Tokyo City Guide
New and 2nd hand shopping, watches, cafes, restaurants, and attractions in Tokyo.
The Tokyo City Guide has been the most requested article since I started this Substack. Following my 3rd trip in 3 years, I’m now releasing the revised edition of the Tokyo City Guide with updated recommendations and resources! In this guide I’ll be walking you through Tokyo, giving you the ins and outs of what to seek out, and what to avoid.
This guide also gives you full access to my various interactive maps for new and vintage clothing stores, restaurants, watch shops, cafes and attractions. I’ll also go further in-depth, giving my top picks from each category along with a few words of advice.
Obviously the subject of this guide is material, because that’s what we focus on in this Substack. I highly recommend you seek out experiences beyond the confines of this guide - talk to strangers, make friends, visit a weird neighbourhood, visit an onsen, take a day and spend it in a park. But for all your wants and desires, look no further than the Tokyo City Guide.
And if you’re after some Osaka + Kyoto recommendations, please see below.
Osaka + Kyoto City Guide
After my third trip to Japan, and my second time binge eating around the “Kitchen of Japan”, I am finally releasing the Osaka + Kyoto City Guide. Where Tokyo is the fast-paced consumption capital of the East, Osaka and Kyoto offer a somewhat calmer experience while still offering plenty food, shopping, and attractions to keep you busy.
The Map(s):
In my travels to Tokyo I’ve assembled a number of Google Maps lists for a bunch of different categories which you can see listed below. Here I’m giving you exclusive access to these lists which you can save, and use interactively on your trip to Tokyo. Personally, I reference these lists dozens of times a day while in the city, checking what’s around me and what I can go visit. You’ll find each map linked below the photo assigned to each category, which you can save to your Google Maps profile.
Google Maps Lists (300+ spots)
🧥Independent Boutiques — 45+ locations
🏁Brand Flagship Stores — 30+ locations
🛍️Shops (dept. stores/miscellaneous) — 60+ locations
🧶2nd Hand Boutiques (curated) — 30+ locations
🧵2nd Hand Chains — 20+ locations
🕰️Watch Shops — 45+ locations
🍖Restaurants — 45+ locations
☕️Cafes — 20+ locations
⛩Attractions — 17+ locations
Obviously since these lists can be a bit overwhelming, below I’ll offer
a) links to every one of the lists so you can follow along, and
b) 5-10 highlighted recommendations from each category.
Don’t forget to check out the other city guides, and stay tuned for more!
