First of all, I always recommend
https://pocket-concierge.jp/en
to friends because he really is the best and can get you just about any reservation you need.
How many days will you be there? I have not been in ages, but if I had a few days there this would be my schedule…
Day 1
- Breakfast: Sukiyabashi Jiro - Known from the documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi". It's primarily a sushi place, but if you go early, it can be a very nice way to start the day.
- Morning: Private shopping at Ginza - Tokyo's upscale shopping district.
- Ceremonial Tea: HOSHINOYA Tokyo - Traditional tea ceremony in the heart of Tokyo. https://hoshinoya.com/tokyo/en/experience/japanese-tea-ceremony/
- Must Do: Helicopter Tour - See Tokyo from above.
- Lunch: Ryugin - A 3-star Michelin restaurant with a modern interpretation of traditional Japanese dishes.
- Must See: The Imperial Palace - While you can't enter the main palace, the East Gardens are open to the public and are beautifully maintained.
- Dinner: Kanda - A 3-star Michelin restaurant. Chef Kanda offers multi-course meals featuring seasonal and traditional ingredients.
Day 2
- Breakfast: Tsuta - World's first Michelin-starred ramen eatery. A unique experience to have ramen for breakfast, but it’s also good for lunch, just has a longer line.
- Morning: Yoyogi Park Private Picnic - I am actually not sure what service did this, because the concierge at my hotel arranged the picnic with gourmet foods for us, but it was amazing and I recommend you ask the concierge at your hotel to arrange this for you if picnics are something you like.
- Japanese Massage: The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo Spa - actually almost all hotels there have amazing spas, but this one has a view overlooking Tokyo.
- Must Do: Traditional Kabuki Show at Kabuki-za Theatre in Ginza: Japan’s traditional performing arts.
- Lunch: Sazenka- They have a blend of Chinese and Japanese culinary traditions in a beautiful setting.
- Must See (if weather is not wow and you want to be in doors): Mori Art Museum in Roppongi: Contemporary art in a sophisticated setting.
- Dinner: Joël Robuchon - A 3-star Michelin restaurant focusing on French cuisine https://www.joel-robuchon.com/_dev/en/restaurants-tokyo-joelrobuchon.php I know it’s weird to go to a French restaurant in Japan, but I swear this is the best French restaurant I’ve ever been too.
- If they are fully booked try Quintessence - also A 3-star Michelin restaurant focusing on French cuisine with a Japanese touch.
Day 3
- Breakfast: Takazawa - Although typically a dinner spot, if you can arrange it, starting your day here would be worth it.
- Morning: Personalized tour of Tsukiji Outer Market - I had a guide take me through the best stalls and I was able to try the freshest seafood. … NOTE, I would have recommended going to the fish market for the Tuna auction and then for a sushi breakfast there, but the wholesale market of Tsukiji Market, which was also known as the "inner market", closed back in October 2018 and moved to a new site in Toyosu where it reopened as Toyosu Market, but I have not been yet to this one so I dont really know what to recommend there but ask the Conciergerie.
- Massage: I can’t remember the name of where I went, but ask concierge to find the most authentic or historic or iconic place for reflexology.
- Must Do: i once had a private cooking class where I learned to make sushi with a top Tokyo chef, so if you are into this I would recommend again asking concierge to book this!
- Lunch: Ginza Koju - A traditional kaiseki cuisine
- Grab a coffee and Check out the Shibuya Crossing
- Must See: I really loved going to the TeamLab immersive museum, but not sure exactly what things you like.
- Japanese garden: Shinjuku Gyoen
- Dinner: Sushi Yoshitake - Sushi
So many things to do and see in Tokyo
Cool view:
- Shibuya Crossing (iconic view)
- Tokyo Skytree (view)
Temples:
- Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa Kannon Temple)
- Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu)
- Zojo-ji Temple
- Gotoku-ji Temple
- Kaneiji Temple
Markets:
- Tsukiji (Outer Market)
- Toyosu (inner wholesale Market)
Shopping:
- Ginza Shopping
Interesting Streets / Neighborhoods:
- Harajuku's Takeshita Street (Tokyo's youth culture)
- Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane - also know as “Piss Alley”) A nostalgic alleyway filled with small izakayas (Japanese pubs) for a more traditional nightlife experience.
- Nakamise Street (oldest shopping street)
- Omotesando Avenue (cute cafes and shopping)
- Ameya-Yokocho -Ameyoko (was once a black market post World War II, now you can find everything from fresh fish and spices to clothing and souvenirs.)
