I’m not going to name names, so don’t ask. But a Tokyo-based tour guide recommended to us emailed me to say he was away on a trip while we were in town. He apologised for not being there to meet us and kindly gave us his number in case we needed help. His one piece … Read more
Omoide Yokocho or Memory Lane in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is also called Shonben Yokocho or Piss Alley due to the lack of toilets here for many years. Home to dozens of smoky yakitori and motsuyaki joints, boisturous izakayas, and noodle bars, the atmospheric alleyways of Omoide Yokocho are a popular post-work stop for Japanese salarymen looking … Read more
It’s no secret that the Japanese love the kawaii or cute character Hello Kitty, but also wildly successful has been a more tangible rendering of cats – cat cafes. While pet ownership is up in Japan apparently – pet shops are everywhere and small breeds of dogs are hugely popular here – many apartment blocks in … Read more
The best Tokyo neighbourhoods are the laidback and local areas like Akasaka and the atmospheric Asakusa. While they rarely get a mention in magazines and with no notable sights to speak of, they are as local as ’hoods get with their buzzy izakayas, karaoke spots, pachinko parlours, and children’s parks, and that’s just the way … Read more
Eating out in Tokyo as it quickly becomes apparent to us is not only about sushi and noodles. After a disappointing bowl of ramen at a supposedly-famous noodle joint we find ourselves at a retro stand-up bar tucking into smoky grilled intestines, tongue, shoulder, raw liver, and heart. And it’s wonderful. Eating out in Tokyo, Japan, … Read more