Tokyo

Our first stop on a trip to Japan, Tokyo was just what we needed to kick it off.

For the first couple of days, we stayed in Ebisu, a hip, up-and-coming neighborhood in Shibuya. Recovering from travel and jet lag, we wandered through the small streets, finding cafes and shops along the way.

For the remainder of our time in Tokyo we stayed at Trunk Hotel in Harajuku and really enjoyed our stay. Their concept, aesthetic and attention to detail really impressed me.

Our mornings started with seeking out coffee made with the utmost care and attention. The options in Tokyo are endless! We would spend our days walking through parks, exploring different neighborhoods, shopping in small boutiques, and viewing art exhibits. At night we would enjoy a special meal and then walk through the neon-lit street to sip specialty cocktails in a tiny bar (or bars!).

From the small neighborhoods to bustling Central Tokyo (and everywhere we went in Japan), the cultural value for quality and attention to detail made experiences feel very thoughtful and special.

Tokyo felt endlessly inspirational. It’s one of those places that you can return to over and over again and always find new things to experience.

See Japan Map

STAY

Trunk Hotel - We LOVED staying at Trunk! The design was amazing, amenities were thoughtful and the staff was very helpful. Located on the edge of Shibuya & Harajuku, it’s close to a lot of great spots for food, drinks, and shopping and it’s not far from Shibuya station for access to the rest of the city. Would 100% stay there again!
Ebisuholic Hotel - Cute hotel located in the laid-back neighborhood of Ebisu. It’s a no-frills hotel but the design is nice and the location (a short walk to Ebisu station) is great!

COFFEE, TEA & JUICE

Onibus Coffee - One of our favorite coffee experiences, this cute little stand serves tasty coffee and has a nice sitting area.
Fuglen - This spot, which has locations in Scandinavia, serves coffee during the day and cocktails in the evening. The furniture and decor feel like you stepped back into the 70s.
Little Nap Coffee - Cute, tiny coffee stand on the edge Yoyogi Park
Shozo Coffee Store - The CUTEST (kawaii!!) coffee stand. Not the best coffee we had but it’s just adorable.
Cobi Coffee - Coffee counter in a retail store that serves thoughtfully brewed pour-over.
Perch by Woodberry - Small, plant-filled neighborhood coffee shop
About Life Coffee Brewers - Great coffee window serving their unique beans from local roasters.
Coffee Mameya - The ultimate coffee nerd experience. They have a variety of roasts and they help you narrow in on what beans you want to buy. They offer samples of select roasts and can make you a pour-over of most on the menu. They spend slow, thoughtful time with each customer and are so kind. You may have to wait in line.
Deus Ex Machina - Located in the fun neighborhood of Harajuku, Deus is perched on a corner with great people watching.
Tokyo Saryo
4/4 Seasons Coffee

FOOD

Ippudo Ramen Ebisu - Tasty ramen spot. We got the Classic Broth and it was delicious!

Tractor - Neighborhood day time cafe. Came for a simple breakfast and it hit the spot.
Sushi Honten - Sushi restaurant that’s been around for 150 years. We did their omakase lunch and it was a unique experience. Make reservations ahead of time!
Yakitori Alley - The perfect food after a night of drinks at nearby bars. This area under the tracks is packed with stalls serving yakitori--skewered meat and veggies. Pull up a stool, order your skewers and a frosty beer.
Crisscross - Brunch, lunch spot
Afuri - Delicious ramen, ordered from a digital machine and served at the bar.
Eatrip - Farm-fresh, organic restaurant in an oasis in the middle of the city. Thoughtful and delicious food is complemented by a beautiful, cozy environment. Make reservations ahead of time!
Sukiyabashi Jiro
Udon Shin
Path
Sushi Hayakawa
PST Pizza Studio Tamaki
LIFE Son

DRINKS

Bar Martha - Very cool vinyl bar. This cozy bar is flooded with warm vinyl tunes, the smell of pipe tobacco and hushed voices. This is a whiskey spot primarily, with a huge selection. They have three cocktails: a highball, a house-made ginger vodka, and 3 types of mojitos. Heads up: there is a 800Y cover per person and they don’t allow photos.
Bar Trench - Tiny bar, serving really great cocktails. One of our favorite cocktail spots with a great menu, cozy space and great service. (Same owners as Bar Triad & Bar Tram)
Bar Triad - This bar has a more straightforward menu, but the bartenders are very good and, in our experience, excited to make a drink customized to you. (Same owners as Bar Trench & Bar Tram)
Bar Tram - An absinthe focused bar with a head bartender who loves doing experimental processes and prebatching (ie: sous vide) (Same owners as Bar Trench & Bar Triad)
Bar High Five - A wonderful Japanese bar experience. No menu, but you have an in-depth conversation with a bar assistant to create a drink customized to you. Our host was so thoughtful and kind and the drinks were great!
Tender Bar - A Japanese iconic bar. Not really our style, but it was very cutting edge in the 80s and they defined really detailed cocktail mixing processes. It’s interesting to see, but seems stuck in a time and not progressive.
Bar B&F - Ended up here when Ben Fiddich was closed, but it was a pleasant surprise. The service was wonderful and they created customized drinks that were delicious.
Ben Fiddich - Was really sad this was closed while we were there...it’s supposed to be a pretty amazing experience.
Mixology Laboratory
Gen Yamamoto

SHOP

Today’s Special - Cute home goods store with multiple locations. I wanted basically everything.
Found MUJI - A boutique version of the large chain MUJI featuring products sourced from around the world.
Aoyama Flower Market - Beautiful flower mart!
Fog
Kashiyama Daikanyama
Daikanyama T-Site
Tokyo Hands

ACTIVITIES

Yoyogi Park - A large beautiful park in the middle of the city. Nice to walk through.

Aoyama - Small neighborhood to walk through with cute shops.
Harajuku - Hip & trendy neighborhood with tons of shops from interesting streetwear brands to vintage stores. Great spot to walk around and explore.
**TeamLAB Borderless** - Hands down, worth prioritizing this. A very cool immersive art experience! Reserve your tickets ahead of time and book them earlier in the day for less crowds. It can get pretty packed but it is a magical experience. Pack snacks or eat before--there are no refreshments once inside.
Meguro River - This river runs through the city and has nice walkways along portions. In the spring, the Cherry Blossoms bloom along the river.
Shibuya Crossing - An iconic intersection. Not as crazy as I thought it would be but still interesting to walk by and see.
TeamLAB Planets
National Art Center Tokyo
Golden Gai
Omoide Yokocho

TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION

To access the city from Narita International Airport use the Narita Express (seat reservations to/from the airport are required) or local trains. It’s around $30 a person and expect at least an hour to an hour and a half to Shinjuku/Shibuya area.
The entire city is easily traversed by foot, train, or bus.
There are several local train lines and each requires different tickets. So make sure you are clear on what line you are taking and which stop you are getting off at.
There are no app-enabled bikes or scooters so don’t count on them.
Taxis are easy to get in the city, but are definitely more expensive. Most drivers didn’t speak good English so I found it easiest to show them your destination on a map instead of telling them an address or location. Also, the doors open automatically and every taxi has lace seat covers.
Uber was available but only black cars so they definitely ran more expensive.