Some amazing places to go in Tokyo… bucket list city 100%…

You would expect a city that would rank top 40 in population when compared to countries (yes you read correct, 37+ million people live in Tokyo); there would be chaos and basically you see people walking on top of each other. On the contrary you find a city with lots of energy that flows in balance across the people that live and visit this great city.

We had the opportunity to see Cherry Blossoms at Ueno Park

It would be crazy to suggest an itinerary in just one post, my idea is to share some of the places you must go when visiting this majestic city. Tokyo size but most important the role it has in Japan makes it a destination where you need to be prepared to spend many hours exploring and get lost on purpose; once you get situated in the city moving from point A to point B is not difficult and the public and private options are many. You can build multiple day tours for every different type of tourist enthusiast, and not only the transportation will help you but also the great people living in the city will help you and try to navigate to your destination.

Use the Subway, is a great way to travel Tokyo

TOKYO SKYTREE If you want to see how the city can fit more than 37 million people go on top of the Tokyo Skytree and get a 360 view of the city from the tallest structure in Japan. It is a television and radio broadcast site, and when you see it from a distance looks like a futuristic tower where you would control air travel of spaceships entering the city airspace.

Tokyo Skytree, and also the Asahi HQ (Building looks like a beer pint)

I would suggest you buy the tickets online, so you have an easier entrance procedure, in the location you can find many restaurants and some stores where you can buy gifts if you want. You have 2 options floor 350 and floor 450 (high and higher), we bought the basic ticket and for us was great, since the objective was to learn about the place and have a 360 perspective of the city from above. The views are great, and you can truly get a sense of the magnitude of the city and how packed it is… Great to do this after you have an initial tour of the city, in that way you can identify places that you have been, we could identify some of the temples we visited and the Asahi HQ a building that looks like a beer served in a glass (Go and find it!!!)

Great views from the top, we sent some postcard but did not arrive 😦

MEIJI SHRINE One of the things I learn during my visit is that in Japan people based their faith in mainly 2 religion Buddhism and Shinto, interesting that they are more focused on the spirituality and worship rather than doctrines. You can find many shrines across Tokyo; numbers talk of about 85,000 shines in Japan. One of them and an impressive one is the Meiji Shrine in honor of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

The shrine was built in 1920 and many of the buildings were destroyed after World War II, it was rebuilt after public funding efforts. As you pass under the gate, there is a great vibe and feel of relaxation; more than 100,000 trees are part of this shrine making it a big oasis in the big city of Tokyo. You can see people doing their rituals and if you are lucky there are weddings happening, so you can get a glimpse of the ceremony and the wardrobes they use (we were lucky to see). Expect to be here at least an hour so you can walk calmly and enjoy all the great images.

SHIBUYA CROSSING Who would have thought that a street crossing could be an attraction, well in Tokyo you can find the busiest street crossing in the world. Complete madness when the stoplight is green, and you see up to 3,000 people crossing at the same time. Not only you have hundreds of people there, also you have Billboards with sound and big trailers crossing the street with proportions of some Japanese artist. Is mayhem but an organized one, as Japan order and cleanliness is top even on this congested street.

Go into the starbucks and get a coffee, spend 15-20 minutes there..,

SENSOJI TEMPLE One of the oldest temple in Japan and for sure one of the most visited sacred places in the world (Some publish it as #1), with the amazing entrance through a gate with 2 goods a long street with plenty of stores ending at the temple. This temple also was rebuilt after World War 2, the gate was burned in a fire so in 1960 was done again. You will find many tourist and locals here, one particular thing here is that you see groups of girls renting traditional Kimono and stroll through the temple.

Expect large crowds, but more important look for the people that go to the temple and have their rituals

KABUKI THEATRE In Ginza neighborhood you can enjoy one of the traditional arts form the Kabuki performance with it dance, drama and decorated costumes. This theater provides you with the opportunity to enjoy the art for, by either buying a full day ticket or buying a third act ticket so you can see a part of it (the complete show takes 5-6 hours). Since is in Japanese is a bit difficult to follow but if you like theatre the experience can be a good way to admire a very traditional art form.

