If You Only Had One Day in Tokyo

A local’s guide through neighborhoods filled with history and culinary delights.

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I have lived in Tokyo for 3 years with a weekly trip to somewhere new. Yet, I still feel like I have so much more to see.

So, if I only had 1 day in Tokyo, what would I do?

Morning

📍Kanda

Kanda Shrine

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Kanda Myojin Shrine enshrines three deities: Daikokuten - the god of good harvest and matrimony, Ebisu - the god of fishermen and businessmen, and Taira Masakado - a popular rebel lord of the 10th century.

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Origami Kaikan

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Origami Museum since 1859. Free entry!

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Yushima Seido

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A shrine dedicated to the Chinese scholar Confucius. Confucianism was the state of philosophy in the Edo Period. The shrine is covered in black laquer.

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Afternoon

Lunch time!

Kanda Matsuya

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Serving up high quality hand-made soba noodles since 1884. The restaurant has a cozy, traditional Japanese ambience. No reservations required.

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Mid Afternoon

More Exloring; museum and gardens!

Meiji University Museum

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In one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious universities, there is a free-entry museum, outlining the history of the institution with three main departments—Commodity, Criminal Materials, and Archaeology Department. The Criminal Materials Department is small but has some pretty gruesome items; such as devices used for torture and execution during Edo period.

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Ebihara Shōten

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secondhand clothing store founded in 1887, they are doing an exhibition of clothing worn over the past 100 years.

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Tokyo National Museum

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It’s not just a museum, it’s an educational experience. Imagine being surrounded by over 110,000 fascinating artifacts, from ancient pottery to intricate samurai armor, and everything in between. It’s like stepping into a time machine that spans thousands of years of Japanese history.

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Ueno Park

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In Japanese, “hanami” literally means “flower viewing.” If you are here during cherry blossom season, this is one of the spots I recommend you visit! Let’s go hanami at Ueno Park! 🌸

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📍Yanaka

A retro miracle.

Given that Tokyo went through the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and WWII, this town is the only one that survived. Throughout the district, it has an old town ambience.

Kayaba Coffee

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A scenic 10 minute walk through Ueno park is the symbol of Yanaka area since 1938. Serving up traditional Japanese dessert, cheesecakes, sandwiches, coffee, tea and matcha lattes with tatami seating on the 2nd floor. 🍵🍰

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Ueno Sakuragi Atari

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A cluster of prewar houses repurposed as a bakery, a deli and the Yanaka Beer Hall.

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Yanaka Ginza

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Local shopping street filled snacks and boutiques.

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📍Nezu

Nezu Shrine

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Just a short 15-minute walk from Ueno park is Tokyo’s most underrated shrine.

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Nezu Taiyaki

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Rikugien Gardens

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A short 15-minutes bus ride from Nezu Shrine, is one of Tokyo’s oldest gardens! Do some hanami while sipping on matcha tea; a quintessential Japanese experience!

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Evening

📍Ginza

Dinner and sightseeing in Tokyo’s high-end fashion district.

Torishige

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Yakitori restaurant opened in 1931. Our must not miss dinner spot in Ginza. *Make Reservations*

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VIRTÙ

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Want to try a Geisha Martini? What’s in that you ask? Well if you still have energy, this is a nice bar to end your first evening in Tokyo. Listed as #20 of the 50 Best Bars in the World 2023.

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