- Ginza Chuo Dori (shopping)
- Cat Street (vintage shopping)
- Akihabara (the mecca of electronics)
The only Palace there:
- Imperial Palace
Japanese tea experience (sooo many good places, but I know you like matcha and this is THE PLACE TO EXPERIENCE IT. So I’ll list a few, but really there are so many)
- Hama-rikyu Gardens (Hama-rikyu Onshi Teien): This historic garden has a traditional teahouse, Nakajima-no-Ochaya, where you can have matcha and traditional Japanese sweets while overlooking the pond and garden.
- The Way of Tea, Urasenke Chado Research Center: They offer tea ceremonies for the public, as well as classes for those interested in learning the art of chado (way of tea).
- Happo-en Garden: They have traditional tea ceremonies. You can participate in an authentic tea ceremony in the Muan tea house with a Japanese garden and koi ponds.
- Kosoan: Traditional tea house set in a 100-year-old Japanese house. Good spot for matcha and traditional Japanese sweets in a classic setting, complete with tatami mats and a view of the garden.
- Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience: It’s more of a modern approach to the traditional tea ceremony, they had a curated selection of Japanese teas, from sencha and gyokuro to various matcha preparations.
Hotels (I’m sure you already have a hotel and there are sooooo many good ones, but I’ll list my top top ones because if you want a spa day, all of these hotels have good spas)
- HOSHINOYA Tokyo (My all time favorite. If you stay here they have a very cute traditional breakfast and they have a very nice traditional ceremonial matcha 🍵 tea class).
- Park Hyatt Tokyo (Hotel from lost in Translation)
- Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo (AMAZING)
- The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo
- The Peninsula Tokyo
- Palace Hotel Tokyo
- Hoshinoya Tokyo
- Aman Tokyo
- Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
- The Tokyo Station Hotel
- The Capitol Hotel Tokyu
- Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi
- Andaz Hotel Toranomon Hills
Restaurants (Too many to list, like I really don’t even know where to start)
I’m sure I’m missing so much, but lol there is just so much to do and see and eat in Tokyo 😍🏆
This is amazing! Thank you for this detailed response! Some of those things are out of my budget until I finish training, but will keep in mind for a future trip. I’ll try to hit some of the temples and restaurants. I did Ueno Park, some museums, and shopping already.
Yeah, it’s overwhelming. I see why people book 3-4 week trips to Japan. I spent hours in Ueno Park and still didn’t hit all the spots. I did see most of the Tokyo Nat’l Museum though.
Happy Halloween, Nostriches! 👻🧡
nostr:npub1cj8znuztfqkvq89pl8hceph0svvvqk0qay6nydgk9uyq7fhpfsgsqwrz4u 
Congrats!
The same way religion became a thing. It’s a way for people to make sense of the unknown and unexplainable in human life. I have nothing against spirituality or religion. Believe what you want as long as it doesn’t infringe upon the rights of others.
What are some most see attractions in Tokyo? Trying to put together an itinerary but becoming overwhelmed by all the options.
GM! 😁
Good morning, beautiful nostriches! Hope you have a wonderful day.
Depends on where you go to school…for middle school and high school I attended an art school that had an excellent reputation nationwide (schools like Yale and Princeton sent college admissions every year for recruitment) and where individuality and creativity were celebrated and encouraged in the students. My parents sent me there for the academics (I was in the math and science program), but it gave me an opposite to be exposed to a lot of things that I would not have learned about at the public school that I was zoned for, which actually was one of the better school districts in our state.
Yes, this is why I love giving genuine compliments and finding ways to express gratitude even if it means just saying thank you. Too often people’s hard work and kindness goes unnoticed.
I love this cover of Hey Ya by Outlast.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ypV8h91plY&pp=ygUUbHVzYW5kYSBoZXkgeWEgY292ZXI%3D
“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world it’s own shame.” - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The move to ban books in US schools is eerily similar to the plot in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
I consider it a 🚩that a certain political movement would go out of its way to create a more uneducated and underexposed populace.
It makes me sad that a younger generation may lose the opportunity to be exposed to new ideas or ways of life not easily accessible to them due to their upbringing.
Growing up in strict immigrant, religious household in the Deep South, I would have grown up to be a close-minded adult with very little desire to leave my small suburban town if not for the books that I read from my school library.
Here the list of the 11 most banned books in US schools 2022-2023 according to PEN America:
https://pen.org/banned-books-list-fall-2022/
Here’s the exhaustive list:
https://pen.org/2023-banned-book-list/
Buy them, read them, and share them.
Stockpile books that same way you stack sats.