Life Abundant

Getting Into Tokyo

When traveling back to the United States from Cambodia this past December, we were excited to add another country to our list with our long layover in Tokyo. We took an overnight flight from hot and humid Phnom Pehn to an early winter in freezing Tokyo.

Tokyo is a HUGE city and is super overwhelming when you’re trying to decide what to do with a 12-hour layover. The more research we did, the less interested I became in the Tokyo Tower, animal-themed cafes, Tokyo’s Akihabara Electric Town, and all other typical touristy Tokyo things. I found myself wanting a small taste of a more authentic Tokyo, to get beneath the skin of what this huge city seemed to offer.

After lots more research, we decided to fill our day exploring three different neighborhoods, which also happen to have some of the best food and coffee in town (which you know is a high priority for us foodies).

Getting downtown from the Tokyo airport isn’t difficult. Just store your carry on’s in the luggage storage facility at the departures area of the airport, head toward the Narita Express or N’EX train towards Tokyo station. It will take you about an hour to get to downtown from the airport. One thing to note is that tickets aren’t cheap, their best deal is if you get the Tokyo round-trip ticket.  It cost 4000 Yen (about $38 USD), so be ready to spend some money on transport to get a taste of Tokyo.  Also, be sure to buy your tickets before you get on the train.  If you have any questions definitely ask one of the staff in the train station.  They were very nice and super helpful to us.

The Tsukiji Fish Market

We arrived early in the morning (about 6 am) so we were hungry…so why not start off our day at the fish market. Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market, the world’s largest (and probably most orderly) fish market, is not to be missed. It’s bustling from the first light of day until mid-morning, with that day’s fresh catch from the local fisherman for sale all up and down the seven or so blocks that make up this bustling scene.

People are crowding the streets, mostly locals, and some tourists, to buy their fish for the week, try some local seafood, fresh sushi, or watch as a butcher carves a tuna for auction. We wandered the streets, letting our noses (and the lines of people) guide us to the best booths for trying out some of this savory Japanese flavors.

We tried everything from fish cakes to grilled tuna, which was by far some of the best seafood we’ve ever had. Wander down one of the back alleyways in this neighborhood for some incredible sushi, and try as many seafood items as you can (unless you hate seafood, and even then you might just love the flavors this market has to offer). After all, you’re probably only in Tokyo’s fish market once.

Be sure to check the market’s calendar before visiting. it’s usually closed on Sundays, holidays, and most Wednesdays. It’s fairly straightforward (although it’s in Japenese) simply avoid the days in red. Check the official Tsukiji Market calendar here.

 

The Hippest Neighborhood

After our morning fish market experience, we were looking for a fresh and “local” neighborhood to spend the afternoon. We settled on the Omotesando neighborhood, a fresh and local favorite hang out spot for all things shopping and dining, combined with some modern architecture and fun to explore streets.

Take your time to explore the different hip coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants, or shop anywhere from boutique stores to trendy thrift stores. Just be aware that things tend to be a little more expensive in Japan, especially in a hip neighborhood like Omotesando .

We stopped for a hot cup of coffee from Koffee Mameya. Located in a tiny shop with a fun architectural entryway, sells some of the best coffee in town. You won’t find cream or sugar here, but the coffee’s smooth and intricate flavor really doesn’t need it. We tried a dark roast Arabica blend and loved it. The barista’s who work there happily explain to you the difference between the blends, which one they prefer, and help make a recommendation for you. Once you’ve chosen they boil the water and serve you a rich cup of pour-over coffee that you won’t forget.

After coffee, we settled on a brunch place to stop for a treat.  Franze＆Evans London was packed with locals out for Sunday brunch and it was hard to get a seat. But we loved the vibe, joining with the Japanese at seemingly one of their favorite brunch places, relaxing in the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant, and enjoying some of their ridiculously delicious baked goods. They have a great weekend brunch menu deal, or (if you’re trying to save money for all the other delicious Japanese foods you want to try like us) you can just try a few of their oh so sweet baked goods. We highly recommend the carrot cake.

Walk off some of those calories and explore this super fun neighborhood like one of the locals. Just know that the people in this hip neighborhood are trendy themselves, so dress to impress. Or like we did, wear the comfy clothes that you put in your carry on for your long flight across the ocean.

The Best Ramen

There’s a ton of incredible food in Tokyo, from gourmet to street food, any foodie would find their fix in this city full of flavors. In our short layover in Tokyo, we made our food rounds, deciding to try a local favorite, Ramen. Not your typical western idea of Ramen (dried noodles that come in a styrofoam container, ready for you to pour boiling water on for your exam study night in college), but real authentic Ramen!

Take your pick from hundreds of places who serve this delicious Japanese dish. We choose one of the “famous” ramen restaurants (actually it’s more like a tiny ramen hole in the wall) called Kyushu Jangara Ramen. Be ready to pay in cash here, and wait in line until a small table clears, or stool opens up at the counter. For the experience, it’s worth the wait. After about a 15-minute wait, we were seated at the counter with a great view of the kitchen where we watched the chef’s prepare ramen for their crowded restaurant and were served within minutes.

Choose a level of spice, chicken, veggie, or pork with the steaming hot broth, noodles, few veggies, and a hard-boiled egg. Chris tried a spicier version, while I stuck with the traditional. We slurped up our early dinner, jumped on the metro, transferred to the train, and headed back to the airport for our long flight back to the USA.

For other Ramen tips and recommendations, check out Boutique Japans post all about Ramen!