Interesting Tokyo hangouts for someone who knows Japan

September 27, 2007 5:17 AM

Cool/Interesting Tokyo restaurants, bars and hangouts for someone who knows Japan

I'm going to Tokyo after a number of years away from Japan. I'm taking my boyfriend who's never been before.
I'd really like to be able to go to some interesting/cool/unusual places - the kind of places my Japanese friends used to take me to when I lived in Osaka, where you wouldn't really think to go as a gaijin. I speak some Japanese. Any suggestions gratefully received.

posted by Marzipan to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

Shimokitazawa is always a neat area to check out - also Koenji or Kichijoji.
posted by gomichild at 7:42 AM on September 27, 2007

Tsukiji is unusual. Everyone I have taken to Tsukiji has enjoyed it, even the non-sushi eaters.

I'm not sure what is interesting to you, but instead of Akihabara, I'd go to Nakano Broadway.

If you like art/design/etc. you cannot go wrong by visiting TokyoArtBeat and choosing something to go to.
posted by gen at 8:08 AM on September 27, 2007

Golden Gai, in Shinjuku, and Nonbei Yokocho in Shibuya. Not to be missed.

Shimokitazawa is cool, described to me as Tokyo's East Village - I'll second that description. Unlike the places I listed above, though, which really have no Western analogue.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 9:37 AM on September 27, 2007

Mominoki House
posted by brett at 11:16 AM on September 27, 2007

The last time I was in Tokyo I stumbled over the Ninja restaurant in Akasaka-Mitsuke. I didn't get a chance to eat there yet, but it's near the top of my list.

Where did your friends take you in Osaka?
posted by sour cream at 12:47 PM on September 27, 2007

I think they have the ninja restaurant in the US too.
posted by gen at 12:03 AM on September 28, 2007

For Golden Gai and Nonbei Yokocho, you should go with someone who's gone before.
posted by gen at 12:04 AM on September 28, 2007

disagree, gen. You absolutely have to be respectful and understand that you may be denied access to certain places, but others will be welcoming - or at least they were for me when I went alone last fall. I made friends and was invited back on a few occasions.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 8:28 AM on September 28, 2007