Tokyo Trip Blog

Day 1  (17th Feb) – Local exploration in Magome and Togoshi: Relatively quiet residential area with a small out door market for the locals that play retro game-like music from the lamp post!

Day 2 (18th Feb) – Asakusa Area: Sensoji temple, Nakamise Dori Market and Tokyo Sky Tree.  First official tour spent on a spiritual tour! Walked past the busy Nakamise Dori Market to reach holy Senso-ji temple. Near the station has a good Buddhist store. Nakamise is famous for it’s melon bun. Senso-ji temple also has a fortune telling booth which I was able to get a lucky one! Went to Carib coffee shop which had nice old music. Visited a tower store above the Asakusa.

Day 3 (19th Feb) – Shibuya and near by places: Scamble crossing, Hachi statue, shopping (Shibuya Centre-gai, Hikarie, 109), cafes such as Sakuagoaka Cafe (you can see living goats in this cafe), Aoyama Flower Market Tea House (an indoor garden cafe which is one stop away called in Omote-sando). I have yet to visit Hands Cafe (nice interior design), the Roastery by Nozy coffee cafe (roasty theme cafe!). Afuri restaurant (one station away in Ebisu) which has vegan ramen option.

Day 4 (20th Feb) –  Ebara Machi: : Today is a good day to rest, recover, reflect and spend time in the local neighbourhood market in Ebara machi and cafe.

Day 5 (21st Feb) – Akihabara!: Anime/manga store: Animate, Mandarake, Gachapon Kaikan, Cospa Cosplay. Electronic stores (Laox). Gundam and Beck’s Cafe. Arcades: Sega, Taito’s Hey and Big Apple Akihabara (Pachinko).

Vegan/vegetarian restaurant: Kyushu Jangara Ramen – The vegan ramen was the best ramen I ever had!…

Day 6 (22nd Feb) – Shinjuku: Kabukicho, Golden Gai and shopping centre

Vegan/vegetarian restaurant: Ripple (Vegan Burger)

Day 7 (23rd Feb) – Togoshi Ginza: Explored the longest market in Japan, popular for street food. Visited Up Side cafe, Hachiman Shrine and the local park with pond!

Day 8 (24th Feb) – Ebara Machi: Another relaxing day in the local market in Ebara Machi.

Day 9 (25th Feb) – Harajuku and Meiji Shrine: Explored the famous Takeshita market that is well known for fashion for young women and sweet snacks such as rainbow candy floss. Bengal Cat cafe was indeed therapeutic! After these snacks, a walk to the Meiji Shrine near by help burn those snacks calories. There’s also a nice simple yet trendy cafe called Tokyo Apartment Cafe next to Harajuku Togasha.

Vegan/vegetarian restaurant: Kyushu Jangara Ramen – Worth coming here just for vegan ramen! 

Day 10 (26th Feb) – Odaiba and Hot spring: Located in the bay area, the commuting train view was fantastic. The Tokyo Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari is modern and appealing for young people with a lot of facilities including mini arcade, plenty of shops and restaurant in an indoor food court. This hot spring onsen is also tourist friendly. I’ve seen tourist from America, China and Korea here. There are both indoor and outdoor hot spring as well as other therapeutic therapy such as heat room with flower fragrant.

Day 11 (27th Feb) – Ginza: A walk around massive sophiscated shopping centres (which looks amazing at night), plenty of restaurants and cafes. Paulista Cafe was my favourite cafe. Takumi was my favourite store.

Vegan/vegetarian restaurant: T’s Tan Tan (vegan Raman store) and Ain Soph. Ginza (the fried vegan meat was lovely!)

Day 12 (28th Feb) – Sumida: Walk along from River, Kyu Yasuda Garden, Kokugikan (Sumo Arena), Eko-in Temple and Sumida Hokusai Museum. Unfortunately Edo-Tokyo museum was closed for refurbishment. Then 2 stop away from in Akihabara, I spent time in an indoor market called Chabara.

Day 13 (1st Mar) – : …

Day 14 (2nd Mar) – Mix: Owl Cafe (AKB), Silver Wolf Gym, Shibuya (109 – Men, Hands Cafe, Lion Cafe, P’s First)

Day 15 (3rd Mar) – :

Day 16 (4th Mar) – Minato-ku, Ueno and manga cafe: Zojo-ji Temple, Ueno Park, Ueno Pond (Shinobazunoike), Ameyoko Market and Manboo Manga Cafe (3-32-10 Shinjuku)

Day 17 (5th Mar) – Roppingi: Roppongi Hill, Mori Art and Ms Bunny cafe (you get to hold and feed rabbits!)

Day 18 (6th Mar) – Ninja Asakusa: Ninja Asakusa restaurant (the best theme restaurant I’ve ever went to!)

Day 19 (7th Mar) – Last day: Packing up day 🙁