Tokyo, Japan

How we got there…

We have been to Japan three times. Once without the kids and twice with the kids. The first time, we traveled from LAX to Narita on Singapore Airlines First Class. From the first-class lounge in Bradley Terminal at LAX until we laned in Tokyo, the flight experience was exceptional. Though the flight was wonderful, Narita is about an hour from Tokyo and it is very expensive to take a private car or a taxi. Once you land and clear customs, find the NRT-TYO bus stand to purchase your tickets. There are different buses that go to different parts of town and even directly to some of the major hotels. We opted to take the bus to Tokyo Station and then take an uber to our hotel. The second time we flew into Tokyo, we few ANA business class and arrived at the Haneda Airport. This airport is a 20-minute taxi ride to the Conrad. On our third trip we flew economy class on JAL to Osaka, we took the bullet train to Tokyo. The bullet train was an easy and fun experience for the whole family. We have now been back a fourth and fifth time and flew JAL premium economy which is one of the most comfortable premium economies.

Where we stayed in Tokyo…

Conrad Tokyo – We have stayed at the Conrad in Tokyo twice. The location is great. We love being near the Tsujita Fish Market and convenient to the Shiodome metro station. The Conrad is also an easy 15 minute walk to Ginza. The hotel is beautiful, the service is incredible and the breakfast buffet is top notch.

Park Hyatt Tokyo – The Park Hyatt feels dated. We also waited in line quite a while to check in and didn’t receive the level of service that typically gets at a luxury Japanese hotel. The location is also not ideal for what we want to do when in Tokyo. We vastly prefer the Conrad to the Park Hyatt.

What we did in Tokyo…

Tsukiji Outer Fish Market – A must do! We love exploring the narrow streets of the Tsukiji outer fish market. The fish market has moved to Toyosu but the outer fish market is still bustling with food stands, kitchenware stores and fish restaurants. The nigiri and sashimi is some of the best we have ever had. The tamago stand is also one of our favorite stops. We stop in at any stand that looks good and we haven’t gone wrong yet. The kids also love the strawberry stands.

Harajuku – The kids love Takeshita Street for shopping, giant cotton candy from Totti Candy Factory, and animal cafes (across the street from Totti you can hold meerkats and hedgehogs).

Asakusa – When the emperor relocated the capital of Japan from Kyoto to Tokyo, he built his temple in Asakusa. This neighborhood feels more traditional than other neighborhoods in Tokyo. The walking street that leads to the temple is filled with shops to buy souvenirs. The temple gets crowded so visit early. We did a fun Ninja Samurai experience with the kids. This is one block from the Sensoji temple.

Akihabara – We love walking around this vibrant neighborhood. The buildings are colorful and the kids loved playing video games in the six story arcade.

Golden Gai – A short walk from the Shinjuku metro station, Golden Gai is a unique several block area with narrow street filled with small bars and eateries. Many of these spots, only seat six to ten people and have unique themes. It is fun to spend and evening eating and drinking your way through this neighborhood.

Team Lab Borderless – This digital art museum was a lot of fun! We have done two different versions and both were great. It was a good indoor activity if the weather is too rainy or too hot. It was also open on New Year’s day when most things in Tokyo are closed.

Tokyo Tower – On our 4th visit to Tokyo, we finally visited the Tokyo Tower. It was fun to walk up and see the views. You really get a sense of how big it is. We also had fun in the virtual reality amusement center in the building at the base of the tower.

Parks – The parks in Tokyo are beautiful especially with cherry blossoms and flowers blooming. We have visited three of Tokyo’s wonderful parks, Hamarikyu Gargens, Yoyogi and Ueno.

Where we ate in Tokyo…

There are so many amazing restaurants in Tokyo. The below list hardly scratches the surface of what this amazing city has to offer. There are so many types of Japanese cuisine. I would recommend trying as many as you can!

Imahan Ginza – This Sukiyaki/Shabu Shabu restaurant was a perfect spot for dining with a group of eight people. We had a private room and the most wonderful meal. The restaurant is located on the top floor of Barney’s in Ginza which is a 15 minute walk from the Conrad. We enjoyed seeing the fancy stores and bright lights in the evening.

Molecular Bar – This has been one of our favorite dining experiences. What you see isn’t necessarily what you get, but it sure is tasty. The Molecular Bar is an eight seat counter restaurant in the Mandarine Oriental hotel. The chef entertains you with his molecular magic all evening.

Kanda – If you are looking to try a 3-starred Michelin restaurant in Tokyo, Kanda is a wonderful kaiseki restaurant. It is expensive, but the food is fabulous and the experience is unforgettable.

Yakitori and Wine MOTO – This wasn’t my favorite restaurant in Tokyo, but it was really interesting and adventurous. The yakitori was great, but the chicken liver and raw chicken sashimi yakitori may have pushed it over the edge for me, especially on our first night in town. The wine was great and the setting was wonderful.

Hitachino Nest Brewing Lab – There location near Akihabara is quaint and in a beautiful brick building. The beers are excellent and they have small bites if you are hungry for a snack.

Baird Beer Harijuku Tap Room – This is a great local brew pub with good food and good beer. It is located on a quiet street just off of Takeshita Street in Harijuku.