Tokyo in 10 days

Tokyo. The largest city on earth and #1 place to visit amongst travelers and tourists. What to expect, prepare for and look after? Which main attractions should one consider and/or leave out? What is truly worth seeing and possibly overrated? And how to orientate in the metropolises of manga, anima and maid cafes?

All of these questions shall be answered in a series of several, smaller blog articles. Putting all information at once might simply overrun you. Plus, who wants to read an entire book on one page?!

I will start with a rough overview onto Tokyo, focusing on the main district areas I set a focus on, prior to outlining my personal highlights and downsides that I consider overrated, not mandatory seeing and/or over-hyped. Further articles with more details on highlights, public transport, recommended day trips, favourite eats, what to do & see in Tokyo in 1, 3 or 5 days and more are to follow and to be found in related links.

In this article you will find:

Tokyo. A 10-Day Immersion into the World of Anime, Manga and vibrant City Life
Tokyo's Neighbourhoods & Districts
Traveling Tokyo: what to expect
Tokyo Highlights: my favourite spots & attractions
My biggest Disappointments: sights & attractions I found overrated

Tokyo: A 10-Day Immersion into the World of Anime, Manga and vibrant City Life

The first stop on my Japan travels were in, how could it be different, Tokyo! 10 full days of experience, immersion, exploration and adventure, without any time pressure to rush through. Too much time you think? Maybe. Looking back upon my stay, 5 - 7 days would definitely have been enough. However, as Tokyo is a pivotal point for day trips to other areas and suburbs surrounding the city itself, such as Mount Fuji, Hakone, Enoshima and other beautiful places, you might want to consider spending a bit more time here, depending on your itinerary goals.

But let us look at the very basics first: Tokyo is the largest city on this planet, having a four times higher population than New York City (roughly 28Mio. people). So, the city is HUGE. Keeping this in mind, it is IMPOSSIBLE to explore the entire city in one, two, three or even four weeks. You need to cherry-pick your most wanted spots and focus on these. Don't make your life miserable in rushing through, trying to cover as many activities as possible, as it only causes stress on your travels and hence is contrary to what you actually aim to have: an enjoyable, insightful experience.

Tokyo's Neighbourhoods & Districts

Tokyo can be separated into various different neighbourhoods and districts, ranging from central Tokyo to East, West, South, West and surrounding suburbs. The ones I have been focusing on most likely cover the most popular areas which you might also find amongst other itineraries or travel recommendations.

Ginza: one of the most important centres for expensive high-end shopping, luxury and glamour. You will find some of Tokyo's most expensive boutiques, exquisite cafes as well as high-end sushi- and cocktail bars. Looking for a quick way to spend your money? Here you certainly have the chance! Take a moment to wander the streets, it is worth seeing for sure and if you look closely, you will certainly find one or the other affordable snack or goodie as well!

Shibuya: probably one of the main tourist attractions and most popular hot spot in Tokyo! Who does not want to see and experience literal drowning in tremendous crowds of people, taking pictures of Shibuya crossing and deep dive into the vibrant nightlife scene when visiting Tokyo? Paved with hundreds of illuminated display boards, Shibuya itself does not obtain any certain sightseeing attraction itself other than the famous Hachiko statue, Shibuya Crossing and plenty of themed Go Kart experiences to speed along- and between- the vibrant streets of Tokyo. Take a chance to see Shibuya during day- and night time for comparison and don't miss out on Shibuya's free admission Fukuras Rooftop Garden SHIBU NIWA for a brilliant & relaxed observation on Shibuya crossing.

Shinjuku: a shopping Mecca surrounded by high-rising skyscrapers and neon light lit billboards, as far as the eyes can see. It is home to Kabukicho, a red light district, mainly famous for its Shinjuku- over-watching Godzilla Head on top of a skyscraper. Moreover, you can explore two traditional streets: Golden Gai, a cozy and narrow pub street with small bars to sit in, likewise Omoide Yokocho street, offering the best fried chicken. The craziest thing though? The train station! A surreal maze with seemingly endless exits, malls and underground shopping- and food option that simply leads you astray.

