What to do in Tokyo: the local's blog

Nightlife, food and neighborhood guides for Tokyo by a local guide who has hosted 1,000+ travelers since 2016: where to go out, what to eat, how to get home.

Crowds under red lanterns in a narrow Tokyo yokocho alley at night

What to Do in Tokyo at Night: A Local Guide's Neighborhood Plan

How a Tokyo night really runs, from sunset views and yokocho alleys to bar hopping etiquette, late ramen and the last-train clock.

7 min read

What to Do in Tokyo for First Timers: A Local's 3-Day Plan

A 3-day first-timer plan from a Tokyo local: Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Crossing and Kichijoji by day, with an izakaya, Shinjuku and a hidden bar hop by night.

8 min read

Narrow yokocho alley at night with people walking past small bars

Things to Do in Kichijoji: A Local's Guide From Inokashira Park to Harmonica Yokocho

Swan boats on Inokashira Pond, vintage lanes off Sun Road, then a night in Harmonica Yokocho's six-seat bars. Our day-to-night guide to Tokyo's favorite neighborhood.

7 min read

Cherry blossoms hanging over the pond in Inokashira Park, Kichijoji

What to Do in Tokyo in Spring: A Local's Guide to Sakura, Day and Night

Cherry blossom timing, hanami etiquette, the best day and night sakura spots, spring food and a Golden Week warning, from a Tokyo local guide.

7 min read

Skewers sizzling on a grill at a Tokyo street food stall

Where to Eat in Tokyo at Night: A Local's Guide to Izakaya, Omakase, Wagyu and Tacos

Izakaya rules, yakitori alleys, how to book omakase, wagyu yakiniku, Tokyo's Mexican taco scene and the best late-night ramen, from a local guide.

7 min read

Neon-lit Tokyo alley at dusk as the lights come on

Kichijoji vs Shibuya: Where Should Young Travelers Go Out in Tokyo?

Scramble Crossing and big clubs or six-seat bars and cheaper drinks? A local guide compares Kichijoji vs Shibuya on vibe, budget, making friends and getting home.

7 min read

Rainy neon-lit Tokyo street at night, the kind of street where Akihabara card shops stay open late

Where to Buy Pokémon Cards in Tokyo: Shops, Prices and a One-Day Route

Four Pokémon Centers, a seven-floor card tower in Akihabara, binders of 50-yen singles in Nakano. A local guide explains where to buy Pokémon cards in Tokyo, what they cost in 2026 and how tax-free works.

9 min read

Side-by-side cover: lanterns in Harmonica Yokocho on the left and a lit bar window in Shinjuku on the right

Kichijoji vs Shinjuku: Why I Choose Kichijoji for a Night Out in Tokyo

Shinjuku is the automatic answer for a night out in Tokyo. Here is why I would rather take you to Kichijoji: neighborhood bars, fewer touts and more of your money going to drinks.

6 min read

Side-by-side cover: the covered shopping arcade in Nakano on the left and an Akihabara street with a red SEGA building on the right

Nakano vs Akihabara: Why I Recommend Nakano Broadway for Pokémon Cards and Collectibles

See Akihabara if you are curious. When you are ready to buy Pokémon cards and collectibles, put Nakano Broadway first. Here is how I plan the afternoon.

5 min read

Side-by-side cover: a group at Shibuya crossing in Tokyo on the left and a street leading toward Tsutenkaku in Osaka on the right

Tokyo vs Osaka: Why I Would Give Tokyo More Time

Osaka deserves its reputation. But if you are deciding where to spend your extra days in Japan, here is why I would give them to Tokyo.

4 min read

A plate of fried chicken wings and shared dishes beside a large iced drink in a Yamachan mug

Why I Think Nagoya Has the Best Japanese Food in Japan

A personal vote: for my taste, Nagoya has the best Japanese food in the country. The dishes explain it, and here is how I would plan two days of eating.

5 min read

Pepperoni pizza beside a drink and a red Okawari cap by a window

Some of the Best Pizza in Japan: My Five Tokyo Picks

Pizza belongs on your Japan food itinerary. These are my five Tokyo picks, each for a different kind of meal.

4 min read

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