Your favorite little things about Tokyo
 

It seems many of you are so well-versed with Tokyo, I wanted to see what were your most favorite tiny "pearls" that you must see/get whenever in Tokyo, i.e. little things that added to the wonderful memories of the trip, like a little pastry in a tiny shop off the beaten path, a cup of coffee in a scenic area, or a store that sells amazing Pokemon toys, etc. Anything that you had a special experience with in Tokyo. I will be going for the first time in three weeks and would love to try your experiences.

Regards,

Curt

Great question Curt. I'm anxiously awaiting the wonderful replies I'm sure you'll get.

Judy

I'm no expert but I really enjoyed walking the back streets from Asakusa to Ueno.

The blacklight drawings on the ceiling of the Akasaka-Mitsue subway tunnel (from Hotel New Otani towards the trains) were great. Only visible very very early in the morning. A very nice way to ease into harsh neon reality =)

Sushi at Sushizanmai in Tsukiji. Especially the unagi. Went there on the excellent advice of my friend kuranosuke.

I've only been once for four days, but here are my favourite experiences:
-Yakitori and beer at the stalls under the train tracks (can't remember the station name)
-A Suntory Times at the top of the Park Hyatt listening to Jazz
-Sushi at Tsukiji fish market at 6:00 AM
-Ramen noodles (of course)
-Girls in their crazy costumes at the Meikji shrine (Sunday mornings only)
-Delicious croissants (IMO better than Paris even); we had some at a chain called Choco-cro

Thank you distinguished Fodorites very much. Please continue on--I am writing this stuff down! Its valuable material to me since its really these small things that make it for me.

Curt

mrwunrfl, you mean uni (urchin) or unagi (eel)? I, my wife and some other friends I know were afraid of uni (urchin) before going to Tokyo. We all tried it our first time at Tsukiji and since then we all loved it!

There's many things that I love about the Tokyo, the food, the juxtaposition of the new and old. I would really like to bring my kids to experience Japan.

unagi, definitely. it was about three times longer than the rice lump that it sat on. i don't care for uni but will try it next time i am in tsukiji

Frappes! My first experience to this treat was in an Osaka shopping center. It contained a large bowl of finely shaved ice with grape syrup poured over. But at the bottom, the grape syrup had turned into gelatin. There was a surprise ball of frozen orange shebert in the middle of the mountain of ice. And then there was a variety of freshly sliced fruits around the mountain of snow. I'll never forget that--it was in the middle of a hot and humid summer. Ahhh...

The shaved ice treats are called kakikori/kakigori. They come in simple form, just ice and flavored syrup...or more complex, with ice cream, mochi, corn flakes, bean paste, sweetened condensed milk...Very nice on a hot day. Most widely available in the summmer...street stalls, coffee shops, restaurants, noodle shops...you'll find them just about anywhere.

Wow! Those sound GREAT! My BF is somewhat a foodie (has been known to plan trips based on hearing about good food)and I'm not one to argue. :-)

Can't wait to look for these!

Maisen, a restaurant in a converted bath house in Aoyama Dori for the most amazing deep freid pork chops, tonkatsu. Tokyuu Hands, the most well stocked department store in the world where you will find things you did not know you needed and further you did not know existed. The chopsticks emporium in Ginza, a narrow shops tuffed to the gills with chopsticks of every variety. Sake. Bidet attached to the toilet in Japanese loos - love the clean feel!

We really enjoyed the Drum Museum at Asakusa, and my boys developed an obsession with Melon Soda.... if it was on the menu, they had to have it.

loved the Karaeoke at Shidax in Shibuya and the Temura at Tenya in Harajuku

It has been a loooong time sine I was in Tokyo but one of my favorite memories is that one minute you can be in the middle of the most up to date high tech high fashion high everythng shopping districts and then you can wander down a small street and come to a 1000 year old temple or even just a tiny traditional Okonomiyaki restaurant. Wow I loved that Okonomiyaki and it was then really student food don't know about now because as I said it was a loooooong time ago!
Happy travels
J

The gigantic peonies at HamaRikyu Gardens (they should still be in bloom when you get there.) The shops on Kappabashi Dori that sell the plastic food you see in restaurant windows. The fabulous crepes, stuffed with every kind of sweet and savory filling you can imagine, from the street stalls in Harajuku. Buying a lovely soft blue and white cotton yukata robe from Oriental Bazaar on Omotesando. Strolling the Ginza at night, just soaking up the lights and music from the street performers. The Beatles impersonator shows at the Cavern Club in Roppongi (I swear, they look and sound just like them!!).

Tsukiji fish market has to be tops. (I don't eat sushi, but the market itself was awesome.)

Shibuya at night - even if you don't spend a lot of time there it's kind of a must see.

Leaving this Wed. for 3 weeks in Tokyo visiting my daughter and family. Can hardly wait to get there, seeing that there are so many things to see and do, will post upon return, also going to Singapore, Bangkok and Chiang Mai for an additional two weeks. Thanks for all your info.

capsule toys! you can get everything from miniature figures, chains, coin bags... of Doraemon, Ultraman (of course), Thomas train, Power Rangers (or something... :) ), Hello Kitty... I bought a whole suitcase full of them to bring back as souvenirs.

