Tokyo Travel Guide How to travel independently in Tokyo

Traveling in Tokyo is the dream of many tourists who like Japan. Tokyo's prosperity has given many young people dreams and passion. Here, find your own romantic journey and seek more universal values. Here, I will share with you my travel guide to Tokyo.

Except for the photos taken along the way, there are only simple words that look like daily narratives. But for myself, I think it is very meaningful to record this trip in a short notebook.

I seem to be used to reading WeChat every day, checking Moments, watching other people’s lives on it, and occasionally living my own life.

In order not to be disturbed by other people’s travel mood these days and affect my daily arrangements, I decided to travel away from WeChat and Moments these days, but arrange the itinerary for the two of us relatively quietly.

I went to Japan because I have studied and worked in Japan before, and I am familiar with the Japanese environment and language. I can have a lot of fun and it feels natural.

Although there was a small storm and time was limited, I had a great time. I write it down as a beautiful memory for myself. I hope it will be helpful for everyone to read.

It was a bit troublesome to apply for a visa for independent travel in a hurry, so I had to apply for a so-called "group tour", but when I arrived in Japan, I was disbanded on the spot, and when I came back, I gathered at the airport to have free time.

The cherry blossoms in Tokyo bloom later than usual this year. The advantage is that you can see cherry blossoms in Japan in mid-April, but the corresponding rental prices will be more expensive and difficult to find.

The Airbnb meal last time was easy to find. It was not only expensive but also inappropriate, so I started looking for a hotel to book.

There is no cancellation fee on AppBooking.

I just booked a hotel on it. Someone added me in the WeChat group and told me that there was a B&B where I stayed. The decoration is very unique. Very close to the Kabuki Theater in Shinjuku and very clean. After consideration, I left the hotel and changed to a B&B.

Actually, I have always wanted to stay in a B&B. Why? Firstly, the B&B makes me feel like home, and secondly, the price is more favorable and more comfortable than the hotel.

But there are also some risks, because Airbnb is not bad, you can refer to reviews and geographical location. After all, there are no reviews on WeChat and the credit rating is relatively low.

The first day in Japan

It was past 12 o'clock in the morning when I went through the check-in procedures at the airport.

It was already past five o'clock in the evening in Japan when I got off the plane and went through customs procedures. Before I could experience the Japanese scenery with my wife, I hurriedly bought an express ticket to Ueno.

It is very convenient to take the tram. It takes about an hour to get to Ueno Station. After getting off the car, we carried our luggage and walked all the way to the hotel.

I have to complain here. The hotel is really small. Let’s put it this way, although I’m not skinny, my wife is really slim and we can’t even turn around in the room. When we get up, we only have one foot to move around the room. Fortunately, we only stayed for one day, so it didn't affect our mood.

Less than 5 square meters

I put down my luggage and packed it briefly, and of course went to the nearby Ueno Heding. I have to say that the hotel I chose has really convenient transportation, and it’s only a few minutes’ walk away.

At the famous walking dining and shopping festival in Ueno, there are many Japanese snack bars, but my wife was so amazing that she wanted a turkey chicken roll cake. Please add the kind of iron rod that is found in every breakfast restaurant in China. Bread layers of chicken on it, then slice it with a blade, put it in the cake, and squeeze it with salad dressing.

Turkish meatballs on Ueno Street

Then we went to eat the famous octopus balls. Freshly prepared octopus croquettes are sprinkled with shavings of dried bonito and served with mayonnaise. They taste great.

Octopus Balls

In the middle of the episode, my wife was trying to buy a bottle of water from a Japanese vending machine. It turned out that she went to the wrong place and drank Coke instead of buying green tea or something.

After eating, I finally went to my favorite place, a Japanese ramen shop.

Spicy Noodles Branch

I visited this shop when I came to Ueno a few years ago and it tasted very good. It feels like the flavors of the soup have been integrated into one, and the rich flavor of freshly squeezed garlic melts into the soup.

