Things/Spots that impressed you in Tokyo

[gaijin]

I have some people coming to visit. And while I do have my own closed-minded udnerstanding of this marvelous city-- I am curious to hear what you all found impressive.

Cheers...

[BmillsSkier]

Show me your city. Is what I'd ask in any situation with a local man on the ground.


But to your question, we loved walking as many neighborhoods as we could while ticking off very few actual objectives

[garyfromterrace]

Amazing steak houses. Cool stores with every kooky toy ever made.

[dan_pdx]

There's a craft museum that I thought was cool, maybe the Mingei Kan? But obviously you should stay out too late, get shit faced, and go to a karaoke box. A friend took me to a fancy tonkatsu restaurant (like 4000 yen for lunch) and it was unbelievable, but I couldn't tell you where it was. I'm sure there are lots of good candidates.

[mcski]

On every night of the week, seeing a red faced salaryman passed out, face down on a subway platform

For visitors, shibuya and shinjuku crossings. Hachiko and and the 3d cat are great places to people watch. Exploring the insane levels inside department stores

[xyz]

I just left Tokyo today. It was my first trip. What impressed me the most was the beef culture. The wagyu was so good I had to return to the atm like I was doing coke. Sitting in some hole in the wall joint in a tiny alley grilling devine meat was just such a cool experience.

Otherwise the whole dam city is just awesome. One second you’re crossing the street with 5000 people under neon lights, the next min you’re in the deep forest with blossom trees and shrines. The quick contrast from chaos to green space was cool. The inner city parks were very impressive.

It’s hard for me to pinpoint one thing really. It was all just so special. Oh yeah, bullet trains. So rad.


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[toast2266]

In addition to what's been said, I really enjoyed some aimless wandering. Hitting small hole in the wall Ramen places. Checking out some pachinko parlors. Stumbling on a group of teenagers in 50's greaser outfits. Various other non- specific Japanese weirdness. It's a very pleasant city to walk around in.

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[Dhelihiker]

Golden Gai, piss alley, Shinjuku

[muted reborn]

Arashio-beya Sumo Stable where you can watch guys practice through the window. I liked how this guy peacefully biked off and I was impressed he didn't manage to bend the rims getting on.

[muted reborn]

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[muted reborn]

People talk about liking to see the real Tokyo by walking around smaller neighborhoods - I thought Shimokitazawa neighborhood was a good example of that. Easy to get to by train and then just walk north from the station. Not too touristy but not unknown either.https://www.gotokyo.org/en/destinati...awa/index.html

[dan_pdx]

There used to be a street that specialized in making/selling the fake food that restaurants use in their window displays, that was pretty fun to walk down.

[3pin]

Was just there with our kids (8 and 11) for a couple days on the way back from ski trip. As someone said above, the contrasts going from things like Meiji Shrine to wandering through Shibuya. Great food at hard-to-find places (Shirubee in Shibuya was one). We also spent half a day at TeamLabs Planets exhibition. Not sure if your friends are bringing kids, but the interactive art was pretty amazing and captivated our kids (and us).

[XXX-er]

The coin op vending machines and the places they use them to eliminate a cashier or a m/c selling me all kinds of drinks including a can of hot coffee





In america you will be robbed or die eating the food in a 7-11 but in Japan a 7-11 will have good sushi and the all important internationl cash m/c so you could live at 7-11

[tintin5]

As others have mentioned above. Sumo, sushi, and the incredible contrasts of old and new in the city. Going straight from an ancient temple, to catching a train out to Odaiba and watching the huge Gundam statue light up was pretty cool.

[babybear]

Are the imperial palace gardens too dorky to mention? We really enjoyed strolling that.
Seeing sumo was also a highlight.

And seeing Muted’s pics of the guy parking his bike reminds me of how mind blowing it is to be in one of the largest cities but to just see bikes parked around with no locks or worries.

[dan_pdx]

Love the idea of a sumo tournament if there's one going on when you're in town. In my 20s, I thought it was fun to go to Shinjuku station during evening rush hour and get squeezed into a train. Now that sounds to me like a circle of hell that Dante forgot (there should be a thread for that!), but it does feel like a very Japanese experience if your guests are into that

[toast2266]

Are the imperial palace gardens too dorky to mention? We really enjoyed strolling that.

Same. By a complete stroke of luck, it was the emperor's birthday when we walked through. He came out and waved to the crowd. Pretty cool. And there were frog men in the moat.

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[climberevan]

I thought the Sony HQ was pretty interesting. Anyone who has any interest in electronics will love it.

[54-46]

Was just there with our kids (8 and 11) for a couple days on the way back from ski trip. As someone said above, the contrasts going from things like Meiji Shrine to wandering through Shibuya. Great food at hard-to-find places (Shirubee in Shibuya was one). We also spent half a day at TeamLabs Planets exhibition. Not sure if your friends are bringing kids, but the interactive art was pretty amazing and captivated our kids (and us).

Did TeamLab and Meiji Shrine w my then 13 y/o daughter in 2020. She loved it. Also, for teen girl, hit Shibuya 109 (actual buying) and Harajuku (looking) for shopping.


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[bennymac]

At the old fish market (which is an interesting scene to walk around in the morning) there is a sushi joint called Sushi Dai - you have to line up in advance of them opening in the morning but the jet lag helps with that and it’s a great welcome to Japan meal - sushi for breakfast just sets the tone.

A few blocks walk from the market is a small grocery store that sells “perfect” strawberries and other fruits - like $80 for a single avocado. Worth popping in to have a look.

From there go to Shibuya to check out the crossing and walk around.

If you have the legs you can walk to Harajuka from there.

Then you can walk to Meij shrine from there - doing it in this order gets you from urban madness to serene temple scene.

Just north of Shinjuku station is the Omoide alley - worth at least walking down this after dark to have a look - if you can score some seats and eat some food all the better.

From there walk the short walk over to Don Quijote store see what is on sale. Quirky fun store for all ages.

Golden Gai bar scene is a short walk from there - only worth visiting if you’re actually gonna sit down and have drinks.

If you are staying in Shinjuku area then Eggslut has great breakfast sandwiches and baked goods and Verve Coffee is very nearby and is a coffee nerd spot to check out.

[muted reborn]

Eggslut is good but it's a chain restaurant I eat in Vegas, LA, etc and not very japanese.

[bennymac]

I did not know that - but sometimes in foreign lands you still want a North American breakfast!

[dan_pdx]

Gotta be a used car dealer somewhere in the area focused on kei cars old enough to import to the US. That would be a fun visit

[BmillsSkier]

I loved a sushi breakfast and dawn walks at the old Tsukiji Market. I’m positive we walked places we weren’t supposed to but the people were too kind to say so.