I went to one of the world’s coolest cities that’s cheaper now than 10 years ago
“TIKTOK made me do it”, I say to my friend, as I send her a snap of my coffee made by a robot.
If there was ever a city that embraces technology to celebrate the ridiculous, it’s Tokyo. And coffee is just the beginning.
Last time I went to Japan’s capital, around 10 years ago, it was an expensive trip. Back then, the Yen (the country’s currency) was strong against the British pound and everything was twice the price.
This time around, with rates dropping over the years, one of the world’s coolest cities is surprisingly affordable again.
And I was buzzing to begin exploring on a budget.
Starting strong, I’d checked into trendy Yotel, a slick and modern hotel that embodies Japan’s futuristic vibe.
With 23 properties around the world, the brand is known for its prime locations, without the steep price tag.
The Tokyo one has room rates from £118 per night and is just steps away from one of the city’s coolest areas, the Ginza district.
The well-heeled neighbourhood is packed with stylish restaurants and bars, high-end shopping and elegant department stores.
Shopping is a major activity in Tokyo, with the flagship Uniqlo store just a few minutes from Yotel. This is the biggest Uniqlo in the world, its 12 floors packed with cool clothes and knitwear at a fraction of the UK price.
Then there is possibly the most famous shopping district in Tokyo, Harajuku. This is the place for eccentric outfits, outrageous headwear and funky souvenirs.
There are also cool vintage stores nestled between the tourist tat, but I was more concerned with all the ridiculous things to eat and drink along here.
A toasted sandwich with rainbow cheese, followed by a giant multicoloured candyfloss and a coffee at Café Reissue that had a foamy top in the shape of Hello Kitty.
This is where you will also find the Shibuya crossing, the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, where crowds get ready to race across when the traffic stops.
With 3,000 people crossing every two minutes, this interchange has become a tourist attraction in itself, as you run for your life and dodge people making TikTok videos, taking selfies and proposing.
For dinner, we bunked down at Kushiyaki Bistro Fukumimi Ginza, an underground izakaya.
The antidote to Tokyo’s tech-savvy tourist trails, this traditional tavern serves meat skewers and Japanese picky bits, with lots of lively banter.
As well as the great food, we made some new pals at the bar.
The language barrier didn’t seem to matter in the jovial atmosphere.
After a taste of authentic Japanese dining, I wanted to experience the country’s unique culture and try some traditional pastimes.
First stop was a Tea Ceremony at Maikura (£43, mai-ko.com).
Once we’d been decked out in colourful kimonos, we all sat on the floor to enjoy matcha with a special blessing.
Then it was straight on to Ginzabashi to make and carve our own chopsticks at an independently owned cafe (£18, ginzabashi.com).
By this point, we had worked up quite the appetite, so we tried our hand at sushi making at the famous Tsukiji Fish Market.
Covered in rice and with a not-so-artistic display of Nigiri and Maki in front of me, I can confirm it is not as easy as it looks.
But, our patient sushi master was on hand to help us out and the end result was a lot more impressive than I was expecting.
The experience is £52 per person, but the price includes a tour of the market and you get to eat all the sushi you roll and some extras too (japanwondertravel.com).
Simply wandering around the city itself is enough to keep you busy. Street art, historic buildings, quirky characters and buzzing neighbourhoods are all part of Tokyo’s appeal.
That’s how I found myself at the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop in Harajuku being served by a bear.
The name Anakuma Café means “bear in a hole” in Japanese, and this tiny booth is exactly that.
I order my flat white on a tablet and it’s served through a hole in the wall by a comedy furry hand.
By the time I stopped laughing and taking pictures, my coffee had gone cold, but it was all about the experience. Which is as cheap as chopsticks.
