Tokyo Things to Do

Pescetarians (fish eaters) will have no trouble dining out in Tokyo or Japan but for true vegetarians and vegans, finding a meal free of fish extract (bonito), the main non-vegetarian addition to an otherwise vegetarian dish, can be tricky.

Shimbashi is a business district in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, with small, hole-in-the-wall bars and restaurants frequented by salary men and women. Sandwiched between Ginza and Shiodome, Shimbashi is famous for its tiny eateries jammed under the railway tracks and it buzzes day and night on weekdays as workers scurry to and from work, meetings and Yakitori bars.

Don’t worry if hunger pangs hit you after midnight, most izakaya’s stay open until the wee hours.

If asked to name the world’s gourmet capital, many of us would immediately shout ‘Paris!’, but alas, this is no longer the case. In fact, since 2010 Tokyo has lay claim to this title thanks to its incredible wealth of Michelin-star rated restaurants.

Despite the long history and importance of sake in Japan’s drinking culture, beer is much more widely consumed throughout Japan. Thanks to its introduction by the Dutch in the 17^th century and the discovery of hops growing wild on the island of Hokkaido, local beer production was in full swing by the late 1800s.

Maid cafes are not a new concept but they are certainly a quirky one. Since the first Maid café opened in 2001 in Akihabara in Tokyo, the cafes have proved to be so popular that there are now over 2,000 Maid cafes in Tokyo alone and the idea has been adopted throughout Europe, Asia and the US.

Eating out in Tokyo is affordable if you follow a few basic budget tips and if you know where to look for your next meal. The great thing about Japanese cuisine is that cheap does not necessarily mean unhealthy. For just a few yen you can feast on delicious ramen, udon soup, fresh sushi, noodles, curry and donbori.

All movie lovers will be familiar with Sofia Coppola’s movie ‘Lost in Translation.’ Set in Tokyo, the film’s main characters, played by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, strike up a relationship when they meet in a cocktail bar in Tokyo.

Tasting local food is a memorable part of any trip – particularly when that food happens to be Japanese! Here’s our beginners’ guide to some delicious Japanese staples.

June may be summer in Tokyo but it’s also the rainy season. So what better excuse to escape the rain than by diving into Tokyo’s Great Japan Beer Festival?