Tokyo in 2 (Perfect) Days

Tokyo is a wonderful place. It used to be very expensive, but 20 years of economic slowness has made it quite affordable. You can indulge yourself in history, modern culture, consumerism and lots of food. I’ve been to Tokyo many times and when people ask “what should I do in Tokyo” I can finally stop repeating myself and tell them to read this blog.
Here’s what I’d consider to be 2 perfect days in Tokyo.

Day 1: Modern Culture - let’s have some consumerism fun!

Kick the day off with a cheap brekkie - you can get a Japanese curry for less than $5 at one of a million different eateries. Just head towards your local JR or subway station and you’ll find something. Try for less than 400Y.

Shibuya

Now let’s head over to my favourite suburb, Shibuya. You can get there via Subway (or JR) so it’s easy to access. Our goal here is to absorb the main pedestrian crossing where seemingly millions of people cross the street at once. It has to be seen to be believed. Once you’ve absorbed this spectacle from street level a couple times, head up to Starbucks and enjoy a latte while you marvel from above. You might need two coffees as most shops don’t open until 10 or 11 am, so take your time.

Guitars, mate! Shibuya has it all.

Once you are caffeinated and have given the shopkeepers time to awake it’s time to dive into the surrounding streets to take in the consumerism-gone-mad experience.
Some of my favourites include Bic Camera (many stories of electronics, cameras, computers, etc), Tokyo Hands (a massive multi story craft and hobby shop - everything from doll houses to sheet metal) not to mention all the shoe, music, fashion (go to Shibuya 109), and everything else you could ever dream of shops.

Harajuku

From here we will walk to the wonderful weirdness of Harajuku. You might pass some cheap ramen shops on the way, so if you’re starving, grab some lunch on the way. Harajuku has been a hangout for alternative dressers for many years.
You’ll see lots of youngish (teens and twenties) guys and gals wearing everything from lacy maid outfits to anime character costumes. It’s best in the evenings and Sunday afternoons, but there’s always something to see. Must-sees include the costume and fashion shops where the displays pour out into the lane. Fashion accessories, cheap jewellery, crepes and Häagen-Dazs - what else could you want?

2 days in Tokyo? Yes, just 2. Street scene in Harajuku

Ueno

Ok - we’ve seen enough fashion - let’s head off to the markets of Ueno for some bargains and a great feed. Ueno is famous for three things - shopping, a big park and eating. It can be reached easily on the JR line or by subway.
This is where the locals come to get stuff cheap - clothes, bags, shoes, seaweed, snakes, fresh seafood and lots more! Merchants range from tiny market stalls to massive department stores. When you get off the train, simply walk across the major road and lose yourself in the alleys of Ueno.
As for dinner - the backstreets of Ueno provide a multitude of choice and fortunately most restaurants display their offerings in the window or a glass display case out front.
Recommendations? Try Izakaya for a wide selection of “bar foods” to enjoy with a beer or some sake. Yakiniku is the Japanese take on Korean BBQ - great fun in Ueno with many offering all you can eat and drink packages and you’ll even get a bib to keep the BBQ flavour off your clothes!