Tokyo is massive. In just a few short days I somehow covered Shinjuku, Ginza, Shibuya, Daikanyama, Harajuku, and Aoyama — a feat I won’t soon forget. Talk about Tokyo drift.
DAIKANYAMA
This is where all the hip Tokyo people are spending their time eating, drinking and thrifting for really curated pieces, like this "I love my bad attitude" 5-panel hat, which I very much regret not getting. It's my type of humor, you know? Whole place totally gave me Abbot Kinney or Williamsburg vibes.
I was OBSESSED with the store Hollywood Ranch Market and all the other stores and restaurants it's owner opened in the neighborhood. In the late 60s he traveled to Los Angeles and worked at a small country mart. He loved the vibe so much that he later borrowed the name and spirit for his own store back in Tokyo. He's apparently a good friend of the owner of Free City, a brand I love very much, and you can kind of see the care-free Californian influence in his stores. A must stop. Very hippie-I love mother earth-sustainable-stylish energy.
To eat: Ivy's Place. Very spacious, warm woodsy interior, they're known for their pancakes but to be honest their flatbread is just as wonderful. Complimentary iced ginger peach tea was flowing and their salad and soups were just as good. 10/10 on ambiance and eats.
Tsutaya, right next door, is a bookstore chain in Japan, but this one in particular had a certain charm to it. Not just books, they showcase artist's work in a gallery-like setting, have every magazine imaginable and also carry artisanal local products, like sake, salts, and various little gifts.
SHINJUKU
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Now you could pay to go to the Sky Tree or Tokyo Tower, but a very friendly cab driver who's spent his entire life in Tokyo tipped me off to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁, Tōkyō Tochō) observatory. It's complimentary to head up to the 45th floor where you can take in sweeping views of the entire city. As someone a little afraid of heights, I got a little dizzy up there, but this was an incredible way to see the scope of the city. Tokyo is honestly huge.
Bam bi Coffee
It’s actually Korean, but their Bambi iced coffee — a vanilla latte with cinnamon cold foam — was dreamy. It reminded me of Community Goods in LA, especially because they also have the infamous Espanner Latte on the menu. It was tempting to get, but I'm happy with my choice. Their extra fluffy merengue pancakes were good, too but much more aesthetically pleasing than for taste.
SHIBUYA/HARAJUKU
Shibuya Scramble & Takeshita Street
In a very, very touristy move, I was convinced I needed to experience the busiest intersection in the heart of this neighborhood affectionately nick-named the Shibuya Scramble. Was I glad to have seen it and capture photos? Sure. Do I need to do it again? No.
Next door in Harajuku, I enjoyed popping into the quintessentially kawaii shops on Takeshita Street. Surprisingly, I had a very fun moment playing a Monchichi "gatcha game" where I scored a freakishly adorable keychain for 400¥. It will be a forever keepsake dangling on my LV Pochette housing way too many lipglosses.
AOYAMA
Nezu Museum & Tokyo National Art Museum
With heavy rain, we decided to focus on museums on the second day which proved to be a much needed reset amongst the hustle and bustle, so far. The Tokyo subway system alone can really take it out of you. After mastering the NYC + Paris public transit, I thought I was prepared for anything, but Tokyo is notoriously a whole other ballgame.
At the Nezu Museum, I took in ancient Asian art, enjoying the exhibit showcasing samurai swords and scrolls. The lobby alone was so relaxing, I spent a moment listening to high frequency music and meditating. Their outdoor garden was the highlight, it felt so private, intimate and like an energetic renewal in the rain. I felt a particular gravitational pull to this elephant statue, which I thought was serendipitous. As a Monkey Chinese Zodiac and 2026 being the Fire Horse Year, elephants are meant to be lucky, grounding symbols for me.
We took a quick walk around the shops in Aoyama, this neighborhood gives a mix of Daikanyama hip and Ginza high-end. We then checked out the Tokyo National Art Museum, which was showing local college students' work and free to attend. The architecture of the floating cafes reminiscent of a space station was neat to take in.
GINZA
I spent my official birthday here and I thought it was a perfect way to invite in more luxurious energy into my 34th year. Known for it's high-fashion stores, it's reminiscent of 5th Ave or Rodeo Drive. I loved waltzing around and enjoying the architecture of some of the most iconic designer brands, here. Notably the Louis Vuitton and Hermes stores are very cool. I also loved the layout of the department store Ginza Six, which had every imaginable designer cafe (Dior, Marni, etc.) inside. Cherry on top was perusing the living and breathing Barneys, literally a walk down New York City memory lane.
Dinner was at Mercer Brunch. Contrary to their namesake, they serve dinner and it's absolutely where the most stylish and trendy girls of Ginza were eating. I enjoyed a very tasty mojito, a shrimp spring roll that was so fresh and kind of to-die-for and a very rich and luxurious risotto with honey to drizzle on top.
