TOKYO JAPAN OMG

 

I WONDER IF YOU KNOW, HOW THEY LIVE IN TOKYO

long time coming but i finally got around to writing a guide for tokyo. if you don’t know who i am and stumbled on this page, welcome. my name is ron and i’ve been to japan too many times.  here are some recommendations for first timers from soneone who has worked in and out of japan the last six years.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU ARRIVE IN JAPAN

so if this is your first time going to japan, you will need to do a few things before going to japan which i think are essential and easier to do at home at the comfort of your own internet and wifi.

  1. digital web on japan’s customs website    visit this https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/
    so when you land in japan, you have to go thru immigration as with any country.  however, for japan, you can fill out the immigration form ahead of time online and it’ll save you the headache of having to write it down or trying to fill it out last minute.  log onto this website and register an email.  once you have a login for japan web, you can register any travel dates into the system which is basic questions like the dates you are going, airplane you are arriving on, the hotel you are staying at. once you finish the form, it will generate a QR code.  you will show that QR code when you land in japan on a computer and they will take your photo.  EASY PEEZY.

 

  2. download suica card onto your apple wallet.
    so the suica card is like a debit card for your IPHONE which makes most of your transactions in japan easy.  the suica card is accepted everywhere like the metro, buses, trains, 7/11 food transacitons, and a lot of stores take suica.  you can top off your suica card 20,000 yen at a time and add your credit card to charge it. so my order is i would download the suica app from the app store.  that app will be in japanese but you just need it to help you generate a number. once you download the app, go to your apple wallet and add a new transit card, you can scroll down to japan and select SUICA.  once you load that, add a credit card and top it off and you are all set to ride the subway in japan and buy drinks at 7/11 and much more.
  4. download the shin ex app onto your phone
    this app is really just for the bullet trains in japan (shinkansen). you can buy tickets at the station on the machine with money but it is infintely easier to buy the train tickets on the app.
    download the app and register your email and username.  once you get the login, you have to add a payment card and it will run a $1 transaction just to make sure it goes thru.  once you have the app, you can buy tickets by selecting dates, direction of the train (such as tokyo to kyoto or tokyo to osaka) and you can buy the ticket and it will generate the ticket to assign to your suica card.  i will do another video on this in the future on how to use the app

6) AIRALO – which works well for Japan.  You will need data in japan and if you guys are already paid off with your cell phone, you can download AIRALO and install an ESIM onto your iphone or android which will connect you to 1 of the 3 major japan cell phone providers.  I’ve used Airalo for about 5 years now and I average about 80-150MBPS depending upon where I am in japan.  For an Esim, that’s pretty good. Download the AIRALO app on the google play store or the IOS store:

 

ALSO, THE ELECTRICITY IS basically the same except its 2 plug instead of 3 prong. make sure your electronics are 2 prong

so japan and USA use the same plugs except japan doesn’t use 3PRONG plugs for the heavier electronics. i would not bother bringing any hair tools as japan’s voltage is different.  however, chargers for macbooks, phones, and most electronics will work as long as they are rated 110-240V on your charger (you will see that on your charger).  generally, all my electronics are 2 prong anyway so i bring those and they work.

 

my recommendation is just to bring anker charger blocks that range in various but you can also buy anything you need from DONKI (see donki section later on)

BOOKING A PLACE TO STAY!

so if this is your first time in tokyo, here are some english friendly neighborhoods i’d recommend to ease your way into japan.

WHERE YOU STAY kind of determines the trip youll have. for example, taxi’s and ubers are pricy in the city.  so if you plan on staying out drinking every night, you probably want to stay near the neighborhood you’re going to stay.  otherwise, a taxi from shibuya at 1am back to akihabara is like $50-60.  if you don’t want to pay those prices, then stay closer to where youll be.  here’s my basic recommendations for starters:

