ROBIN'S GUIDE TO

Tokyo

Places I've been and things I'd do

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Jiyūgaoka Station

A really cute little area for an easy wander. If you’re nearby, drop in, take a walk, and see some pretty things — it’s just so cute.

Tokyo Skytree

So cool. You have to see it — it’s crazy, crazy, crazy high. I went at night and had so much fun, but daytime would be great too, as long as it isn’t hazy.

Sensō-ji Temple

Just a cool temple. Cool koi pond and historical stuff.

Shiba Park

Pretty park for a pretty day. Right next to Tokyo Tower

Tokyo DisneySea

Disneyland is for kids; DisneySea is for adults. Both are super fun, and the roller coasters are amazing.

BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR SHOPS Ichikawa Store

You have to go. For cheap, cool Japanese junk, find a Super Bazaar — but check first that it has the kind of things you want. There are lots of different Offs: Book Off, Hard Off, and Off House. So fun.

Edo-Tokyo Museum

So cool — I loved it. It closed right after I visited for five years of renovations, so it has to be absolutely insane now.

Koishikawa Botanical Garden

These gardens are owned by the University of Tokyo. If you’re in the area, go see them: it’s pretty, peaceful, and a nice place to walk around. Definitely check tickets and opening details first.

Things to try

Catch a baseball game

Go see a baseball game if you can, especially one that ends at night — the fireworks are insane. My biggest regret from my time in Japan is not going to one.

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Try every kind of onigiri

Try a rice ball every day. When you need a snack, stop at a 7-Eleven or FamilyMart and buy some onigiri. Start with tuna mayo, then try them all — they’re so cool, and figuring out how to open them is half the fun.

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Visit a sentō or onsen

Go to a public bath — I mean, come on. I can’t recommend a specific one in Tokyo, but they’re all pretty nice. Just check that it’s foreigner-friendly; there are websites that can help with that.

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Go to a game center

Hit an arcade and play Taiko no Tatsujin, the Mario Kart arcade cabinet, and one of the horror games. They’re really fun — and most game centers also have an entire floor of claw machines.

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Go to a 100-yen shop

Find a Daiso in a big mall — the giant or multi-story ones are especially fun. You can find an entire floor of cool Japanese stuff to bring home

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Get conveyor-belt sushi

Go get conveyor-belt sushi at Sushiro. There are a million of them. Go.

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