{"id":11878,"date":"2016-08-26T08:19:58","date_gmt":"2016-08-26T07:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.insidejapantours.com\/?p=11878"},"modified":"2020-03-11T14:04:29","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T14:04:29","slug":"alternative-guide-tokyo-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/26\/alternative-guide-tokyo-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"The Alternative Guide to Tokyo: Part #1"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11878&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11878\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11878&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11878&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11878%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11878\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F11878\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>With its subcultures, private bars and insider geekery, Tokyo often feels like two cities: the one in the guidebook and another just out of reach \u2013 our experts pass on their tips to unlocking the secrets of alternative Tokyo.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Those of you who receive our tri-annual magazine, <em>East<\/em>, will no doubt enjoy reading about our favourite destinations in Tokyo \u2013 both the well-known and the little-known. (And those of you who don\u2019t receive <em>East<\/em> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/magazine\/\">you can sign up here<\/a>. It\u2019s free!)<\/p>\n<p>When we were researching the article, our resident Tokyoites came up with far more suggestions than we could ever squeeze into one small article, so it soon became apparent that we\u2019d need a more extensive guide. And so, here it is!<\/p>\n<p>Below, our Tokyo addicts take you beyond the city\u2019s most famous districts and into the back alleys, hidden corners, and secret hangouts of this vast warren of a city. If you really want to get beneath the surface, read on\u2026<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Shimokitazawa<\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">by Katrina Cordery<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11899\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11899\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11899 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/33.jpg\" alt=\"Katrina is a sales team leader in our Bristol office, and spent a year living near Shimokitazawa during her five years in Japan.\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katrina is a sales team leader in our Bristol office, and spent a year living near Shimokitazawa during her five years in Japan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Just a short hop from Shinjuku on the Odakyu line, or from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashiro line, Shimokitazawa is Harajuku for grown-ups. I lived a couple of stops away during my year in Tokyo, so I\u2019m well acquainted with its shops, bars and caf\u00e9s!<\/p>\n<p>The north side is quieter and filled with coffee shops, while the south side has more of a buzz, with an array of bars catering to Tokyo\u2019s hipster crowd. Whether you want to shop for clothes that are categorised by fruit instead of price, drink a latte with a cute face drawn in foam, or simply attend an instant ramen party at a reggae bar, it\u2019s all just great fun.<\/p>\n<p>What Shimokitazawa is best-known for is its impressive array of second-hand clothes shops, which make it easily one of the best places in the capital to pick up a bargain. In fact, the residents of Shimokitazawa are well-known among Tokyoites for having fended off plans for a vast underground station shopping mall of the kind commonly found at stations across Japan, preferring to protect their thriving independent shopping culture.<\/p>\n<p>Harajuku is great if you\u2019re looking for kawaii (cutesy) threads and the kind of Lolita fashion Tokyo is famous for, but, as any Tokyoite will tell you, Shimokitazawa is where the cool kids are.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11884\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11884\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Shimokitazawa\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita2.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shimokitazawa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11885\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11885\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11885\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Shimokitazawa: A great place for shopping\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/ShimoKita3.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11885\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shimokitazawa: A great place for shopping<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Kagurazaka<\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">by Elisa Ferroni<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11896\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11896\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11896\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/47.jpg\" alt=\"Though she\u2019s now located in Bristol, UK, our group tours manager Elisa spent two years living in Osaka, two years in Azuchi, and a year in Tokyo. \" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11896\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Though she\u2019s now located in Bristol, UK, our group tours manager Elisa spent two years living in Osaka, two years in Azuchi, and a year in Tokyo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Shinjuku is Tokyo\u2019s bustling business and entertainment hub, but you don\u2019t need to stray far to find a bit of (relative) peace and quiet in the capital. Near Iidabashi Station in the Shinjuku ward, Kagurazaka abuts the Imperial Palace moat and is known for its boutique shops, bijou caf\u00e9s and sizeable collection of French restaurants \u2013 a consequence of the L\u2019Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo, which has its headquarters here.<\/p>\n<p>Kagurazaka began life as a <em>hanamachi<\/em>, or \u201cflower town\u201d \u2013 Tokyo\u2019s geisha district. Though the golden age of the geisha ended with World War Two, this elegant history is still to be seen in the kimono shops, teahouses and confectionary shops that remain in the area\u2019s narrow streets. Kagurazaka is also famous as the haunt of some of Japan\u2019s foremost literary figures, including the writer Soseki Natsume, and is home to the wonderful Akagi Jinja \u2013 a modern Shinto shrine designed by the architect Kengo Kuma and opened in 2010.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11893\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11893\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11893 size-medium-plus-size\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-510x767.jpg\" alt=\"Alternative Tokyo: Kagurazaka\" width=\"510\" height=\"767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-510x767.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-768x1155.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-681x1024.jpg 681w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-375x564.