  1. akihabara (english friendly, all tourists, arcade games and crane games, nerdy heavy and cheaper hotels and a 24 hour donki (walmart on crack).  if you are a nerd, this is a no brainer as all the toy shops, camera shops, and crane game arcades in this area.  crane game places close at 1030pm daily and on weekends midnight. this neighborhood is also very international and most of the hotels in this area i find are very foreigner friendly.  also, all the fast food chains you could want are here like mcdonalds, carls jr, yoshiya, sukiya, sushiro, etc are all on the same block within 2-3 blocks from the station.
  2. ueno (up the street from akihabara, but close to the train station and skyliner to narita airport, and lots of food in the area).  so UENO is a 15 minute walk north of akihahabar and also off the main JR lines and yamanote.  ueno is an area full of japanese restaurants, and the park, and zoo and to me, very convenient. the SKYLINER express is an express 37 minute round trip train that goes from this neighborhood to NARITA airport which is very clutch for those coming into tokyo from narita or any asian countries.  if i have to land in narita, 80% of the time i will stay in UENO because ill hop off the train and walk to my hotel across the street.
  3. shibuya (i know….the time squares of tokyo and very tourist heavy but its convenient for first timers. has all the shopping you can want and restaurants with english menus).  i don’t hate staying in shibuya but because i’ve worked in this neighborhood for years, i personally find it a little too busy and loud.  however, for first timers, it has everything you could want.  the shopping in shibuya and the 24 hour mega donki is there for nonstop fun all thru the middle of the night. there’s a lot of karaoke bars i recommend in the area too but overall shibuya is a nice meeting place and youll be close to all the major attractions in tokyo nearby.
  4. roppongi – quiet rich area. if you like american properties and can afford it. prob catch someone cheating on his wife out here on the real hahaha. roppongi is a little but south of shibuya but it has a lot of the rich shopping areas of tokyo.  if you are into high end stuff, kapital for clothes, and overall plan on staying at the american properties, this is a good neighborhood to explore.  it’s quiet compared to the other neighborhoods on this list and you can easily reach roppongi to the airport via the AIRPORT BUSES (LIMOUSINE BUS).  i’ll have more info about this in the how to get to tokyo section further down below.
  5. ginza.  so ginza to me is like the center point of tokyo.  i’m in ginza lot for random shops but it’s also a central place for most people in tokyo to meet up.  ginza is full of shops, malls, and proximity to tokyo station makes it a great place to stay and walk if you need to be near a transit hub.

areas i’d avoid for first timers in tokyo but personally would stay in each trip:

  1. shinjuku (train station can get really confusing). shinjuku is a very busy station with like 100 exits but it’s got a lot going on above for tourists to see.  if you are ok with navigating the station and know which exit to your hotel is from the station, then i would highly recommend staying here.
  2. tokyo skytree (it’s kinda far from everything so youll regret it and its not on the yamanote main line). skytree and the neighborhoods around it are the areas i stay in a lot and it’s quiet.  it is definitely not as subway heavy on this side of tokyo but if you enjoy peace and quiet, i would recommend staying in oshiage, kinischo, or kameido or anywhere along this neighborhood.
  3. yokohama – mad far from tokyo but yokohama and the kanegawa area has its own things to do.  if you plan on doing all the things in yokohama, kawasaki, and the beach, i would stay in yokohama. its also VERY close to haneda airport and you can take the bus or train to haneda within 15-20 minutes.  yokohama has its own chinatown over here that’s worth a visit.

TYPES OF PLACES AND HOTELS TO STAY IN TOKYO

so honestly, there are like half a million options to stay in tokyo.  i couldn’t cover them all if i wanted to but here are some places i’ve stayed. i would still recommend booking a hotel over an airbnb for the sake of having customer service, the ability to ship luggages to and from hotel, and overall ease.  i also recommend booking near a train stop.  when looking at your hotel, just make sure it’s near a subway or JR line so you can easily walk to and from public transit.

1) APA HOTELS (BUDGET FRIENDLY).
APA hotels are a hotel chain all over japan.  it’s tiny. like 150 square feet tiny but they’re cheap depending upon the season you go in.  for example, when i just went to UENO in july and january, my APA was $43 USD a night. $43!!!!  but, in november, the room rate shot up to $127 a night because it was high tourist travel season.  when booking APA, you can find it at hotels.com or expedia.com.
pros: very cheap, air conditioning works, hardwired ethernet in the room works well, and overall english friend. stay speaks english and you can shop your luggage in and out of APA very easily with the staff’s help.  they are also EVERYWHERE.  you will see APA
Cons: def tiny. no more than 2 people are allowed, or should be in this room. it’s basically just a bed and a small desk. see pic:

