Otaku Guide to Tokyo (Podcast)

Hear about travel to Tokyo as the Amateur Traveler talks to Matthew Jasek from The Nerd Tourist about one of his favorite, if nerdy, cities. 

Day 1: Arrival and Food Tour

• Afternoon: Arrive in Tokyo and check into your hotel.
• Evening: Join a food tour or find a local guide to visit a traditional Japanese restaurant. Explore the dining culture with the help of a guide who can navigate through nuances.

Day 2: Tsukiji Outer Market and Senso-ji

• Morning: Visit Tsukiji Outer Market for a variety of food stalls. Try grilled eel and other local delicacies.
• Afternoon: Explore Senso-ji Temple. Take part in the tradition of shaking a metal container to get a fortune. Enjoy more street food around the area.
• Evening: Choose between visiting Odaiba for futuristic buildings and the Unicorn Gundam statue or exploring Shimokitazawa, a hip neighborhood known for vintage shops and live music.

Day 3: Shibuya Scramble, Harajuku, and Meiji Shrine

• Morning: Experience the famous Shibuya Scramble and visit the statue of Hachiko. Head to Harajuku Station.
• Afternoon: Explore Meiji Shrine and Takeshita Street in Harajuku. Enjoy crepes, Shiba Inu Cafe, and unique latte art at Cafe Reissue.
• Evening: Choose between visiting Ikebukuro for anime-related attractions or Nakano Broadway for traditional shopping and unique ramen.

Day 4: Nerd Day

• Option 1: Take a guided tour of Akihabara, the hub of nerd culture, exploring anime shops and arcades.
• Option 2: Visit real-life anime locations using online resources or guided tours. Consider Studio Ghibli Museum, Totoro no Mori, or Shirohige Cream Puff Factory.
• Evening: Experience Tokyo’s nightlife with activities like Mari Car go-karting or trying Monjayaki in Monja Street.

Day 5: Kamakura Trip

• Visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura
• Explore Zeniarai Benten Shrine and wash your money.
• Visit Hokokuji Temple Bamboo Forest Temple, and wander through the bamboo forest.
• Optionally, pay extra to drink tea at the little tea house in the back.
• Explore Kamakura’s main attractions like the Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine.
• If in April, consider attending the Kamakura Festival (second to the third weekend).
• If in September (14th to 16th), experience Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Reitaisai Festival with horseback archery.
• Visit the grave site of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first Shogun.
• Visit Jufuku-ji Temple, the grave of Hojo no Masako (the Nun Shogun).

Day 6: Enoshima Island Trip

• Travel to Fujiwara Station and take the Enoshima Electric Railway to the Shirahata Shrine.
• Visit Shirahata Shrine dedicated to Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
• Board the Enoshima Electric Railway and ride to Enoshima Island.
• Explore the long road leading to sea caves, shops, and the Dragon Bell.
• Visit the botanical garden with the sea candle lighthouse.
• Try the local delicacy Shirasu Don at one of the restaurants.
• Visit the Enoshima Shrine complex

Bonus Day:

Consider non-nerdy activities:

• Attend a tea ceremony.
• Rent a kimono and experience a traditional tea ceremony.
• Attend a sumo match or witness a sumo practice.
• Catch a baseball game.
• Take a vintage tram to Gotokuji, the temple that invented the beckoning cat statue.
• Join a tattoo-friendly Tokyo bathhouse tour.

Tips:

• Stay in Akihabara for a central location.
• Use apps like the Visit Japan app for customs information, TableCheck for reservations, and Line for communication.
• Prepare for a lot of walking.

There is always so much to see in and near Tokyo, for nerds and non-nerds alike.

subscribe: rss feed | Apple podcasts

right click here to download (mp3)

Show Notes

Tokyo
The Tsukiji Outer Market
Sensoji Temple
Viral ¥10-Shaped Bread – Shibuya, Tokyo – Japan Travel
Things to do in Odaiba (Tokyo)
Shibuya Crossing
Statue of Hachiko
Meiji Shrine
Harajuku
Cafe Reissue
Ikebukuro
Namja Gyoza Stadium
Nakano Broadway
Shimokitazawa
Shelter Club
Akihabara
Otaku in Tokyo
Daily Otaku Life
Studio Ghibli
Ghibli Museum
Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory
The Giant Ghibli Clock
Tokyo Skytree
The Giant Ghibli Clock
Kirby Cafe
Asahi Beer Hall
Tokyo Godzilla Statues: Where to Find the King of the Monsters
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Monjayaki
Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo
Kamakura Festival
Minamoto no Yoritomo
Hōjō Masako
Enoshima Electric Railway
Naoshima Travel Guide
Shirahata Shrine
The Oni Cave
Dragon’s Love Bell | Tokyo Cheapo
Enoshima Sea Candle
Enoshima Shrine
Gotokuji Temple
9 best onsen and sento in Tokyo for people with tattoos
Tokyo Itinerary – 3 Days (with 4 Day and 5 Day options)
Visit Japan Web
TableCheck
Line app

Community

Please take our listener survey

Amateur Traveler Trips