Tokyo
Discover the best of Tokyo – travel tips, places to visit, local food, and more. Explore the culture, lifestyle, and hidden gems of Japan’s capital city.
Japan Theme Park Crowd Calendar: Best Days to Go
When are Tokyo Disney and Universal Studios Japan least crowded? A month by month crowd calendar plus how to read dynamic ticket prices.
Where to Stay in Tokyo: Best Neighbourhoods From a 3-Year Resident
Choosing where to stay in Tokyo is harder than it looks. The city is huge, there is no single “centre”, and the wrong neighbourhood can add an hour of train rides to every day of your trip. I lived in Tokyo for three years, studied for my master’s degree at Waseda University and made my…
Best Day Trips From Tokyo: Mount Fuji, Kamakura, Nikko and More
Tokyo is huge, but some of the best experiences are just outside the city: Mount Fuji, onsen towns, samurai streets, beaches and mountain shrines. During my three years in Tokyo, day trips were my favourite way to escape the crowds on a weekend. This guide lists the best day trips from Tokyo, how to get…
Golden Gai Shinjuku: The Honest Insider Guide (What Nobody Tells You)
Golden Gai is a warren of six tiny alleys in Shinjuku, Tokyo, packed with around 200 bars so small that many seat just four to six people. Born from a post-war black market, it kept its cramped, lantern-lit Showa era character while the rest of Shinjuku grew into neon towers. Today it is one of…
Kabukicho Tokyo: The Ultimate Insider Guide to Shinjuku’s Wildest District
Kabukicho is loud, neon-soaked, occasionally chaotic, and completely unlike anywhere else in Tokyo. It’s the kind of place that looks overwhelming on Google Maps and delivers even more in real life. Whether you’re chasing cheap izakaya drinks, hunting for the perfect Halloween costume crowd, or just want to absorb one of Asia’s most famous red-light…
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Furniture Stores in Tokyo: MUJI vs. Nitori vs. IKEA
Moving into a new apartment in Tokyo can be surprisingly challenging, especially for foreigners who are unfamiliar with Japan’s unique housing layouts. Unlike many Western countries, Tokyo apartments are often designed around compact living, with narrow hallways, small elevators, limited storage space, and room dimensions that can make standard furniture feel oversized. Choosing the right…
Tokyo With Kids: Best Things to Do and Family Travel Tips
Tokyo is one of the best cities in the world for a family trip. It is very safe, spotlessly clean, full of playgrounds and parks, and the public transport is easy even with a stroller. Kids love the theme parks, anime shops, aquariums and food, and parents love that everything just works. I lived in…
Standing Bars in Shinjuku: The Ultimate Guide to Tokyo’s Cheapest and Most Authentic Night Out
If you’ve ever walked through Shinjuku at night, you probably remember the chaos. Neon lights everywhere, crowds moving in every direction, music spilling out onto the streets. Most people head straight into Kabukicho without thinking twice, following what feels like the obvious Kabukicho nightlife guide route. Just a few minutes away, Golden Gai packs around…
Kichijoji: Tokyo’s Best-Kept Secret for Foodies, Anime Fans, and Urban Explorers
Often ranked as one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Tokyo, Kichijoji Tokyo stands out as a perfect example of urban balance done right. In almost every Kichijoji Tokyo guide, you’ll see the same contrast: a lively shopping district that blends seamlessly with the raw, nostalgic charm of post-war alleyways, all centered around one of…
Confronting Chikan: The Realities of Train Groping in Japan and Modern Defense Measures
The efficiency of Japan’s railway network is celebrated worldwide. Trains run precisely to the second, commuters move in silent, disciplined rivers, and station attendants handle millions of souls daily with practiced grace. Yet, underneath this veneer of hyper-modern civil structure lies a persistent, deeply distressing crisis that has plagued the nation for decades: chikan (public…