  1. HOTEL LIVEMAX.  this is another business budget friendly hotel option that most people don’t use.  however, LIVEMAX can have some deals.  i’ve stayed one night near tokyo disneyland hotel because my feet hurt so bad i didn’t want to take the train back.  i walked up and ended up just paying $55 for the night. live max is available to book on most major hotel websites like hotels.com and expedia so this can be a good option
  2. AIRBNBS.  so i only recommend airbnbs if you’ve been to japan before and know how to navigate the different trains and neighborhoods.  AIRBNBS can def be cheaper than a hotel anda good option if you are traveling with more than 4 people.  however, the trades off you lose the ability to ship your luggages around as those delivery services require someone at the front desk to check in and vouch for your bag.  if you aren’t going to be shipping your luggages, then by all means go for airbnb.  FAIR WARNING, most airbnbs are like in apartment complexes and a lot of them don’t have elevators lol.  learned this the hard way.
    AIRBNBS are much more useful for staying in kyoto and i will have a small kyoto/osaka section at the bottom of the page with some airbnbs i’ve stayed at.  in the meantime here’s some airbnbs i’ve stayed at or lived in for a month at a time in tokyo:near skytree: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1751088219999808329?check_in=2026-11-03&check_out=2026-11-
    08&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=472455f7-a176-4b75-85eb-f7914a501686
    n    ear kinischo station: https://www.airbnb.com/properties/1715247343537842629?check_in=2026-09-11&check_out=2026-09-16&guests=1&adults=1&anchor_room_id=1524453559279208402&s=67&unique_share_id=7abb087e-3ff1-46cb-a958-ad4c2407db0b
    shinjuku: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1730319020821667608?check_in=2026-09-24&check_out=2026-09-29&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=5518e12b-a338-4fb0-bc7f-cb71537927cb
  3. HOTEL NIWA TOKYO (one of my favorite hotels i’ve stayed at in tokyo)
    So my cousin Sataya put me on this place and I’ve stayed here with my sister before in our own rooms.  this was a great hotel. modern, great staff, massage chairs downstairs, and coin laundry
    .
    https://www.hotelniwa.jp/en/
  4. TSUKI HOTEL (was a great couples hotel for me in tokyo with a wash tub in the room)
    i’ve stayed here multiple times and while it is a bit out of the way in my opinion, was a very great place to relax.  it’s a small hotel but it had the tub in it which we took baths almost daily.
    https://www.tsukihotel.com/en/
  5. SHIBUYA HOTEL: SHIBUYA TOBU HOTEL
    this is a hotel i’ve stayed at before which is at the heart of everything and much more affordable then the properties around it
    https://www.tobuhotel.co.jp/shibuya/
  6. JR METS at the AKIHABARA station.  shouts to my friend mark man but this might be the most. convenience hotel for me i’ve ever stayed at.  like right above the train station, 100 feet from all the crane game places, 3 minute walk to yodobashi and above a conbini.  CLUTCH https://www.hotelmets.jp/en/akihabara/

TOP THINGS I’D BRING TO JAPAN

  1. comfortable walking shoes. you will be walking guaranteed 15K steps a day and trust me you not used to it (unless you’re from NYC).  as americans and especially someone from california, i know i don’t walk 10k steps a day.  i’m always in my car.  do yourself a favor and get some comfy walking shoes and or insoles.


if you are wondering, i walk tokyo the last 5 years with anything adidas ultraboost, vomero or vomero plus.  however, since i’m a big guy and suffer from plantar, i have to wear insoles. insoles here
https://www.amazon.com/VALSOLE-Heavy-Support-Relief-Orthotics/dp/B0BM63Y76W/ref=sr_1_7_pp?crid=1JANK2EW3LN76&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VYewfZ9ChacBMGrlRn-gEMuybqaI323q1Xhx42z7N912lvgUrFBqnhVm5UHkTyLl_sQXwooXh_SgJrJdEjx2lxNsIaIST2xvXCeZKPCZQwBjH6fzlIksYcZ5s5oMG2f7vq6UWby4bNS20Pj6Xy29wPEnF0KG_9-qjhJ7dFtqnrkbRwiRc_lfImAqDmsbvl7PRD93QfSo50XSkWfIOVtHZJRcp9RwdavoFUou9FTFNIy8AGRzUNF-xtqHhzEsw49iRKrwTdtTwU_1DCiBVR3IpaWDCx7sZS6iUcMh-kQJSGs.j-WN2redJk9x9FGhGOcXiW4ssAZv9NNOZGlq4apTeio&dib_tag=se&keywords=insoles+for+walking&qid=1788686666&sprefix=insoles+for+walki%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-7

2) portable chargers, YOU WILL BE USING A LOT OF DATA and taking a lot of pictures!  your phone is going to be dying mid day.

going forward, a lot of asian airlines are going to require that you ONLY bring a power. bank that is approved for planes.  i would start looking into those chargers now and make sure they say CCC.

this is the power charger i recommend is the ANKER little baby ones that charge via USB C:

3) my best item that i highly recommend for any asia trip and especially if its your first japan trip….is this round massage ball for your foot. i have seen many friends go and they are in so much pain from the constant walking and the wrong shoes.  i have places for you guys to get massages in japan but if you want to massage your own foot at the end of the night, def use this ball! HIGHLY RECOMMEND and i bring this ball with me to every asia trip.  i think this ball has seen more of tthe world than most of my friends lol

http://amazon.com/Deep-Tissue-Massage-Exercise-Recovery/dp/B0F2J4FT7Z/ref=sr_1_16?crid=2Z46NYOKOW6ZP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1d-dWxDBagrfk3Xk3Eem1JhQ2f5dXWzKwt9RjJKSfZ5v6XR3hUE2yndYbUvyeHayfLSHADSdqSXi3xgHiiDFlqJttBEWR74rjmQnGMoXsuiyMcNbbDL0Y0LKe7-cmdjfuCyQAq96XrkjjcHhuRAeuJxlgEQQQq-0Yt5e3WuD8hr5ieK_fInyFjiy-3CfXQc6vs_J-9LdsgXtAEUNcgACsAMBXC8y0BUCg5tTJrC24Ewt2TG7YwYVWIyFiIHkqCnlPFqy7sNMUZBDcampxqUVYIluyeEnm8U7J1gkKPwRyZ8.nq34EEKMrgTGoNC3IaXU8G9IyULz8aULDjUI-LIn004&dib_tag=se&keywords=round+massage+ball&qid=1787612856&sprefix=round+massage+bal%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-16