Perfect with a bowl of rice.

At the intersection of Hengding Street, near Royal Tuding. I really recommend you try it every time you pass by.

After eating, we rushed to the famous drugstore in China. Before closing, Matsumoto Kiyoshi went to buy some things for friends and himself.

I was very tired when I returned to the hotel at night, so although the double bed was very narrow, my wife fell asleep quickly. I waited for her to fall asleep, then looked at her mobile phone for a while and then fell asleep.

The next day, Sensoji Temple and houses in Shinjuku

The next morning, I had breakfast at the hotel, checked out, and put my luggage in the hotel.

I decided to visit Sensoji Temple. I feel that Sensoji Temple is one of the places I must visit when I come to Japan and Tokyo because of its history, its environment, its convenient transportation, and its attractions for people of all ages.

After coming out of the hotel, I roughly searched the map and decided to walk around. Firstly, because the weather was really nice, but because the two of them felt that there was scenery everywhere.

The "Yang Mi" sign in a street massage shop

When I came to Japan for the first time, I felt that everything was new, but it seemed like I hadn't been back for several years and I saw many things that were both familiar and unfamiliar. Attractions.

This time I did not come to Japan as an international student, nor did I come to work. Because it was a long-planned honeymoon trip, the two of them were in a good mood and traveled all the way, probably first to the east and then to the north.

I passed a 711 on the road. Even though I just wanted to buy a bottle of water, I still glanced at the aisles of pornographic magazines out of habit.

How can a man not watch it?

When we arrived at Sensoji Temple, there were a lot of people. It felt like half were locals and half were foreigners. I heard that the prayers at Sensoji Temple are very spiritual. If it's lucky, we'll take it away. If it's ferocious, we'll tie it to a shelf next to it. Then we burn incense and wash our hands with water that represents good luck and happiness.

If you draw "fierce", tie it to it.

Koji is also Koji.

No matter where you are from or what country you are from, everyone has the same feeling of praying for happiness and peace.

After going to Sensoji Temple, we went directly to Taqingfu and bought a lot of snacks and wine to send back to China.

Firstly, it is relatively cheap, and secondly, it can be placed in the box after purchase. Save time at the airport duty-free shop when you come back.

You can buy things tax-free, and drinks are wrapped in plastic bubbles, so they are not afraid of breaking.

Because I bought too many things, I didn’t go to pick up my luggage, but went directly to the Minshuku that I had already booked in Shinjuku.

It’s very convenient to get off at Shinjuku’s East Exit. Following the photos sent by the poster on WeChat, we walked through the streets of the famous Kabuki Theater and reached the next street.

The room is large and the transportation is convenient. I went back to rest for a while, had beef rice with my wife, then went to the hotel in Ueno and picked up my luggage.

In the evening, I met my friend from the Japanese language school. I hadn’t seen him for many years before getting married. He is a father of four and invited us to eat my favorite sushi.

We walked from Okubo to the sushi restaurant in Shin-Okubo. Many years ago, there were many Koreans running restaurants, supermarkets and shops on this street, but it has not changed over the years.

It reminds me of the time when a bunch of classmates sang at karaoke until late and chatted with each other until dawn on the roadside with a bottle of beer.

Probably because I am still young. I don’t know how precious time is, and I don’t know what it feels like to do the right thing with someone at what time.

Life at that time was ordinary and busy, and my thoughts were silent. As Wang Xiaobo said, we are all the silent majority.

It’s not too late after dinner. After saying goodbye, my wife and I went to a nearby supermarket.

I think if I didn’t go to the supermarket, I might not really be able to experience many details of Japanese life. They can experience a lot of details and consideration for others in the supermarket.

And I think it was also at this moment that I fully recalled a lot of my life when I was studying in Japan. There are no unforgettable memories left in the supermarket, but the supermarket has become a part of my study abroad life and I spend some time there almost every day.

