You can’t imagine my happiness when I saw Tokyo on my roster without even requesting it! As an Etihad crew member I actually stayed in Narita, but this is only a bus or train ride away from Tokyo. I had been once before, but really wanted to return because Tokyo is such a vibrant city! Japan in general is a super interesting country in my opinion.
Even though a lot of Japanese don’t really speak English, it is way easier to get around than in China. The country is very organised and public transport signs are often also written in English. The public transport is therefore easy to use and the best way to avoid traffic jams. This seems like a small thing, but it makes a major difference when you’re limited in time and trying to get around. Trust me, I was stuck in traffic for 9(!!) hours once, when a storm hit the city and all public transport got cancelled. It was a disaster to say the least, and an experience I will probably never forget.
Why Tokyo should be on your bucket list
The Japanese culture is quite typical and one of a kind. From what I’ve seen so far, the streets and people are super clean and organised but I weirdly couldn’t find any bins on the streets. Both layovers I walked around with an empty bottle or pastry wrapping, desperately screening the streets for a waste bin for about an hour, with no luck. Maybe I was just in the wrong neighbourhood?
Moving on from the trash topic, Tokyo is awesome, there is a lot to see and do. From the bustling streets with countless bright, colourful signs for restaurants, cafes, shops, (and I don’t know what else because the majority is in Japanese), to the narrow winding roads with cute mini bars and boutiques. And from green parks, to temples, shrines surrounded by bamboo and people with a unique sense of style who are just fascinating to look at.
Things to do in Tokyo
Have a drink in Golden Gai
One of the areas you must visit in Tokyo is Golden Gai in the Shinjuku neighbourhood. This is an area full of tiny bars that have space for about 3 people. And no, I’m not even exaggerating. Go check for yourself 🙂
Teamlab Borderless museum
During this particular layover I visited the Teamlab Borderless museum of digital art, which I would really recommend to anyone visiting Tokyo (or any of the other cities where they have an exhibition).
Enjoy a quiet morning at Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu)
The Meiji Shrine is one of the Shintu shrines, located in the Shibuja area. You can learn about Japanese history here and walk around the park that is surrounding the shrine. This large green space almost makes you forget that you’re in such a big city. It’s a lovely little escape from the hustle and bustle.
Try fluffy pancakes
Have you heard of the extremely fluffy and wobbly pancakes Japan is known for? They are so good, you’ve gotta try them. They serve them in many different variations, but I wouldn’t go for too many toppings. You could go to A Happy Pancake Omotesando in Shibuya City, This restaurant/cafe is located in an area with loads of small boutiques and fancy shopping malls.
Watch Tokyo tower at night
Did you know about the Eiffel tower look-a-like in Tokyo already? The tower in itself isn’t spectacular, but there are some nice hotels with rooftop bars around that give you a great view! We went to the Sky Lounge Stellar Garden, the perfect place to end your day with a glass of overpriced but tasty Japanese gin.
Sleep in a capsule ho(s)tel
Tokyo is known for its capsule culture. Not only tourists but also lots of locals coming from outside the city stay here during the week. It’s a very convenient accommodation which is similar to a hostel with shared bathrooms. However, you’ll have plenty of privacy and usually no loud backpackers. They exist in all types and sizes from luxurious and spacious to very basic or cosy. During my first time in Tokyo I stayed in the Book & Bed hostel (capsule hotel), which was a very cool experience. It almost feels like you’re sleeping in a library. The place was very clean and organised and the capsule didn’t feel too small so I would definitely recommend this one!
Compare prices of other hotels in Tokyo at Booking.
More reasons to like Tokyo
Tokyo is one of those cities you can visit endlessly because you will never be able to see it all. There are so many different neighborhoods that all vary from one another, making it a city you wouldn’t easily get bored in. Getting from one place to another can take ages, despite their very organised public transport system.
In addition, Japanese food is amazing, especially if you like fish and matcha. I am not a big fan of Matcha myself, but if you are, Japan is heaven for you. Luckily I love Ramen, Sushi and anything sweet, so I had plenty of happy food moments. In Tokyo Station, there are tons of different restaurants. We went to one of the many Ramen places and it was delicious. But we were even more surprised by the loud slurping noises. I had been to similar restaurants before but this was just unreal. If you’re not sure where to go but you’re a real foodie who wants to try local dishes, try this food tour with a local!
Tokyo is just so different from other cities, the Japanese really have their own way of living their life. The combination of their interesting culture with old traditions, modern subcultures and technology, sakura trees and cuisine make it one of my favorite cities.
Drink anyone? These machines can be found in very random places, quiet streets or just somewhere in between apartment blocks.
Need to know
Although it’s buzzing, Tokyo is not a city that operates 24/7. We left our hostel around 8.30 in the morning and the streets were empty. Unfortunately, lots of places didn’t open until 10/11 AM. As we were craving some coffee and any breakfast item we ended up going to Starbucks. I always prefer local places over Starbucks, but this was basically our only option. The only good thing was the fact that it is overlooking the Shibuya crossing so that makes it worth it a bit more.
How to get to Tokyo?
There are many airlines offering flights to Tokyo. When departing from Europe (Amsterdam) the average flight time is about 13 hours. You can either take a direct flight or have a stopover in, for instance, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Etihad used to offer a free extra night stay in Abu Dhabi if you book a flight with a stopover. This is a great deal and good way to visit another city on your way to Tokyo.
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