Tokyo is the capital city of Japan. With an area of a massive 2188km², Tokyo consists of several districts each as interesting as the other. A complex train network connects to every part of Tokyo such that it is possible to reach most attractions in Tokyo simply by commuting via train. My sojourn around the city brought me to most of the main tourists attraction around Tokyo. Most of my plan was helped crafted by a Japanese friend, Yuta-san, whom I met during a short exchange to Chiba University. Without much ado, here is a comprehensive 2 day itinerary for a first timer in Tokyo, Japan!
The Basic Tokyo tourist itinerary
Tokyo Day 1
Meiji Shrine - Asakusa - Akihabara - Shinjuku
0700 - (30 mins) Wake up, rise and shine. I woke up in the comfort of National Olympic Memorial Youth Center, a youth hostel located conveniently between Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. Prices per night is inexpensive and about the same cost as a Capsule Hotel in Tokyo. Wash up, pack your bag and head down for breakfast.
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| National Olympics Memorial Youth Center |
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Wide beautiful campus with Central Building in background
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0730 - (45 mins) Eat breakfast at the hostel’s cafeteria, Cafeteria Fuji, at Central Building or the hostel’s convenience store at Block D. Breakfast at the cafeteria is a buffet style and is really value for money at ~Y500+ (SGD 6~).
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| Cafeteria Fuji |
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| Fulfilling Buffet breakfast |
0815 - (15 mins) Take a 15 mins walk to Meiji Shrine to the right of the Olympic Center.
0830 - (2 hours) Meiji Shrine. The shrine is located inside a large beautiful park. A huge torii (traditional Japanese gate) marks the entrance to the park. Several routes leads to the shrine, the most commonly trodden being the main one leading straight to the shrine, but I would recommend taking a less walked route. A route to the left will take you through a bamboo forest and then an open ground with a view of Tokyo city at a distant. Around this time, there are almost close to no visitors. Enter the impressive shrine. There is a traditional ablution well one can try at the entrance of the shrine. In the shrine, admire the architecture of this Shinto temple dedicated to the divine spirit of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken. Write prayers and goodwill on letters and wooden boards provided and take in the calm and pleasant atmosphere.
Explore the forest park surrounding Meiji Shrine. I ventured around the park and chanced upon Homotsuden, the treasure museum located near Meiji Shrine. From the outside, it does look impressive but it was closed due to reconstruction due to damage caused by a recent earthquake. A little more exploration uncovered a gem for me as I chanced upon a Shiseikan, a traditional Japanese training hall, where I got to observe students practicing Kyudo (Japanese archery).
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| Meiji Shrine |
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| Ablution Area |
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| Prayers and goodwill |
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| Kyudo in the Shiseikan |
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| Early morning meditation |
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| Inside Meiji Shrine |
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| Writer on one of many routes in the park |
1030 - (1 hour 30 mins) Travelling. Exit Meiji Shrine and start to make your way towards Asakusa. There are several train routes one can take to get to Asakusa. I took the Chuo-Sobu line to Asakusabashi Station, got lost while transferring to the Asakusa Line which is underground and on a separate train station, and then took another train to Asakusa Station.
1200 - (45 mins) Asakusa. The beautiful district that houses the massive and impressive Sensoji Temple. The day in which I visited was incidentally during the Honzon Jigen e, held round 18 May, hence there were innumerable fascinating activities and parades being put up. I would recommend coming on one of the festival days because it is such a wonderful and interesting experience. On other days I would recommend heading to find a restaurant to have your lunch first before proceeding to see the attractions because there are a lot of things to see and do here. There are many food outlets to choose from in the Sensoji Temple vicinity itself.
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| A parade as part of the Honzon Jigen e Festival |
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| Some booths erected for the Honzon Jigen e Festival |
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| Other performances during the Honzon Jigen e Festival |
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| I touched the dragon which is said to bring good luck (according to a shopkeeper I conversed with) at the Honzon Jigen e Festival. |
On the way, you will first have to pass the great Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate). Then, you will get to pass the Nakamise Shopping Street filled with interesting and amazing gifts, snacks and souvenirs. Among the stores I found was a Ninja- Samurai Specialty store tended by ninjas. You will pass here again on the way back and will definitely want to stop by again, so try not to spend too much time here first and head for lunch!