When we got home, we washed and went to bed. Tomorrow will be another busy day, because we are going to Karamoto Hot Spring in Hakone Town recommended by a friend.

On the third day, Tensien Hot Spring in Karamoto, Hakone Town

It was almost ten o’clock when I got up and packed up before going out.

I originally thought I could go to the department store in Shinjuku Station to choose clothes for my wife, but when I got there, I found that it only opened at 11 a.m., so I just walked around for a while.

After visiting the mall, I feel that seasonal clothes for young Japanese girls are not very expensive. Except for a few famous brands in the world, most prices are better than those in China.

The Cowherd Shop on Kabukikan Street

In the morning, I also went to the famous Ito Kunigo Bookstore, which is a famous chain bookstore in Japan. The book display and store layout inside are different from those in China, but I feel that Japanese people pay more attention to reading than domestic people, at least there is not the reading atmosphere in northern cities.

Kinokuniya Bookstore

After buying clothes, I wanted to go to the ramen shop where I once worked to reminisce. As a result, I went to the south exit of Shinjuku Station and found that things had changed a lot and turned into a clothing store. Maybe it was changed a long time ago.

Before taking the bus to Karamoto, Hakone Town, I went to eat a bowl of paella, which is the Chinese rice bowl. I like fresh fish on rice but my wife doesn't. I simply bought some bread sandwiches, but they didn’t seem to be very appetizing.

This makes me a little worried because I want her to have fun and eat well along the way.

I got on the Aude Express express train, which was very fast. When I was about to pass by the university and the rented house, it was already too late to take pictures. The camera flashed by, just like my memories of them, which were an integral yet neglected part of my life, but could not capture any important memories.

It’s raining.

More than an hour later, I arrived at Karamoto, Hakone Town.

It is raining lightly at the station. Hold an umbrella. The already narrow sidewalks are made even narrower, but we still don’t plan to take a taxi or take the bus.

In the light rain, I feel full of fresh air, mixed with the smell of snacks on both sides of the road, and music is playing. I feel as if even the sound of raindrops and the scent that can be smelled have melted into the air.

The thin drizzle blows off the petals of the cherry blossoms one by one, which is commonly called "Sakura Blowing Snow" in Japanese.

I met a stall selling grapefruit on the road. Three huge grapefruits sold for 250 yuan, and I bought a pack to eat at the hotel in the evening.

When I arrived at the hotel, I was very satisfied with my food and accommodation. In addition to enjoying Japanese service, the buffet dinner is also perfect with many varieties. In addition to traditional Japanese tempura, sushi and baked goods, there are also Western-style fried steak and Chinese wonton noodles, served with vegetable salads and local specialties. I feel like I got off to a great start with my spa night.

Because my wife does not understand Japanese and is a little shy, we did not go to the separate baths for men and women, but booked a separate hot spring room for two.

It’s not very big inside, but it’s enough for two people. It will be a bit hot at first and the water temperature is very high. You can pour some hot spring water out first and then pour cold water inside.

You don’t have to worry about whether the hot springs are real hot springs in Japan, just like you don’t have to worry about whether the food is hygienic. It makes people feel safe when using them.

The bathtub is just the right size for two people.

Open all the floor-to-ceiling windows, facing the heavy rain outside and some cool breeze blowing from outside. Listen to the wind blowing the raindrops on the bamboo door, and feel the friction of the air when thunder strikes.

Facing the darkness outside reminds me of the time I went to the countryside to play in middle school. I walked out of the house alone and stood on the steps of the tile-roofed house. I looked at the mountains and stars in the distance and felt that I was part of the night.

After soaking for a while, I felt that the fatigue and dust along the way had been washed away, and I became very energetic. The two of them walked around in the shops and corridors in the lobby on the first floor for a long time, and then returned to the room. sleep.

Return to Ikebukuro and Shinjuku on the fourth day

When I woke up, it was already seven o'clock in the morning. A man went upstairs to the open-air hot spring in the men's bath.

