I’ve been to Tokyo three times and still feel like I’ve barely plumbed its cultural depths. My first visit was in 2005, and while I checked off a lot of tourist attractions, I was an inexperienced traveler and didn’t have the same appreciation for the region I do now. My second visit was in seven years later, in the dead of winter. I was there mainly to see friends and we spent the majority of our time sitting on the heated floor of their apartment playing board games and eating Japanese junk food. I made my most recent foray this past summer, though was limited to just 36 hours in Tokyo. I was determined to squeeze as much into that short time as possible!
I had enjoyed the temple district of Asakusa on my first visit to Tokyo and was keen to see it again. We were joined by thousands of tourists and Buddhist faithful who come to pray to the Goddess of Mercy at SensΕ-ji, the colorful temple erected in her honor. Though all the original buildings were destroyed during World War II, the district remains one of the oldest in the city. A bustling shopping street leads away from the temple’s main gate, which is hung with immense red paper lanterns.
My love of ramen runs deep and my friends had the perfect little spot lined up for lunch. Kohmen is an inexpensive but satisfying local chain that was just the place to fuel up for our adventures.
After stuffing ourselves full of porky noodle-and-dumpling goodness, we continued to explore the city. Next up was the restaurant supply market, a delightful street lined with stores selling everything from rice bowls and sushi knives to steamer baskets and sake cups. My favorite items, however, were the fake food. Restaurants all over Japan use these plastic sushi pieces and bowls of noodles to advertise dishes on their menu, often in a glass case near the entrance. I’m not sure how this practice started, but it’s highly useful for foreign diners who might not be able to decipher a Japanese menu. I wanted to buy a few pieces as a souvenir but they were surprisingly expensive.
On a clear day, the views from the top of the Tokyo Skytree can’t be beat! The Skytree is the tallest building in Japan as well as the tallest free-standing broadcasting tower in the world. It was built in 2011 to replace Tokyo Tower, a smaller, red Eiffel-Tower knockoff which was no longer tall enough to broadcast signals over the surrounding skyscrapers. After taking a numbered card and waiting around an hour inside the tower’s quirky shopping mall, we reached the 35th-floor observation deck at dusk, just in time to watch the lights turn on all across the city. For ticket prices and entrance information, visit the Skytree’s website.
We ate dinner at an izakaya, the Japanese version of a pub with the welcome addition of barbecue. Seated on cushions on the floor around a low table, we drank frosty mugs of Asahi beer and enjoyed skewers of freshly grilled foods. Sundry parts of a chicken were consumed, from the thighs to the cartilage, along with the kidneys and tongue of a cow. Vegetables, like asparagus and cherry tomatoes, came wrapped in juicy pieces of bacon. This meal was a carnivore’s delight!
After putting on a few unhealthy pounds, the only thing left to do was to sing it off! Karaoke is incredibly popular in Japan, as in much of Asia, though quite different from the West where the experience tends toward public spectacle. We rented a private room which came stocked with a decent selection of English songs and tambourines for the backup singers. Liquid encouragement was ordered by phone and delivered by a discreet and efficient staff who have probably seen and heard it all. We called it a night after belting out our fill of the greatest hits of the 80s and 90s.
The next day I was in need of a long walk and some sushi, to counteract the excesses of the night before. After stashing my bags in a locker at Tokyo Station, I headed to Sushi Zanmai, a popular chain whose main branch is at the Tsukiji Fish Market. Tuna, salmon and amberjack are my fish of choice, and I may have ordered second helpings of each. Thankfully this didn’t count against my baggage limit at the airport!
How would you spend 36 hours in Tokyo?
Great guide! You can really see a lot and experience a lot in Tokyo even in 35 hours, it’s insane! I was there just for the weekend, but it was crazy and intense! I managed to visit the main temples and get to the top for a night view. Sushi was amazing as well.
Thanks, Agness! It really is amazing how much of Tokyo you can see in such a short time. The train system there is incredible!
Sounds like a great way to spend a short visit to this amazing city, especially all the food stops! I was there 10 years ago and had a similarly short time, but was with a group, so had my itinerary sorted out for me.
Not shown in this post is the food we ate at the airport π It’s always challenging when you’re traveling with a group. My friends didn’t really want to go to touristy and crowded Asakusa, but were good sports about it. The promise of karaoke is a good motivator!
Love Tokyo! And everything Japanese for that matter… I also went down to that kitchen district near Asakusa and tried to get into a fake food making class but they wouldn’t let me because I couldn’t speak Japanese! Boo.
But I had an awesome time, nonetheless. (BTW, Patsy Cline? Really? How old ARE you? haha)
I didn’t know there were fake food-making classes! I was with three Japanese speakers so we could have gotten in for sure. Next time!
And Patsy Cline is from the town next to where I grew up in Virginia. Somehow I always end up singing country music when I do karaoke in Japan LOL!
I know what you mean, four years living there and I felt like I was only scratching the surface! Fascinating place and sounds like you had a great 36 hours enjoying the city. Lovely to read about your time and see your photos. Actually feel a little homesick now hahaha
It’s the same for me and Shanghai. I lived there for two years and tried to explore as much as I could, but there’s still so much more I could have experienced.