4) vacuum seal bags and the vacuum. take it from me, you will need all the luggage space going back to america. you will be shopping and shopping and shopping. and if you play crane games, you are going to run out of luggage space quick.  i highly recommend picking up the amazon basics seal bags with the vacuum.  the vacuum has saved me so much time and done all the hard work.  see link here: https://www.amazon.com/Clothing-VINTAR-Rechargeable-Wireless-Suitcase/dp/B0FPC6HKDW/ref=sr_1_5_sspa?crid=UWDAS6IFRJ90&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DgWgnm09Mk_6VqYPTQvYspNXX_MG1qdZQ-HP9VfKF-rj2LOPRNDnktwyyqAXosyg0y34qcSCAKpGlL_c5IhKdaMRFLIdb847gG70rLtYW6ngBHBXIOr8lqVp1EpSdzgip2XKffW0e-c_y3qPlZET7a-JIJqIJoYsi7ATfuf7cvyzISUMVA02la5lYwv9iyGWzNl-FJuaEE90s6z4fonJuQ5U9shmt9mhnDSyIumpEc2kLuFpUv7cOOc15r8xFH7X6Lj9O55jXfH-kqSeQNSuQQVyefdTH3J3gIxP2vZ7Ikc.EkI8Z0va3u8Ce4n2QFXiFsN4PLZ1ncmhj99mGF2wjrA&dib_tag=se&keywords=amazon%2Bbasics%2Bseal%2Bbags%2Band%2Bvacuum&qid=1788763988&sprefix=amazon%2Bbasics%2Bseal%2Bbags%2Band%2Bvacuum%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-5-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

HOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF AIRPORTS (NARITA AND HANEDA)

So I made video guides on how to get from EACH airport to your hotels in Tokyo

TRAIN OR TAXI FROM Haneda:

so whenever i land in haneda which is often because of delta, i will usually train into the city if i only have 1 luggage via the tokyo monorail which you hop on at the airport and take into hanamatsucho station and there, switch to any major station.  if you are not sure how to use the trains yet, follow this video guide which will guide you to the taxi stand on the bottom floor and you can taxi anywhere in tokyo for like $50-60 to most neighborhoods.  this is probably the safest and friendliest for first timers arriving at haneda in tokyo.

TRAIN FROM Narita:  so narita is pretty far from tokyo.  it’s not really even in tokyo. its about an hour and a half to two hours by car so that’s pretty far.  the best way to get out of narita station is to take the skyliner express train in the basement!  the skyliner express train is only 37 minutes into tokyo and it leaves from each terminal in the basement and goes to UENO station in tokyo.  from ueno, you can hop a cab once you get out of the train station or hop onto any of the major trains that connect at UENO.  see video below.

THE BUS OPTION FROM HANEDA OR NARITA AIRPORT:

the LIMOUSINE bus option is a great option.  the bus goes direct from each airport to major stops and hotels in tokyo.  each airport both have a dedicated bus section of the terminal so you just have to go to that section to catch the bus.  at narita for example, its outside and downstairs or ground level (terminal 2 and 3) and if you are at haneda, the bus is the bottom floor and there’s an exit to it. see the schedule here and website here:

https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/

YOUR LAST OPTION: TAXI FROM NARITA (AVOID, AVOID, AVOID).  if you arrive late at narita (try not to book flights that land after 10PM) you will have to taxi back to tokyo and that is anywhere from $200 to $250 USD.  UNITED STATES DOLLARS.  made this mistake when our flight was supposed to land at 10 and catch the last train but flight was delayed 2 hours and we landed after midnight and had to pay the taxi home. don’t do it.

SHIPPING LUGGAGES AROUND JAPAN and AIRPORTS:

YAMATO AND AIRPORTER:

Japan is next level when it comes to travel.  With proper planning you can ship your luggage back to another hotel or to the airport as long as it you give it two days.  I wouldn’t trust same day but I def ship my luggage ahead of time the day before by 9AM.  Cost from most hotels to the airport is $20-25 a bag and hotel to hotel is around the same price.  Highly recommend to use this service as getting on the bullet train with your bags is annoying.

