Tokyo is full of surprises and rewards for curious travelers who are not afraid of venturing off the beaten track. A trip to see Tokyo’s hidden gems is an excellent way to get to know the city in a different, more intimate way when you’re done visiting its famous highlights.
t Walking through the tunnel of vermillion torii gates at Nezu Shrine
There are thousands of shrines and temples in Tokyo, and most look so similar that after a while they become a blur. Until, that is, you find something unique like Kanda Myojin. Although it’s one of Tokyo’s oldest shrines, its proximity to the Akihabara electronics district has made Kanda Myojin a surprisingly modern place. It now offers blessing ceremonies for computers and omamori (good luck charms) to protect your tech from viruses. Other underrated shrines in Tokyo include the Nezu Shrine (1 Chome-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo) which has an awe-inspiring torii tunnel the likes of which you’d find in Kyoto. There’s also a photogenic figurine collection at Gotokuji (2-Chome-24-7 Gotokuji, Setagaya) which is said to be the origin of the maneki-neko (lucky beckoning cat statue).
If you ever feel like escaping the busy, neon-lit hubbub of central Tokyo, find refuge in one of the city’s remaining Shitamachi (lower city) districts which provide a taste of Old Town Tokyo. These neighborhoods are characterized by narrow winding streets full of flower pots, dozing cats, and small independent shops and cafés. Yanaka still has that genuine Shitamachi feel, and makes the perfect place for a peaceful stroll or lunch away from the city crowds.
With its colorful fashion districts, wacky theme cafés, and noisy arcades, Tokyo is a haven for the weird and wonderful. While touring the city, you may even stumble across whole museums dedicated to strange and delightful topics, such as the tiny Kite Museum (1 Chome-12-10 Nihonbashi, Chuo). Even neighboring Yokohama gets in on the action, with its Cup Noodles Museum being an unexpectedly vast, detailed, and stylish museum.
The Prefectures around Tokyo are full of refreshing rural spaces, but you don’t have to go too far to find unspoiled nature. Todoroki Valley has an attractive, riverside walking trail that can be completed in around 30 minutes. The gorge itself is beautiful and relaxing, and along the riverbanks you’ll find Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and a small tearoom.
DISCOVER Tokyo Your Way
Takara-yu
⌂ 27-1 Senju Motomachi, Adachi
This sento has a lovely garden and koi pond.
Shimizu-yu
⌂ 3 Chome-9-1 Koyama, Shinagawa
The only sento in Tokyo with two different kinds of hot spring water – black and gold.
Myojin-yu
⌂ 5 Chome-14-7 Minamiyukigaya, Ota
Built in the temple style typical of Tokyo sento.
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