From @helenvholmes to you 💖
If you're nervous about traveling in a country where you can't read anything: restaurants often have menus with pictures. The train system is all doubled in English. When you get in and you're exhausted from a huge flight, I recommend Airport Limousine Bus. As soon as you get out of customs, you will see a big orange counter for the company. Just tell them the hotel, and they will drop you off right at the entrance.
Most places take credit cards, but you’ll need cash for the trains. There are normally ATMs inside the 7/11s. It's worth it to get a Suica card.
Sim cards?: You can get one at the BIC Camera Shibuya.
Outlets?: You'll only need a converter if you need to charge something that doesn't have a block to regulate the voltage difference if you're coming from the States. If you're coming from elsewhere I have this block, which is nice because it works for outlets all over the world and is nice and tiny. This one looks like it's even more useful but I can't speak to its quality.
Shoes: there are lots of no-shoes zones, so wearing socks all the time is a good idea!
Punctuality: Being on time means being 10 minutes early in Japan.
- Prince Shinagawa Hotel: This is the hotel we stayed at! The hotel is nearby to a really good train station—the JR line takes you along a lot of the tourist-y, first-time-to-Tokyo places you’ll want to go. 10/10 recommend, quick to get anywhere you’d wanna go. The hotel also has a cool bar on the top floor which has great views and if you’re not into drinking, has a really good sweets menu.
- Okonomiyaki kiji shinagawa: okonomiyaki is Japanese hot plate food. It’s amazing. This + a Japanese highball = awesome night
- 丸亀製麺品川店 Udon place. A quick place for comfort food and if you feel like eating a lot.
- The Crosswalk: every photo of Japan ever is of this crosswalk. Worth checking out for that reason alone.
- This is the highrise district! Gotta stop here for classy Muji at its finest.
- Shopping district. Has the largest Apple store in the world, and a 7 story tall Uniqlo. So many basics. When Brian and I went there was a literal party happening on the top floor. Nbd.
- Ginza Kagari, 銀座 篝: The lines for this place are batshit but it’s the best ramen in the city, according to my friend Natasha. We actually got pretty solid ramen somewhere in Akibahara around here if this places’ line is too cray.
- Tokyu Hands: I didn’t make it here and I’m really sad about it—apparently it’s pen/stationary heaven.
- This is the anime district, and you'll notice when you get there it's incredibly loud compared to the rest of Tokyo. In addition to anime/manga you can find hobbyist electronics and small arcade games here. If that's not your thing I think it's okay to skip. But it is also where I had the most bomb ramen which I can't find on Google Maps no matter how hard I try. So idk.
- Owl Café: You can pet owls in Japan, if that’s a thing you’ve wanted to do. You can also pet hedgehogs and cats in cafés too. GOOGLE THE ANIMAL YOU WANNA PET, JAPAN PROBABLY HAS A CAFE FOR IT. (I know on Twitter there's some concern over pet cafés and how they treat owls—this café seemed really well-run to me.)
- TEEN GIRL MODE. This place is amazing. Go if you want pink shit, kawaii stuff, to see giant tvs with gudetama, and sweets like waffles and ice cream. It’s a weird place, in a good way.
- Here (and Muji, and generally in drug stores) are good places to buy Asian makeup you can't find in the States. Plus: face masks, which aren't a bad idea considering getting to Japan is approximately 1 billion hours.
- This is where the Tokyo Tower is, which is a cool way to see and get rad shots of the city. The park nearby is really beautiful and peaceful.
- Ramen
- Okonomiyaki*
- Hojicha tea
- Tonkatsu don
- Udon
- Sushi
- I’d even consider googling it, so much good food <3
* Personal favorite! I'd never had it before and it was a really lovely experience.
Bed and Book Hostel: I haven't been here but it's on the list for next time!
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