Tokyo and Surroundings

Beyond the Guidebook: 7 Spots to Experience “Real Asakusa,” Recommended by a Local Chef!

Asakusa Adventure Activities

Asakusa, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Omotesando are Tokyo’s big four areas for sightseeing. It’s where every tourist to Japan should go at least once. To make exploring these neighborhoods unique and fun, we asked locals to show us around and introduce us to their favorite little-known spots!

Tokyo Travel Tips: The Best Times to Visit Odaiba, Tokyo's Popular Island!

Odaiba Autumn
Working in Japan – 10 Things You Didn't Know About Japanese Job Interviews

Tokyo Station
Top 10 Must-Buy Snacks from the Japan’s Best Lifestyle Brand MUJI

Shibuya
December Weather: 7-day Forecast for Tokyo and Japan (And What to Wear for the Season!)

Tokyo Station Autumn
What to do in Odaiba: Enjoying a Budget Day Spa at 'Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari'!

Odaiba Hot Springs (Onsen) & Bath Houses (Sento)
Japan Winter Vacation: 5 Things You Need to Know, From Temperature to Traffic!

Tokyo’s Gorgeous Christmas Cakes of 2018, Fresh from Gransta at Tokyo Station! (Sold from November 12 to December 25, 2018)

Tokyo Station Cakes

Gransta is a modern and fun commercial facility inside Tokyo Station, home to a variety of sweet shops and restaurants. Outside the ticket gates is Gransta Marunouchi, itself offering a colorful lineup of shops. Not only Japanese people love Tokyo Station for its rich selection of souvenirs and gourmet experiences, it’s also a great place for tourists to shop and dine at. This time, we’re taking a thorough look at the gorgeous Christmas cakes offered by Gransta, many of them centered on the adorable Suica penguin! One cake is even created after the historical Tokyo Station building – let’s dig right in!

Makeup and Skincare Must-Buys at Best 100 Yen Shop Daiso!

100 Yen Shops
Top 10 Home, Kitchen, and Travel Goods from Japan’s Lifestyle Brand MUJI

Other Shopping
Shopping at Keio Store: 10 Japanese-style Pasta Sauces to Expand Your Palate!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Grocery Stores
All That For Under $9?! Buying Lunch at a Convenience Store in Japan!

Convenience Stores
Hotels in Odaiba: Enjoy Tokyo’s Popular Island with Fun and Fanciness!

Odaiba Hotels
Midnight Dining in Shinjuku?! All the Meat and Rice You Can Eat – for just ¥980!

Shinjuku Yakiniku

Learn the Art of Flower Arrangement at Ohara School of Ikebana

Harajuku Other Traditional Arts

Ikebana, flower arrangement, is one of Japan’s most treasured art forms, a time-honored tradition that continues to be relevant even in today’s modern society. Beautifully arranged flowers and plants have permeated Japanese culture in a way that is seldom found in others. The Ohara School of Ikebana has played a major part in keeping the tradition alive, through its many schools in Japan, as well as its 59 chapters abroad, with over 300,000 members worldwide. The beauty of the Ohara School is not only in its floral arrangements, but its ability to share the culture of ikebana with the world. I visited the Ohara Center of Tokyo to try an ikebana class to learn more about this traditional art form.

[MOVIE] Navigating Virtual Airspace with Skyart JAPAN

Shinagawa Adventure Activities
[MOVIE] Sightseeing Taxi: Tour Tokyo the Easy Way!

Odaiba Adventure Activities
[MOVIE]Shodo Calligraphy: What would you write for luck in the New Year?

Odaiba Traditional Paintings
[MOVIE] Wear an Authentic Kimono in Tokyo’s Most Traditional Neighborhood!

Asakusa Culture Experience
Checking Out Tokyo's Samurai Museum: Get to Know the Spirit of Japan’s Ancient Warriors

Shinjuku Other Museums
[MOVIE] Tokyo Joypolis: Odaiba’s Indoor Amusement Park of Thrills and Fun

Odaiba Theme Parks

Welcome to Tokyo's Street of Youth! Top 6 Recommendations in Shimokitazawa for 2018

Shimokitazawa

Are you familiar with the name "Shimokitazawa?" If you’re into Japanese literature, then you might know of the original novel "Hello, Shimokitazawa" by Banana Yoshimoto. Or if dramas are your thing, then maybe you've seen one called "Shimokitazawa Diehard" starring Eiko Koike. Or maybe you're a music fan who's been to the Shimokitazawa Music Festival. In 2004 construction began on the new Shimokitazawa Station, due for completion in 2019. How has this town, formerly nicknamed "cotton town" for all its clothing stores, changed? Allow us to introduce some of Shimokitazawa's best antique shops, gourmet food spots, and latest trendy information!

Tips & Advice for Planning a Trip to Tokyo in Autumn

Tokyo Station Autumn
All of This is “Made in Japan?” 15 Super-Convenient Things Invented in Japan!
Curious Japanese Deciphered: 26 Japanese Words That Stand In For English
Taking a Break in Shinjuku: Four Secret Spots to Rest, Relax, and Refresh Yourself

Shinjuku Discount Stores
Cute & Convenient: The 6 Must-Buy Suitcases at Shibuya Loft!

Shibuya Other Shopping
Beyond the Guidebook - 5 Expats Talk Tokyo's Best Neighborhoods for Visitors to Stay In!

Shimokitazawa Other Townscapes

Visiting Enoshima: The Must-See Spots on Japan’s Famous Day-Trip Island!

Kamakura Forests & Mountains

The Shonan and Enoshima area is one of the most popular day-trip destinations for both Tokyo locals and tourists. Even though the beautiful island is easily accessible from the capital, a lot of people only visit the nearby Kamakura with its many shrines and temples. That’s a shame because Enoshima is a treasure trove of amazing spots and discoveries! Come with us on a tour along its must-visit spots!