The Wishlist: A Culture Vulture’s Guide to Tokyo
Culture Trip brings you The Wishlist – a ready collection of travel ideas inspired by what you love. Discover things to do, where to stay, and the best spots to eat and drink.
Tokyo was designed to confuse people. No, really. During the Edo period, dead-end streets were deliberately built into the city to confuse outsiders (and stop them reaching the shogun’s castle).
While the confusion is no longer created intentionally, there is something captivating about Tokyo’s contrast of cultures. From the flashing neon lights of Akihabara to the historic backstreets of Asakusa, Tokyo is a city where ancient traditions meet hyper-modern trends.
So whether it’s your first, fourth or 15th time visiting the city, Culture Trip is here to help you find the best things to eat, drink, see and do.
1. Tour Tokyo’s temples and technicoloured streets
Shrine, Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
From ancient Buddhist temples to cutting-edge technology, Tokyo embraces the modern and the spiritual in equal measure. To get a true sense of this sprawling city, this tour of contrasts starts with a trip to the serene Meiji Jingū Shrine, shrouded by evergreen broadleaf trees. Just a stone’s throw away is Harajuku, home to Takeshita Street. Here, you’ll find food stalls, clothes shops and groups of young people dressed head to toe in kawaii fashion. Then it’s on to Akihabara, where you can pick up a bargain or two from the various tech stores and shop for comics and video games at seven-storey-high otaku manga emporiums.
2. Practise gratitude at a Japanese tea ceremony
Buddhist Temple
Immerse yourself in Japanese culture by taking part in a traditional tea ceremony at Gion-ji Temple. Focussing on mindfulness, gratitude and hospitality, the ceremony has been around for over 1,000 years. Guided by the temple’s head priest, begin by boiling water in an iron kettle and whisking matcha. Then sip your tea from beautiful ceramics and finish off with wagashi sweets to leave you feeling refreshed, calm and ready to take on Tokyo.
3. Watch a sumo tournament at Ryōgoku Kokugikan
Stadium
4. Catch a show at Kabuki-za
Theater
5. Step into the ancient streets of Yanaka
Archaeological site, Historical Landmark, Shrine
If historic Japan is more your vibe, then embark on this walking tour of Yanaka. Stroll through the neighbourhood, paying your respects at shrines and temples that have been around since the Edo period. A highlight is the Nezu Shrine, which was built in 1706. Just don’t forget your camera!
Food and drink in Tokyo
6. Eat at KITAOHJI for a true taste of Tokyo
Restaurant, Japanese
7. Nightlife delights, from Golden Gai to Kabukicho
Historical Landmark
So, you’re ready to hit the town, but where do you start? Tokyo’s Shinjuku district has one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in the world. And this bar-hopping night tour will take you through its pulsating streets to the spots tourists often miss. First is Golden Gai, an alley packed with Japanese izakaya where you can drink (responsibly) to your heart’s content while enjoying delicious smoky yakitori (chicken skewers). Then it’s on to Kabukicho, a cheerfully grungy entertainment district where you’ll rub shoulders with a diverse crowd of office workers and drag queens.
8. Sip sake at Akaoni
Bar, Restaurant, Japanese
If you’d prefer something a little more sedate, try Akaoni – a classic sake bar and izakaya. The translation of Akaoni is Red Devil and beginners must be careful – they take their sake very seriously here! Once inside though, you’ll be impressed with the warm, down-to-earth atmosphere. And with more than 100 varieties to choose from, including a seasonal option called namazake (that’s raw, unpasteurised sake), you’ll be sure to find the sake that suits you.
Where to stay in Tokyo
9. Tradition meets modernity at Hotel Niwa
Boutique Hotel
Cut inauspiciously out of a high-rise in a discrete neighbourhood in Tokyo, this charming hotel has the look and feel of a ryokan with a contemporary twist. Rooms at Hotel Niwa feature shoji screens and tatami-inspired carpeting, but with stylish, high-tech amenities. Of the two restaurants on-site, check out Yukuri for a relaxed kaiseki (multi-course) dining experience set in a Zen garden.
10. Authentic accommodation at Ryokan Kamogawa Asakusa
Boutique Hotel, Ryokan
If Hotel Niwa is a modern ryokan, then Kamogawa Asakusa is straight out of the old school. This inn features an array of authentic touches, including tatami flooring and futon bedding, a tea set in every room, massage services, a large public bath, tea rooms, and Japanese breakfast and dinner. The location is another big plus: it’s only a two-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate and Sensō-ji Temple.
11. Luxury at Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba
Luxury
Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba is a great choice for those looking to explore the capital’s most historic sites. The hotel is located just south of Shiba Park, where you can find the Tokugawa Mausoleum, Zōjō-ji Temple and the mysterious Shiba Maruyama Kofun, an unknown ancient tomb from the fifth century. Luckily, the hotel provides a useful map of the Edo-period spots for easy navigation. Throughout its luxurious rooms and wellness spa, Hotel The Celestine Tokyo Shiba balances modern functionality with traditional Japanese design.
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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
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