Beautiful Building, but more important great history in the art performed there

Ginza, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Ueno, Harajuku, Odaiba Districts One of the top things I recommend is to spend a day just going in the metro and moving from district to district. Tokyo public transportation is immense and more importantly easy to use. Visiting these districts will give you a clear understanding of the diversity you can find in the city. From well-renowned boutiques to full buildings with everything of Anime that you can imagine, to parks that you can walk at your leisure; it will be a day you will love.

Explore… Explore… Explore… Tokyo is a great place to get lost

TEAM LAB MUSEUM For a unique interactive art experience with the latest digital technology this is the place to go. A different museum versus the traditional ones, you will find multiple digital art exhibitions displayed in a huge space and the artworks are projected across walls and floors, and immersive installations of light and sound that move and reflect by your movements and touches. You will be part of the digital artworks, make sure to bring your camera as it’s the perfect place to take Instagram photos.

Immersive museum, will look into art in a different way

DISNEY SEA For a different Disney experience you can go to the Disney Sea theme park, one of the most visited parks in the world and the second one behind Tokyo Disneyland. As the name refers, you will walk through different ports in the park, from the American or Arabian ports to some more imaginative like the Mermaid Lagoon. The park feels different to other Disney parks, but what makes this park great are the employees and shows, the level of service and showmanship are top versus other theme parks outside Japan.

Disney can always make you feel like a kid again

This is my third post on Tokyo, and as you can see there is tons to do and explore in Tokyo; in my previous posts I also shared about how awesome is the food and bar scene in Tokyo. We have Japan as a most go back place, for sure we will be back to continue exploring and enjoying all the great things this country has to offer.

Thankful of spending some days in this great city!!!

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Tokyo food capital of the world… If you are a foodie, you better not miss it…

When you live in America and you talk about Japanese food, you are often referring to Sushi and maybe a distant second would be Tempura that by the way would be done at the Sushi restaurant. Travel gives you the opportunity to not only explore new places but also taste it, in our trip to Tokyo we had the opportunity to go out and try many different foods for breakfast, dinner, and lunch. Now after exploring Tokyo food scene and being spoiled to really great food is tough to go back home and try Japanese food, since the bar is so high (LOL).

3 of the greatest foods we tried in Tokyo

While sharing some of the great food we had in Tokyo, there is also an important aspect that adds value to a great food experience, and this is having it with awesome people; the experience of sharing food, and stories is the perfect recipe for enjoying what the city you are traveling has to offer. Below you will see our team dinner where we had great food, but even better great stories were shared. I am thankful of these opportunities since makes travel even better.

Having food with friends is always great.

Let’s start with Sushi as is the most common dish in and outside Japan. Sushi places come in all size, shape, and form in Tokyo and would be very difficult to identify a good versus bad place since they are all full (I think they are all good), I was impressed by the variety of Sushi and the alternatives to select, like a set already defined or a la carte with as many as you want. All of them were great, but wanted to try ones that would be the first for me and in addition to the classic ones I had: Salmon Roe, Sea Urchin, Fatty Tuna. You can´t miss with your selection but would encourage to try any of the 3 that I mentioned earlier. If you are in Tokyo please try them, you will enjoy them and more important need to tell you that after going back home Sushi will never taste the same. Taste and flavor out of this world!!!!

With no Japanese, you use the simple pointing to the menu!!!

One of the places to go and eat Sushi is the Toyosu Market, with a train line that goes there is easy to land there, is one must do attraction in Tokyo. You need to go early and see the famous daily tuna auction that starts at 5:30 AM, this is an impressive place where thousands of fish are being sold every day, you can also find Fruit and Vegetable sections plus other comestibles. The market was opened in 2018, it had some pushback from the people that used to work in the old market, now that is finished is clear the great business development it is. Where you can find more fresh fish than the market, inside the big building you will see Sushi restaurants were in some case they have lines as early as 6AM to eat their Sushi. The experience is unique so be ready to have sushi for breakfast at the market. One important thing you will notice is the cleanliness of the place a clear signature of Japan culture.

