Tokyo Highlights and Recommendations

Just wanted to summarize a list of some of the best places to visit in/nearby Tokyo! I've included some pictures of my favorite landscapes around japan also. I realize it may be a while until travel is permitted again and I really hope these places will still be around then. But for now here are things to do and see. Also I guess a list for me incase I visit again some day and want to relive my 20s :^).

"I can do anything! LITERALLY ANYTHING"

Looking back now a year since I've been in Japan, this trip really taught me some great lessons. I didn't expect to like Japan at all actually when I first left. I thought it was just some over-idealized place Americans always said they wanted to visit to seem ~exotic or interesting~. But it actually is a really fun and exciting place, at least while you're young. I made a lot of friends on the trip from all around the world, figured out my research interests, and also finally felt truly independent (I MEAN I MADE IT 3 MONTHS WITHOUT DYING, SPEAKING BARELY ANY JAPANESE, AND ALSO LIVING OFF MY OWN RESEARCH MONEY). I also felt like I opened up more socially. I remember being literally TERRIFIED going out to a restaurant a eating alone for the first time but it was SO normal in Japan. I even forgot that it was kind of a "weird thing" in the US to dine-in alone that when I first came back I went to a restaurant myself and the server asked me if I needed seats for two. As cheesy as it sounds this trip overall taught me I can do anything! LITERALLY ANYTHING! I EVEN CLIMBED FUJI I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD DO THAT.

ENOUGH OF THIS SAPPY STUFF NOW TO THE LIST >>>

"I love fried chicken" -myself

FOOD:

• (Sushi) Genki Sushi

• (Sushi) Sushi Katsu Midori

• **(Sushi) Sushizanmai Tsukijiekimae-ten

• (Katsu) Katsudon-ya Zuicho

• (Katsu) Torikatsu Chicken Shibuya

• **(Gyukatsu) Gyukatsu Motomura

• (Yakitori) Toritake

• **(Yakitori) Yakitori Alley in Ginza *not exactly sure what the name is but I have a picture and this it's in this area

• **(Ramen) Yokohama Iekei Ramen Samurai Ikejiri

• (Ramen) Ippudo Shiromaru-Base Shibuya *if you want a lighter ramen

• (Maze Soba) Menya Kokoro *go hungry- you will be so ridiculously full after

• (Korean Dakgalbi with Cheese) Shijan Dakgalbi *Just go to Korea town PLEASE

• **(Cocktail Soda?) try a Strong Zero from a convenience store. I recommend the White Sour flavor

• try convenience store fried chicken SPECIFICALLY LAWSONS

• try Pocari Sweat *like japanese gatorade

• Literally just walk into any restaurant even alone it's not weird in Japan

** - highly recommended!

The exact place in Yakitori Alley, good luck finding it haha:

PLACES/ACTIVITIES:

• **Shinjuku Gyoen Garden

• **teamLab Borderless

• Senso-ji Temple *make sure to walk around Asakusa too! Really nice area

• Akihabara *go in an arcade and play

• Takeshita Street, Harajuku *try an owl cafe!

• Shibuya Crossing (of course)

• Kamakura Daibutsu Hiking Trail

• Any Don Quixote

NIGHTLIFE

• Aoyama Tunnel

• **Any Torikizoku

• Any Karaoke

OTHER ADVICE

• "sumimasen" or excuse me and "arigato gozaimasu" or thank you are the two phrases you will use the most - learn them

• buy a pasmo card and load it with money to take the trains- you can return the pasmo card before you leave and get reimbursed the card fee and whatever amount is left.

• stay to the left of the escalator if you want to stand

• carry cash all the time (not many places take card)

• if you're called a gaijin you probably did something wrong

• wait in line

• let people get off the train before you go on

• on weekdays in the mornings some train carts are reserved for women - get on a different one if you're a man

• some restrooms don't have paper towels so bring a hankerchief

• google maps is extremely helpful for taking trains