Shopping
and wander
outdoor Ginza
Outdoor brand meets streetwear. Multiple locations but Ginza has the best stock.
Tip: Multiple locations, Ginza has best stock.
@cosme Tokyo
skincare Shibuya
Best for skincare products. Carries Korean products too.
Tip: Carries Korean products too.
Beams
clothing Multiple Locations
Mens and womens. The womens line is called Beams Boy.
Tip: Mens and womens. Womens is called Beams Boy.
BINGO Shibuya MODI Store
shopping Shibuya
Worth a stop in Shibuya.
Coverchord
boutique Daikanyama
Curated boutique with high-end Japanese fashion and lifestyle goods.
Graphpaper
clothing Aoyama
Japanese brand for elevated daily wear.
Jason Markk
sneakers Shibuya
Sneaker cleaning and care products.
Kapital
clothing Multiple Locations
The coolest location is the one linked. Super high quality sweaters, sweatshirts, and knitwear.
Kappabashi Kitchen Street
kitchen Asakusa
Kitchen tools and supplies. Just walk up and down the street and pop into whatever catches your eye.
Tip: Walk up and down the street.
Kith Tokyo
streetwear Shibuya
Kith's Tokyo outpost.
Loopwheeler
clothing Shibuya
Best luck finding Loopwheeler pieces at secondhand stores in the area.
Tip: Best luck at secondhand stores here.
Momotaro Jeans Aoyama
denim Aoyama
Popular Japanese denim brand.
Nakano Broadway
watches Nakano City
Mall for used watches. If you're into watches, this is the spot.
Nanamica
clothing Daikanyama
Nanamica's Daikanyama location.
Nanamica Mountain/North Face Purple Label
clothing Daikanyama
North Face Purple Label is exclusive to Japan. The head of Nanamica designs this line. You can't get this anywhere else.
Tip: North Face Purple Label is exclusive to Japan. The head of Nanamica designs this line.
Palace
streetwear Harajuku
Palace's Harajuku location.
Porter
bags Omotesando
Durable, design-forward bags.
Sokichi
glassware Asakusa
Glassware store with original designs.
thisisneverthat
streetwear Harajuku
Korean streetwear brand with a Harajuku location.
Tsutaya Books
books Daikanyama
Beautiful bookstore spanning three buildings. Glass, wood, natural lighting. Worth a visit even if you're not buying anything.
Windsor Racket Shop
sports Shibuya
Rackets are roughly 30% cheaper here. Multiple locations but Shibuya is the main one.
Tip: Rackets ~30% cheaper. Multiple locations, Shibuya is main.
Bars
ash (ae)
cocktail Shibuya
Coffee-based cocktails. A cool crossover if you're into both worlds.
Boctok
cocktail Minato City
Good place for groups. No menu here. You pick from a large bowl of fruits and choose your type of alcohol, and they make something for you.
Cocktail Gastronomy KYU YASUI
cocktail Minato City
There's a menu, but just tell Kyu what kind of drink that you want and he'll make it for you. His best drink is his classic daiquiri and his sweet/fruit drinks. A small bar with only 12 seats, but I'll go out of my way to see Kyu everytime I'm in Tokyo.
Order: Tell Kyu what kind of drink you want. His best is the classic daiquiri.
Tip: Only 12 seats. Tell him Julian sent you.
* Reservation required
Flying Bumblebee
cocktail Daikanyama
Reservation required. Good vibes and drinks. A great excuse to explore Daikanyama while you're at it.
Tip: Gets you to explore Daikanyama.
* Reservation required
No Room For Squares
cocktail Shimokitazawa
Good for late night vibes. This spot gets you into Shimokitazawa, which is basically the Brooklyn of Tokyo. Heads up: smoking is allowed inside.
Tip: Gets you to explore Shimokitazawa, the Brooklyn of Tokyo. Smoking allowed.
SG Low
cocktail Shibuya
Reservation required. Good vibes all around.
* Reservation required
Unknown
cocktail Ebisu
Insane tea-based cocktails and flavor extraction. Probably my favorite cocktail bar in Tokyo at the moment.
Coffee
Bongen Coffee Tokyo Nihonbashi
coffee Nihonbashi
Go to the Nihonbashi location, not Ginza. Order the Matcha Espresso.
Order: Matcha Espresso
Tip: Avoid the Ginza location.
Dotcom Space
coffee Jingumae, Shibuya
Good coffee, great space, convenient location.
Koffee Mameya Kakeru
coffee Koto City
Reservation required. Book the Coffee Omakase. Beautiful minimal aesthetic. Make sure you go to the Kakeru location, not the other one.
Order: Book the Coffee Omakase.
Tip: This is the Kakeru location, not the other one. Beautiful minimal aesthetic.
* Reservation required
Kuro Mame Tokyo
coffee Toranomon
Reservation required. Book the Barista Counter. There's no menu; you have a discussion with the barista and they make something for you. Competition-level beans.
Order: Book the Barista Counter.
Tip: No menu. Discussion with barista. Competition-level beans.
* Reservation required
Matsubaya Saryo
matcha Aoyama
Reservation required. The BEST Iced Hojicha Latte. Hot Matcha Latte is also exceptional. Very unique black interior.
