Japan’s capital is unlike any other city on Earth today. Tokyo is the perfect storm, mixing ultra modern, nearly futuristicĀ buildings and shops with classic and historic architecture. There is so much variety in Tokyo whether you’re traveling with a family or just with a group of friends you’ll have trouble packing in everything into one visit.
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Gardens and Tea Houses
If you are looking to find more traditionally Japanese architecture in Tokyo, there are many options to satisfy your needs. Check out theĀ Koishikawa Koraku-en, a 17th-century garden that has structures that are original to the garden. There is also a traditional Japanese tea house on the grounds to enjoy.
Hamarikyu Onshi Teien is another lovely traditional garden in Tokyo that is one of the most visited walking gardens in the city. This garden is also home to a tea house that is more than 300 years old, which is also where the city’s annual Grand Tea Ceremony is held. However, the tea house also has a daily ceremony which is informal.
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Traditional Neighborhood
Yanaka is a really fortunate neighborhood in Tokyo because it is one of the few that survived the bombings during WWII as well as the earthquake in 1923. It is one of the more affluent neighborhoods of the city and has aĀ more traditional Japenese atmosphere that is not necessarily found in other parts of the city. This neighborhood also has historically and still to this day produced different crafts and textiles, and you will find many local artisans in the area.
Ueno is a neighborhood that you’ll definitely want to go to when in Tokyo. This area has some of the best sites in Tokyo, including Buddhist temples like Bentendo temple and Ueno Park, which in it of itself holds many jewels of Tokyo. One of these jewels is the Tokyo National Museum which is the oldest museum in Tokyo, established in 1872. It is also the biggest art museum in Japan and one of the biggest in the world. This museum focuses on Japanese art and has over 110,000 pieces in all the collections.
Otaku District
Otaku roughly means fandom, which can be for anime, manga, or whatever peaks your interest. There are many different districts in Tokyo catered to people’s obsessions, but one of the best is Akihabara. This area is the best place for lovers of anime, as this is the center of that culture. There are gaming shops, cafes, and arcades dedicated all to anime and more.
Pet Cafes
This idea is unique to Asia and absolutely adorable. You can find all sorts of cafes full of animals in Tokyo, including rabbits on the rooftop at Hutch Asakusa, or Cat Cafe MoCHA for an elegant experience with cats.
Food
There are more Michelin starred restaurants in Tokyo than anywhere else in the world. Sushi and ramen are some of the best known Japenese foods, and you can find them all over Japan. There are some restaurants like Takano which is a traditional Japenese ramen restaurant, or Asadachi, which serve up very untraditional cuts of meat.
