Tips for Tokyo
Essentials
eConnect Pocket WiFi / eSIM
Rent a pocket WiFi and/or eSIM from eConnect and enjoy domestic 5G connection wherever you go, no roaming charges needed. Book as early as possible for better discounts. It’s fairly easy to order and activate the eSIM at your arrival airport. The Pocket WiFi can be ordered to your hotel or picked up at the airport post office (both HND and NRT). A pre-paid return envelope is included, so just drop it in a post box before you board the plane back home!
Tokyo Metro subway
Tokyo Metro has discontinued their phone app for the subway map, so use their official website instead. Get the Suica Mobile app and charge it via Apple/Google Pay for easy passage and payment for subways, commuter trains, buses and vending machines.
JR East commuter lines
Main commuter network for the Tokyo area. Can be faster to use to get crosstown (or around the perimeter with the Yamanote line), but try to avoid rush hour times on weekdays, as the trains can be VERY crowded.
Sights and activities
Golden Gai, Shinjuku
The very tourist-heavy but still legendary bar street area. Looks incredible after dark. Well worth a visit even if you’re not out drinking.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku
Tokyo City Hall. Second tallest building in Tokyo. Free observation levels in both towers, although both are not always open at the same time. Incredible view of the Tokyo area. On a really clear day (usually morning time), you can see all the way to Mount Fuji. Nice to combine with a walk to Yoyogi Park.
Yoyogi Park + Meiji Jingu, Harajuku/Shibuya
My favorite Tokyo park. Nice to walk here from West Shinjuku, or you can take the main path into the big temple Meiji Jingu if you go to Harajuku station.
Tokyo National Museum, Ueno
If you’re only going to one museum in Tokyo, this one is well worth it. Japanese history in the massive main building, some various other asian collections in the annexes. The surrounding Ueno Park is also very lovely.
Skytree, Asakusa/Sumida
Tokyo’s tallest structure. Crazy views from the observatory. Possibly worth the wait and the 2700 yen ticket. A nice walk from the Asakusa area.
Tokyo Cruise, Asakusa
Right next to the very obvious tourist destination, Sensouji temple in Asakusa, you can take a very chill boat ride from the foot of Azumabashi bridge (right across from the Asahi Brewing headquarters) underneath 14 bridges all the way to Tokyo Bay. Really recommended for a relaxing and different way to see the city. You can either go via the imperial Hamarikyu Gardens to Hinode Pier, or go the whole route to Hinode Pier.
National Museum of Modern Art, Chiyoda
Beautiful gallery building from 1969 sitting right next to the moat around the imperial palace gardens. Houses a fixed exhibition of Japanese art created since the start of the Meiji period, and usually interesting temporary exhibitions.
National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Odaiba
If you do end up taking the cruise to Odaiba, this is a cool museum to go to. Kind of like Gothenburg’s Universeum but on steroids, showcasing all kinds of Japanese technological innovations in robotics, transportation and aerospace.
21_21 Design Sight, Roppongi/Akasaka
Small but very pretty museum featuring modern Japanese design. Very high level exhibits and an architectural favorite. Right next door to the Tokyo Midtown towers. If you go here, also check out the crazy upscale supermarket in the basement floor of Midtown.
Eats and drinks
This is a tougher one since the Tokyo food scene moves incredibly fast. The general level of food is incredible, and you can go into almost any random ramen/tonkatsu/sushi place and have the best lunch ever. So I’m going to list some random favorites. For most smaller places, you can just drop in spontaneously, especially on weeknights. For more serious restaurants, and on weekends, it is a good idea to go in and reserve a day or two in advance.
Hitachino Brewing Lab, Akihabara/Kanda
The best place to stop for a beer if you’re in the Akihabara area. Hitachino is a legendary ale brewery from Ibaraki prefecture, and this is their flagship spot in Tokyo.
Craft Beer Scissors, Akihabara
Nice beer shop and bar close to the Okachimachi area. Very good variation in the fridges!
Shelves Coffee, Okachimachi
Fave coffee place in the Okachimachi vicinity. Specially focused on coffees from the US Pacific Northwest.
Fuglen, Asakusa
Might seem silly to go to a Tokyo chapter of an Oslo-founded coffee/cocktail bar, but it is very good. Nice coffee and waffles, and cocktails on Friday and Saturday nights.
McLean Old Fashioned Diner, Kuramae
Best comfort food spot in the Asakusa vicinity. Amazing burgers and sandwiches. There’s also a second, burger-only location a short walk away.
DevilCraft, Kanda + Hamamatsuchou
Craft beer hangout that’s been around for a long time, still very popular. Their Chicago style deep dish pizzas are legendary! They also have a location in Hamamatsuchou. The Kanda one is a bit more of a natural destination since the area is filled with other bars and restaurants (and used bookstores), but the Hamamatsuchou one can be less busy, being a bit out of the way.
Ramen Takahashi, Ueno
If I can give you only one ramen recommendation in the Ueno/Okachimachi area, this place is pretty unique with its selection of broths based on flying fish (Yakiago). Can maybe be a bit too powerful for some, but super tasty if you’re into fishy stuff.
Kayaba Coffee, Yanaka/Ueno
If you end up going to the National Museum in Ueno Park as mentioned above, it might be worth it taking a stroll north of the park to the Yanaka area, one of the oldest preserved neighbourhoods in Tokyo, having escaped the WWII firebombing mostly unscathed. This super nice coffee place is housed in a converted old residential building, and offers great coffee and lunch.
Watering Hole, Yoyogi
Founded in 1998 by Ichiri Fujiura, the first non-American to win the Homebrewer of the Year award (back when homebrewing was still illegal in Japan). Small, cosy, a part of Tokyo beer history. Microbrews are the selection here, some hand-pumped.
Brussels Beer Project, Shinjuku
Belgian ale joint, meticulously constructed to mirror a true Brussels beer bar (including the food). Lots of Belgian beers here but also collabos with Japanese breweries!
Popeye, Ryougoku
Started out as a western-style izakaya but has now morphed into a crazy craft beer destination. 60-70 beers on tap, usually.
Shimokitazawa area
An incredibly dense and rich area for bars, small restaurants and cafés. Popular student area, so quite young and fairly inexpensive for the most part. Take the Keio Inokashira line from Shibuya to the station and just walk around and get a bit lost.
Naka-Meguro area
Great area in general for bars and restaurants. Take the Hibiya line to the station, just walk around, look at the Meguro river, get a bit lost and try something that looks nice. I will give two specific tips below, though.
Sidewalk Stand, Naka-Meguro
Great sandwich place with various drink options and coffee right on the Meguro river.
Baird Beer Taproom, Naka-Meguro
Brew pub started by the Japanese/American brewery Baird. Very nice beers.