This is the owl cafe of your dreams! All the owls you can pet for the low low price of ¥1500! (a bit tricky to find, follow the map) ps: Don't pet their bellys or they bite!
Stop whatever you're doing on Takeshita St & find this place (2nd or 3rd doorway on right, downstairs, after you walk under arch headed away from train station). Photobooths will turn you into anime!
Everyone will tell you it's "the best sushi they've had in their entire life!" & they're right. Go earlier than you think you need to go. ASK SOMEONE to make sure you're standing in the right line.
Long story short: My buddy said this was the best pizza in the world. I doubted him. I was wrong. Best pizza I've ever had. Get the margarita pizza, skip the marinara. You need the cheese.
In our 8 days in Tokyo, we tried 9 diff ramens & THIS ONE was our favorite. (I wish we went back!) It's a short walk north of Shinjuku Station. Look for the 4-5 steps you gotta climb to get in.
Non-descript ramen spot tucked around a corner but one of the best of the 9 ramens we had in Tokyo (and a top choice in Shinjuku for sure)
This was rec'd to me as Best Ramen in Tokyo & it didn't disappoint. You order with 2 variables -- spicyness (I went 2 of 4) and numbing (I went 3 of 4). Numbing is amazing (& I'd rec'd going 4 of 4)
Ippudo is the wait-50-mins-to-get-in luxury ramen spot in NYC so I was surprised to learn its a chain in Tokyo. Not surprised it was delicious tho. Recommended.
I know everyone says get the Tsukemen (aka: noodles on the side) but I enjoyed the ramen much more (one of my favs from our trip).
One of the Golden Gai spots we really enjoyed -- bartender was super drunk, customers were super drunk, stairs were super steep, hilarity ensued.
One of our favorite spots in Golden Gai. Ask the owner to play you a song and he'll play you 10. Inside of the bar is full of "Ashita no Joe" (aka "Tomorrow's Joe") boxing manga.
Another great find in Golden Gai. Great cocktails, but if you leave here without trying a Japanese whiskey (great selection btw) you're a dummy.
Explore the cemetery as a great escape to the chaos of more crowded neighborhoods. Look for the "foreigner" section in the north side to see the contributions of ex-pats past.
If you're looking for high class tempura, this is where you find it. Make sure to try the oysters. And don't snooze on the fruits they'll bring for dessert (the strawberries are incredible).
Awesome hipster-esque vintage / antiques store. Don't miss the room in the back left with vintage American flags, patches, etc
A little off-the-beaten path but great spot to find clothes you'd find the cool kids in Japan wearing. If I had a bigger suitcase I would have bought more. Rad jackets.
If you're staying nearby, this is a great spot to walk off your Golden Gai hangover (or to just escape the madness of Shinjuku or Shibuya)
Seek out the biggest fish head you can find and take a photo with it. If you can beat this one, tweet me @dens.
Whether or not you're into video games, at least take a lap. Watch girls play the claw-crane games. See chain-smoking fighting game fans. Seek out the play-your-card games. Play the urinal video game.
Take a break from the Shibuya madness and browse the racks and racks and racks of magazines. Don't miss the "how to do cos-play" magazines.
Yes yes, the Lost in Translation bar... but also home to one of the best Old Fashioneds I've ever had. If you're hungry, skip the pizza and Just Do It with the $38 burger.
Yes, full of tourists. And yes, every one of your friends told you to go here. It's batshit crazy in a way you won't see batshit crazy in the US. Maybe get super cranked before you go.
Ate at Daiwa Sushi, you should too. Best sushi I've ever had. The restaurant is a sushi bar with maybe ten seats. The sushi chef reaches over the bar to put fresh sushi on your plate. Worth the wait.
