The Constorium of Greater Minds

my friend cole will be in japan next month and he recently asked for a few suggestions on what to do there – if you think this is overboard i should let you know i could go on. i always love the opportunity to impart my knowledge of places and experiences – it makes me excited thinking of the amazing time i had in tokyo and the opportunity to help friends and family have a similarly great adventure is always a joy – plus i get to reminisce a bit…bon voyage, cole!

Cole,

I love the opportunity to pass on the knowledge of places I’ve come to love – I know how much fun and excitement I experienced in Tokyo over my 27 months in the area and I hope I can guide you to experience the city in a similar manner! Here’s a version of my Tokyo Tour Guide – not at all comprehensive…I could type for days, but will definitely set you on the right path. But first a disclaimer: one of the features that makes Tokyo so amazing are its maze like streets and alleyways – you will quickly find it apparent that street signs are useless here and any sort of urban planning has been an afterthought for many years – but this is what makes every hour in the city such an adventure. Searching down narrow streets for a shop or restaurant, wandering through quiet neighborhoods to find cool boutiques or hidden bars is something I always loved about the city. So, the disclaimer – I’m not going to give any directions, you’ll have to do a little searching on the internet for maps, and you’ll inevitably get lost trying to find some of the more tucked away spots, but, hey, that’s half the fun. Enjoy!

name location description
dining
Gonpachi Nishi-azabu (easy walk from roppongi crossing) The restaurant that supposedly inspired the decor of the dining room in the lucy-lui massacre scene in kill bill. Japanese fare of all sorts. A tourist mecha, yes, but a guaranteed great vibe for a larger group. You must call ahead for a fri/sat meal.
The Pink Cow Shibuya Have fun finding this ex-pat hangout. Great California inspired organic grub.
Yoshinoya Everywhere Ubiquitous Japanese fast food. You purchase a ticket from a machine corresponding to what you want. Hand the ticket to the staff and five minutes later you have a steaming bowl of rice, shredded beef and a raw egg cracked on top – mix it all up with your chop sticks – delicious!
Michelangelos Daikanyama Awesome authentic Italian café on one of my favourite neighborhoods. After you finish your cappuccino continue your walk down the street and stop by the park for a nice view of the city.
Andy’s Shin-hinomoto Yurakucho Awesome atmosphere, great for a smaller group. Run by a british ex-pat. Located underneath the train tracks in Yurakucho. Japanese styled bar food. Order the stuffed chicken wings! Call in advance!
bars/clubs/lounges
The Cavern Club Roppongi One of my all time favourite places in the city. Nestled just off the main drag of roppongi madness you’ll find the greatest japanese beatles cover band and quite possibly the best in the world! They even look like the beatles! They play requests and while there is a cover charge and bevs are pretty spendy you will not regret the experience of listening to great beatles tunes and living it up at a table next to a bunch of drunk Japanese businessmen!
Le baron Aoyama Ultra cool sister lounge of the paris original. Epitome of the “hidden” and hyped – have fun searching for this one! Can be a little stuffy and won’t get busy until around midnight or later.
Red bar aka chandelier bar Shibuya Another one of the “secret bars.” Very small, but very cool. A hit with the ex-pat hipster crowd.
Geronimos shot bar Roppongi The bar we all loved to hate. Every time we’d head out for a night in Tokyo we’d tell ourselves that this time we weren’t going to go to roppongi, we were going to branch out. 75% of the time we’d invariably be stumbling out of the roppongi train station somewhere around midnight. Geronimos is the bar in roppongi we’d then tell ourselves we wouldn’t end up in…and then we would. Don’t wear a tie unless you want to have it cut in half and tacked to the wall…look for a tie with the letters DRC on it.
Ferria Roppongi Dress to the nines and party with the glittering people.
the new lex Roppongi Dress like a hipster and party with underage Russian models…
Muse Nishi-azabu Where Lisa and I met. Kind of hidden but once you’re in very laid back vibe. Cool layout, with two subterranean floors, private karaoke rooms (book in advance), pool tables, etc. After a late dinner at gonpachi cross the street and party the night away here.
Library lounge THESE Nishi-azabu For a more relaxing, low key bookend to a racous dinner at gonpachi see if you can find this super cool, laid back bar in the back streets of nishi-azabu. One of my favourite bars in the city! Good luck searching!
Warehouse Nishi-azabu Ultra cool music venue. Hosts all the cool electro/disco euro acts like justice, dj mehdi, surkin, busy p, etc. visit their website for listings.
Blue note Tokyo Aoyama The only other legitimate blue note venue in the world (original in nyc). Hosts all the best jazz and funk acts. Book in advance for a great intimate diner/show event.
shops
Tower records Shibuya TR is dead in America but thriving in japan. Top floor hosts the English language book section. Pick up some cool Japanese magazines or rare art books.
Neighborhood Harajuku Harajuku is the mecca of Japanese youth culture and neighborhood is one of the grandfathers of the streetwear scene that is sweeping the world. Even if you don’t want to look like a Japanese hipster the décor (ceramic AK47s and Hitler bust plus amazing mckintosh stereo system) is worth a visit. While you’re in harajuku also check out Supreme (located one floor above neighborhood), BAPE, APC underground, VISVIM, Head Porter and Nike Sportswear.
Prada Aoyama Get off the train at harajuku station, walk down omotesando, through harajuku and into aoyama. This roughly two mile walk is home to some of the greatest retail architecture in the world and the prada building is just one of many.
Isetan Ginza or Shinjuku The barney’s of japan. Head to the Japanese crafts floor to check out 10000 dollar kimonos and 200 dollar ceramic tea cups…crazy!
Beams Shibuya, harajuku, daikanyama, etc. The urban outfitters of japan but so much cooler.
VISVIM Harajuku Hands down my brand/shop in the city.
parks
Yoyogi Harajuku Get off the train at harajuku station and instead of walking down omotesando turn 180 degrees and head into the park. You’ll be there in march so you might catch some sakura (cherry blossom) action! A must on a warm spring day. While you’re there visit the meiji shrine.
Shinjuku Shinjuku The well manicured version of yoyogi. A beautiful green oasis in the city.
kichijoji kichijoji A little further a field but a great spot for a picnic if you have an afternoon to kill.
Ueno Ueno Home to a zoo, museums, restaurants and more. One of my favourite spots. Once you’re done in the park nose through the den of shops in the area called Ameyoko and stop in for a real local bite to eat.
Bonjour records Daikanyama Hipster import music mecca. Go here.
Neighborhoods
Daikanyama On the south side of the city. Change in yokohama to the tokyu-toyoko line and get off in this quiet neighborhood in the worlds biggest city. Home to many cool shops, bars, restaurants and cafés.
Naka Meguro Make the same switch in yokohama but be careful, I don’t think the express stops here. Or better yet, walk here from daikanyama (remember the park I mentioned in the Michelangelo description – walk down the hill and continue going strait). Beautiful urban canal lined with cherry trees. Another quiet neighborhood full of interesting shops and restaurants.
Roppongi Go here at least once. Along with shibuya, roppongi is ground zero for the craziest night life experience you’ll ever have. Visit the observation deck on the 52nd floor of the mori building for an amazing view of the city (at night it will stun you – think blade runner).
Shibuya The busiest cross walk in the world. The times square of Tokyo. Simply awesome.
Ueno For a cultural day out, visit the park then the Tokyo National Art Gallery to check out hokusai’s great wave painting.
Harajuku My favourite neighborhood in the city…possibly the world.
Shimokitazawa Home of antique shops, vinyl stores and funky bars and restaurants. Another smaller, quiets neighborhood, great for a stroll. Get here quickly on the train from shibuya.