Your first experience with Yamato is when you land at the airport.  You can stop by this counter when you land at either Haneda or NARITA.  if you land in the EARLY morning, you can def go to the counter and pay like $17-25 to have each large bag shipped to your hotel same day to be at your hotel when you get in to check in.  however, if you land at like 3-5PM, you can use this service but your bags will arrive 9AM next day.  if you have a carry on with your essentials, you can do this if you are lazy.

AIRPORTER


airporter requires you to be at a hotel in japan in order to use this service. you will have to upload your room confirmation and have a room number to ship your bags from hotel to AIRPORT or hotel to another airport.  this service is SO easy though you don’t even need to talk to the front desk.

The website for airporter is here: https://airporter.co.jp/

Visit the website and fill out the form and it will generate a QR code.  once you have that QR code, you can drop it down at your hotel lobby and it will either ship to your next hotel (next day) or airport (NEXT DAY).  however, your bags need to be downstairs by 9AM at most hotels as they pickup from 10AM to 2PM everyday.

Example: I ship luggage by 9AM in the lobby on a Monday.  When I Get to Osaka, my luggage is there in Osaka next day by Tuesday.

Another real life example: I fill up my first luggage with gifts on Wednesday.  I fill out the form and drop off the luggage next day Thursday 9AM to get to the airport by Friday for whenever I fly out.

 

KLOOK.COM

So Japanese websites are very much stuck in the 2000’s and have a hard time processing transactions, especially for foreigners.  Most websites will require you to have a Japanese address or Japanese credit card.  KLOOK.com has partnered with a ton of different Japanese agencies to sell you tickets with our American credit cards and they will email you QR codes or tickets or PDFs which is easier.

For example: you can book the Skyliner Express Train from Narita airport to Tokyo using KLOOK.

Disneyland and Disney Japan tickets are a MUST to book on here.

Universal Japan Tickets and the Harry Potter Experience in Tokyo.

Various animal cafes we went to we got the tickets on Klook.

The list is endless but I highly recommend booking tickets in advance as Japan is a society based on reservations. here are the places i use KLOOK FOR:

TOKYO DISNEYLAND AND DISNEYSEA: https://www.klook.com/activity/695-tokyo-disney-resort-1-day-pass-tokyo/?spm=SearchResult.SearchResult_LIST&clickId=5923fe6fe7

HARRY POTTER JAPAN https://www.klook.com/activity/84374-warner-bros-studio-tour-tokyo-making-harry-potter/?spm=SearchResult.SearchSuggest_LIST&clickId=ac78424bb6

TEAM LAB DIGITAL MUSEUMS: https://www.klook.com/activity/20707-teamlab-borderless-admission-ticket-tokyo/?spm=SearchResult.SearchResult_LIST&clickId=856979e4c9

LIST OF TOKYO ATTRACTIONS: https://www.klook.com/search/result/?query=tokyo&search_scope=main_search

SANRIO HELLO KITTY PUROLAND https://www.klook.com/activity/2276-sanrio-puroland-tokyo/?spm=SearchResult.SearchResult_LIST&clickId=39815a6931

BULLET TRAIN TIPS (SHINKANSEN)

here is my video on how to get from TOKYO to OSAKA or KYOTO on bullet train.

here is where you will need to make sure you have the SHIN EX application installed on your phone unless you want to try and buy tickets at a machine or at the counter.

 

after you install the app, you will also need to link your SUICA card to it so you can easily just scan to get onto the bullet train with your phone.

once you install the app, open up the app and add your US credit card (not all credit cards work) and find the part of the app that says LINK SUICA or ADD suica to your profile. you can add other people as well if you want to buy their tickets but you can paste your suica number from your app to the SHINEX app

DON QUIJOTE (DONKI) the shop with EVERYTHING

Donki is a must visit and one of the only stores I’ll shop at like 2-3AM when I can’t sleep.  Donki is a huge super store that carries tourist items, apparel, toys, and souvenirs and food and makeup all in one location. They blast one of the craziest theme songs for a store and you will be hearing it in your sleep.  This store is definitely sensory overload but recommend you get there during your trip.

i made a video about donki you can watch here:

Locations I go to:

Akihabara – 24 hours and pretty busy with all the nerds from USA even in the middle of the night.
location on google: https://share.google/5fmiR8GJrvZ7bWAps

Ueno- open until 4AM and this is about a 10 minute walk from Akihabara but way less tourists.
location on google: https://share.google/pLSRWjEitRVHAhpcc

Asakusa – near the temples and this one is open 24 hours.  This location isn’t bad but it’s out of the way at night when you have to Uber back home, etc.
location on google: https://share.google/Izfhe66UgIc75l3su

Roppongi- 24 hours and this one has a lot of tourists too.  This one is kind of small IMO but still found everything I was looking for when I go to this one.
location on google: https://share.google/k2pitBPBTTT0wONmD

