Visiting Tokyo (Alpha)

Basics

Ramens worth eating

Chains

By Area
Shibuya
Ebisu
Omotesando / Harajuku
Marunouchi
Asakusa / Oshiage
Shinjuku
Ginza

Misc.

Basics
Money:
cash cash cash cash. You will need cash. If you run out when you are out and about, ATMs at
7-Elevens will dispense Yen with your American credit card
http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html

Public Restrooms:
Convenience stores tend to be your best bet, although some stores wont let you use their
restrooms. It would be polite to make some purchase (a bottle of soda or something would do)
and ask for the restrooms at checkout. The major convenience store brands are FamilyMart,
Lawson, and 7-Eleven although other minor players exist.

Transportation:
Public transportation:
Get the rechargeable transit card (PASMO/Suica card). The card costs 500JPY, but it
will save you so much time. I would budget ~1000JPY/day on transportation.

Uber / cabs:
Theres only Uber Black in Tokyo, so cabs tend to be cheaper.

Internet Access:
Rent a Wifi-router or purchase a data-only SIM card
(http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Japan)
Ramens worth eating
Komen
Ramen
https://www.kohmen.com/en/shop.html
Probably my favorite tonkotsu-style ramen. Ive taken many American friends there and some
have told me that its the best Ramen they have ever had. Branches at Ikebukuro, Harajuku,
Ebisu, Shinjuku, and Takadanobaba (Ive only been to the one in Ebisu)

Afuri
Tsukemen / ramen
http://afuri.com/
Very good tsukemen (ramen with noodle and soup served separately). There may be a line if
you go around lunchtime on weekdays, but it shouldnt be too bad.

Ichiran
http://ichiran.com/en/

Ippudo

Chains
Ootoya
Lunch / Dinner
Reasonably priced great healthy Japanese food with tons of selection. They have stores literally
everywhere in Tokyo. https://www.ootoya.com/menu/teisyoku/ should give you sense of the
food and price range.

Nanas green tea

Caf / Dessert
Wide selection of green tea sweets.

Isomaru Suisan
Izakaya
Affordable Izakaya chain with focus on great seafood. They have a small grill for each seat, and
they let you bbq the seafood.

Nabe-zo ()
Great Japanese-style hot pot at an affordable price (shabu-shabu and sukiyaki).
Karaoke chains
Karaoke kan () / Karaoke Utahiroba () are the biggest chains in
Tokyo.

Arcades
These are very popular in Japan and game companies release new arcade machines every
year. Some of my friends have enjoyed playing a Gundam game where you enter a pod and get
a panoramic view from the cockpit.

By Area

Shibuya

Uobei Sushi ()
Sushi
Automated sushi restaurant. Similar to conveyor belt sushi place, but instead you have rail
tracks that goes to all the seats in the store. You order on a tablet and the sushi is delivered to
you on a mini-train.

109
Tourist attraction / Department Store
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1066456-d1896778-Reviews-Shibuya_109-Shi
buya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
Iconic department store at the heart of Shibuya. Hub for fashion for young people in Tokyo.

Hachigatsu no kujira ()
Bar
https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1303/A130301/13001917/
All the drinks are named after movies. Even if a movie is not on the menu, they can make a
drink for it as long as the bartender has seen it.

Ebisu
M House
Brunch
https://www.yelp.com/biz/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%A0-%E3%83%8F%E3%82%A6%E3%82%B
9-%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA
Amazing brunch food like French toast and croque monsieur.

torch cafe
caf / drinks / Italian food
https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13018842/
Cozy lounge with comfy couches. They call themselves a caf but they have drinks and food
too.

Omotesando / Harajuku
Takeshita-dori
Street
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeshita_Street
Central street in Harajuku with shopping, cafes, and restaurants. Grab a crepe to go and check
out the shops!

Sakura-tei
http://www.sakuratei.co.jp/en/
Okonomiyaki (Japanese style savory pancakes)
Each seat has a hot plate and they let you cook the pancake yourself. The cooking is not that
complicated, and they give you illustrated instructions if youre a beginner.

Marunouchi
Tokyo station
Large shopping mall in the basement. Great for purchasing souvenirs. Make sure you check out
Tokyo Character Street http://www.gotokyo.org/en/kanko/chiyoda/education/106.html

Marunouchi House
http://www.marunouchi-house.com/about-house/
A collection of fancy restaurants and bars right next to Tokyo station. Occupies the entire 7th
floor of the Shin-Maru building. Hangout place for young professionals on Fridays.

Suju dining
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066443-d3764980-Reviews-Suju_Masayuki
_Raku-Chiyoda_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
High class Japanese food.

Asakusa / Oshiage
Soramachi
Shopping mall right next to the Tokyo skytree. Great souvenir shops.

Tokyo Skytree
Would NOT recommend going up the tower since it costs like 6000 yen. I hear its better to grab
Afternoon tea at Shunjuku Park Hyatt, but I havent been to either.

Sensoji / Nakamise dori

Tourist Destination
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html
Youd probably end up visiting here even if I didnt recommend, but its definitely worth your
time.

Shinjuku
Afternoon Tea at Shinjuku Park Hyatt
About the same price as going up the SkyTree, and you get great tea and sweets.

Ginza
Itoya ginza
All the stationery that you could ever imagine and more.
They sell stationery goods on 1-10th floors, grow vegetables on the 11th floor, and have a
restaurant on the 12th floor that uses vegetables made on the 11th floor.

Misc.
Ooedo-onsen monogatari
http://daiba.ooedoonsen.jp/en/
Onsen theme park.

Tokyo Disney Land / Sea

Cherry blossom
Meguro river
Ueno Park
There should be tons of stands at both locations if you go at the right weekend.

Tsukiji fish market