Order: Iced Hojicha Latte. Hot Matcha Latte also exceptional.
Tip: Very unique black interior.
* Reservation required
nadoya no katte
coffee Nishihara, Shibuya
Outdoor coffee shop with quality beans. Expect long lines.
Tip: Expect long lines.
Ramen
Fuunji
tsukemen Yoyogi
Above average tsukemen within main Tokyo. Expect a 30 minute wait.
Tip: Expect a 30 min wait.
Ginza Kagari Soba
tori-paitan Ginza
Go with the original version, not the truffle. Best ramen egg I've had. Get in line before opening; it's down a small alley.
Order: Go with the original version, not truffle.
Tip: Best ramen egg. Get in line before opening. Small alley.
Ramen Break Beats
shoyu Yutenji
Reservation required. Solid soup and noodles, but the chashu blew me away. Tucked in a residential neighborhood.
Tip: Residential neighborhood.
* Reservation required
Ramen-ya Toy Box
shoyu Arakawa City
My personal #1 Shoyu in Tokyo. Get in line by 10:30 AM.
Tip: Get in line by 10:30 AM.
Ramenya Shima
shoyu Shibuya
Reservation required. Solid shoyu ramen.
* Reservation required
Shinjiko Shijimi Chukasoba Kohaku
shio Ota City
Reservation required. Clam-based broth. Fantastic bowl. There's no other reason to go to this area, but it's worth the trip.
Tip: No other reason to go to this area, but the bowl is worth the trip.
* Reservation required
Tokyo Aburagumi Sohonten
aburasoba Multiple Locations
Good intro to aburasoba. Multiple locations around Tokyo.
Food
Isshin Daikanyama
food Daikanyama
Reservation required. The food is okay but the interior is really unique. While you're in the area, visit Tsutaya Books.
Tip: Food is okay but the interior is unique. Visit Tsutaya Books while in the area.
* Reservation required
Katsusen
tonkatsu Haneda Airport
Airport food shouldn't be this quality. Located on the 4th floor of Haneda Airport. Plan a stop if you're flying through.
Tip: HND 4th Floor. Plan a stop if flying through Haneda.
Onigiri Bongo
onigiri Toshima City
Best spot for onigiri. My faves: Grilled Meat w/ Seasoned Miso and Tuna Mayo.
Order: Grilled Meat w/ Seasoned Miso, Tuna Mayo
Sakana no Mise Okamo Kurabu Meguro
izakaya Nakameguro
Really good seafood izakaya in a lovely neighborhood.
Sea Gen
seafood Tsukiji
High quality tuna rice bowls. If the line is too long, go to Tsukiji Donburi Ichiba instead.
Order: Tuna rice bowls
Tip: If line is too long, go to Tsukiji Donburi Ichiba.
Seirinkan
pizza Nakameguro
Reservation required. Reservations are only over the phone, so use your hotel concierge. Best pizza spot in Tokyo. There are only two pies on the menu; order both.
Order: Only two pies on the menu. Order both.
Tip: Reservations only over phone, so use your hotel concierge.
* Reservation required
Shima
wagyu Ginza
Reservation required. Simple high quality wagyu. Order the Filet 300g and grab a Wagyu Sandwich to go.
Order: Filet 300g and Wagyu Sandwich to go.
* Reservation required
Sushi Dai
sushi Toyosu Market
The sushi place at the fish market. Arrive by 4:45 AM. The quality, price, and experience are all worth it.
Tip: Arrive by 4:45 AM.
Sushi Masuda
sushi Minato City
Reservation required. Expensive but my favorite sushi omakase to date.
* Reservation required
Tatemichiya
izakaya Daikanyama
Reservation required. More traditional izakaya with better food than Isshin, but harder to get a reservation.
Tip: Harder to get reservation than Isshin, but better food.
* Reservation required
Tempura Kitagawa
tempura Ebisu
Reservation required. Very delicious tempura omakase. I was the only foreigner there.
Tip: I was the only foreigner there.
* Reservation required
Tonkatsu Narikura
tonkatsu Suginami City
Reservation required. Best Tonkatsu in Tokyo according to Tablelog. It's a course menu; try all the cuts: Bara, Rib Roast, Loin, Chateaubriand. If you can't get in, Tonkatsu Keita is a solid backup.
Order: Course menu. Try all cuts: Bara, Rib Roast, Loin, Chateaubriand.
Tip: Best Tonkatsu in Tokyo per Tablelog. Backup: Tonkatsu Keita.
* Reservation required
Udon Shin
udon Yoyogi
The original creators of the Carbonara Udon. Arrive by 10:20 AM. While you're there, grab a drink at Coffee Punkto across the street.
Order: Carbonara Udon
Tip: Arrive by 10:20 AM. Grab a drink at Coffee Punkto across the street.
Unagi Uomasa
unagi Katsushika City
Reservation required. Top spot for classic unagi over rice. A little out of the way but worth the trip.
Order: Classic unagi over rice
Tip: A little out of the way but worth the trip.
* Reservation required
Yakitori Toriton Shibuya
yakitori Shibuya
Cheap but high quality yakitori. The wait could be up to an hour but it's worth it.
Tip: Wait could be up to an hour.