Five days in Tokyo, Japan and a million pieces of new information charging through my brain. While processing this inspiration artistically, I’ll share some super tips for first time visitors. These were both researched in advance, and discovered the hard way.
Be a dork. Take the tour.
There’s no way to get a grasp of Tokyo’s individudal districts & traditional rituals without a guided tour. Even if your best Japanese pen pal from fifth grade does it, tours by residents give a hidden history to the sights and sounds you see, adding more meaning than a million guidebooks.
- City Introduction. Do a general Tokyo tour your first day . The HatoBus half-day tour drives all over the city, dropping you in Ginza to explore the madcap shopping.
- Kabuki Theater. Citizens run their own tours, like Kazui of Tokyo Kabuki Guides. Born out of her own love for Kabuki, she helps newbies and visitors understand the history with an intimate conversation over tea and sweets around the corner from the Shinbashi Enbujo theater, then walks them to the box office, buys your tickets, and sends you in, informed on the stories you’ll see, how to behave, and where to pick up intermission’s lunch.
- Japanese Ghosts. Haunted Tokyo Tours walk for 2 hours plus, through the slums of long ago, down haunted pathways– if you’re lucky, to the grave of Hattori Hanzo and even the shrine to Japan’s most famous ghost Oiwa. Spiritual cleansings are included at the tour’s conclusion. Thankfully.
Each district has its day.
Some days are better than others for specific sights. Ginza closes down their streets for pedestrian paradise on Saturdays. Harajuku’s fashion kids come out to Yoyogi on Sundays, but Sundays aren’t the best days to bar hop.
Be a one-night regular.
Don’t just booze and bounce from bar to bar. When you find one you vibe with, stick around for a few. People will start coming up to you, photoshoots start to happen, the owner might buy you a drink, and the barbecue may come out for free food later in the night. People are people. We get familiar with each other over time and REAL familiar over drink.
Cash is emperor.
Don’t expect to drop your credit card at every restaurant and little shop. Most won’t take it and cab drivers definitely won’t. Get yen from your bank before you go, but since not all banks stock a ton of yen, the best move is to buy out your bank, take American cash, & exchange it at the Narita airport, but I’d make sure the currency exchange is open when your flight arrives. If you need an ATM, find a post office. Look for the red symbol. There’s a fee to pull yen from your card, but worth it if you’re cashless.
Get a global data plan.
Verizon offers 100mb of global roaming data for $25. When you go over, you get a message telling you another $25 has been added to your account. This is going to save your ass– when you need to access Google Maps, when you need an address for a cab driver, when you need a translation… And how cheap is $25, compared to the “fuck it, I’ll just roam” plan? Prepare.
7-Eleven is your friend.
Don’t go to McDonald’s late at night. Just don’t. It’s no better than the American version, despite what your disgusting friends have told you. 7-Eleven is stocked with the candies and sodas your friends back home will love, and the fresh salads, onigiri, Japanese-style snacks and toiletries you are going to need.
This should help first time visitors overcome a few challenges. Hit me on Twitter for more specific reccommendations– there’s no possible way to pack the amazingness of Japan into one post.