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| The beautiful Nakamise Shopping Street |
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| Welcome to Nakamise Street! |
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| My kagebunshin on the right |
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| Postcard-worthy Nakamise Street |
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| Some interesting items on display |
Pass the numerous temples and shrines, and housed in what looked like a shopping arcade, is the Naritaya Halal Ramen Store. Owned by a very friendly chef and assisted by a Malay speaking lady, this was where I ate my first chicken Ramen noodles and it was oishi! (delicious!) The price is quite affordable, around Y700 (SGD 8~), but the ramen is so rich and flavourful it makes my mouth water just remembering it. I also bought some roasted potato croutons, Y300 (SGD 3~) a packet, to munch on as I explore Asakusa. There is a quaint dining room at the second floor which gives you a view of the activities in the shopping arcade such as the famous Kagetudo Bakery and a fish massage shop.
Naritaya Halal Ramen Store: Opening hours: 10am-9pm I Inquiry: +81 3-4285-9806
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| Entrance to Naritaya Halal Ramen Store |
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| Oishi Chicken Ramen meal! |
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| View from the second floor |
12.45 - There is an option for visitors to don traditional kimonos from kimono rental shops found around the complex at a price of around Y3000 (SGD 36~) per day. Tourists and locals alike don them to take beautiful pictures of themselves amid the great temple structures. Full and energised, it is time to explore Asakusa.
(10 mins) Coming from the back entrance of the temple complex, I found my way to a less trodden shrine, the Hikan Inari Shrine. At the time I visited, there was a lady performing a ritual at the shrine with an elaborate set and music surrounding her. A crowd of spectator respectfully observed her as she appeared to sing and play a musical instrument.
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| An intriguing activity at the Hikan Inari Shrine |
12.55 - (35 mins) A short distance across the pebbled surface is the Sensoji Temple itself. Other than taking pictures with the huge and imposing temple structure, one can also engage is several rituals. There is a pagoda of sorts at the foot of the stairs filled with smoke from joss sticks. You can purchase a set of joss sticks for around Y150 (SGD 2~). The smoke is believed to be able to cure anything except for asthma, so I heard. Thus, you can try breathing in the smoke or like many, wave it to parts of your body. Nearby, there are several self-help fortune telling stations. There is no one manning the stations but you are required to donate Y100 (SGD 1~) to try them. I tried one and a Vietnamese friend of mine, Trang, whom I bumped into explained to me the steps to trying it. There is a round wooden box containing marked sticks where one roll it over and over until a stick falls out naturally from a hole at the base of the box. The stick contains a mark which corresponds to the mark on drawers found at the station itself. One then opens the corresponding drawer and retrieve a slip of paper which contains one’s fortune. Mine indicated something like “Regular Fortune. Everything will be alright in the end.” Nearby are several booths selling amulets and charms. These charms are said to contain spirits which will help the user according to the purpose of the charm. One example is the “Education Charm” (ironically labelled “Edoication Charm”) and “Romance Charm”. Personally, I think the charms here are expensive as compared to those found at Kotoku-in at Kamakura. Here, it costs about an average of Y1000 (SGD 12~) per amulet.
Sensoji Temple: Opening Hours: 6am - 5pm (Main Hall) I 24 hours (Temple Ground)
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| The famous Sensoji Temple |
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| Amulets and Charms for sale |
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| One of many varied fortune telling booths |
13.30 - (30 mins) You can visit several other Buddhist temples located next to one another. I visited theMutsimune Shrine which was quite separated from the others and is found next to a mini koi pond. I didn’t understand what people were doing in the shrine and it appears they bought some bookmark or prayer book which was stamped and offered at a praying spot. Outside, a local lady clad in ordinary office wear was performing a ritual with a joss stick. Spend your time exploring or taking pictures around the majestic Sensoji Temple vicinity.
