Tokyo Travel Blog

Fresh fish flopping on dripping trays of ice; sea bream, red snapper, and mackerel; men in knee-high galoshes loading crates of just-out-of-the-bay squid; buyers and sellers yelling in a fast clip, adjusting the world’s tuna prices as they go. This is the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market...

Tokyo’s world-renowned sushi and fresh fish industries are a marvel of the modern world. Take a trip to Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market and you’ll come to understand how hawkers and dealers move over 4,000 tons of fish every day, six days a week (and usually before lunch time): efficiency,...

The Japanese people are absolutely in love with their cell phones (“keitai,” in Japanese). On the train, waiting in line, or just walking around Tokyo, the main pastime, diversion, and time-killer for your average Tokyoite will somehow involve pounding digits into their cell phone. They do everything...

Tokyo is right in the middle of its hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season, which officially opened this year on March 22nd (yes, of course there is an official date). There’s about a week left for prime viewing before the official end of the season on April 11th. For the uninitiated, hanami season...

Throw away those Styrofoam cups and hot water kettles; you’re in Tokyo now. It’s time to dig in to some real ramen: hand-cut noodles, savory soul-soothing soups, and slow-cooked slices of piquant pork. As the nation’s capital, Tokyo offers a little bit of every taste in the ramen lexicon. So tuck...

Nestled behind Shinjuku’s seedy Kabuki-cho nightlife district, the Golden Gai is from all outward appearances nothing more than a collection of alleyways lined with tiny, ramshackle bars. The narrow alleys are lit up with cheap neon signs that set an iconic, old-school Tokyo scene while steering...

Sashimi, world-class technology, pagodas, and parks. As one of the world’s major metropolises, Tokyo is not lacking in must-see spots, iconic monuments, and world-class markets. From the tip of Tokyo Tower to the depths of Shinjuku station, here’s a list of the top ten sites every traveller...

Tokyo’s local media offer a plethora of English-language information on upcoming events, local news, and insider tips. Metropolis: Tokyo’s main English outlet for everything hot, hip, and hilarious. Sometimes irreverent, but always relevant, it should be a first-reference for...

Anybody experienced in Tokyo’s nightlife scene is all-too aware that the city’s best spots are not easily seen on the surface. Indeed, this place often makes would-be bar hoppers feel a strong need for a sturdy pair of x-ray goggles – ones featuring excellent department store- and pachinko...

Learning just a little bit of your destination’s local language can greatly increase the amount of pleasure you get out of your trip, and seriously decrease the amount of frustration. Here is the first installment of what I consider an essential list of Japanese words and phrases you’ll find...