Hi there! Welcome to my Tokyo Travel Guide. Japan is one of the most interesting countries in the world. Japanese food is famous all over the world and the temples and nature are so beautiful and unique.
I was lucky to visit Tokyo for a week on a study trip. It was my first long haul flight and trip outside of Europe. The country has so much to offer and I would love to go back one day. We stayed in a nice hostel called Sakura Hostel Asakusa. The best way to get around Tokyo is with the metro/subway.
Gorgeous Temples and gardens
Our hostel was located near the Sensō-ji temple complex. These are the most impressive temples in my opinion. The Meiji Shrine is another famous, beautiful temple surrounded by Yoyogi Park. Next was the Imperial Palace and the East Gardens. This is worth a visit in spring when the garden is in bloom.
The Honzan Higashi Honganji Temple is a smaller temple. What impressed me most, was the beautiful Japanese cemetery next to it. There are so many other beautiful temples and gardens, like the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
Guided by Japanese students
We were split into groups and could choose an excursion that Japanese students would take us on. I chose to visit the Tokyo Tower, which looks like a red and white Eiffel tower. We were the only group who saw Mount Fuji without it being hidden by clouds. On top of that, the sun set behind the volcano. It was magical, something I will never forget. Near the tower is the Zojoji Temple, where you can take cool pictures with both landmarks at once.
Next up was one of the strangest things I’ve ever done. The students took us to have a warm foot bath together. We had to put on strange blue joggers and then all sat down with our feet in the same water. Not exactly something I would generally do with a bunch of strangers. We had fun chatting about cultural difference and sharing our language. We ended the night with an incredible Japanese dinner.
Kamakura
We then did an excursion to Kamakura. It was snowing (we were there in February) and it was magical. There are lots of different temples. One of them is inside a cave. If you want to see what goes on inside the head of a giant buddha, visit Kōtoku-in. Another impressive temple, that requires you to conquer lots of steps, is Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū.
Have you really been in Japan if you didn’t go to a bamboo forest and matcha tea ceremony? We went to the Hokokuji Temple, which has a beautiful Japanese garden and bamboo forest. There you can witness a traditional matcha tea ceremony, including tasting, in the Bamboo grove temple.
Tokyo & Technology
Japan is also known for technology, which we learnt all about at the Miraikan Museum. Of course we had to pass by Shibuya, the busiest street crossing in the world that looks a lot like Times Square. In Roppongi Hills you should visit the Mori Tower. Here you can find the Mori Art Museum, my favorite modern art museum so far, and the Tokyo City View with outdoor observation deck. Harajuku is the place to be for fashionistas and people looking for kawaii (cute) food and souvenirs.
World famous food and night life
Tokyo is a great city to enjoy night life. We had a karaoke night with sake and celebrated the start of the weekend at the top of the Tokyo Skytree with a DJ set. Roppongi is the most popular nightlife district in Tokyo among foreigners.
Anyone who thinks of Tokyo, probably thinks of sushi. A Tokyo Travel Guide would be nothing without it. It’s THE place to have the best sushi in the world. It’s not just a meal, it’s an experience. To see where the fresh fish comes from, visit the Tsukiji Fish Market. This is the biggest fish market in the world. There’s more than just sushi though! Amazing street food, fun snacks, noodles and anything fried in tempura. To make your choice there are plastic models of meals. Feel free to slurp, but try not to eat while walking in the street.
I hope you liked this Tokyo Travel Guide. There is so much I still have to experience in Japan. For example, I didn’t learn much about Sumo wrestlers, Ninja’s or Geisha’s. The country has so much to offer and I would love to go back one day. Here’s the after movie of this trip: https://youtu.be/7G1Z84xFF58
If you are interested in exploring more of Asia, check out my article about my time in China.