Tokyo, Japan

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While the people (and clothes) are size negative petite, Tokyo itself is an XXL; so, spend your days exploring the neighborhoods.

***KNOW***

• There is no English here.  And I mean NO. ENGLISH. HERE.  

• Tokyo is the one Asian city that hands out free packs of tissue (with advertising) on every corner. It is also the one city with nice bathrooms (with toilet paper) everywhere you turn. Let’s teach China a thing or two about this brilliant little advertising concept, shall we?

• Mochi isn’t good here unless you have a secret love of red bean paste as the filling. Stick to Trader Joe's.

• 7-11′s food selection puts Whole Foods to shame. 

•  7-11′s sake selection is a hangover waiting to happen. You’ve been warned. 

• Actually, anyone’s sake selection is a hangover waiting to happen. Just because it comes in these cute little cups that the top pops off of does not mean it’s good for you. 

• ALL bars have a cover charge (some restaurants, too) … and some wait to tell you until you are leaving.

• The Sony showroom isn't cool unless you've never been to Best Buy.

• Denki Bran is considered “poor man’s whiskey."  Just say no.

***THE HOODS***

• SHIBUYA 

• Stop by one of the Udon places – the menus (with pictures, thank goodness) are out front along with a vending machine of tickets. Wait in line, make your purchase from the vending machine, go inside, turn in your ticket and, poof!, your selection is handed over. 

• Visit the quite & peaceful Meiji Shrine

• Sushi No Midori – sushi spot in the Shibuya Metro station (yes!) with a guaranteed 30+ minute wait … worth the wait if it's 300 minutes.

• Buri – cool sake bar in the metro station by Yogogi park 

• HARAJUKU (holla back girl!)

•  Explore the area's fab boutiques with a quaint feel

• Walk along Takeshita Dori, where all the “Harajuku Girls” hang out 

• Use the vending machines that put ice in your soda (once you find a local to show you how to use it)

• Kyusha Jangara Ramen – line spilling out the door for the most delicious ramen on earth

• GINZA - This is the area you see on TV, with the high-rises and neon signs. GLAM!

• Go to a "magic bar," where the bartenders are magicians (most are 'hidden' in high-rise buildings).  Prepare for a $60+/hour cover charge, and lots of cigarette smoke.

• On that note, the fact that a bar is on the fifth floor of a dark apartment-like building, inside one of the ‘apartments’ … and every other ‘apartment’ is also a 3-6 seat  bar, and every building in the area is an ‘apartment building’ … Well, you get the point. 

• Andy’s Shinhinomoto – Izakaya (Japanese restaurant/pub) under the train tracks, fun and rowdy spot for dinner … Sake to me!

• TSUKIJI (the world famous fish market) - Walk around the stalls and check out all the 4-seater sushi joints. Sushizanmai is a great place to enjoy some.

• OMOTESANDO (neighborhood) - Fabulous area! Big, main road with lots of little alleyways full of great shops and cool architecture. 

• NAKA MAGURO - area surrounding a canal with little shops and restaurants, a nice stroll in a sleepy area

• SHINJUKU (red light-ish area, good to see but that’s about it)

• Isetan – famous department store … Hello cool fashion, hello high prices.  Fun to browse. The market in the basement is just plain incredible

• AZABU JUBAN in ROPPONGI - area where many expats live, nothing too exciting but possibly the world’s greatest grocery stores

• EBISU

•  Il Boccalone – Italian restaurant that's delicious and quaint, like the neighborhood