Shibuya – MEGA DONKI open 24 hours. This one I try to avoid because it’s always SO busy anytime I go but if you want to people watch and see one of the biggest ones around Shibuya in the middle of the night, this one is a good one to go.
location on google: https://share.google/ZN8X6xXwxcPHujyyW

FAST FOOD AND CONBINI RECS

i have real food recommendations and restaurants but this is a quick list of places you should try while you are in japan.  it’s def fast food but its convenience and totally worth the visits

  1. YOSHINOYA.  ok i know we have yoshinoya at home in california but you have to try the original haha.
  2. SUKIYA- this is yoshinoya’s competitor in japan and honestly i love the beef bowl here.  sometimes in the winter they have hot pot but the bonus about this place is that most are open until 4-5am
  3. MCDONALDS- mcdonalds is basically the same in america but they have the shrimp burger.  def get the ebi burger
  4. 7/11 CONVENIENCE STORES – 7/11 is the king in japan in my opinion because they are everywhere and has the rice balls i need to get thru life. my daily routine is going everyday to grab vitamin drinks, rice balls, and green tea. here’s my order:

  5. LAWSON CONVENIENCE STORES- i only go to lawson for the egg salad sandwhich
  6. FAMILY MART CONVENIENCE STORES- i go to family mart for the FAMI CHIKI – the piece of fried chicken lol
  7. SUSHIRO. okay so there’s a few chains of sushi places in japan but i always end up at sushiro OR sushi zanmai. zanmai is the better quality but sushiro holds its own cuz its convenient. sushiro is a conveyor belt sushi place

  8. SUSHI ZANMAI – this is my favorite “fast food” sushi restaurant but quality is good. you will recognize the owner with his picture and statue in front of each store.  there’s even one in los angeles now in koreatown!

  9. Torikizoku – this is a chain restaurant all over japan and you can order on an ipad.  its chicken yakitori and fried chicken and it’s delicious and open usually very late

TOKYO DISNEY TIPS

Disneyland and Disney Tokyo Sea are like top three Disney parks in the whole world.  I would highly recommend going and it’s actually affordable for day tickets.  Unlike Disneyworld and California where tickets are $180 and more to get into the door, day tickets for Japan parks are around $64 and fast passes for rides are between $7 and 10 and COMPLETELY worth it.

Just fair warning, queues are very long though at the park and average anywhere from 60 minutes to 250 minutes for the major attraction rides.  I recommend going a few days because shopping alone takes me a few hours!

Okay so first thing’s first.  Remember how I wrote about KLOOK.com?  You will need KLOOK again.  Disney Japan does not sell tickets on a website to foreigners.  You will have to buy tickets via their authorized partners. Once you buy the tickets, they will email you a QR code you can add on the Disneyland Japan app to get you in.

KLOOK.com – head over and search Disneyland or Disney Sea tickets.  Add the day you want to go, and pay.  They will email you the QR code and you can scan it.  Download the Disneyland Japan app and register your email so you have a login.  Once you login and add your tickets via QR code, you can assign your name to the ticket and you’re all good to use the APP to scan in

GETTING TO DISNEYLAND. 

see video here i made about what you can expect traveling to tokyo disneyland via train (JR KEIYO LINE EXIT MAIHAMA)

Highly recommend taking the train.  It’s the only realistically way to get there efficiently.  The train stop is MAIHAMA.  You can transfer here from any of the major train stations especially Tokyo Station.  If are you staying at any of the neighborhoods, I recommend off the Yamanote, you can hop on the Yamanote and transfer to the Red line to take it to Maihama.  Once you get to the JR station Maihama, you will have two options.  You can walk right off the train station for the bridge over to Tokyo Disneyland.  If you go left, you can take the MONORAIL that goes to Disney sea (it cost 600 yen from what I remember).  You can’t walk to Disneysea – only drop off by taxi or this monorail.

GET IN EARLY-  Ok so I’m sure you’ve seen the videos of all the Japanese Disney adults that line up around 6AM-7AM to get in first.  You don’t need to do all that.  I always aim for getting there around 10AM at the gate and I’m in by 1030AM.  However, going at 10AM is important because you immediately need to buy the first fast pass with DISNEY PREMIERE ACCESS.

Disney Premiere Access or DPA is the Japan version of fast pass tickets.  You have to be in the park physically to get access to buy tickets to the rides that will have crazy lines.  At Disneyland – this would be like beauty and the beast (best ride or real) and space mountain and thunder mountain etc.  At Disney Sea, this is like the entire park lol.  For Disney sea. I would use it for the frozen ride, peter pan neverland, and Indiana jones.  You can buy tickets every two hours and I would recommend skipping a few rides a day.

