Tokyo hangouts

Shimokitazawa is always a neat area to check out - also Koenji or Kichijoji. Tsukiji is unusual. Everyone I have taken to Tsukiji has enjoyed it, even the non-sushi eaters. I'm not sure what is interesting to you, but instead of Akihabara, I'd go to Nakano Broadway. Not to be missed. Sushi and Unagi are both really pricey. An average, satisfying and nutritious non-sushi or unagi lunch at a restaurant in office areas are priced at around yen to yen.

Soba noodles are a local specialty in the Nihonbashi area too. One of my favorite soba restaurants there is Yabukyu. Their soba is good of course, but I really, really like their tempura — deep fried seafood and vegetables. I personally recommend their vegetable Tempura soba. Sushi, tempura and soba were fast food for the common people. But the restaurants that have survived since the beginning of these food cultures have refined these dishes to a point where nobody would dare to call them fast food anymore.

Some hamburgers taste unbelievably good. Likewise, the sushi and tempura you will have in Nihonbashi will taste unbelievably good. Miniature replica of Mitsui-Echigoya clothing store from the s. Nihonbashi was also the origin of the Japanese shopping experience. Well that was not how shopping went back in the 17th century. You would ask a shopkeeper how much a cucumber was, and then the shopkeeper would look at your face and what you were wearing and decide the price for you on the spot.

How did that work? So the shop keeper would give you a fair price. Prices were like jazz played by jerks. They were improvised! Miniature people shopping inside Mitsui-Echigoya. But Mitsukoshi put an end to the madness and established a business model where they guaranteed a fixed price tag. This meant that clothing shopping was only for the rich. Salespeople would only visit the homes that could afford their products. So Mitsukoshi decided to change all that, and they started selling clothes at their massive shop, and anybody was allowed to come in to see what they had to offer.

There is a very delicate miniature replication of this Mitsukoshi shop from the s at the Edo Tokyo Museum. It was called Mitsui Echigoya back then. I took a picture of it so let me post it here on my blog. Ordinary people were able to shop for clothes thanks to Mitsukoshi. They made shopping a form of entertainment for the masses.

I get amazed at what human beings can actually make every time I visit the 5th floor of Mitsukoshi. Speaking of artifacts, Nihonbashi is also where you can see and get the finest handmade Japanese souvenirs. The 2nd floor of this building called Coredo Muromachi Terrace is almost like a mini museum of modern Japanese arts and crafts.

Kiya is a cutlery specialty store with a history of over years. The casual dining and drinking venue has 40 different types of Japanese craft beer on tap, and the lineup changes daily, so even regulars will always have something new to try. Yes, discrimination is totally a legal thing in Japan.

Photo by: Gallery and Bar Albatross Decadent decor. Albatross G, hidden within the labyrinth of the wild red-light district Kabukicho, is the latter. This live-music centric bar hosts a rotating roster of events all week long, most of which are foreign-run. Shimokitazawa Shimokita, for short is a bohemian neighborhood less frequented by casual travelers, despite only being a short hop from Shibuya and having plenty to offer in terms of vintage shopping, quirky eateries and indie entertainment options.

Ebisu pronounced e-bis is a trendy, yet lively district full of great bars and restaurants. Catering particularly to hip Tokyoites in their 30s and early 40s though naturally not in the least limited to this demographic , Ebisu is also one of the best places in Tokyo to indulge in the izakaya experience.

Spending a few hours over food and drink at an izakaya Japanese-style gastropub is a great way to start your night out and mingle with locals in a relaxed setting. Beyond its countless bars and izakayas, Ebisu is also home to a great collection of stylish watering holes, including many old-school pubs and trendy tachinomiya. For a crash course in old-school Japanese nightlife, take a peek into the raucous Ebisu Yokocho.

Japanese craft beer is not yet internationally famous though many craft beer lovers are familiar with Hitachino Nest Beer. We live and breathe Japan, and want you to experience the Japan we know and love.

To keep pace, craft beer bars and pubs have exploded in number throughout Tokyo and the rest of Japan. One of the best is Craft Beer Market, which has friendly and helpful staff, a great selection of Japanese craft beer, and relatively reasonable prices craft beer in Japan is usually quite pricey. Craft Beer Market has locations throughout the city. Another fun option is Yanaka Beer Hall, a cute spot in the adorably old-fashioned Yanesen area.