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-900x1354.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-720x1083.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-390x587.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22-780x1173.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-22.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11893\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alternative Tokyo: Kagurazaka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11892\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11892\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11892 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"A Kagurazaka temple\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-18.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11892\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Kagurazaka temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11891\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11891\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-720x666.jpg\" alt=\"Kagurazaka\" width=\"720\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-720x666.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-300x277.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-768x710.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-1024x947.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-564x522.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-900x832.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-390x361.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-780x721.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17-510x472.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Kagurazaka-17.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11891\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kagurazaka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Koenji<\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">by Steve Parker<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11897\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11897\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11897\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/71.jpg\" alt=\"Tour leader Steve has lived in Japan for over ten years. These days, he calls Koenji home.\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11897\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tour leader Steve has lived in Japan for over ten years. These days, he calls Koenji home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Koenji is what\u2019s known as a dormitory town. With its direct rail access to Shinjuku, Akihabara and Tokyo Central, it certainly has its salaryman and OL (\u201coffice lady\u201d) population \u2013 but Koenji is more than a commuter town.<\/p>\n<p>Away from the station, Koenji\u2019s neat, narrow residential areas are peaceful havens of suburban order and mutual respect, with perfectly maintained tiny gardens and immaculately clean streets. Meanwhile, its lively centre also has a 24-hour pulse. Tiny backstreet bars and raucous <em>izakaya<\/em> (pubs) are often refuelling late-night\/early-morning drinkers until the first trickle of commuters start to wind their way to the station for a new day in the office.<\/p>\n<p>For most visitors to the area, Koenji is not a town of sights, but of vibe. It is very much a place to come to shop, eat, drink, chat, catch some music, and generally enjoy a laid-back, non-pretentious, non-touristy Japanese urban experience.<\/p>\n<p>The town assumed a hippy reputation in the 60s and 70s, and today its musical and fashion scene are still tangibly to the fore as you stroll the streets of Koenji. Music is all around: record shops attract obsessive vinyl collectors prepared to flick through thousands of sleeves in search of that prized disc; under the railway tracks, singer-songwriters often brave the cold and din to belt out their tunes to any passing pedestrian.<\/p>\n<p>Although often labeled as the birthplace of punk rock in the capital, the music on offer is varied. On any given evening, at live venues such as Club Missions, you can certainly still get a hit of anarchy from time to time. Go to UFO Club for the quirky and avant-garde; High for indie rock and an electro-pop performances; and Penguin House for, well\u2026 anything goes!! Amateur performers range from teens to retirees, with pretty much everyone doing it for simply the love of music.<\/p>\n<p>I may only live on the fringes of Koenji, but I have grown to love it, and feel proud to introduce it to you as \u201cmy town\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11886\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11886\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-720x532.jpg\" alt=\"Street performer in Koenji\" width=\"720\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-720x532.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-768x567.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-1024x756.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-564x416.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-900x665.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-390x288.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-780x576.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg-510x377.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Street-Performance.jpeg.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11886\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Street performer in Koenji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11881\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11881\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11881\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-720x538.jpg\" alt=\"A taste of Koenji punk\" width=\"720\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-720x538.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-768x574.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-564x422.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-900x673.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-390x292.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-780x583.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1-510x381.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-Taste-of-Koenji-Punk-1.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11881\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A taste of Koenji punk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Yanaka<\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">by Yuki Hunter<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11895\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11895\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11895\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/40.jpg\" alt=\"Sales support co-ordinator Yuki is based in our Bristol office, but was born and bred in Tokyo.