you have it, seven more places to add to your list if you're ever in Tokyo. Even after almost two years of living in Tokyo, there are still more places that I haven't explored. There is an endless amount of discovery to be done in a bustling metropolis like Tokyo and that's one thing I love about living here. This city is like an onion and you just keep peeling layers off and learning more about the city each time.
Hope you've enjoyed this insight into Tokyo, and it gives you some more inspiration beyond the typical touristy spots that everyone goes to.
Until next time,
Hannah. xx
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