Highlights of a week in Tokyo

Tokyo is very nice in autumn. The temperature is great around 25 degrees and sunny most of the days. Our week was packed with iconic highlights like the active Akihabara district, the tasty food of many different districts, and the beautiful Meiji Jingu Gaien. Securing entry to the Studio Ghibli Museum was a challenge, but we made it and stepped into Miyazaki's enchanting world.

A cooking class taught us the art of making Udons, and the unexpected joy of traveling with Trixi's dad made our journey even more special. Together, we explored Shibuya and enjoyed local delicacies. Moreover, we met Trixi's dad in the city of Tokyo and it was very nice to spent a day together the three of us ^^. Tokyo in autumn left a lasting imprint, promising a return to this unforgettable city.

Btw, this time we've added two polls about food at the end of this post. Can you get the answers correctly?

Highlights of a week in Tokyo

1. Akihabara's Mangas and Retro Games

Dive into the crazy world of Japanese pop culture with a visit to Akihabara, renowned for its manga stores and retro gaming arcades. It's full of reminders of the 90's with the cartoons that we grew up with and the games that we played when we were kids!

It was so cool to play this Atari pong together!

2 Shibuya's Crossing

Experience the iconic Shibuya Crossing, known for its bustling energy and the spectacle of pedestrians crossing in all directions at once, creating a mesmerizing urban symphony.

Tip: if you want to enjoy a similar view, you can go to the second floor of the Starbucks at Sibuya's crossing ^^

3 Ginza's Shopping Paradise

Indulge in a luxurious shopping walk at Ginza, where fancy boutiques, department stores, and designer labels line the streets, offering a paradise for fashion lovers and foodies. We actually discovered a trend in Japan to imitate food using plastic and it looks so realistic. Look at the banana peels and their different states haha.

Or the famous Itoya, which has 10 floors of stationery (pens, agendas, notebooks, origami, etc.)

4 The Skytree and the Temples at Asakusa

Witness Tokyo's breathtaking skyline from the observation decks of the Skytree and immerse yourself in the cultural richness of Asakusa, home to historic temples such as Senso-ji, offering a serene contrast to the city's modernity.

We stumbled upon the window cleaners of this super tall building! They're doing so at 450 m above the ground level!

5. Do a cooking class in Tokyo Participate on a cooking class of Udons, Mochis, or Sushis to integrate more into the culture: Immerse yourself in the art of Japanese cuisine through hands-on cooking classes, where you can learn to craft traditional dishes such as Udons, Mochis, or Sushis, experiencing firsthand the culinary heritage of Japan.

This was one of the best experiences we've had in Tokyo and in the trip itself. You can check more about why at this post.

6. Explore the amazing diversity of foods in Tokyo (although vegetarian is a challenge)

Delight your taste buds with the diverse and eclectic culinary offerings in Tokyo, ranging from savory street foods like Yakitori and Takoyaki to exquisite seafood delicacies like sushi or Okonomiyaki, although vegetarian options might require some exploration.

7. Visit the Ghibli Museum if you like the world of cartoons of Miyazaki

Step into the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli at the Ghibli Museum, where the magic of Hayao Miyazaki's animated films comes to life through captivating exhibits, intricate animations, and exclusive glimpses into the creative process behind these beloved works of art.

Moreover in the gardens close to the Ghibli Museum there's a beautiful temple as well as many species of birds!

8. Take a walk through the historic district of Yanaka

Yanaka is preserving Tokyo's traditional charm. We really liked the temple and the graveyard there

9. Discover Shinjuku and Shibuya

Discover Shinjuku and Shibuya's district as well as the graveyard of Aoyama, where the famous dog Hachiko was buried.

10. Discover the traditional art of Japanese tea (Sencha or Matcha) ceremony at a local tea house or at a Matcha shop

This photo is from a beautiful Matcha place close to Ginza

11. Enjoy a day at the fish market of Tuskiji

You can spend one morning at the market of Tsukiji, which closes at 14h and eat some local fish, Tamago (Japanese Omelette) or fancy beef at the different stores offering street food.

Now to the polls!

What's the following root?

Change Image

• Matcha
• Wasabi
• Green carrot

And what about this?

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• Squid
• Round Hokkaido Mushroom
• White Japanese cabbage
• Lotus root

Conclusion

As a summary, we would really recommend anyone to visit this Megacity. It's amazing how the biggest city in the world can be so safe, so interesting and beautiful, so clean, so tasty and so well organized. Bravo Japan!