What You Won’t Want to Miss in Tokyo
In 2023, we undertook an amazing adventure through the Land of the Rising Sun. We stayed for almost 3 weeks and shared with you the highlights of each out our days. Since there are just SO many GREAT places to see, we thought we’d make a City Guide for you so you’ll know what you won’t want to miss in Tokyo. If you want to do a deeper dive in Japan – check out our Japan collection. And if you’re a person who loves headlines, this article is for you!
First, let’s talk food…Where to Eat?
Oh my gosh! There hasn’t been a place I’ve visited where I’ve liked the food more. Every meal was more fantastic than the last. (And eating with chop sticks is SO FUN.) But if there’s just one place to go, you’ve got to check out…
Gon Pachi (aka the Kill Bill Restaurant)!
As fans of the movie, Kill Bill, we were stoked to find out that the iconic restaurant fight scene between Uma Thurman (aka The Bride) and the Crazy 88’s was based on a real restaurant in Tokyo and that were were able to finagle reservations for lunch! Not only was the vibe lively, the food was AH-MAZING.
Next up…Where to Drink?
Everywhere we went, there were little restaurants that served a nice, light lager. In fact, since I’m not a “soda” person, that was sort of my go to for lunch and dinner. (Hmmm…maybe that’s where the extra 10 pounds came from??) Anyway, to get to a really special drink experience, we had to go a little more upscale.
The Hudson Lounge / Ambar
This place so sparkly, so cozy and so fancy, I thought Stephen heard about it in some “Best Bar” article. Turns out, it was the bar most conveniently located to our next stop. What a find! Located in the Intercontinental Hotel, this place has a high end charm. From the marble bar top to the lovely wine spritzer they served me in a crystal glass. (I’m surprised they let me in with my puffy coat and my travel purse!)
What to do? Go to the Sensoji Temple!
Though we’ve seen at least a dozen temples and shrines, the Sensoji temple will ALWAYS stand out at the most amazing for the following reasons:
- This is the first Buddist temple I’ve ever seen.
- The photos on the internet DO NOT capture what it’s really like.
- In the middle of a crazy, busy city – it was quiet and peaceful.
- There were ACTUAL monks inside, chanting and playing music.
If you want to have the same experience, be sure to go early!
Want to have fun on the cheap? Go to the Ueno Zoo!
As you know, we are zoo enthusiasts – “Zoothusiasts” and Tokyo did NOT disappoint. And, unlike Animal Kingdom or the San Diego Zoo, admission is super reasonable at only 600 yen (about $4.40 USD).
Travel Tip to Make the Trip Easy / Peasy?
Download the Suica Card App!
You can use the Suica Card for almost all types transportation in Japan – subways, buses and all local trains. You can load it before your trip and save it to your electronic wallet and can be pre-loaded before your trip so once you land…you’re good to go!
Speaking of “Good to Go”…
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