One week in the wonderful Far East was enough to introduce us to authentic sushi, unique yakitori, best-selling Japanese whiskies, traditional sake and delicious new-age beers.
Lost in translation- or not? Tokyo is a doable trip of a lifetime, but it needs a survival guide so you don’t miss out on the best of it – not just the sights, but also the great food and unique, fine spirits.
How do you get to Tokyo?
The first flight, to Rome, took three and a half hours and from there (Europe), with transfers, another twelve to thirteen were required to reach our destination. Don’t be intimidated by the long hours – the first few will be easily spent watching one or more of the movies on your personal screen. A little tip: when the food comes, choose Asian, not European. The cost of tickets is also affordable – especially if you make sure to buy them a few months in advance. Finally, Tokyo airport is functional, you won’t get lost and you can easily find the exit and modes of transportation (train, bus and taxi).
Where to go?
- From Shibuya Crossing and real shopping to Ueno Park
To get right into the atmosphere, make a visit to the famous Shibuya Crossing high on your list. Although it seemed smaller than we expected, it is still more than impressive. As the bustling streets intersect, it is as if civilizations, people and cultures intertwine. Stand in the middle – it’s the best place to wander the huge buildings and commercials with dozens of displays, slogans, music and videos.
Tip: go for a walk in the evening too, when the lights are even brighter. This is Tokyo, an Asian futuristic New York with imposing skyscrapers, colorful signs and live screens that never stop playing.
Of course, there is also the other side, the quieter and more mystical one, with its shocking temples, prayer rituals and geishas. You will step into it all by arriving at the beautiful Jingu Temple, at the end of a path through the greenery. A necessary condition for approaching and praying is to wash your hands thoroughly. Then you will stand in front, bow three times and clap your hands. If you want, write your wishes on a piece of paper, which will be hung on a huge tree. From there, a nice idea is to walk to a favorite area, Harajuku. With dozens of vintage and manga shops, it’s perfect for hipsters. If, again, you want something more refined, then the narrow streets of Harajuku will lead you to the great avenue Omotesandō, where all the top fashion brands parade.
You should definitely visit one of the city’s fantastic parks as part of the program. We went to No. 1, Ueno. You will climb some steps to admire the red temples, but it is worth it. Then head to the vast, serene lake, which you can take a ride on by renting a watercraft. A tip before you leave the area is to stop at the Ameyoko market, which is right next door and is full of shops selling local delicacies.
Asakusa is also a top destination, where an insurmountable temple, Senso-ji, stands. There you will meet a lot of people, but also smiling geishas willing to take a souvenir photo, while the road to the temple is full of shops with souvenirs and food. In Tokyo, however, there is more than just the day. You won’t believe it, but the night is very much alive and never sleeps. Bars, clubs, restaurants and a lot of karaoke are located on the floors of skyscrapers and stay open until late. Great area for a night out is Ginza – it’s got it all.
Where to eat?
Unbeatable sushi, crispy tempura, mouth-watering yakiniku and incredible eel. What do you do when you are in Tokyo? You eat and when you’re done, you eat again! I didn’t believe it, but the food is shocking and just as value-for-money. The streets are full of shops and everywhere you will find queues outside a ramen shop or a tempura shop. It’s like being in the Disneyland of food and you want to constantly get on the roller coaster of new flavors. What did we like the most? That their restaurants have a theme, both traditional and local, is not at all lost in the taste translation.
That is why you will find the restaurants for the best sushi, for the awesome tempura, for the uneaten yakitori, for the delicious yakiniku, for the perfect dumplings, for the fragrant ramen. They don’t confuse them, each has its own culinary master.
- For sushi
For authentic, no frills, you have to go to Toyosu Fish Market – you know, it stays open late and is perfect for after-nighters. Equally good and pure is Sushizanmai at Tsukiji Ekimae Fish Market. More refined and sophisticated you will try at Sushi Marui in Ginza and Kinka Sushi bar Izakaya.
- For tempura
Very good, perfectly fried and with many options served at Masaru in Asakusa and Tensuzu in Ueno.
- For ramen
A must try at Takyoeki.
- For Yakiniku
Great is Heijoen, with great meats, which you grill yourself in an amazing privé space. Yakiniku Toraji in Shimbashi is also very good.
- For shells
At atmospheric Ostrea in Ginza.
- For eels
At the traditional Unatoto Unagi or the equally good Takashimaya.
- For Dumplings
Harajuku Gyozaro is top of the line.
- For Tonkatsu
Be sure to visit Butagumi – their fried cutlets are amazing.
- For fried skewers
You must try them too, and the place to go is Kushikatsu Tanaka.
On the way of the spirits
Japan may have a long history in its national drink, sake, but it masterfully manages too many spirits and is constantly conquering markets, as is already the case with expensive whisky, while beers and very special liqueurs are also coming. To get a complete experience of Tokyo, in addition to tasting the drinks made there, it is interesting to take the time to visit the production sites, distilleries and wineries.
We went to the trendy Hitachino Nest Beer Brewery, which creates a wide range of delicious and enticing owl-branded beers. White Ale, Espresso Stout and Amber Ale definitely stand out. The brewery belongs to the Kiuchi Brewery, which has been producing sake since 1823. But it’s an open secret that Japanese whiskey is also at the top, and it’s no coincidence that many notable distilleries are now opening. So note Shizuoka, set in a dreamy landscape with water and Mount Fuji as the backdrop. The hosts are hospitable, the tour is from the beginning of the production process and the tasting at the end is very interesting. We will certainly be hearing a lot about the whiskey made here in the future.
Equally good is the Yasato Distillery, with stunning spaces and well-polished stills. Don’t leave if you don’t do the single cask tasting – we went sherry crazy. In addition to whiskeys and beers, look out for Yuki Yamazaki’s liqueurs and bitters, which are sensational. Yuki Yamazaki, after a successful bartending career, brewed the first Japanese bitters with shiso, yuzu and umami. If you want to drink cocktails, there are many bars with coordinated bars and magical spirits lists, such as the Park Hotel, where Suzuki Takayuki works wonders with ice ball carving. What should you try? Definitely a lot of Whiskey Highball.
Where to go out for a drink?
Visit it
- the Grande Polaire Winebar in Ginza,
- the Bar Amalta and
- Bar Little Smith The SG Club in Shibuya.
Where to go shopping?
You don’t have to go back and forth – you can visit the huge Don Quijote department stores, which have it all. But be careful because there is a risk of leaving with dozens of bags. I don’t know how many hours we spent inside eight floors full of products – from food to gadgets, electronics, clothes, trinkets, cosmetics, bags, toys and anything else you can think of.
For more specialized purchases like knives or katanas, two are the best places, Seisuke in Tsukiji and Musashi in Asakusa, while for glasses and general bar accessories Sokichi, also in Asakusa.
Where to stay?
The well-known Park Hotel has a breathtaking view, but the Shiba Park Hotel is also very nice, which is also strategically located so that you can move around easily.
What else should you know?
The city is spotlessly clean – and imagine that there are no bins anywhere on the streets!–, the Japanese are very polite and organized, and although they generally don’t speak English, they communicate easily through technology. Personally, I also loved that the taxis have heated seats.
