Tokyo City Neighbourhoods | Tokyo City Guide

Also known as “Electric Town” for its profusion of electronics shops, this neighbourhood is the centre of geek or “Otaku” culture in Tokyo. As such it’s a big draw for manga and computer game fans. Check out the 6 story Mandarake comic book and collectibles store while you’re there. First time visitors find it particularly engaging after dark, when the streets light up with dozens of illuminated screens, giving it a “time square” for geek’s feel. I personally find Akihabara a little overwhelming and tacky, so would probably nudge you in the direction of Nakano Broadway instead. 

North of Akihabara, this is one of the older neighbourhoods in Tokyo, and attracts many tourists to the beautiful Senso-Ji shrine. It’s a great place to spot people wearing traditional Kimonos, which locals (and some tourists) will rent for photo ops. The area is especially famous for its kitchenware. Check out the amazing Kanaya brush shop if you’re in the area (random I know).

Bordering onto Harajuku, I’m not entirely sure where one stops and the other starts. However this is my favourite neighbourhood for shopping, with some really interesting designer clothing brands. It’s also home to the wonderful Nezu Museum, a must visit for anybody interested in art, architecture and culture. If you happen to like your Jazz, Blue Note Tokyo might also be worth checking out, depending who’s on.

If I lived in Tokyo, I’d probably choose to live somewhere between Ebisu, Daikanyama and Naka-Meguro. Ebisu is a lively neighbourhood full of great cafes, restaurants and bars. Here you can find Bar Martha, my favourite Japanese listening bar. Daikanyama is a little more upmarket, and home to Daikanyama T-Site, possibly the best bookshop in the world. The backstreets around here are full of lovely little boutique clothing brands if you're looking to get your Japanese denim or Gorpcore fix. 

Upmarket Ginza is full of superstores and international brands. While it’s not my favourite place to visit, it has some of the best cocktail bars and Sushi restaurants in town, including the likes of Bar High Five and Sushi Saito. It’s also home to the flagship Muji store as well as a new TSUTAYA bookstore dedicated to art. So plan at least one night out here. 

This neighbourhood is the epicentre of teen culture and a really fun place to wander around on a Sunday. While most people flock to Takeshita Dori, I find it a little too much like Camden Market for my liking, preferring the slightly more upmarket feel of Cat Street and its surroundings. Giant fluffy pancakes are all the rage here, so expect to see hour-long queues outside the latest instagram driven cafe. It’s also a great place to get softserve and other sweet treats, if that’s your thing. 

Another cool hipster neighbourhood like Ebisu & Daikanyama. As well as a profusion of bars, cafes and  designer boutiques, a walk along the Meguro river during cherry blossom season is a must. Nip into Blue Blue while you’re there, to pick up some premium Japanese Denim.

Roppongi has a big expat community, drawn no doubt by the high rise apartments and clubbing scene. It’s not my favourite place in Tokyo, although I often find myself drawn there by the many wonderful museums and galleries including my favourite 21_21 Design Sight. While you’re there you may as well have lunch at Gonpachi Nishiazabu, just to tick it off your list.

If you’re seen Lost in Translation, you’ll recognise Shibuya Crossing instantly. The best place to view the crossing is from the nearby Starbucks (although it’s really just people crossing a road). I personally find Shibuya a bit too hectic and difficult to navigate during the day, and frankly there are a lot better places to shop. While there are lots of interesting back streets to wander around,  it may be worth summoning up the courage and checking out Love Hotel Hill. Shibuya is a bit of an entertainment hub at night, with great cocktail bars like The Bellwood and The SG Club (both in the top 50 bars in the world), along with The Music Bar, The Bridge, JBS, and Record Bar Analog (all good listening bars) to name just a few. Or you could slum it in Nonbei Yokocho.

Shimo is considered one of the coolest in Tokyo, if not the world. It’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for good coffee, rare vinyl and vintage American denim. I’m not a coffee drinker, but those in the know recommend the sublime “angel stain” coffee from Bear Pond. Little Soul Cafe and Shelter are highly rated music venues, while Mustard Hotel has a bit of an Ace Hotel vibe about it. Nearby Bonus Track and Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory are both worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Big and bustling, this neighbourhood typifies most people's image of Tokyo. While the areas immediately outside the train station don't really do it for me,  Omoide Yokocho is a pleasant escape from the madness and takes you back to a more historic time. Nearby is Kabukicho, Tokyo’s notorious red light district, and home to the Golden Gai bar area. Keep an eye out for Godzilla on the roof of the Gracey Hotel. For fashionable clothing, Beams have their flagship store there. For good cocktails try Bar Benfiddich (another on the 50 best list) while for live jazz try The Pitt Inn. 

While the famous fish market has moved, this is still a fun neighbourhood to visit. You can walk around the outer markets with ease, and the side streets are packed with stand up Sushi bars, offering some of the freshest Sushi imaginable. Some are a little too fresh (i.e. still moving) for my liking.

This neighbourhood is a relatively new discovery for me. Set in the North of Tokyo, it has a slightly sleepy, almost village-like feel. Folks say this is the best place to visit to get a sense of old Tokyo. Yanaka Ginza is a cool little shopping street full of coffee shops, eateries and artsy boutiques. I particularly like the Hagiso cultural complex and the lovely Tayori Bakery. In the same vein is Ueno-Sakuragi atari, with the charming Yanaka Beer Hall and Think Bakery. The nearby Yanaka Cemetery is a peaceful place to wander through, especially during cherry blossom season.  This area is also home to SCAI The Bathhouse, a wonderful contemporary art museum.