Tokyo - Hidden Gems & Unusual / Unique Spots
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Tokyo - Hidden Gems & Unusual / Unique Spots
We will be in Tokyo in mid-March for 4 nights.. I have already made a similar post for our time in Kyoto and have some amazing recommendations, so thought it worthwhile creating a separate thread for Tokyo. This will be my third trip to Japan so I have seen all the big sights and really enjoy it when we come across some sort of less busy, less touristy spot. Whilst we will revisit some favourite places, this time around I would like to see some of the out of the way, unusual or less touristy places that Tokyo itself has to offer.
A few places on the list for this time include Aoyama Farmers Market and the neighbourhood of Shimokitazawa.
Any other recommendations, blog links, ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Really looking forward to your insights and thoughts, which have been so helpful already - thanks in advance..
A few places on the list for this time include Aoyama Farmers Market and the neighbourhood of Shimokitazawa.
Any other recommendations, blog links, ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Really looking forward to your insights and thoughts, which have been so helpful already - thanks in advance..
#2
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Kit Nagamura's Backstreet Stories in the Japan Times is a good resource for of the beaten track Tokyo.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/co...treet-stories/
NHK's Tokyo Eye 2020 is available on Youtube and has a diverse selection of themes and activities in Tokyo.
You may be able to find in used book sources, but makes a trip to an interesting experience if interested in history.
Trails of Two Cities: A Walker's Guide to Yokohama and Kamakura by John Carroll
Discover Shitamachi: A Walking Guide to the Other Tokyo
Enbutsu Sumiko
Her other titles are worth looking at too.
Again available through used booksellers.Have a great time!
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/co...treet-stories/
NHK's Tokyo Eye 2020 is available on Youtube and has a diverse selection of themes and activities in Tokyo.
You may be able to find in used book sources, but makes a trip to an interesting experience if interested in history.
Trails of Two Cities: A Walker's Guide to Yokohama and Kamakura by John Carroll
Discover Shitamachi: A Walking Guide to the Other Tokyo
Enbutsu Sumiko
Her other titles are worth looking at too.
Again available through used booksellers.Have a great time!
Last edited by kalihiwai2; Jan 3rd, 2019 at 09:46 AM.
#3
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Well, a bit more info on your interests and what you saw before might help (as well as what you don't want). There is no shortage of great places though.
You mentioned mid-March, and most likely you have already seen the famed Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street. But have you seen the Denboin Garden there? Nearly nobody knows about it so it is not crowded. It's the temple abbot's private garden, so normally it is off limits, but for 2 months out of the year (late winter to early May, mostly) it is open to the public and very beautiful.
Denboin
One of the newer places is in Odaiba - the TeamLab Borderless
Musuem. It is better to get tickets online and go on a weekday afternoon, but it is simply mind-blowing and unforgettable.
Also, despite Tokyo's reputation as just a big city concrete jungle, there are actually a dozen wonderful traditional gardens to go see. Some manage to go and see Shinjuku Gyoen or Hamarikyu, but actually very few go out to see many of Tokyo's other jewels, including Koishikawa Korakuen, Kiyosumi, Kyu-Shiba Rikyu, Rikugien, Tonogayato, Happo-en, Meiji Gyoen, and others.
Tokyo city views:
There is of course theSkytree, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Tower, and the Tokyo Metro Bldg, but there are many more that are excellent and free - and none of them swamped by all the tourists.
Go and enjoy.
You mentioned mid-March, and most likely you have already seen the famed Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street. But have you seen the Denboin Garden there? Nearly nobody knows about it so it is not crowded. It's the temple abbot's private garden, so normally it is off limits, but for 2 months out of the year (late winter to early May, mostly) it is open to the public and very beautiful.
Denboin
One of the newer places is in Odaiba - the TeamLab Borderless
Musuem. It is better to get tickets online and go on a weekday afternoon, but it is simply mind-blowing and unforgettable.
Also, despite Tokyo's reputation as just a big city concrete jungle, there are actually a dozen wonderful traditional gardens to go see. Some manage to go and see Shinjuku Gyoen or Hamarikyu, but actually very few go out to see many of Tokyo's other jewels, including Koishikawa Korakuen, Kiyosumi, Kyu-Shiba Rikyu, Rikugien, Tonogayato, Happo-en, Meiji Gyoen, and others.
Tokyo city views:
There is of course theSkytree, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Tower, and the Tokyo Metro Bldg, but there are many more that are excellent and free - and none of them swamped by all the tourists.
Go and enjoy.
Last edited by Adastra2200; Jan 11th, 2019 at 08:29 PM.
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Have you see this website? They also have a list of over 200 for all of Japan.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/tokyo-japan
https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/tokyo-japan