TOKYO GUIDE
“Tokyo would probably be the foreign city if I had to eat one city's food for the rest of my life, every day. It would have to be Tokyo, and I think the majority of chefs you ask that question would answer the same way." -Bourdain
WHERE TO STAY:
In such a big city like Tokyo, finding the right neighborhood may seem like a daunting task. On our first Tokyo trip, we stayed in Shinjuku but always found ourselves back in Shibuya so this time around, we knew we wanted to stay there. While Shibuya has its super crowded and hectic areas, behind all the chaos is a very charming and quiet neighborhood, Omotesando Hills. We opted for an Airbnb this time since they all come with a mobile hotspot (portable wifi) that you can bring with you - which is extremely helpful in navigating this bustling city. There are a lot of boutique hotel options in the area like Trunk Hotel that are worth checking out as well!
WHAT TO DO AND SEE:
Exploring: The best part about Tokyo is to let yourself roam aimlessly and find all the hidden treasures. We start our days by exploring different neighborhoods and have a couple points of interests. I would highly suggest checking out Shinjuku Gyoen and Yoyogi Park, especially during Fall season. For those bright city lights, nothing is more visually stimulating than Ginza at night. And unless you live under a rock like we did, you may know that Yayoi Kusama just opened up her very own museum in Tokyo so plan ahead and get tickets (currently sold out until February 2018).
Shopping: When it comes to international shopping destinations, few places come close to Tokyo. Home to some of the world’s biggest fashion and streetwear labels. Walk the streets of Tokyo and you'll experience so many subcultures, its like a visual encyclopedia of fashion and styles from past to present. Since most designers outside of Japanese ones are more expensive in Japan, I really made it a point to only get things from Japanese brands like Comme des Garçons, United Arrows and Clane. Our favorite department stores that have a well curated experience are; H Beauty & Youth, Dover Street Market, and Ginza Six. Another thing I surprisingly enjoyed on this trip was checking out vintage stores but you need to be in the mood. You can just spend all day in Harajuku which has popular places like Pin Nap, but my favorite stores were Amore (Chanel heaven), Vintage Qoo, and Laila Tokio.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:
When we travel, its hard to fully experience one's culture in such a short period of time and the only way to get a glimpse into someone's life is through food. What makes Japan so special when it comes to food is that, with everything they do, there is so much precision and thoughtfulness. I never had one bad meal in this country. While we dined at a couple Michelin restaurants on our previous trip, we wanted to explore the everyday Japanese restaurant this time around. Here are a list of notable favorites from our recent trip.
Tatsunoya: We discovered this ramen spot on our first trip to Tokyo and I knew I had to go back. In my opinion, they have the best tsukemen (dipping ramen) in Tokyo. Once you're done with the noodles, they will turn the remaining broth into a porridge to finish off your meal. If you go, I promise you'll end up there more than once on your trip.
Abura Soba: I literally died and went to dry soba heaven. The dry noodles here are so good that we went twice in a span of three hours. Two options - regular or spicy, three sizes - medium, large and extra large. If you can handle spice, I would highly recommend the spicy version with extra green onions and egg.
Nodaiwa Azabu: Unagi (freshwater eel) is one of the lesser known delicacies of Japanese cuisine and nowhere is it done better than Nodaiwa. The eels are filleted to order each time, broiled over charcoal, and basted with a perfect sweet-savory sauce. You can't eat unagi the same again.
Path: Cute, unassuming cafe in a quiet part of Shibuya. Everything we had on the menu was delicious but the most notable dish would be the Dutch pancake. Say what? The burrata is baked in the center of the pancake topped with thinly shaved prosciutto in a hot cast iron skillet.
Katsudonya Zuichou: They only make one thing here and that is katsudon, in two sizes. It was the best katsudon I've ever had.
Koffee Mameya: Formerly the famous Omotesando Koffee reborn with a new take on making coffee, its set in the exact same location as the old Omotesando Koffee, albeit in a new building. You'll place your order at the counter, informing the barista how you usually like to drink your coffee, and then based on your preference of taste, having the barista help you pick out a bean. The two-option menu is as simple as it gets: coffee or espresso, no cream, no sugar, take it or leave it. It's the perfect tasting and temperature cup of coffee you'll ever have and I don't even like my coffee black.
Gen Yamamoto: It's really like a michelin dining experience but for cocktails. It's all seasonal ingredients, top shelf or hard to source alcohol combined to make the most interesting cocktails that won't leave you feeling drunk but content. Email for reservations ahead of time.
Other favorite spots of ours that is definitely worth adding to your Tokyo drinking and eating adventures: Bar High Five, Bar BenFiddich, Mixology Salon (tea based cocktails), Gyukatsu Motomura, Tonkatsu Maisen, Fuunji Ramen.
If you have never been to Tokyo, I would give yourself at least a week there. It's one of my favorite cities in the world and I hope this guide provides you some insight into this wonderful city.