Asakusa: home for the famous Sensoji Temple and Kaminarimon, also known as "Thunder Gate". The actual highlight though is Nakamise Shopping Street- crowded pathways of diverse shops and food stands offering everything from clothes, souvenirs, desserts, sweet & savoury snacks as well as fried goods. Here, simply everyone truly gets their money's worth. Some traditional restaurants also offer an outstanding breakfast- and dining experience. A fusion of ancient Japanese tradtions with new facets of modernity all in one.

Roppongi: known as the most important quarter for arts & crafts exhibitions and museums, likewise shopping. It also hosts several bars and clubs that come to life once it turns dark. The reason why I loved it was the breathtaking tree decoration amongst the main street in early December, which spread a touching Christmas vibe; you feel a bit like walking in Winter Wonderland. If you fancy, you also have the possibility to purchase a ticket for Roppongi Hills, an observation platform with a great view over the city!

Shimbashi: known as Tokyo's first railway terminal & salarymen district, this area is mostly known for its bar & nightlife scene. A long chain of bars & restaurants of all kinds are lined up along the streets to stop- and look at. Several locals and business men in suits & tie come here after work to grab a drink or two whilst having some dinner (usually alcohol in Japan always comes along with food, seldomly drank alone). For dinner a great option you might want to try out.

Harajuku: the district, where the famous Meiji Shrine is to be found, surrounded by a beautiful spacious park. Just a stone's throw from Shibuya, so easy to combine both sightseeing areas in one! In Harajuku, you will also get to walk through the overly crowded Takeshita Street, where you will be overwhelmed by crazy food offerings ranging from rainbow cotton candy to rainbow cheese toasties, candied strawberry sticks, Japanese crepes, Takoyaki, and many more street stands (usually more expensive than in other areas, of course).

Akihabara: this is the most geekery area to enjoy, if you love anime & manga. No where else in Tokyo is the density of offerings so big and wide. On top, you can find several Maid Cafes, gaming centres, coin machine stores, broad electronics purchase opportunities, as well as other crazy leisure time activities, such as Mario Kart themed Go Kart rides. Especially at night worth a visit!

Chiyoda: is well-known for only one thing- the remaining grounds of the Imperial Palace and Edo Castle. Talking to a guard at the entrance gate, I was being told to not visit the castle from the inside (you need to purchase tickets at the gate), as apparently there's nothing special to see other than old remaining brick walls, which I found both funny and refreshingly honest (I didn't go, obviously). The surrounding gardens though are very beautiful and offer some nice observatory views from one of the other hilltop you should not miss out on. The garden also contains a wide variety of tropical fruits and resting areas with a lot of historical information on the Edo Castle and former residential times of the emperor(s). Great for taking a break and escaping the concretes of all-surrounding skyscrapers of Tokyo.