Thanks again everyone. I'm literally writing all this stuff down. I'm getting pretty hungry too.

Curt

I would add the following:

-window shopping and people watching in Daikanyama, Aoyama, Hiroo, and Azabu areas. These are the super-high end districts in Tokyo (equivalent to St Germain and Marais in Paris) with many ultra-chic shops, buildings, and cafes. If you want some inspiration in interior design and architecture, then you "must" go to these areas.

-If you are into music and musical instruments, then head for Ochanomizu

-daytrip to Kamakura/Hakone

-visit to one of the resturants owned by an "Iron Chef". I went to a resturant in Odaiba owned by Iron Chef Komei Nakamura. I think it's either next to or in the same building as the Ariake Washington Hotel. The meal was fantastic and it did not break my bank (it was lunch).

Thank you Barkin!!! Appreciate it!

This might sound rather mundane but one of the fun things I enjoyed was walking across the street on the diagonal in the Ginza. Traffic stops in all directions and hordes of people cross the street. It was really cool!!
I also liked the Tsukiji fish market even though I had to leave the hotel at 5am to get there early enough to see the auctioning.

the sushi and bentos in the train stations

don't miss the small restaurants and shops that line the streets that surround the Ginza area

mochi ice-cream

295 ramen noodle shops
wish I were there now

Aloha!

Thank you very much Hawaii & Lolo. Nothing is mundane! Whatever sparked a special streak in you is important;)

I hope I can catch you before you leave, Mango7! I've been to Tokyo recently and made up a Bluelist over on Lonely Planet about my favorite "Fun & Relatively Cheap" things to do in the city.

Here's the link: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bluelist...p;list_id=4970

Have a blast! Sheila
<a href="http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Seafarer">Family Travel: See The World With Your Kids</a>

Seeing the elaborate tradtional weddings and traditional bride's dress at Meiji shrine on a Sunday afternoon

Takeshita St. in Harajuku, if you like youth pop-culture like I do

Making okonomiyaki at the grill on our table at a little restaurant in Asakusa

Baseball game at Tokyo Dome. I am surprised no one has mentioned this one. I was fortunatae enough to see the Tigers and the Giants in a pre-season game. But there is also baseball at Jingu stadium (Swallows).

I think it is best to have your own expereinces. Pick a few things people recommend, but then do your own thing too and give yourself plenty of time to discover places you will find on your way to where you are going.

don't know if you can use this site but check it out if you have time

http://www.bento.com/tokyofood.html

Aloha!

Seafarer- Thank you for the link. Will take a look-"sea" :) Thanks Sheila!

EMD- You are correct about finding my own things, and I hope that I will be able to experience some special things. Thx again.

Hawaiian- I found that site recently. It really is a good one. Thank you very much for the link.

Regards,

Curt

I used the bento.com site for Kyoto restaurants recently and was very satisfied.

I will repeat the museum recommendation I gave to emd....in Yanaka, the Asakura Choso Museum. It is the home of the sculptor with beautiful rooms surrounding a large inner garden and many sculptures throughout.
Enjoy your visit!
PS Also if you are a museum person, look into the Grutt Pass - it will save you a lot if you go to a number of museums.

Currently in Tokyo, WOW! what a great city, have done so many great things. The Ginza is unbelievable, speciality stores everywhere(bring your bank book), food everywhere, try the food section of any department store it's a gourmet heaven.. Tried a small noodle shop, best ever, don't remember name. Also went to the Tsukiji Fish Mkt, that was something else, had shu shi breakfast, the best I ever had, Also went to the Sumo matches this the Japanese National Sport as wellas baseball, unfortunately they only have it four times a year. So many things to do, and yes I have tickets to Tokyo Giants game on June 4th. Again the city is never ending.

Forgot to mention, take a train ride to Yokohama and visit China Town and have a wonderful Chinese lunch.

peppersalt, how did you get tickets to that 6/4 Giants game? Through a broker inside of Japan? Or were you able to get tickets by going to the Dome ticket offices?

thought grand sumo was a big thing so didn't mention it. it is held 3 times a year in Tokyo: January, May, and September. Other tournaments are March in Osaka, July in Nagoya, November in Fukuoka.

emd, did I mention to you that I went to a Giants game at Tokyo Dome? It was against my team, the Carp, on April 11. I got there around the 2nd or 3rd inning and there were seats available in all price categories. I got the B seats, field level down the 3b line almost to the corner.

Hi emd

My son-laws secretary was able to get them for us. Don't know how they were procured, sounds like these are a hot item. I have no idea where we are sitting, but still its a ballgame. Looking foward to Japanese team routing. Understand its a blast.

Having a distinguished, older doctor tell me to "Take very good care of myself." What did that mean?? What was he trying to tell me??? What was wrong?? No, it is just a nice way to say "have a good day", "be well", "I care about you."

??

ok.. he said"Take very good care of yourself."

Just got back from my first trip to Japan. My favorite Tokyo things are:

green tea-flavored gelato
Tosho-gu Shrine in Ueno Park
Shinjuku station at rush hour
Swallows baseball game (jingu stadium)