welcome to mojo travels and today we're
counting down our picks for the top 10
reasons to visit tokyo
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for this list we're looking at why tokyo
should be at the top of your travel
bucket list
number 10 the blend of new and old
tokyo is a city unlike any other it's
truly
one of a kind on the one hand anyone
with a passion for neon lights and
cutting edge technology
is sure to fall in love with this
vibrant metropolis
at night walking through tokyo can often
feel as if you've stepped into a sci-fi
film
and yet the japanese capital remains
equally committed to honoring its past
as you navigate the busy modern city the
sheer number of shrines
temples and other historic structures is
astonishing
there is seemingly a relic from the past
and immaculately preserved no less
waiting around every corner you'll also
encounter tiny hole-in-the-wall
restaurants and businesses that
similarly feel as if they've fallen
out of time the contrast can be jarring
at times but it's woven into the very
fabric of tokyo and is a big part of its
appeal
number nine the transit system public
transportation might not be the most
thrilling aspect of travel but it can
make or break your experience in a city
the more a destination has to offer the
more
crucial it is that you be able to get
from a to b c
and d efficiently and with minimal
hassle as a general rule
no trip to tokyo is long enough but the
transit system certainly helps you get
the most out of your stay
yes it's speedy and well planned but
there's also a novelty to the tokyo
transit system
where else will you encounter white
gloved employees or get
up to the second notifications the
cleaning crews at the train
and subway stations might just be among
the fastest in the world
this extremely well-managed system earns
tokyo its place
among the cities with the best public
transportation but because it services
such an extensive area
it's worth planning your routes ahead of
time to avoid confusion
number eight the neighborhoods there are
some cities where
all the action seems to happen in a 10
block radius
in others like los angeles you need to
spend time in a wide variety of
neighborhoods to get a clear picture of
everything the city has to offer
tokyo fits squarely into the latter
category
a metropolis made up of many unique
neighborhoods tokyo's got a little
something for every type of traveler
akihabara is the place to go for anime
manga gadgets and video games and it's
got a chaotic neon aesthetic to match
to the east is asakusa a neighborhood
rooted in traditional values that offers
a wealth of insight into the history
of the city if you're looking for
temples and traditional japanese
craftwork and souvenirs
this is the spot harajuku and ginza are
the go-to places for fashion and trend
spotting
while ropangi shinjuku shibuya
and the aforementioned ginza are the
nightlife hubs
nakameguro shimokitazawa and
kichijoji each offer something distinct
and
are equally not to be missed number 7.
otaku and akibakei culture have you ever
been to a major pop culture convention
it can be pretty overwhelming well with
all due respect to geek culture in north
america
it can't hold a candle to the world of
otaku in tokyo
the term was coined in the 1980s and
while
like geek there's a stigma attached to
the word otaku in japan
manga video game and anime fans in tokyo
wear their passions proudly
otaku refers to any intense fandom but
akibake is the blanket term for the
three aforementioned types of media
and their fandoms are the city's most
omnipresent
otaku is big business in japan
contributing billions of dollars to the
economy
so whether you're personally into manga
anime and video games or not
the sheer spectacle and intensity of
this culture is well worth experiencing
number six izakayas britain and ireland
have pubs
spain has tapas bars and japan has
izakayas
the place to go for after work drinks
and some light snacks
izakaya culture is a big part of life in
tokyo
there's no better spot to do some people
watching or get lost in the local crowd
izakayas vary widely in terms of both
size and style
some are small 10-seater sake houses
that you're unlikely to spot unless you
know where to look
but there are also major chains more
reminiscent of western watering holes
something you're unlikely to have
encountered back home however
are the call buttons common in many of
the larger establishments
need a refill just push the button and a
server will be right with you
beer whiskey cocktails sake and shochu
you can try it all and though there are
staple menu items like yoza and yakitori
every izakaya has their own specialties
number five it can be done on the cheap
when you announce your intentions to
visit tokyo one of the most
common responses you're likely to get is
well i hope you're saving up
yes tokyo is an expensive destination to
visit
the cost of living here is higher than
anywhere else in asia
but just because a destination is
expensive doesn't mean that you can't
still do it on a budget with a bit of
planning
you'll need to skip many of the michelin
star restaurants and you won't be
staying in charming boutique hotels
but that's a major part of japan's
appeal most of your best memories will
just be walking around
exploring the city and immersing
yourself in the culture
all of which can be done for free street
food and unassuming little
establishments also just so happen to
serve some of the city's best bites
at very reasonable prices number four
it's busy but also safe traveling to
such a hustling and bustling city can
often feel a bit
overwhelming there are many words that
are commonly used to describe tokyo
but peaceful isn't one of the first that
comes to mind
well except for in the gardens parks and
temples which is another major selling
point
the greater metropolitan area of tokyo
however is the most
populated in the world add to that the
fact that tokyo is a top destination for
international arrivals
and the shinjuku crossing can start to
feel representative of the city as a
whole
here's the thing though while tokyo is
incredibly busy
the locals also tend to be extremely
polite considerate and respectful
crime and population density often go
hand in hand
but tokyo consistently ranks among the
safest cities on earth
if not the safest number three
the fashion trends what are the cities
that come to mind when you think of
fashion meccas
london milan paris seoul and
tokyo local residents are not afraid to
try out a new look and as such
the japanese capital has also long been
considered a
fashion capital as well from street
style to oat couture
tokyo is always on the cutting edge of
any trend
or starting one people look as if
they've stepped off the page of a sci-fi
manga
and we're not even referring to the
cosplaying otaku who fall into a fashion
culture all of their own
you might not feel comfortable trying to
pull off any of the local looks for
yourself
but just being in the middle of it all
makes for quite an experience
the neighborhoods of harajuku and
shibuya can often feel like one
giant catwalk number two the shopping
of course if you do want to take
inspiration from the fashionable tokyo
locals
you're in the right place just make sure
to budget accordingly
tokyo is a shopper's paradise ginza is
the place to go for custom high-end
threads
while ao yama is the spot for vintage
instagram ready finds shibuya is where
you'll find your more conventional
apparel and streetwear
and is also the go-to place for
electronic gadgets
of course you don't need to be a fashion
lover to spend big in tokyo
there are stores here to cater to every
taste if you're into otaku culture
you'll love the shops in akihabara and
ike bukuro
vinyl lovers will want to save plenty of
time to dig through the shops in
shimokitazawa
while shinjuku honestly has a little bit
of everything
number one the food as you've probably
gathered
there are many reasons to visit tokyo
there's perhaps
no stronger or tantalizing one however
than the culinary scene
tokyo is a foodie paradise it has more
michelin stars to its name than any
other city on earth
you could eat sushi for lunch and dinner
every day of the trip and still fail to
make a dent in the list of must-try
sushi spots
but it's also home to award-winning
restaurants that serve
international cuisine including some of
the best french eateries anywhere
outside of paris
the great thing about eating in tokyo is
that you can do it well
at any price point a perfect bowl of
ramen is seemingly on every corner
tempura tonkatsu japanese curry soba
sukiyaki shabu-shabu tepanyaki
you can savor all the classics without
ever breaking the bank
and we haven't even talked about the
sweets
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