Toyosu Market complex is Huge, also the Tuna Auction is packed with people

Second food that I would like to share is Yakitori, these small skewers that you can find most common made of chicken outside Japan. Here in Tokyo, you have full restaurants specializing in Yakitori made of many ingredients like Beef, Chicken, Pork, Shrimp, Vegetables also they sell Beers, Whisky, and Sake. These restaurants are very high on energy, the kitchen in the center makes it like a DJ spinning some music while everyone is dancing to their favorite tune. Like many restaurants in Japan, you take your shoes before you enter and get seated either on a table or in one of the sides of the kitchen (my favorite), then you start ordering from the menu the small portions while having a cold drink. If you like grilling on charcoal you will enjoy this place, the coal is named “binchotan” it gives a good smokiness and when they put the sauce you get a good amount of smoke that bring flavors to the skewers you ordered. Yakitori places can be a great way to start or end the night… Kanpai!!!

The last food I want to share on this post is called Okonomiyaki, a Savoury pancake that consist of: Wheat flour batter, cabbage, meat or seafood, sauce, and Japanese mayo. This tasty dish is done on a teppan (flat iron grill) in front of you, design to be shared by the group on the table with chopsticks. They have 2 versions wet or dry, we did the dry one and loved it, not only tasty but the combination of flavors and texture was out of this world. One thing that made the experience great was the location and that many locals eat there, for me when I travel is always cool to go and find the local jewels to spend time with locals. This dish was a complete surprise for me, I did not know it existed and was my colleague the person who told me to try it, for that Arigato gozaimasu Takada-san.

I am showing just a very small sample of the great food we tried during our visit to Tokyo, food is a great way to understand how rich a country is and what Japan showed to me is a truly rich and diverse palate of options. From hot to cold, rare to cooked, veggie to non-veggie you can get what you want in Tokyo.

There will be a future post on Tokyo food in the future, I hope this made you hungry to go and explore Japanese Cuisine. Thanks for reading the post, please share it and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

Tokyo Bar Scene… A must in your travel agenda…

When growing up in Puerto Rico, planning a trip to Japan usually was not at the top of the list (For sure Disney or a Caribbean Cruise). Going to Tokyo from San Juan means to travel more than 20 hours before you land in Tokyo. If you ask me, before moving to Dubai the land of the rising sun was not on our travel plans. As part of my current assignment the opportunity to visit Tokyo arrived and we decided to stay additional days to grasp the rich culture, energy, and history in the most populated city in the world. What an excellent decision it was.

Tokyo impressive nightlife is definitely something to build the schedule around

We spend 5 days exploring the city and the result is we fell in love with Tokyo. This city is so impressive that a year will not be enough to really explore it; from the delicious food (Okonomiyaki, a must try), meaningful theater (Kabuki, so unique art), beautiful parks and public spaces (Cherry Blossom season is inspiring) Tokyo has it all. I have decided that my first post on Tokyo would be what for me was a big surprise, the impressive bar scene you can find in Tokyo and that can be a great complement to your daily activities and a way to end a day of sightseeing. In the post will share 3 bars we went and had an absolute blast, making our visit even more spectacular.

3 great bars that you will enjoy for sure!!!

The first bar is Bar Orchard Ginza, is located at 6-5-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. The premise of this bar is very simple you select a fruit from the display they have on the bar and they will make you a drink. Here come the twist of this place, don’t expect just a drink in a glass with ice, they will create a drink that will tell a story while enjoying it. In Bar Orchard you go for more than a drink, you go for the entertainment, craftmanship, and creativity of the bartender.

Fresh fruits of the day… for you to select and enjoy a drink

It is so cool that you just want to try a new drink to see what else they can master… A Shark that just had lunch… A Hippo that can devour you… A Flower pot, that you need to pour some “water” before drinking… or a trash can with a syringe and test tube for you to make the drink (clean and sanitized before prep). All of this preparation happens in a small locale (not more than 12 people) with the Chief bartender and the apprentice. They are good at the small talk while preparing the drink, also some background music is there to have the proper ambiance, still you can easily have a conversation and unwind after a full day of exploring Tokyo massive landscape.