The koi fish will have good luck forwarding it, haha

After washing, I opened the door and walked outdoors.

It was still raining outside, and it was raining heavily, creating countless waves in the hot spring water.

Originally I only planned to soak under the eaves where it would not get wet, so that I could soak in the open-air hot springs without getting wet.

But when the door behind him was pushed open, two people came out, a young man and a two or three-year-old boy holding hands.

What surprised me was that he didn't seem to see the downpour and carried the child directly into the rain. The child broke free from his hand, rolled into the hot spring and started jumping and playing.

I felt a little ashamed when I saw this, so I rushed naked into the heavy rain and walked into the hot spring water.

It was pouring rain on my head, raindrops the size of soybeans were hitting me, and my lower body was soaked in a hot spring of more than 40 degrees, half cold and half hot.

It rained heavily last night, but it was dark and I couldn't see anything. Now, the outdoor hot spring on the roof is overlooking the rushing river, listening to the roar of the rainstorm, and then feeling the rain curtain lapping on my body. I felt my heart suddenly quiet. If my wife wasn't waiting for me, I could probably soak for an hour.

I drank a glass of ice-cold milk from the vending machine at the door and felt lighter.

After coming back, they had breakfast together. It was very rich and delicious.

Sitting on the express train at the back, on the side not close to the university, I still tried my best to look out the window, trying to take another look at the university and the rented house in my memory, and reminisce about it.

My wife said, since I miss you so much, I will get off the bus with you. I said no, it would be nice to be able to see from such a distance. When I got off the car and walked in, it felt lighter.

On the way back to the train, I accidentally looked out the window and saw Mount Fuji in the distance. After the rain, my vision under the sky was very clear. I know it is far away from us, at least more than 100 kilometers away, but I feel it is very close, very close at hand.

Mount Fuji

It was already 12 o'clock when we returned to Shinjuku. I accompanied my wife to buy the shoes that my colleague wanted. I thought half an hour or so would be enough, but to make the most of the time I didn't have back to see the streets and universities where I lived and studied, I spent several hours.

People who ask people to buy things will only say thank you, but the most important thing during the trip is not money but time.

On the way to the Muslim Hostel, I went to a ramen shop that I had visited many years ago, right at the intersection of the famous Cowherd Shop in the Kabuki Theater. The noodles taste delicious, but I don't know if they have that familiar taste. I won’t talk about the above, because this is an era that people will forget if they don’t see each other for a long time.

I didn’t feel tired until I got home and rested until evening.

My wife briefly walked around Ikebukuro, looked at the men's clothing stores, then bought some things for people at the drug store and hurried back to Shinjuku.

Because I made an appointment with a friend who I haven’t seen for a long time and invited us to dinner.

Shinjuku is still so lively at night. Like China, although the people feel that the economic situation is still not ideal, drinking and dancing, every household in the izakaya is still very lively.

It was late when I got home and I felt very tired from the journey that started yesterday morning. I washed and went to bed.

On the fifth day, the sky was clear, Shibuya Tower.

Like every day, I get up first in the morning. After washing, I went to the nearby 24-hour supermarket to buy some breakfast and drinks. I don't know why. When I went to the supermarket the night before yesterday, I felt that the memory of studying in Japan suddenly came back. This morning, I went to the supermarket and I felt as if I had never left Japan.

After dinner, I went out and decided to go to the Sky Tower.

When I was on a business trip to Japan for the past 11 years, the Sky Tower was under construction. At that time, people who traveled to Japan usually chose the Tokyo TV Tower and climbed up to look around Tokyo and get a bird's eye view from below. After the Sky Tower was built, it attracted many tourists, including foreign tourists and many from Japan.

I am very ashamed. Although I looked at the navigation on Google Maps, I still took the wrong tram. I'm very happy that my wife has a good personality and doesn't blame me.