I wish I’d discovered your blog sooner – we could have met up on one of my trips to Tokyo!
I know! If only we’d discovered each other sooner. How fun would that have been!
Hopefully our paths will cross in Europe later this year! I’ll be sharing my travel plans soon π
When I visited Japan I was 8 years old and I remember everything so vividly! The beef rice, the hello kitty shopping and the amazing chocolate ice cream from a vending machine! This post really has me wanting to return someday soon!
Japan really does have the best vending machines. I can remember my own amazement when I first laid eyes on them so I can only imagine what it would be like for an 8-year-old. I hope you get to go back! π
Of course, when we were living in Taiwan I was like, Japan… ehhh. Now that we are on the other side of the world, I want to visit so, so badly!! I mean, sushi! Great guide to Tokyo and we will definitely keep it in mind if we ever get to visit.
I know exactly what you mean. When I was in Shanghai, Taiwan wasn’t exactly calling me. But now I REALLY wish I’d gone! I have faith that we’ll both make it back to the places we missed in Asia one of these days π
Japan has always been top of my list. But for all the time I’ve spent in East Asia, I’m yet to make it! Hopefully this will be the year. It may well have to be a weekend/36 hour stop so your blog post will come in handy!
I do hope you make it! After living in Shanghai for two years, the cleanliness and order of Japan was always a welcome treat. And thanks to the superb train system, it’s easy to see a lot of Tokyo in a short time.
Tokyo looks incredible! All that delicious food – yum! It’s definitely high on my travel list, especially after reading this. Good stuff!
Japan is a special place – very unique! I’ll admit to not loving the food on my first visit, but once I knew what to order it was love at first bite! π
I’ve never been to Japan but hopefully will do so one day.
It seems that you crammed a lot into your trip. Food seems to be a big appeal to many visiting Japan and you’ve been no exception. Although it is quite pricey and the price of that beer was frightening.
After spending time living in the Middle East I’m not sure I’d like to sit on the floor again to eat my food.
Japan’s great, I really hope you get to visit! The train system makes it easy to see a lot in a short time.
Taking off your shoes and sitting on the floor isn’t super fun, but it’s a small price to pay for all that delicious food! And not everything there is crazy expensive. Cans of real beer are much cheaper than those expensive fake ones made for display. I actually thought Singapore was more expensive than Japan.
We spent 5 days in Tokyo and I think we barely did much more than you managed to cram into 36 hours, so well done! This was our very first stop on our “RTW” trip and I know we definitely didn’t make the most of it as we had no idea what we were doing. I’d love to go back one day and take advantage of the amazing food scene, now that we’re old pros at dealing with menus we can’t read and all of that fun stuff… One day when we’re rich we’ll go back to Japan and have a do over!
I know exactly what you mean! My first trip to Tokyo nine years ago was my first time in Asia and I wasn’t into the food at all. I remember going to McDonald’s just because it was a known quantity and being disappointed to find soy sauce and mayo on my hamburger. And now here I am eating cow tongue! It was great to get that do over in Japan and I’m looking forward to similar ones in France and Italy, where the teen-aged me was less than thrilled with the food offerings π
This is great! I went a few summers ago and did a lot of the things on this list (love the plastic food, so cool!) Riding the subway was very cool for us, and we enjoyed seeing how they had pink “women only” cars! And of course, karaoke is a must in Japan!:-)
I was living in NYC when I first went to Japan, and I remember thinking that I’d landed in this bizarre alternate universe where the sidewalks were spotless and the trains were eerily quiet. Now it’s one of my favorite countries. I’m glad you got to visit!
Awesome tour! Tokyo is on my dream destination list. I’m still so sad we missed out on Japan in 2011
Thanks, Andrea! Japan is such a fabulous place – I hope a visit is in your future!!
I live sushi so I’m sure I’d love a visit to Tokyo! Those paper lanterns are so gorgeous and the views from atop the tallest building look incredible. Any high teas not to miss out on in Tokyo?
That’s an excellent question – for some reason I’ve never thought to investigate high tea options in Tokyo. You’ll have to go and let me know! π
Ahh Tokyo! Your photos really brought me back to the excitement and energy of the city. I lived on a tiny Japanese island for a couple of years, and going to Tokyo was always such a fun escape. You covered things to do there excellently!
Thanks, Silvia! What were you doing on the tiny island for so long? Before moving to Tokyo, the friends I was visiting lived in more rural towns and exploring those areas was also fun. There’s still so much of the country I want to see! The Sapporo ice festival is high on my list. Have you been?
I was teaching English with the JET Program (and saving money to fund my current travels). I did go to the Sapporo ice festival and it was amazing! Highly highly recommended. Hokkaido is beautiful, and there was a crazy amount of snow!
Thank You For Sharing
I Suport You
I Lkie Tokyo
Love Tokyo! And everything Japanese for that matter
Wow, wow, wow, Tokyo looks just amazingly beautiful and HUGE. Haven’t been there, yet, but it’s definitely on my list.
Hi Heather, that’s a great post and help for my trip next month. Just followed you on Twitter as well – looking forward to connect!
Thanks so much, MightyTravels! I’m happy to help! Hope you enjoy your trip to Japan π