Japan Travel Guide: 6 Cool districts to visit in Tokyo

Japan Junkie: 6 Cool districts to visit in Tokyo

Angela Goh

11 Apr 2016

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Old town charm – Yanesen
With its reputation of momentum, innovation, and ultramodernity, Tokyo is one of the last places you’d expect to find an air of nostalgia and rustic, old town charm. However, for a taste of this shitamachi atmosphere reminiscent of good old Tokyo, one can not pass up Yanesen. The local name for the three neighbourhoods of Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi, Yanesen is the perfect place to spend a day wandering through winding alleys lined with traditional shophouses, exploring century-old art supply stores, and appreciating the laid back and friendly vibes of a place forgotten by time.
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Hipster haven – Shimokitazawa
Much like the yanesen area, Shimokitazawa has also somehow escaped Tokyo’s building boom over the past 50 years. Hugely popular with hipsters, Shimokitazawa (affectionately called Shimokita by locals) is without a doubt one of the coolest places in Tokyo. Shimokita is located just a short train ride from the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku and Shibuya, and couldn’t be more different to its neighbours. Organically chaotic and charmingly inelegant, Shimokita is a dream for the hip and young. As you weave your way through the narrow streets and alleys of the neighbourhood, you’ll be sure to get your fill of boutiques full of vintage clothing, unpretentious boho cafes, and stylishly disorganised record shops and concert houses.
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De rigueur – Ginza
Boasting some of the world’s chicest names in fashion, invitation-only Michelin star restaurants, and tech-giants touting only the most cutting edge products, Ginza is predictably the place to see and be seen by Tokyo’s designer-conscious clientele. Each weekend, the main street of Ginza, Chuo-dori, is closed to traffic, allowing shoppers to take their time window shopping the glass towers. After a long day of shopping and blowing the budget for the rest of the trip, head to the nearby Yurakucho district for some of the favoured watering holes of Tokyo’s working crowd. Arguably insalubrious when compared to the glitz of Ginza, the charming grittiness of the authentic izakaya and yakitori joints under the train tracks of Yurakucho offer a welcoming juxtaposition to the au courant vibe of its neighbour.
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Ultimate geek pilgrimage – Akihabara
For anime fanatics and electronic geeks alike, Akihabara is definitely the first district to visit in Tokyo. Just a few minutes from the centre of Tokyo via the subway, fanboys and fangirls flock here to wander through the staggering number of stores touting everything otaku: anime, manga, figurines, collectables, retro video games, you name it. If you’re not looking to pick up the latest issue of Naruto, explore one of the hundred electronic stores instead, or try your hand at the games in one of the many arcades. Also somewhat of a speciality in Akihabara are Maid Cafés. Exactly what it sounds like, here you can grab a pick-me-up during your shopping adventure whilst being served by a maid.
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Nightlife – Shinjuku
In Shinjuku, prepare to rub shoulders with everyone from salarymen and grandmas to gangsters and clubbers as you explore the area surrounding the train station (the world’s busiest station, in fact). As the sun goes down in Shinjuku, any persuasion can be catered to in the alleys, bars, clubs, and pachinko parlours of the racy Kabukicho. For mouth-wateringly good grub, you can’t go wrong with the cramped, single counter eateries of omoide yokocho. Amusingly called "piss alley" by locals, this is the place to get your fill of food in Shinjuku.
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Crazy shopping – Shibuya
For those not so inclined to the grittiness of Shinjuku, the nearby Shibuya can’t be missed. Full of neon adorned skyscrapers, subterranean malls, and chaotic crosswalks, Shibuya embodies the thriving, ultra-urban vibe that Tokyo is famous for. Suited to the young at heart, Shibuya is a food and fashion haven with everything from 15-floor department stores to funky local bookstores.

Planning a trip to the capital city of Japan and need to fill up that itinerary?

Tokyo is one of the gateways to Japan that most outsiders are familiar with. The city itself is huge, divided into wards and subdivided into districts. If you’re new to the sprawling capital and have no idea where to start exploring, you’ll be glad to know that every single district in Tokyo is interesting, eye-opening and Instagram worthy.

Some areas are less built up than others, exuding an old world charm and a more traditional Japanese vibe. Other areas are littered with mind-boggling neon-lit skyscrapers that will make you feel a little claustrophobic if you linger too long. No matter the case, it is obvious that the capital of Japan provides visitors with an abundance of choice when it comes to exploration.

Heading to Tokyo soon and looking for ideas to add to your itinerary? Check out the gallery above for our pick of 6 of the coolest districts to visit in Tokyo. Get exploring!

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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