Things to Do in Tokyo: The Local's Guide for First-Timers

Tokyo is the largest metropolitan area on Earth — 37 million people. It is also one of the safest, cleanest, and most well-organized cities you will ever visit. But the sheer scale can be paralyzing for first-timers.

Here is how locals actually experience Tokyo, neighborhood by neighborhood.

The Essential Neighborhoods

Shibuya — The famous crossing. But beyond the intersection, Shibuya is a maze of department stores, vinyl record shops, and tiny bars. Nonbei Yokocho (Drunkard's Alley) has bars that fit 6 people.

Shinjuku — Kabukicho is the neon entertainment district. Golden Gai is a collection of 200+ micro-bars in a six-block alley, each fitting 5-10 people. Shinjuku Gyoen park is one of the best gardens in the city.

Shimokitazawa — Tokyo's indie neighborhood. Vintage clothing, tiny live music venues, independent coffee shops. The anti-Shibuya.

Yanaka — Old Tokyo. Temple streets, traditional snack shops, cats. One of the few neighborhoods that survived World War II bombing. Feels like stepping back 100 years.

Akihabara — Electronics, anime, and gaming culture. Even if you are not into any of that, walking through the sensory overload of Akihabara is a Tokyo experience.

Tsukiji Outer Market — The inner fish market moved to Toyosu, but the outer market remains. Street food stalls selling fresh sushi, tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), and green tea. Go at 7am.

Food Rules

• Ramen shops: Look for ones with a ticket machine outside. Order, sit, eat, leave. No lingering.
• Conveyor belt sushi: Legitimate and cheap. Even the chain ones are better than most sushi outside Japan.
• Depachika: The basement food halls of department stores. The highest concentration of high-quality prepared food on Earth.
• Izakaya: Japanese pub-restaurants. Order many small dishes and beer. The best ones are under train tracks.
• 7-Eleven: Japanese 7-Eleven is a completely different experience from anywhere else. The onigiri, egg sandwiches, and fried chicken are genuinely excellent.

Getting Around

The train system is the best in the world. Get a Suica or Pasmo card (tap-to-pay) and use it everywhere — trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines. Google Maps transit directions are accurate to the minute.

A Local Friend in Tokyo can take you to the standing-only sushi bar under the train tracks that has been open since 1955, the kissaten (retro coffee shop) where time stopped in 1970, and the izakaya where the chef remembers what you ordered last time.