When the Eastar jet landed at Narita airport in Tokyo, Japan, a smile painted across my face. I had dreamt of visiting the land of the rising sun since I was 10. There were so many times in Japan where I had to remember that this wasn't a dream. The fact that I'm traveling the world and getting to do what I've always wanted is still surreal to me. My friends and I decided to do a 3 day trip to Tokyo which went by way too fast. For me, I fell in love with Japan instantly, and going back to Korea that Monday morning was quite the struggle.
If you're an English teacher in Korea, I highly suggest making a trip, whether it's a quick weekend or a week long getaway. From Seoul to Tokyo is about 2-hours and tickets ranging from 274,000- 357 KRW or ($230-300USD).
Accommodation:
Space Hostel: Taito City
Hostels are a lot cheaper than hotels or Airbnb which everyone already knows. I am definitely a budget traveler simply because I don't need a lot to enjoy a new place. My friends and I decided to book this one which was so clean, spacious, and modern. The hostel offered little things to buy at the front desk such as slippers, bathroom kits, towels, and other useful travel items. Another thing that I thought was great is the community aspect. At the lobby, there were ads for parties and family dinners that the hostel hosted. If you're a solo traveler, I would definitely watch out for those. The shower room was communal but each shower had your own private stall. Followed by each floor with bedrooms, a lounge, and bathrooms with a vanity. At first when I walked in and saw the bunk beds, I wasn't thrilled because they looked like prison beds. However, after one night of sleeping on it, I found them to be super comfortable and the comforter the hostel provides is so cozy. The price for 3 nights cost of a group of 4 us about $80 each since we split. Overall, it was a convenient and economical option.
Transportation:
Tokyo subway pass: I cannot recommend this enough to anyone who is visiting Tokyo, it doesn't matter how long you are going for. Basically, if you buy this card before your trip, (I paid 15,000 KRW for a 72 hour pass, you can buy it for any length of time). You pay one fixed price and get to use the subway as many times as you want. It made everything so easy for us, as we didn't have to worry about having to put more money on our cards to take us to our destinations. The only thing that the card unfortunately doesn't work for is the JR which Japan has separate train systems for some places. It's kind of annoying and confusing at first, but either way, the regular subway is still so cheap and convenient.
FOOD:
Ichiran Ramen:
I went to various places, one of my first stops being a ramen shop because it seemed obvious. After my flight and traveling 2 hours to our hostel, my friends and I decided on this tiny shop with individual stalls to eat in. First, you head to a vending machine to choose your ramen where it will print a ticket for you. Then you give it to the server, and within 10 minutes, they will bring you a steaming bowl of carbs and rich broth. You can also order various side items like dumplings or edamame, or extra noodles if you're super hungry.
Tsukiji Sushiko:
Next up for another traditional meal, this place was absolutely phenomenal. When my friend and I were looking for sushi places, I didn't want to do the whole conveyor belt thing. Although, I know it's popular, I simply wanted authenticity and a different experience. So, I managed to find a place where we got to sit on pillows on the ground. This excited me so much because I almost feel like I was taken back in time. There was so many options on the menu, whether you wanted to order single pieces of sushi, or an entire combination platter. We opted for the platter and seaweed miso soup which were absolutely divine. I'd say the prices were pretty average for a sushi restaurant ($5-$40 USD)
Rainbow Pancake:
The food chronicles never seem to end! The final place I want to talk about is such a classic dish that we all grew up with. There was absolutely nothing like waking up to a fresh off the griddle stack of pancakes with your favorite toppings. However, Japan takes such a simple thing and turns it into something extraordinary. This place is tucked in this adorable area of Shibuya with tiny shops and other attractions. The outside has a giant fork and knife at the entrance. If you plan to try this place, there might be a wait, considering the restaurant only has maybe 5 or 6 tables. When we were seated, the waitress served us this refreshing citrus infused water. The menu was very simple with a good variety of pancake dishes to choose from. Whether you want a salty/savory combination (lox or bacon topped), or the sweet side (chocolate, salted caramel). I ended up ordering this apple cinnamon one that tasted like apple pie but 10x better. The restaurant also offers popular breakfast beverages like mimosas, sweet potato latte, matcha latte, and so much more. Only downside about this place is that you can only pay in cash.
Attractions:
Finally here we are, after you conquer the Tokyo food scene, you can walk off the calories. I definitely recommend on foot because I simply believe you can see more of a new place that way.
The Robot Restaurant: Shinjuku
Seeing this place is like an assault on the senses. There's are so many flashing lights and loud music. At the same time, I feel like it reflects the quirky parts of Japan so perfectly. For the restaurant, you have an option of doing dinner and show. Before the show, the staff escorts you to a waiting area where they sell snacks like chicken skewers, churros, and ice cream. Then there's a short performance by these robots that you can also take pictures with. From there, you go downstairs to this basement and are seated for the show. Good luck taking any videos down here to post on the gram, because there is no service or wifi just an FYI. The show is basically live action anime and lasers. It was probably the most extra thing that I have ever seen in my life, but I can 100% say without a doubt that it was worth the money and loud noises that had my ears ringing the rest of the night.
The Monster Cafe: Shibuya
Yet another place that was on the same level of extra as the robot restaurant. The decor of the cafe can be described as nothing less than Candyland on steroids. Keep in mind, there is a an entrance place for this (about $5 USD) because they do a show while you dine. There was quite the variety of normal food, sugary drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and colorful desserts. My friend and I had seen the outrageous ice cream sundae that they serve on instagram. So we thought what better way to get the full experience than with their most popular dessert? This freaking sundae was massive, overflowing from the cup, loaded with various flavors of ice cream (orange sherbet, chocolate, strawberry etc.) Then there was different colored frosting laced around the cup, fruit, a piece of cake, and mini ice cream cone. I'm not a fruity flavor type when it comes to dessert. I do think it was worth it for the experience rather than taste. After we finished our dessert, they made an announcement for the show. Everyone gathered around the stage and we watched cosplay girls dance around and sing to J-pop. It was really short, but I definitely think it added to the experience. If you buy something from the gift shop, you are allowed to take a picture with the monster girls.
Tokyo Tower: Minato district
If you're into views of the twinkly city lights, then I suggest you make this a stop on your trip. The ticket was only ($20 USD if I remember correctly). We didn't go to the very top, but it was still worth it. I managed to get some pretty amazing pictures and the views were seriously breathtaking. The tower is open till 11pm so you can definitely make this a stop after getting dinner or drinks.
Harajuku:
What would a trip to Tokyo be without stopping at Harajuku to gawk at the cosplay and get lost in the tiny streets? This is without a doubt a must stop for anyone traveling to Tokyo. There are so many different shops, cafes, and restaurants to choose from. But it's most renowned for the colorful fashion. If you're a shopaholic and plan to buy clothes on your trip, you should definitely do it here. They also have really interesting cafe concepts like the shiba cafe, which is where I went to. You pay ($7 USD) so sit around and play with shiba dogs. In the same building there was also a teacup pig cafe and an owl cafe. So, there is a little something for everyone.
TeamLab Borderless: Mori Building
Well, I saved the best for last. If you don't get to do everything on my list, you need to go to this place. It's basically an immersive art exhibit, but even that description doesn't do it justice. This place was phenomenal and so worth the ($35 USD) ticket. It took me about an hour to get through the entire thing. But each room is so unique and incredible from the lantern room, to the field of flowers, and so much more. 10/10 would highly recommend especially if you want to spice up your insta page.
コメント