ONE WEEK IN TOKYO TRAVEL IDEAS
If you have the luxury to have a full week in Tokyo, you'll have plenty of time to check out a lot of the neighborhoods and get a good feel for the city. Follow at a very leisurely pace the THREE DAY ITINERARY, and fill the rest of your days with the following suggestions. The train and subway system makes it easy to get about, and some of the most popular areas are within walking distance of each other. Click the left side area tabs for maps of each area!
Many cafes and restaurants serve a weekend brunch until the afternoon on weekends, especially Sundays, so a late morning brunch can fit a lazy morning wake up, and also be delicious. Harajuku, Aoyama, Daikanyama, and Nakameguro all have an abundance of brunch places.
Most weekends, in front of the UN Building between Aoyama and Shibuya, there is a farmer's market and eco-friendly booths. You can get organic vegetables and fruits, as well as nuts, preserves, and a host of flavorful natural offerings. Prices aren't so cheap, but the quality is high.
LOCATION:AOYAMA MAP C-7 (follow Aoyama-dori toward Shibuya)
Many cafes and restaurants offer a lunch time set course, which usually includes a main dish, a salad, and a drink and very reasonably priced at around 1000 yen or so. Lunch specials are one of the best deals in Tokyo, especially given the attention the food preparation usually receives, especially in smaller independent establishments.
Throughout the year, on the boulevard connecting Shibuya with Yoyogi park, there are festivals and events happening most weekends including: a Thailand Festival, a Brazil Festival, a Eco-Japan Festival, Earth Day, and Farmer's Markets. Antique Markets held monthly on random Sundays.
LOCATION:SHIBUYA MAP C-1
Many older neighborhoods in Tokyo still have a local sento, a bathhouse where one can wash then soak in a bubbling tub. They are out of fashion these days, but it's something that all Japanese experience at some point. Male and females are separated, and first one washes and then rinses completely, before entering any of the usually several baths.
There are always exhibitions and shows going on all over the city, whether film festivals, fashion shows, art exhibits or some type of zany things happening. Choosing a weekday to go usually noticeably reduces the crowd levels, and makes the experience that more pleasant.
In the Tokyo area there are four Pro baseball teams, several J-league Soccer teams, Basketball Japan teams, many university sports teams competing year round, as well as several international competitions across an array of sports always happening. Sumo tournaments are held in Tokyo the first two weeks of January, May, and September.
Getting a table with a view of the city from up high can be expensive - but choosing a place that has a window adds a visual dimension to your culinary experience! Keep in mind it's not necessary to go to a fancy place to eat good food - where ever you go the dishes will most probably be prepared well and be very tasty!
There are plenty of izakaya (Japanese pubs) and bars almost everywhere, but for bar hopping Shibuya or Roppongi are probably the best areas - they both become party areas on weekends, and have dance clubs as well. Japanese expect to meet foreigners in Roppongi, so it can be an easier area to meet locals.
Good dance clubs abound in Tokyo with many places seeing regular big name DJ's passing through. Most clubs don't really get going until well after midnight, so best to plan a late night. Shibuya clubs tend to have a more Japanese vibe, but are usually 'gaijin' friendly - CLUB VISION and CLUB ASIA are two of the premiere dance clubs in Shibuya. The clubs in Roppongi tend to be more raunchy and include hip-hop places and salsa dance clubs.
TOKYO TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
ONE DAY IN TOKYO ITINERARY
TWO DAYS IN TOKYO ITINERARY
ONE WEEK IN TOKYO TRAVEL IDEAS
THINGS TO DO WITH CHILDREN IN TOKYO
OFF THE BEATEN PATH TOKYO TRAVEL IDEAS
DAY TRIPS FROM TOKYO IDEAS
TOKYO TOURIST and SUBWAY MAP