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| Mitsumene Shrine |
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| Koi Pond |
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| Lady performing a ritual |
14.00 - (30mins) Exit the Sensoji Temple compound and explore the streets of Asakusa. To the exit at the back lies the oldest amusement parks in Tokyo, the Hanayashiki, with rides on a per ride basis. (Y1000 for admission, Y2300 for unlimited rides) To the right from the direction heading to the train line is a Don Quijote outlet selling an outrageous assortment of products but don't visit this outlet for there is a bigger one in Shinjuku. Exploring the streets further, I came across bookstores, vintage shops, promoters for a zoo and the oldest gaming arcade store in Tokyo which apparently only has one retro arcade game where players try to ping a ball through holes which has different points. Each alley and row of shops you explore brings about a wealth of sights and sound. You may of course return to Nakamise Street to explore again to buy souvenirs or gifts on offer.
Nakamise Shopping Street: Opening Hours: 10.30am - 5pm
Hanayashiki: Operating Hours: 10am - 6pm / Tel: 03-3842-8780 / Website: http://www.hanayashiki.net/en
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| Inside Japan's oldest "arcade" |
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| A bookstore |
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| An owl on the streets! |
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| One of several gates |
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| Explore the streets of Asakusa |
14.30 - (30 mins) Head back to the Ginza Line and head for manga city, Akihabara. The journey is a short one and in fact, you can drop at several stations because Akihabara is quite a big place. I dropped at Suiherochi Station and decided to start exploring as I head towards the centre of Akihabara.
15.00 - (2 hours) Akihabara is a must-go for any Tokyo tourists because it is a one of a kind experience to enjoy. The city lives and breathes of anime and manga and although one may not be familiar with the newer animes or mangas, they will still not be left out for there are surely some of these Japanese icons which have pervaded their childhood. For example, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dragonball Z, One Piece, Naruto, Mario Bros, Ultraman and Power Rangers are some of more globally known icons featured extensively here. Akihabara consists of rows and rows of buildings and shophouses selling iconic anime goods such as keychains, toys or accessories in such quantity that it may take weeks to visit and see all the products available. But not only that, they also sell game cartridges for the old Nintendo machines and all kinds of trading collectible cards such as Duel Masters. There are gachapon shops spinning out an incredible variety of capsuled merchandise. There are cheap electronic stores selling all kinds of gadgets and game consoles and manga stores are thronged by Japanese school kids. Dotting almost every row of shophouses are the famous maid cafes, if ever one wishes to visit. In fact, the 2 hours of allocated time is a very generous one indeed if one truly wants to scour for some of the merchandises of their childhood. There are no clear boundaries to the city of Akihabara but I took the advise from an online blogger to continue exploring and walking and only once I found myself in an area without an anime product in sight, I know I have left Akihabara. I never did found the boundary. (You don't have to be confined to what other traveller's guide tells you to go because then you would waste time finding these "special" places. Personally, there are just too much places to see and go, you should just walk around and uncover the city yourself :) ) Around this time, in the Winter-Autumn period, the lights starts to come out and you will be dazzled by the colourful lights of the city.
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| Manga City, Akihabara |
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| When the light starts to come up |
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| A crowded manga store |
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| Anime galore! |
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| A gachapon machine shop |
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| Old Gameboy cartridges |
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| Remember Tamagotchi? |
17.00 - (45 mins) Try one of many maid cafes around Akihabara. There is also a Gundam Caféthemed after the famous Gundam Speed series and there is also a AKB48 café themed after the famous J-Pop group. For Muslim travellers, there are some mobile stalls near the middle of Akihabara that sells Halal kebabs.
Gundam Café : Opening Hours: 10am - 10.30pm I Tel: +81 3-3251-0078
Website: http://g-cafe.jp/en/
AKB48 café and shop: Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm I Tel: +81 3-5297-4848
Website: http://akb48cafeshops.com/akihabara/english
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| Gundam Café |
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| AKB48 café and shop |
17.45 - (30 mins) Head back towards Akihabara Station and find your way to Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku Station is the largest (and most complex) of train stations in Tokyo and may take several days to understand its intricate train network. Almost all the train networks lead to Shinjuku Station, thus, it is hard not to miss it. Some people say Shinjuku is the heart of Tokyo and it is hard not to argue once you experience the city.
