Nooks and crannies to definitely visit in Tokyo.
1. Gotoku-ji Temple (Setagaya)
It is said to be a Buddhist temple where the Maneki-Neko (the lucky cat), was born. According to the legend, a feudal lord had taken shelter from the rain under a tree, when a cat nearby had raised its paw and beckoned the lord over. As soon as the lord left his shelter, a bolt of lightning hit the tree and it came crashing down. If the lord was still there, he would have died. Since then they have been known as ‘beckoning’ or ‘fortune’ cats.
It is located away from the city centre, and a perfect place to go if you are a cat lover. Inside the temple, you can purchase a fortune. If it’s good, keep it! But if it’s bad, you can tie the fortune to a tree, leaving it behind and only taking the good fortune away with you. You can also purchase a cat figurine, and keep it with you until your wish has been granted. Once it’s been fulfilled, you must come back to the temple and place the cat there to give thanks.
It is honestly an amazing place to visit once you get tired of the constant buzz of the city centre. The temple offers peaceful and beautiful grounds for you to centre yourself and learn a lot more about different Japanese cultures and traditions.
There are many places within the temple where you can enjoy the silence and nature
2. Shiro-hige Cream Puff Factory (Setagaya)
GHIBLI FANS, COME FORTH!!! This is the only bakery in the world that is officially allowed to make sweets with the shape of Totoro, one of the most iconic characters Studio Ghibli has produced.
It’s a small building with two floors in a quiet rural part of Setagaya, so you may think you’re going the wrong way (don’t worry though, there are plenty of signs along the way to guide you). The bottom floor is mainly for you to order the food to eat there or for take away, but if you can’t resist the urge to eat these absolutely delicious puffs, you can take the stairs to the second floor where you can enjoy your food with a drink (or two. Or three. Seriously, these taste so good!) The puffs are only made once in the morning, so we recommend that you reach there as soon as possible. Only the cream and chocolate ones are available throughout the year, while the rest of the flavours are seasonal. The whole bakery makes you feel like you just stepped into My Neighbor Totoro’s Mai and Satsuki – super warm and welcoming.
For souvenirs, we recommend that you get the cookies, that also are spectacular even if they are not as widely known as the cream puffs. The bakery even makes cakes on request, for special occasions. And even though the store is tiny, we recommend that you look in every corner carefully – there are loads of limited edition stuffies and toys, including some autographs, pictures and sketches.
The website will ask you to make a reservation, including your choice of puff flavour and amount due to the high demand, so make sure to do that before you go! The service is guaranteed to be good and the staff is super welcoming (but then again, wherein Japan is it not).
3. Nezu Shrine (Ueno)
It is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, and definitely one of the most beautiful. Surrounded by nature and lush greenery, this shrine has ponds of carp and absolutely gorgeous and elegant wooden structures that reflect Japanese culture in all its age and beauty. It is also a very famous place for traditional Japanese weddings, so if you do see a wedding procession during your visit, do not be surprised.
Legend has it that what later became Nezu Shrine was first founded in Sendagi, just north of its current location in Nezu, by the fearsome Prince Osu, also known as "Yamato Takeru" who is said to have lived in the first century A.D. One of the more memorable parts of the shrine is the score of small torii Shinto shrine gates that cover the paths, creating a marvellous tunnel effect.
The shrine is also the home of the Bunkyo Azalea Festival, which happens every April. Over an acre and a half of the shrine is covered in vivid azaleas (or tsutsuji in Japanese) that blood in different shades of pink and white, and there is always a throng of visitors from Tokyo and beyond. There are stalls step up during the festival, ready to sell food and drink, toys and games, handicrafts, clothing, as well as traditional singing and dancing.
4. Golden Gai (Shinjuku)
Also known as the Golden District, this area of the Shinjuku district will throw you back to the 1950s. It used to be a black market (it still looks pretty much the same as it did back then) and was famous for prostitution until the sixties. During the eighties, the bar owners had to guard their shops as the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) tried to burn them down. Even with the crazy (but frankly quite cool) history, the area is ultra-safe for women and tourists.
Nightlife at the Golden Gai
Every shop has something or the other that’s unique to it. Whether it would be a unique drink, karaoke, a themed bar, you wouldn’t be able to find two places that would be the same. Be careful, though: it’s still mainly a very ‘locals only’ place. There are some places where there are ‘no photography’ or ‘no tourists’ signs, so take care to note whether you’re welcome before entering.
Cash is more accepted in this area, so you’ll want to carry it around. The priciest spots go up till 4,000 Japanese Yen (around $35).
5. Ninja and Samurai experiences
Have you ever watched an anime or read a manga and wondered how cool it would be to become a samurai/ninja? Now, you have a chance to dress up like them and learn a few tricks with the weapons (completely safe for the beginners) they use! These centres and experiences are usually run by clans with a history in ninjutsu (basically ninja arts). You get to dress up in the traditional ninja clothes, try out ninja stars (the geeky side of me is practically vibrating right now) and shooting darts. You can even wield the katana!
Make sure to book your session, as these experiences are popular amongst both tourists and locals. They are usually forty-five minutes long; however, you can book longer sessions. You even learn different methods of meditation and self-defence, even though Japan is one of the safest countries in the world.
There are just so many options out there! You could do it indoor, outdoor, VR, interactive, it’s completely your choice. It’s one of the more traditional experiences, but still a lot of fun. You get to understand a lot of Japan’s history, and you gain a deeper understanding of their culture. And frankly, being able to wield a sword is super cool!
6. Owl Café
Why are owls so handy? They’re a jack of all trades (sorry, I really wanted to use the one owl pun I had in my books). Anyways, there are quite a few owl cafes in Tokyo, and they’re super popular with the locals. Many of them do keep owls as pets, after all! You don’t have to worry about them biting you; owls are super gentle! (and so cute to be honest) you can get your food and drink before moving on to a safe environment, and pet them gently under supervision so that the animals’ needs are respected.
Some of the cafes even have an in-house photographer (and they use cameras that are safe for owl eyes) so that you have a souvenir of your visit. If you're a person with kids, I would recommend that you check online if children are allowed. Also, some places are reservation only, so please check that too!
The biggest ones will sit on your shoulder, while the smallest ones will curl up into a ball in the palm of your hands (just thinking about it makes me squeal). These places also have a lot of owl-themed souvenirs to take home so that you’ll never forget how soft these gentle creatures are and how they can sit crisscross applesauce.
7. Tsukiji Honganji Temple
When people hear ‘Tsukiji’, they usually think of the very famous (and very delicious) fish market. But did you know that there is a beautiful Buddhist temple located right off the street? Discover the Jodo Shinshu, Japan’s most practised branch of Buddhism.
And can we take just a second to look at the architecture? It takes cues from Indian temples, although the huge stained-glass window is a cue from a western church. It’s really a sight to see, and will never disappoint! Inside the church, you will find an absolutely gorgeous pipe organ from Germany and has a total of 2,000 pipes installed.
There is even a Japanese style café called ‘Tsumugi’ that has recently opened up inside the temple, offering traditional (and trendy) Japanese food and drink. It’s the perfect place to go and centre yourself once you get tired of the constant hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
Author’s last words…
Japan’s capital has a lot to offer. Seriously. You’ll have to make several trips to experience everything. But while the more famous spots like Akibahara and Tokyo Skytree are amazing and a must for first-timers, a lot of people tend to miss the smaller and less known spots that can make a trip to Tokyo unforgettable. These tiny nooks and crannies of Tokyo hold a lot of tradition, culture and fun, and soon, it will even hold a piece of your heart!
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