For many of us, Tokyo is a dream travel destination. It’s a vibrant, technologically advanced metropolis with a rich history, the perfect blend of new and traditional cultural experiences. However, while Tokyo may look comparatively small on a map, it’s a vast, bustling city with 23 exciting wards to explore. With so many options, visiting Tokyo can be an overwhelming experience for some tourists, especially when all a Google search will tell you is to visit Shibuya Crossing and the Tokyo Skytree.
Lucky for you, we’ve got a local with great taste to help you get around Tokyo. Raised in Japan, Nihar Jhaveri is the founder of Bedlam, a Tokyo-based fashion brand intersecting Indian and Japanese identity.
Here are Nihar’s suggestions for where to go when you finally make your dream trip to Tokyo:
Restaurants and Cafes
PST is one of Japan’s most iconic restaurants, boasting some of the best-rated pizza in the world. Their Tokyo-style pizza brings Japanese taste sensibilities to Italian classics, giving you the best of both worlds.
Abu Essam is an Arab café and deli in the heart of Tokyo. Affordable and made with love, Abu Essam brings an authentic Arab feel and flavours to a Japanese setting.
Known for its delicious plant-based food and craft beer, Cori is a fantastic option for everyone, vegan or not. Cori’s cosy interior makes it ideal for a busy traveller’s mid-day pick-me-up.
Guruatsu is one of Japan’s most famous vegetarian bakeries, acclaimed for its enriching yet tasty breads, scones, and pastries. Though its popularity means it can be hard to snag a seat inside, Guruatsu’s food is well worth the wait.
Cabe started serving delicious Indonesian meals as a small hole-in-the-wall treasure back in 2002. Over two decades later, the restaurant’s interior has been upgraded while maintaining its original authenticity.
Art and Culture
The National Art Center in Tokyo is one of Japan’s largest and most renowned exhibition spaces. The centre doesn’t have a permanent display or set of curators. Instead, its rotating galleries create space for diverse arrays of artistic expression, making it an exciting visit for Japanese locals and tourists alike.
Located a whopping 250 meters above sea level, the Tokyo City View’s sky deck offers you a gorgeous panoramic view of the city. The building is also attached to the Mori Art Museum, where you’ll find fascinating contemporary art, architecture, and design exhibitions.
Nature
Inokashira Park
Take a break from the city’s hustle and bustle with a stroll through the lush greenery and cherry blossom trees in Inokashira Park. Within the park, you’ll find Inokashira Pond, where you can rent rowing boats, a small petting zoo, and a beautiful shrine dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten.
Yoyogi Park
At 133 acres, Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo’s largest parks. On Sundays, the vast area acts as a gathering space for several Japanese musicians, comedians, and performers, sure to keep you entertained.
Ameyoko
Home to over 250 shops, Ameyoko (short for Ameyo Yokocho) is a vibrant open-air street market selling everything from clothes and accessories to fresh fish and spices.
Jimbōchō Book Town
Jimbōchō Book Town is every bibliophile’s dream. The area is one of the world’s oldest and largest book towns, chock-full of over 150 secondhand bookstores.
Daikanyama
Often referred to as “the Brooklyn of Tokyo,” Daikanyama is home to several stylish, high-end boutiques, cafés, and bookstores.
Other Fun Shenanigans
Game Centres
Japanese arcades, often called Game Centres, offer fun games, both old and new, for people of all ages. Found all over the city, Game Centres are a guaranteed good time, whether you go alone or with a friend.
Batting Center
Considering baseball’s immense popularity in Japan, it should come as no surprise that Tokyo has several batting centres where you can practice your swing. Shinjuku Batting Center and the Asakusa ROX Batting Center are two great options if you’d like to give it a try!
Renting A Bicycle
Tokyo is very bicycle-friendly, giving you an affordable and fun way to get around the city. You’ll find Docomo and Luup community rental bikes available at train stations across Tokyo; just pay a rental fee and you’re good to go!
Follow Nihar Jhaveri’s brand, Bedlam, here.
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