I lived in Tokyo for 8 years and here are my top tips for first time visitors to Japan – from the iconic places to visit, the restaurants and bars to try and some of my favourite things to do:

MUST SEE:

Shibuya Crossing:

Embrace the chaos of the Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest pedestrian scramble—a true Tokyo spectacle. For me, this is one of the most iconic locations in Tokyo. I love the energy of this place, whether it’s night or day, it’s always buzzing. Take the Hachiko exit (number 8) at Shibuya Station. The statue of the famous dog Hachiko, who waited faithfully every day outside the station for his owner to return from work is a true and heart-warming story – making this is one of the most popular meeting spots.

Shibuya Sky:

Soar to new heights at Shibuya Sky, where panoramic views paint Tokyo’s skyline in a breath-taking panorama. This is an Insta worthy location! My top tip is to head up to the sky deck just before sunset for those stunning evening hues. In my opinion, this is the best option for your Tokyo views – better than the SkyTree or Tokyo Tower, because there is an outside observation deck at Shibuya Sky. Of course, be sure to check the weather first! Shibuya Sky tickets are also less expensive than SkyTree or Tokyo Tower. Tickets can be booked online, where prices are up to 300 yen cheaper than at the on-site ticket counter.

The outdoor observation deck at Shibuya Sky

Takeshita Dori (Harajuku):

Immerse yourself in the eclectic energy of Harajuku at Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street), a vibrant street showcasing Tokyo’s cutting-edge fashion and youth culture. Located right outside Harajuku station, it’s possibly the busiest and most colourful shopping street in Tokyo. It’s featured in every guidebook as all things weird and ‘trendy’ in Tokyo and of course, this is what inspired Gwen Stefani’s ‘Harajuku Girls’. The shopping here is an eclectic mix of vintage finds, branded goods, dollar stores as well as fast food – grab yourself a famous pastel coloured cotton candy lollipop as big as your head.

MY FAVE THINGS TO DO:

Karaoke:

Go to karaoke with your mates – karaoke is a private affair in Japan. You rent a room with your friends or your family and belt out your favourite tunes. A few of my favourite karaoke places: Rainbow Karaoke in Shibuya – if you have a large group rent the party room, it comes complete with drum kit and electric guitar. Pasela in Roppongi – the VIP party room comes with a fully stocked bar including beer on tap.

Run around the Imperial Palace:

Not only is the Imperial Palace home to the most famous family in Japan, it lies in the heart of Tokyo city and the 5km track surrounding it, is a surprisingly popular route among local joggers and runners. If you are staying in the Marunouchi area, it’s a way to start your day and exercise with the locals. Alternatively, Runbase has lockers for you to store your bags. During cherry blossom season the route becomes extremely congested.

Ride the Shinkansen:

If you don’t have time to take a lengthy Shinkansen journey, you can hop on at either Ueno, Tokyo or Shinagawa stations and ride a few stops, just to say you’ve ridden Japan’s famous bullet train.

Go knife shopping in Kapabashi:

The main street in Kapabashi has dozens of kitchen and homewear shops. I love browsing and buying Japanese crockery and teapots. But the knives are next level, famed for high carbon steel offering the perfect balance of hardness, edge retention and corrosion resistance. The big three shops to look out for are Kamata, Tsubaya and Kamaasa, as they are used to dealing with foreigners. You can get your knife engraved and it will come in a special box, ideal for travelling. Don’t forget to bring your passport if you want to claim your knife tax free.

EATING AND DRINKING:

Golden Gai:

Explore the tiny bars and alleyways in Shinjuku. This is very touristy it’s a must do if you’re a first-time visitor. It’s so fun to see the individual bars of varying sizes, some only as big as your front room.

Ce La Vi:

Admire the views from the outside terrace at Ce La Vi. You’ll get cheaper and better quality food elsewhere, but the views are the main draw. Head up for a cocktail at sunset.

Andy’s Shin Hinomoto:

This is a seafood restaurant with a relaxed vibe under the railway tracks near Tokyo station. If I were on death row and I had a choice for my last meal, it would be scallops from Andy’s. Andy is an Englishman who’s lived in Japan for close to 30 years. He’s well respected in the local restaurant trade and he’s a regular face at the Tsukiji fish market auctions (they don’t accept just anyone at these auctions, you know!) ‘Andy’s’ as it’s affectionately referred to, is popular with foreigners, my husband came here with the All Blacks during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Tatemichiya:

aka the ‘punk rock izakaya’ in Daikanyama. Serving good quality pub food – piman (green peppers and cheese) and avocado steak are some of the must try dishes. But what sets it apart from other izakayas is the music – a specifically curated punk rock play list. My favourite pastime when I visit is to try and spot the famous punk rock signatures on the walls dotted among the posters and memorabilia.

Gonpachi:

aka the ‘Kill Bill restaurant’, you’ll understand as soon as you walk in that this restaurant was the inspiration for ‘The House of Blue Leaves’ in the Quentin Tarantino movie. Because of the Hollywood connection, it’s quite touristy, but there’s a really fun atmosphere here and a must try for first time visitors.   

L’as:

A restaurant that boasts a wonderful French Japanese fusion omakase menu. Omakase means ‘of the season’ and it’s a unique style employed by top Japanese restaurants, where the selection of dishes is left up to the Chef, who knows what’s in season and how it’s best cooked. Although it’s a set menu (at a very reasonable set price) that changes with the season, the foie gras sandwich is their speciality. Great for a special occasion.