TOKYO

Day 1

  • Imperial Gardens

  • Origami Kaiken

  • Senso-Ji Temple

  • SkyTree

Day 2

  • Tsukiji Fish Market

  • Tsukiji Hongwan Ji Temple

  • Tsukishima

  • Ni-Tele Really Big Clock by Hiyao Miyazaki

Day 3

  • Mitsukishi Department Store

  • Shimo-Kitazawa (and my first ramen experience)

  • Tokyo Station (and buying train tickets from a machine)

Day 4

  • Hibiya Park

  • Team Lab Borderless

  • Roppongi Hills (Mori Modern Art Museum, Tokyo Views)

  • Aoyama Cemetary (Hachiko’s grave)

Day 5

  • Kamakura

Day 6

  • Ginza (Hands, Itoya Stationery)

  • Matsuya Department Store

  • Tempura Kondo

Day 7

  • Back to Tokyo Station for more train tickets

  • Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum

  • Teahouse lunch

  • Met up with IJT group

Day 8

Guided tour with Inside Japan.

  • Senso Ji Temple (again)

  • Hamariyuku Gardens

  • Shiodome

  • Meiji Shrine

Day 21

A one-night stop for a farewell dinner with my Inside Japan group.

  • Shinjuku Garden

  • Shinjuku Lights, Billboards & Godzilla Head

  • Farewell Dinner

Day 34

Returning to Tokyo before flying home again

  • Hamariyuku Park

  • Murakami Library at Waseda University

  • Otemachi Station

  • Best gyoza in Tokyo?

  • Nijubashi Bridge, Imperial Gardens

    The outer gardens are open to the public, but admission to the inner gardens and Imperial Palace requires a ticket, and an advance reservation would be highly recommended.

  • View from Sky Tree

    I found Sky Tree to be intensely overcrowded and claustrophobic. I later discovered other, much less crowded places offering wonderful views over Tokyo.

  • Aritsugu Knives, Tsukiji Fish Market

    I was on a mission for find a deba-style knife as a gift for my brother.

  • Tsukiji Hongan-Ji Temple

    Located across from the heavily touristed and very crowded Tsukiji Fish Market, this offers a calm, quiet place to take a break.

  • Ni-Tele Really Big Clock

    A steampunk style collaboration between designer Hiyao Miyazaki (of “Spirited Away” and Studio Ghibli fame) and sculptor Kunio Shachimaru

  • Team Lab Borderless

    An immersive and fluid digital art museum. Admissions are timed, so reserve in advance.