Unique things at Disney Japan resorts: The popcorn and the popcorn buckets.  Japan has some very unique popcorn flavors like matcha chocolate, white chocolate, CURRY (YES CURRY), salted caramel, and even soy sauce.  However, the popcorn buckets they sell definitely are rotated every year and have some new collectible ones each time.

The alien ice cream mochi from Toy story-  Def good and good for photo ops

 

Disney Ramen – this is over at Disney but they have udon and ramen and they have the mickey mouse egg that always confuses me on how they do it.

POKEMON CENTERS

So Pokemon is hot around the world again.  Tokyo definitely has a lot of Pokemon Centers to visit.

First warning: cards are very hard to get.  Pokemon centers only sell like 1-2 packs per set to you per day.  So if you are going to Japan thinking it’s easy to get Pokemon cards, it’s not.  However, Pokemon centers in Japan def have exclusives that are worth picking up.

Pokemon centers to visit:

POKEMON CENTER GINZA : this one is bougie and has the Pokemon café for Tokyo.  You got to enter the building from the side and take an elevator

location on google: https://share.google/MOhW2EJiIrcdRfha9

Pokemon Center Sunshine City – Ikkebukurro –  For some reason this one is small IMO but always so packed with people.  The lines here are long and the POkemon sweets café is here.
location on google: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KNA2BaHKXoWERts9A

Pokemon Shibuya: this has the “mewtube” with the mewtwo in the tube.  This location is small but definitely an iconic one to go.
location on google: https://share.google/DNgl79VaeRFnNlakd

Pokemon yokohama- this one is kind of a mission to go to but if you are in yokohama and want to see all the things to do there, then it’s just across the bridge from the station.
location on google: https://share.google/Dhs1ksOPc6J5XkgH7

Pokemon center lalaport in chiba- this one is def far but the exclusive ones are pretty worth the trip IMO.  It’s like an hour and 10 minutes train out from Tokyo station but I’ll bust this mission from Disneyland since Disneyland is close.

location on google: https://share.google/1muhBRfqFTTTXxl6g

Pokemon Center TOKYO STATION: get the exclusive here with the train conductors
location on google: https://share.google/LkUbMRnAI0Iyw8Lz2

THINGS I I WOULD DO IN TOKYO FOR YOUR FIRST TIME:

 

Two areas I’d recommend to visit for shopping for cute stuff is Harajuku Takeshita Street and Omotesand and Tokyo Station’s basement Character street.  Both areas are SUPER touristy areas and filled with people. you will see how your lining up skills are!

HARAJUKU to OMOTESANDO shopping area

there’s so many boutiques and stores to discover when you walk from harajuku over towards omotosando.  this to me is the most aesthetic shopping area of tokyo with lots of boutiques built into the neighborhoods.  some stores i recommend visiting:

  1. mofusand https://maps.app.goo.gl/rV5ZUJYcFV21VcT38
  2. kiddyland https://maps.app.goo.gl/wssAijJsTN9rznBR8
  3. ralph lauren (this location is the prettiest location in the world imo, i don’t shop here lol) https://share.google/s8g2e7LD8iyI3sZuA
  4. palace skateboards https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXFwMSPPUgFBkRPJA
  5. harry potter store https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bn7yPay361GYLUJSA

HARAJUKU TAKESHITA STREET

list of places: honestly, i’ve walked into every store. you will see a lot of clothing stores with harajuku, streetwear, and gothic stores so i recommend visiting them all.

location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/758hcwvqJdWjEbnF9

TOKYO STATION CHARACTER STREET

head to tokyo station and the fastest entrance is near nihombashi! location here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BKd1rE7GQxpHsYmt9


list of stores to visit

  1. TOKYO BANANA STORE (first floor) https://share.google/edjWn6PLfr8PM3K9G
  2. MOFUSAND store (basement) https://share.google/rcLx7vzBgTbDzzEUh
  3. SANRIO store (basement) https://share.google/pDlgN7GYE4xhXosK8
  4. DRAGONBALL Z STore (first floor) https://share.google/AYdkQOBDAQqBlP60C
  5. pokemon center tokyo station (first floor)
  6. SNOOPY store (basement floor)
  7. chikawa store (basement floor)
  8. One piece Mugiwara store (basement floor)

ANIMAL CAFES like MIPIG and CAPYBARA CAFE
I’ve done a lot of animal cafes over the last 10 years and some of my favorites are the piglet. cafe and Capybara cafe.
MIPIG: https://mipig.cafe/en/

CAPYBARA CAFE: https://cspace.co.jp/en/home_english/


Nakano Broadway

One of all of my favorite places in Tokyo Is Nakano Broadway, the famous mall filled with vintage toys, watches, and random shops.  Murakami’s original studio and store are here too.  The address to the mall is : https://share.google/bX0K75cGpwXjQzFdW

At Nakano, it is like vintage toy heaven in there.  The mall is filled with a lot of shops and no one in particular is better than the other but the Mandarake here takes up a lot of stores!