Traveling Tokyo: what to expect

People, people and more people! Depending on the different districts and areas you are visiting, you will find big crowds moving through the streets. A combination mix of both locals and tourists. Japanese are very patient ans respectful, it is only a matter of your taste whether you like to be caught in bigger crowds for a longer period of time. Simple tricks, such as not joining Tokyo's hot spots on the weekends, can help.
Skyscrapers, concrete and neon lights! Especially during night time, the districts Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Roppongi are beautifully illuminated, leaving you in awe when walking along. You do not need a certain destination when visiting, just walk, watch and let the observation sink in. I used to wander around at night to spot differently lit areas and hunt some Christmas light decorations, which was beautiful. There is no need to worry about your safety, as Japan is a safe country; in any case, stick to the main roads and areas and do not leave the path into dark, empty alleys (duh!). Also take care that you aje able to jump on the last train (usually these stop around 11pm) to return to your place of accommodation!
Getting lost in Tokyo's metro: it's a thing- and if you are one of the people hopping onto the wrong train, driving in the opposite direction, not finding the right exit or having absolute no clue where the Ginza line is departing from, you are not alone! Depending on the station you are at, things can indeed become a bit complicated. Heads up, after a couple of tries, you'll figure it out!
Walking, walking and more walking! Visiting a city is automatically connected to a lot of walking, but Tokyo's subways will make you walk even longer when trying to find a connecting train or transferring to another line requiring you to leave the building to find another entrance. I easily had 15 - 20km in a day but I also need to be fair that this is nothing unnusual for my personal travels. Either way, you will be moving A LOT!
Coin Machines on every corner! Coin machines are a thing in Japan and especially in Akihabara and Shinjuku a true paradise for testing your skills. For 100 Yen you can try your luck in getting anime-themed stuffed animals, keychains or action figures of your choice. It's a little fun activity to test- and try here and then; a bit frustrating sometimes, but worth trying.
Long queues, waiting lines and reservation inquiries: places known or posted via Social Media are usually packed (also if stated as "secret places" or "hidden gems"), oftentimes requiring a reservation, even for locals. The same applies to popular stores, such as Don Quijote, requiring you to test and challenge your patience due to the massive amount of people moving in one building. Based on the overall great number of people living and moving in Tokyo, patience, time and waiting will certainly be part of your daily travels. For cafes & restaurants always pre-check on whether a reservation is required. Online bookings sometimes do not work; in these cases show up as early as possible once the restaurant opens or get in line.
Human-boxed-sardine-feelings. During rush hour, trains and buses will be overly crowded, the same applies to weekends. It is not recommendable to take a taxi, if you do not want to be stranded in the middle of traffic without moving. As for trains, if you think no one else can fit into any of the wagons, as people are already pressed together like a box of sardines, don't be shy and squeeze in! There is no option B. Watch how locals master this seemingly impossible challenge and copy paste, if you don't want to strand for a couple of hours at the train station. You can do it!

Tokyo Highlights: my favorite spots & attractions

Having had 10 days in this beautifully vibrant and partially overwhelming city, my absolute highlights in terms of must-see's, attractions & activities are listed below. If you are interested to read and learn more about each attraction/ activity in detail, jump into another blog article of my Japanese series called "Tokyo Highlights".

Akihabara: Tokyo's largest gaming- and geek spot is definitely worth a visit! Only spying into one of the great gaming centres where you'll see hundreds of people sitting behind screens in emotional excitment to win car races, shooting games, or ther games, is an experience itself. A lot of character stores will be awaiting along your way, just like coin machine stores in which you can try to grab your favourite Pokemon. Akihabara also serves one of my all time favourite Taiyaki's: a custard-filled Magikarp-shaped Pokemon baking good that is deliiicious in taste!

Sensoji Temple Area: this area is crazy and beautiful at once, combining old and modern Japanese traditions at its best. You will find some of the best snacks and old, tradtional restaurants to not miss out on. Walking the criss-cross-market streets itself is a vibe for itself that I can highly recommend. Try a matcha-dipped waffle, a custard filled Japanese pancake, some fried chicken tendies or sugar-coated strawberries.

Yokocho & Golden Gai Streets: experience two traditional old streets in Shinjuku, famous for late-night drinks and the best fried chicken to be found in entire Toyko. A small labyrinth of narrow nostalgic streets, small restaurants & bars, rising steam and wonderful smell of grilled meat, showing you a different side to the modern sky-high buildings in the main centre.

Mega Don Quijote, Shibuya: Don Quijote probably proves to be the most popular souvenir store in Japan, especially for tourists, since you can purchase everything tax free. The store has locations all over Japan but I found the one in Shinjuku by far the biggest and most beautiful one! Though crowded, the store truly offers EVERYTHING you can possibly imagine! No wonder, you will find several people carrying around really big bags of tax-free shopping items whilst wandering the streets.

Capybara Experience: I am usually not a fan of animals being kept in a cafe for people to pet and feed them all day long, but I have always wanted to meet, see and feel a Capybara, even though these animals funnily originate from South America. Having had the chance to join a Capyba Cafe, my dreams turned into a reality and though it was a bit overpriced, it was definitely worth the experience! The animals are usually unimpressed and seemingly only exist for sleeping, eating and being pet all day- but a selfie alone with this beauty made my day and let me cross-out another point from my bucket list!