After climbing the Skytree, looking down, I feel like I have a panoramic view of Tokyo. Each pillar at the top of the tower has a number on it so I can tell where I am in Tokyo. When I stepped onto a place selling restaurants and souvenirs, I felt it was more suitable for couples and visiting with children.

It only takes ten seconds to go up and down from such a high tower. My wife was a little tired after getting off the tower. Moreover, shopping malls and restaurants in Japan are very air-conditioned, so I found a place to bask in the sun and take a rest.

Originally I didn’t plan to go shopping in the mall on the first floor here, but I came across some suitable clothes and shoes and bought a lot.

We went directly to Shibuya in the evening.

When I go to Shibuya, I want to go to Hachikoguchi and take a photo with the bronze statue of the loyal dog. My wife doesn't like having her photos taken because she feels happy seeing them.

We turned the light at the famous traffic intersection into green and we walked through it with hundreds of people.

Many people raised their cameras because this picture is difficult to see in many places. Hundreds of people move to the other side from all directions. You can see the scenery here in many Japanese dramas and overseas movies.

After a simple meal, the temperature outside began to cool down, and the two of them put on their newly bought T-shirts. The first thing is to keep warm, but also because no matter what you wear in Japan, you won’t feel out of the ordinary, as long as you are happy.

My wife and I walked around the 109th Building in Shibuya for more than an hour. We bought clothes and jewelry that she liked. We also walked around the Men’s 109th Building with me. I took the Yamanote Line back to the B&B in Shinjuku.

On the way back to BB Cave, I felt that Japan’s nightlife had just begun. On the streets of Shinjuku, whether it is a clothing store, an izakaya, or even a pimp shop in a Kabuki theater, there are young brothers and sisters shouting at the door and greeting you with a smile.

And I feel like I haven’t been back to Tokyo in the past few years. There are more black people on the streets than before. It's best not to say hello to them, because they are thick-skinned and not very particular. If you smile back, they can offer to take your arm and drag you into the store. There is really no way. Fortunately, my wife and I went back, and we came all the way to strike up a conversation without soliciting customers.

I feel a little tired for some reason, so I want to go out for a walk, take my wife home, go to the supermarket, buy her dinner, and then go out to eat a bowl of ramen.

When I go out alone and walk through the bustling streets dominated by custom shops, I feel how relaxed it is to just cross the street with my wife. When I passed by their store, the enthusiastic soliciting friends greeted me in Japanese and Mandarin. There are also black people who don’t know what accented English is, but I just want to go shopping quietly and eat a bowl of noodles like I did when I was in my twenties.

This time I had a Hakata dolphin bone ramen, which is characterized by its thin noodles. Cook the noodles for about 30 seconds, then pour in the thick soup after the water is dry. Also, since I'm not very hungry, I usually ask for another Jade alternative, which is another order of noodles.

On the sixth day, the world’s number one ramen platform.

I have to go back today in just one more day. I am very grateful to my wife for her understanding and consideration for a willful foodie like me. She took a day out of her precious time to send me to eat the best ramen in the world.

Jaesesobanodles

Jaesesobanodles

Why do you say that? Because this is the only ramen shop that has been awarded a Michelin star. The ingredients and ingredients for his noodles, including the boiling of the soup, are unique. The story about his ramen and ramen is just a bowl of thick chicken soup.

755-79000 is released simultaneously worldwide

We arrived at ten o'clock in the morning. After waiting for more than an hour, we thought we could eat. As a result, we were told that there were no seats available during lunch time because all the pre-sale tickets for noon had been distributed since 8am. If you want to eat, you can only get pre-sale tickets now, and then you can eat from 1:30 to 2:00. There is also the possibility of selling out the noodles in advance.

Jaesesobanodles

Considering that the opportunity was rare, the two took the pre-sale coupons, read books in a nearby bookstore, and went to Woya Commercial Street for more than an hour before returning. Go to a ramen shop.