THE TEAMLAB MUSEUMS

The Tokyo Digital Lab Museums are kind of famous so I wouldn’t skip them.  you can buy tickets directly on their website or on KLOOK.

LIST OF RESTAURANTS I LIKE EATING IN TOKYO

So there’s obviously like half a million restaurants in tokyo and every trip i discover something new.  however, these restaurants are restaurants i’ve def tried and have gone back a few times.  a lot require reservations so try to make a resy ahead of time.  japanese do not use google or yelp…they use tabelog.  see link: https://s.tabelog.com/en/

1) shirubee in shibuya – this restaurant is kind of hidden. you have to walk up a walkway and find a hidden door. i’ll let you figure it out haha. https://share.google/QSCnrsZTIIjnbOdln

2) tonkatsu narikura – you will NEED a reservation for this place.  hit the website and make the resy.  maybe the best pork katsu i’ve ever had in my life
https://omakase.in/en/r/qw473765

3) gyu kaku but the akasaka branch.   ok ok- i know this is is all over california but california isn’t the true experience like it is in japan.  in japan, it’s a buffet.  plus, this location is the one i used to take all my coworkers to.  def try it https://share.google/TkDQj5T42pUuqSPTw

4) kameido gyoza – might be the best value meal i’ve had in japan and the best gyoza.  it’s in the cut in my second favorite neighborhood in tokyo – KINISCHO.
see the link here: https://share.google/d78TOkmKyow8LhHFk
5) the matcha tokyo (various locations but i go to skytree) . good matcha tea (iced) https://share.google/GJ2BvFajshDVfG9Yt

6) seirinkan (PIZZA).  i know…but try this pizza chain.  it’s next level https://share.google/bSjW0Bba7G4keDg5m

7) yakitori toriyoshi (very expensive yakitori, recommended by great friend eugene) https://share.google/8b0g5LSUtvaCPzfEE

8) ginza kagari soba (in ginza, very good soba noodles) https://share.google/zqyIyr47hnUrnZDfQ

9) caldo (in shinjuku, very good pancakes) https://share.google/gQAY0pED9ApXdY6wc

10) inaho-no-shizuku (my co workers friends place and man the chicken was so good) https://share.google/2qvCe3Tswc96yh1he

11) MONJA (thanks mai-chan!) monjayaki was delicious…try this whole street: https://share.google/UlMJ0qUaiqcTZZ83e

12) gyutan biyori (best beef tongue i’ve had in a while) https://share.google/ifHoR1PbQ5dYVFdnH

13) torisoba zagin (this is chicken ramen, and its creamy and i like it) https://share.google/yG21DJrTTLukoAXYM

14) suzukien x nanaya matcha ice cream shop (i went back like 3x) https://share.google/rjysIWjHBKpolov1t

15) glitch coffee roasters (thanks to my friend king) i go here to buy beans but its a unique coffee experience https://share.google/fRC1vJ54aL65GhGNL

16) manten sushi (near tokyo station). you need reservations but i thought this place was very good. book here: https://res-reserve.com/en/restaurants/manten-marunouchi

17) sushi rinka (you need a res here too) https://jpneazy.com/restaurants/36284

18) coffee elementary school (my friend eugene’s recommendation) i had a really good ice latte here https://share.google/fcYwjrYaXcN3K4ZtW

19) cafe reissue (a tourist coffee spot but they do cute art) https://share.google/SSG2X6UmgT76IS7y9

20) yakitori next circle (me and shelley been going here since 2019. it’s in the cut but it’s one of our favorite places that doesn’t speak english. VERY LOCALS only) https://maps.app.goo.gl/JHG6YnnwrisDirmx8

21) tsukioka (in ueno.  my hotel was next door and i swear i ended up here like 4x). very good general izakaya https://maps.app.goo.gl/

22) yakiniku yaichi 2.0 (in ueno near the station and open until like 2am) . i go here everytime i stay in ueno. the meat quality is great https://maps.app.goo.gl/y7JqELNMqJy8HZsz7

OSAKA and KYOTO MINI SECTION (work in progress…will finish this week)

i know this is a tokyo guide but most of you will be taking bullet trains to kyoto and osaka so just real quick here’s where i would stay in osaka:

  1. namba area (close to the all the action in the main part of osaka. close to dontonburi, food, restaurants)
  2. america village (near shinsaibashi) but near all the cool thrift stores and close to the shopping
  3. honmachi (pretty decent nearby shinsabashi but a little bit more quiet.  lots of american properties nearby but also near the subway)
  4. shin-osaka area (this is my favorite shopping area and its near the shinkansen area so its closer.  however, it’s north compared the rest of osaka)

and where to stay in KYOTO:

  1. kiyo
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