Metropolitan Government Building: not only does the Metropolitan Government Building offer a free-of.charge observatory desk that allows you to observe the city both by day and night with beautiful views, it also offers daily night illuminated night shows on the surface of its main building, underlined by music, which visitors can enjoy by sitting in the surrounding park area

TeamLab Planets: an unforgettable digital arts experience of one kind you have never experienced before! Walking barfoot through different exhibition halls, you are meant to fully immerse and experience each room with all your senses (smell, feel, see, hear). I absolutely loved it! A new excursion is now open to visit as well, called TeamLab Borderless. If you do have the chance to visit both, you should.

Harry Potter Studio Tours: an interactive studio tour with relics, costumes & masks of the Harry Potter Film Set (we are speaking of the original ones from England here!), plus fun participation options, such as playing Quidditch, using flea powder, drinking butter beer, etc. Seldomly have I laughed so much. Overall, you should consider 3 - 4 full hours when coming here. You will not regret it!

Tokyo Character Street: animated video star- stores at the basement of Tokyo Station. A crowded, yet still hidden gem with a lot of colourful, playful and overwhelming stores of your favourite childhood heroes, such Sailor Moon, One Piece, Snoopy, Kerby, and many more! Hint: the Pokemon Store is not located on the ground floor but level 1.

My biggest Disappointments: sights & activities I found overrated

Shibuya: yes, this might sound surprising but being biased from a lot of videos and Hollywood movies, I had the expectation to find Shibuya crossing with hundreds, maybe even thousand of people, when getting there. Once you get out of the subway and pass the Hachiko statue, you will find yourself on a, let's say bigger, crossroad. But nothing special. On the weekend it gets super crowded, partially leading to the fact that you might feel a bit uncomfortable or even claustrophobic. Overall, a nice-to-see place but nothing too special.
Takeshita Street: hyped and praised on Social Media with a lot of delicious foods to taste and try, Takeshita street is one of the most crowded areas I have been to. You will find yourself in a fully overloaded street of souvenir shops and eateries, almost unable to move due to the high density of mainly tourists taking photos of literally everything. I personally did not enjoy my time being there, but hey- you might enjoy it and/or have a better day with less people moving along. Worth seeing? For sure! Just do not plan to stay there too long.
Day trip agencies for surrounding areas of Tokyo: I underwent several day trips when being in Tokyo, some self-organized, others via differing bus tour operations. The thing with these organized tours is that they are mainly tailored for tourist bulking. Some of the most wonderful places, e.g. Enoshima, Hakone Shrine, Owataya or Obuno Hakkai were so overflooded with people that I personally lost interest in exploring these places when having had a stop, but was more focussing on how to escape the big crowds to get a bit of air and space around my body. Certainly these places are stunningly beautiful and worth a visit; the amount of tourist buses throwing out hundreds of people onto the streets is, in contrast, a bit scary. Plus, for a lot of places you would wish to have a longer period of time for self-exploration when your tour operator only gives you 20min. for taking some quick-win photos. The tours are designed to cover as many sightseeing spots as possible in one day, including long bus rides between each station stop. Most buses do not have a toilet on board and the tour guides will mostly not walk with you but let you get out to walk and explore by yourself. You should also pay attention on whether lunch is included or not; in case you can additionally purchase whilst being on the tour, double check on pricing because in many cases, independent on how fabulous the food might be, you pay a higher price for one lunch menu than you would back home in your own country. I do not mean to say that I've had an everlasting horrible time joining these tours (I had some really lovely tur guides here and there!), but would like to raise awareness that youÄll be facing a quite hectic, crowded and time limited excursion with a lot of time spent in not very spacious buses.

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Are there any further Tokyo highlights you would add to the above or possible disappointments you came across whilst traveling? Let me know in the comments!

If you are interested to learn more about my personal Tokyo Highlights & Tokyo Eats recommendations, check out my further posts upon my Japan series on this blog!