Unfortunately, the braised eggs were sold out, so we ordered ramen and shio ramen respectively, as well as wontons and barbecued pork rice.

Owner Yuki Oshima

My wife is not a big fan of ramen, but she praises it full of praise.

The soup is thick but not greasy, the soup is fresh and long-lasting in the mouth, and their noodles are very unique. Generally, the noodles in ramen restaurants, if not eaten immediately, will absorb the soup in the bowl and become swollen, which will taste bad. But his noodles don't have this problem at all. They taste very tough and not hard. It should be paired with an exclusive secret soup, and then stir a spoonful of matsutake on the noodles into the soup, which is fresh but not greasy.

Paired with a bowl of secret barbecued pork rice, I think it is worth eating even after waiting for a long time.

It’s delicious.

After dinner, pass Sensoji Temple in the direction you came from, take the Yamanote Line and get off at Shimbashi, then take the Seagull Line and go to Taiwan Field, a dating mecca for young Japanese people.

When he got off the bus at Taichang Station, he looked up and saw a huge Ferris wheel pointed at him as he walked past a large shopping mall.

In fact, you can just get off at the Ferris wheel station, but if you take a few more stops, the name of the first stop will be easier to remember, and you can also go shopping in the mall.

Next to the Ferris wheel is a large Toyota car showroom. Here you can not only see the most advanced Toyota cars on the market, but also many future concept cars. You can also queue up to drive them for free, attracting many people. . Many men who have no interest in dating and shopping on stage have been here for a long time.

The picture comes from Jane’s Book App

Maybe it’s because the air is good, the visibility is high, and the surrounding scenery is charming. After riding the Ferris wheel, I felt like I was surrounded by a completely transparent box. Because I was afraid of heights, I had no choice but to regret it after going up, so I chose the fully transparent box which was more exciting.

Afterwards, pass through the Toyota showroom next to you and you will find the shopping mall.

In addition to many duty-free products, there are also Nike stores, various kitchenware, and daily necessities. Because I bought too much, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to pack it when I returned home, so I bought another box.

Ferris wheel at night

Japanese people who like to read.

Boxing gym at night

After returning to Shinjuku Station, I decided to have a curry rice at Nakamuraya as my last meal in Japan.

Nakamura’s curry rice is famous in Shinjuku. It's just opposite Ito Kunigo Bookstore and at the intersection of the commercial street. I originally wanted to order his signature curry, but my wife is afraid of spicy food. It’s just that I wanted to try the Japanese beef patty, also called a hamburger patty. I haven’t eaten it in several years and I still miss it very much.

My wife ordered another fried octopus leg. I thought this one was average because it was not a signature dish after all.

When I got home, I packed my things for a long time. Because I couldn't fit anything in, I threw away the old shoes I wore to Japan and returned with new shoes.

Going home on the seventh day

I woke up at 4 a.m. and looked at my wife’s sleepy eyes. It was a bit painful, but there was nothing I could do. I simply packed up and went out.

The route I chose was to take a taxi to Shin-Okubo first, eliminating the need to carry three large suitcases and two schoolbags to Shinjuku Station, because they were too many and heavy to carry. .

When you arrive at Shin-Okubo, take the Yamanote Line, get off at dusk, take the elevator to the top floor, buy a ticket and go to the first parking lot of Narita Airport, get on the bus and you'll be there in about an hour.

After I came back from my trip to Japan, while looking at the photos of the trip, I wrote down my memories and some experiences of the trip in a short book. Looking back, I wrote so much unconsciously, but I think it is very meaningful for us to use the platform of Jianshu to offload my thoughts and memories. I hope that when the two of us look back in the future, we will be satisfied with a smile.

Time is too short, it comes and goes in a hurry, and there are some regrets and imperfections. Thank you wife for your understanding.

I hope that the next trip can leave better memories and record them in writing.

Life is a long road, and there must be a long road ahead.