\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11895\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sales support co-ordinator Yuki is based in our Bristol office, but was born and bred in Tokyo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Take the JR Yamanote line and get off at Nippori Station, leaving through the north exit. Continue past a peaceful, park-like cemetery and make your way down the Sunset Dan-Dan stairs to Yanaka market street \u2013 much more chilled-out than bustling Asakusa! Here, you can shop for authentic Japanese clothing, get your hands on good-quality crafts and browse the street food being cooked at stalls along the street. Yanaka is particularly famous for its cats \u2013 both real and otherwise \u2013 so keep your eyes peeled for feline friends!<\/p>\n<p>There isn\u2019t a grand temple focal point to compete with Asakusa\u2019s Senso-ji, but there are lots of smaller temples that are quiet and pleasant to wander, such as Daien-ji, Zuirin-ji or leafy Tenno-ji. Try to visit Yanesen, where you can take part in traditional activities, such as tea ceremonies or calligraphy (on prior arrangement), and stop by at Scai, an art gallery in a converted bathhouse.<\/p>\n<p>When I take friends to visit Tokyo, I always rent a bicycle and cycle through the neighbourhood to Ueno Park and \u2018Kitchen Street\u2019 before finishing at Asakusa. If you\u2019re into sewing, you might also like to head out of the south exit of Nippori Station, where you\u2019ll find countless shops selling textiles and haberdashery.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11888\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11888\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11888\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Yanaka's shopping street\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/YanakaGinza1.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11888\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yanaka&#8217;s shopping street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11887\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11887\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11887\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-720x960.jpg\" alt=\"One of Yanaka's traditional shops\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yanaka.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Yanaka&#8217;s traditional shops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Takadanobaba<\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">by Benjamin Guest<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11898\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11898\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11898\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/97.jpg\" alt=\"Ben spent six years in Japan, during which he lived in Tokyo, Mie, Nagoya and Chiba. In Tokyo he was lucky enough to call Takadanobaba home.\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11898\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ben spent six years in Japan, during which he lived in Tokyo, Mie, Nagoya and Chiba. In Tokyo he was lucky enough to call Takadanobaba home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In Japanese, <em>takada <\/em>means \u201chigh field\u201d while <em>baba <\/em>means \u201chorse\u201d \u2013 so the name Takadanobaba is a relic from when this area was home to the Japanese emperor\u2019s royal stables. Today, of course, Takadanobaba has little to do with horses besides the <em>yabusame <\/em>(horseback archery) tournaments it holds each year. Instead, as the home of Waseda University, it\u2019s known for its student bars, cheap restaurants, and vibrant youth culture.<\/p>\n<p>Above all, Takadanobaba is hands-down the best place in Tokyo to get your hands on a bowl of ramen. Regularly voted the best in the capital for Japan\u2019s signature noodle soups, its streets are crammed with countless ramen bars vying for popularity, all of them packed to the rafters with noodle connoisseurs. Each new bar that opens squeezes out another competitor, bringing with it a new \u2013 and sometimes pretty weird \u2013 style of ramen. And noodles aren\u2019t the only thing on offer: Takadanobaba is full of excellent, and mainly cheap, restaurants. Carnivores should try out Kome to Circus, an <em>izakaya <\/em>pub specialising in unusual meats from deer and goat to boar and bear.<\/p>\n<p>Manga fans will already know Takadanobaba\u2019s most famous resident: Astro Boy. For those who don\u2019t, this round-eyed cartoon superhero was created by Osamu Tezuka in the early 1950s, and is one of Japan\u2019s oldest and best-loved cartoons \u2013 paving the way for the explosion of manga and anime we are now so familiar with. Walking around the neighbourhood, try to spot his image hanging from the street lamps \u2013 and take a walk to the Astro Boy murals near the Waseda exit of Takadanobaba Station.<\/p>\n<p>Located just four minutes from both Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, Takadanobaba is really easy to visit and an awesome place to wander around. Hang out in the station square to meet some of the local students, head to Don Quijote department store for some world-class souvenir shopping, and end the evening in some of the area\u2019s fantastic bars.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11889\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11889\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11889\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"One of Takadanobaba's trendy bars\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/IMG_3028.jpeg.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11889\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of Takadanobaba&#8217;s trendy bars<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11894\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11894\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-half-width wp-image-11894\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-720x375.jpg\" alt=\"Astro Boy mural at Takadanobaba Station (photo: muza-chan.net)\" width=\"720\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-720x375.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-768x400.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-564x294.jpg 564w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-900x469.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-390x203.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-780x406.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1-510x266.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/astro-boy-painting-takadanobaba-big-1.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11894\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Astro Boy mural at Takadanobaba Station (photo: muza-chan.net)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Inspired by our alternative Tokyo suggestions? We&#8217;ve got more! Keep an eye out for Part #2 of our alternative city guide, which will be winging its way into your inbox soon. If you&#8217;re ready to start planning a trip now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/contact-us\/\">click here to get in touch<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! With its subcultures, private bars and insider geekery, Tokyo often feels like two cities: the one in the guidebook and another just out of reach \u2013 our experts pass on their tips to unlocking the secrets of alternative Tokyo. Like this post? 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