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| Right outside Shinjuku Station |
18.15 - (30 mins) It may be hard to navigate around Shinjuku at first because of the complexity of the building structures and the fact that most signs are in Japanese. However, there are numerous ways to assist you in finding your bearings. Many Japanese know a smattering of English, especially the officers at the train station. There are two Tourists Information centres one located just outside of the station and one at the bus loading bay area and the tourist ambassadors there are extremely helpful, so as all of Japanese people, in providing directions and even suggestions to visit or eat. An important phrase Yuka-san and Sachi-san taught me was “Sumi mase._____ wa doko deska?” (Translation: Excuse me. Where is ____?) and these phrases had helped me immensely in my time exploring Tokyo. Head towards the world famous Shinjuku Crossing. This crossing is the hallmark of Japan where hundreds of people cross the traffic light each time a green man flashes and it is best to cross (and take pictures, of course) at night and if you want a vantage viewpoint, there are some overhead bridges and shopping malls nearby to get a nice view of people crossing at the crossing.
Shinjuku Tourist Information Centres: Opening Hours: 9.30am - 6.30pm
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| Vantage view of Shinjuku Crossing |
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| Amongst hundreds of people |
18.45 - (1 hour) It cannot be considered a Japanese tourist experience until one visits a Don Quijote. Don Quijote is a chain of stores in Japan which sells almost everything from bags to wallets to assortments of food, gifts and electronics. From vintage second hand goods to dildos and cosplay shirts. Not only does the variety of goods make it such an interesting place to shop, but it is also exciting to uncover the many weird products for sale. The store at Shinjuku is said to be the largest, comprising 5 levels and the good thing about Don Quijotes is the fact that they are open 24 hours.
Don Quijote Shinjuku East Exit: Opening hours: 24 hours I Tel: +81 3-5291-9211
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| Don Quijote Shinjuku |
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| The huge variety of products one can find here |
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| What in the world... |
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| And this was just the first level |
19.45 - (1 hour 15 mins) Explore Shinjuku. You may need more time to explore Don Quijote and I actually found myself coming here three times during my ten day stay here. Just next to Don Quijote Shinjuku, on the same walking street, is the area of Kabukicho, the red light district of Shinjuku. As you look up the street, up above is the famous Godzilla statue crashing out of a building straight ahead. Along this street, you will find shops selling gifts and tickets to attractions and also restaurants. There are even shops which allows you to hire social escorts. Once you reach the end of this street, to the right is the actual red light district but be wary though if you are to walk these streets because there are many African men who prowl these streets and continue to insist to try the many services on offer such as something called Soapland. Along these streets, there are also some Pachinko stores (gambling casinos), bars and clubs. There is also a Robot Restaurant, which is actually a robot-themed strip club which offers food and entertainment during select timings. It cost about Y8000 (SGD100~) for a show. I even found a Batting Centre to those who wishes to bat in the city at a cost of Y300 (SGD 4~) for a game of 28 balls. I did not try the experiences on offer, though I did find the prices for them (Expensive, but so is everything in Tokyo). In my opinion, the clubs there are small and seems to be visited by only foreigners, thus it would be best to avoid.
Robot Restaurant: Opening Hours: 4pm-11pm I Show times: Check when buying tickets
Website: http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/pc/system.php?lng=en
Shinjuku Batting Centre: Operating Hours: 10am - 4am I Tel: +81 3-3200-2478
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| Honestly, these crane machines is a money burner |
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| Outside the Robot Restaurant |
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| Shin Godzilla?! Why is no one panicking? |
21.00 - (0-1 hour) Shinjuku is a very large place to be confined to these places. Explore the many shopping malls. Head to Mosaic Street, a quaint and beautiful shopping alley in the middle of Odakyu department store. For those that came with company, they may wind down the day with some Karaoke and try to sing the Japanese anime intro songs available. If you wish, you can even take a train ride to Shibuya which, in my opinion is a smaller version of Shinjuku. But try to head back early and get some sleep because the next day, you will want to wake up early for a very basic Tokyo tourist experience.
Mosaic Street: Opening hours: 10am -9pm I Tel: :+81 3-3349-5611
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| Entrance to Mosaic Street |
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| Tokyu Hands (Which is kind of very pricey) |
21.30/ 22.30 - (30 mins) Head back to rest at National Olympic Memorial Youth Centre.
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