Alright, brother – that should be more than enough to start you off on your own personal Tokyo adventure. I want to hear all about it. You’re going to have a blast, guaranteed. Japan/Tokyo is such an amazing place.

Websites to visit before you arrive:

www.metropolis.co.jp

http://www.thenewsanno.com/

miscellaneous tips:

book rooms at the new sanno (military hotel in Tokyo 45.00 a night!) in ADVANCE – like NOW.
Call ahead to restaurants if you’re bringing a group – for a weekend, call the week prior
drinking in public is legal and accepted
always buy chu-his to drink on the train ride into toyko
cash is king in japan – always have plenty
purchase a suica card or pasmo to look like a real local ex-pat and make navigating the subways faster
natural lawsons is the coolest convenient store ever – buy your chu-his here or at any regular lawsons or circle k or 7 and holdings or…
clubs in Tokyo almost always have a hefty cover charge (~3000 yen) so this makes “bar hopping” a little uneconomical – something to keep in mind. A night out in the city can easily cost 200 dollars!
Cabs are really expensive (750 yenjust to get in)
Don’t go to gas panic in roppongi or shibuya!
Watch lost in translation before, during and after your visit
Find the best sushi in Yokosuka beneath Yokosuka chuo station
Visit the Ferry terminal in Yokohama
The only place you have to go to in the honch is the chu-hi stand…just ask for it – everyone knows.
Try coco’s curry at least once (outside base near shiori station) – if you’re man enough get a level 10!
Book a night or at least an afternoon at an onsen (hot spring). There are plenty in the local area – easily accessible by train.
Go to Kyoto for a couple of nights if you can swing it – breathtaking.