TOKYO
STAY: NIPPON SEINENKAN HOTEL, Situated by a stadium in Shinjuku, this new hotel has spacious rooms (for Tokyo Standards) and is only a 10-minute walk to the Shinjuku station. The bonus is the private hotel Onsen.
STAY: ANDAZ TOKYO, This hotel as many other ANDAZ franchises globally is contemporary and intimate. WEBSITE, CLICK HEREDO: NEZU MUSEUM, Get immersed in Japanese culture and history in a beautifully curated museum.
DO: 21 21 DESIGN SIGHT, Modern museum with stunning architecture. There’s not much more besides this museum around the neighborhood unless you like the hustle and bustle of Roppongi.
SHOP: SOSTRENE GRENE OMOTESANDO SHOP, This shop comes close to the definition of “Hygge” stock up on affordable Scandinavian inspired homewares; great opportunity to load up on wooden cookware.
SHOP: THE LIBRARY, A well curated multi-brand lifestyle shop with selections of books, housewares, and attire. Make sure to visit the shop if you're around one of their flagship locations.
EAT: TORITAMA, Simple, Yakitori is artistry within the institution; make sure to get there early or very late as the locals dominate the restaurant after work or for lunch.
EAT: THE BLIND DONKEY, A different style of restaurant, with a focus on "ecological importance of agriculture" and the product we eat produced from it; beautiful décor and food alike.
DRINK: GINZA MUSIC BAR, A beautifully decorated bar in the heart of GINZA; have a Lost in Translation moment now. Hip but not too hip. The bar is located on the 4th Floor.
DRINK: BONGEN COFFEE, Little coffee shop in Ginza serving very good coffee.
DRINK: OFFSHORE COFFEE, Cute coffee shop tucked away in an alley in Harajuku, Tokyo.
NOTES
NOTE: CARRY CASH, Generally, it can be a good idea to have at least 20,000 yen in cash on you. If you do need to withdraw money from an ATM, then you can usually do this at a 7-Eleven or Japan Post Bank branch. IMPORTANT NOTE: Most ATM's in JAPAN only accept JAPAN issued ATM/Bank Cards.
NOTE: GET, MIFI ONLINE, Reserve a MiFi device or opt for a local SIM, internet/wifi access is necessary when traveling in Japan. If you have an opportunity to reserve the equipment in advance, choose for TEP Wireless.
NOTE: CITY CENTRAL, I can't stress enough; you need cold hard cash to buy bus/metro tickets to the city center; not something you want to worry about if you were on a long flight.
NOTE: TRANSLATION APPS, Yes, many Japanese people now speak English in the major capitals but having apps like Google Translate will be a game changer for when you travel to smaller cities or towns.
NOTE: POWER UP, Make sure to travel with an electrical adapter and power bank.
NOTE: COIN PURSE, Make sure to bring a coin purse, lots of coins as currency in Japan.
NOTE: JAPAN RAIL, As a visitor you can get a better rate by purchasing Japan Rail Tickets before entering JP; make sure you do this in advance as it will be a hassle to have the tickets delivered to
NOTE: your hotel in Japan. More details outlined in the following article.
NOTE: PUBLIC TRANSPORT, Always look at the arrival times when booking your travels to Japan. Why? The subway/railways stop running at 11-12AM dependent on the line, and the Taxi's in Japan are not cheap. Unless you're made of money or have alternate travel plans, make sure to think of when you'll land in Tokyo.STAY: THE SQUARE HOTEL, GINZA, Affordable hotel with modern amenities and whimsical decor, the rooms are laid out with intentional and purpose. This centrally located hotel in Ginza also has a private hotel Onsen.