No 2 drinks are alike… Need to ask for something different every time

Second bar we went is named Tir na nog, different to the first one they are located in the basement of one of the buildings in the Ginza area. Here is the address that will help you find it – 5 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0061 Japan, as you walk in the street you need to watch carefully because there are many signs and you can easily miss it. Once you go down the stairs and enter through a heavy metal door, there is a complete change of mood, you go back in time hundred of years in the time of castles. The décor used is very cool (dark, mix of metal and wood) and really make you forget that you are in Tokyo year 2023, you are now in another time and place.

Now that you found the place, need to ask for a good a good drink… and let me tell you here they are also very creative in the way they put together their drinks. In the bar you can find a Candy Floss machine, not for kids to enjoy but to put together as part of a drink!!! talk about sugar rush. One of the drinks we order was the Empress Garden, thy use Mochi as part of the garnish like a cherry; another drink we tried was the Bridgetown Old-Fashioned, here the mix of rum, angostura, Pomegranate, sugar and orange oil makes one delicious cocktail that will make you have more than one (My wife preferred drink now).

Cotton Candy machine… not for kids to enjoy

Tir na nog, is much bigger than the other bars we went; here you can easily have 35-450 people in the bar at the same time, but the service was also very good and like I told you earlier once you enter time will stop and you forget that you are in one of the most impressive cities in the world where million of people leave in a fantastic display of harmonic chaos. I would recommend the bar if you are in a group.

Nice music in the background, but you can talk and enjoy a laugh with friends

The last bar we visited is named Star Bar also located in Ginza (1-5-13, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), you find it also in the basement of the building but more easy to identify as it has a good size sign in the entrance. This bar is very classic, you enter the room and is all dark wood and leather with the right light (Not to dark or to bright). You will served by the Chief bartender, the apprentice, and 1 or 2 additional supporting staff (one speak great English and help us translate to Japanese) they all are focus to provide top notch service and upscale experience.

Japanese whisky is fine!!! Here master Hisashi Kishi sharing some of his stories

Here at Star Bar you find “Ninja Ice”, this ice is so pure that is invisible to sight when in a drink, they use very pure water and 72 hours to freeze it creating the effect of Ninja Ice. I tried a Whisky highball and it is really impressive the quality and purity of the ice, but for me what I found impressive was Japanese whisky. During the trip had the opportunity to try and bring home a couple of them: Yamazaki, Hakushu (2021 Single Peated Malt was my favorite), Hiniki – this are some of the brands you can find at every bar, feel free to explore them you will not be disappointed. My wife had the crème de cacao /menth and fresh cream a sweet drink that is an excellent choice for after dinner.

Look at that ice on my drink… Ninja style!!!

During our visit we meet Hisashi Kishi, owner and master bartender of Star Bar. Winner of bartending championships his a celebrity in this arena. We had the opportunity to chat with him and also learn that Seiko used 2 of his drinks to create special watches for a collection. This guy is so famous that someone enter the bar to get his autograph and have a drink prepared by him. At the end of the night we took a photo with him outside the bar, we were so impressed not only by the level of service but also by the personal touch.

What a great opportunity to meet bartender champion…

The bar experience we had in Tokyo was not only great from the drinks we had, but also by the great people that work in there and how each place reflects a different personality; they made our Tokyo visit even better. At the end of a long day of sightseeing we were energized by the fact of going to one of the many bars they have in Tokyo and explore something different. Some of this bars have been in top 50 bars in Asia list, and is clear now for me why they have been selected.

Need to be on the watch to find the entrance to this different bars… Cheers!!!

This is my first of a couple of post I will do on Tokyo, it is a great city and the people we met and places we went are a small sample but we can say Tokyo needs to be high on the list of places to visit. Thanks for reading the post, please share it and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….