1. Tsukiji Outer Market: Get there early (6-6:30 AM) and go on weekdays. And also avoid the tourist trap shops (*cough* Tamagoyaki) 2. Ameyoko - Arrive either 9 AM or 5-6 PM ish on Weekday 3. Nakamise - Asakusa - Avoid at all cost if you only have weekend. Go to the Shrine at 7PM ish 4. Harajuku - just go once, and never come back. Total tourist trap, especially with all the folks selling caps and stuff 5. Shin Okubo - DON’T EVER THINK OF COMING HERE ON WEEKEND
Thanks for the detailed info! Would you elaborate on why to avoid tamagoyaki? Price? Where would it be better to get? And maybe other places you may suggest to visit? Thanks! :)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a video on what to do on the weekends in Tokyo! It seems like in all of your video's you say to go to a place during the week for fewer crowds, but then what should my friends and I do on the weekend's when we go (hopefully sometime in the next year)?
The camera you used really helped to put the crowd into perspective. Your videos are so nice and imformative, I cant wait to go to Japan one day. When I do I'll probably be binge watching these on the plane lol
Thank you for all your videos. Currently here in Tokyo spending a week and a half here with my family. We covered a lot of ground in 3 days because of your wonderful videos. Cant thank you enough!
Thanks for the videos!! You rule. Came into Tokyo with my family for a long weekend from Los Angeles.. stayed in Asakusa at the Richmond... Really loved the temple early in the morning before everyone was even up . And all the backstreets were great for street food and was sent easy to walk around even on the weekend...so many of your videos were great... Went to a ramen place to mentioned in Shibuya. I'm still watching your videos and learning so much... And the best thing is everyone in the family loved them all ages... thanks!!
Gonna do my first solo Japan trip on June and your videos are helping me a lot because I don’t really know where to go and what to do lol! Hope I bump into you when I get there! :) your videos are amazing!
Hey dude, I am a 15 year old American and I absolutely love your videos man! I totally want to meet up with you someday when I go to Japan. I want to travel Asia when I grow up and I love studying japan in specific. You inform me and help me understand more and more about Japan and I am buying your merch soon !
Your videos are always so helpful, I'll make sure to check out your hidden place videos as well. Omg I died laughing at that statement, "Shinokubo is my number one stay the hell away", hahhahaha.
When I went back to Japan last year, my Airbnb was just down the street from Shin-Okubo station. So yeah, I can absolutely attest to it being insanely packed!
Im going to Japan in a couple month and sooo excited!! i love watching videos like these but just can't wait to just get lost in japan and find something fun to do.
That 360 camera made a BIG impact! You can really get a feel for the amount of people and layout of the streets with that footage. Thanks for all of these helpful videos! I'm planning a trip for a few weeks from now and I'm trying to get as much info as I can to make it run smoothly.
Thank you so much for ALL of your videos. I'm going to Japan with my brother this coming October and all your videos are helping a lot. We cant speak Japanese but we are going to try many of the places you recommended. Thank you!!
These camera angles were so dope!!! I'm not going to lie since I live in Texas when I've traveled to Tokyo I sometimes enjoy the crowds of people. (except in the subway that was cool the first couple of times and got old fast lol)
Thanks again for an great video!!! Your channel has become my Saturday morning ritual....btw, love your video shots this video..especially the insta360 footage!!
First time we went to Harajuku was on a weekday, so we got to enjoy walking through Takeshita-dori. Even got to check out a good number of shops. When we went back on a Saturday though, boy was it crowded! Can't even tell which part we're in because of the thick crowds. If only we weren't there to buy something for a friend, would definitely stay away on a Saturday! Asakusa was nice as well. We enjoyed browsing through the shops along Nakamise-dori. Saw from friends' photos that it was super crowded when they went on a weekend. But on a weekday, it was really enjoyable. Hope to be back in Tokyo some time this year. There are still a lot of places I want to see. :) Thanks for this, Paolo! Your videos have always been helpful!
Just came back from a 2 weeks vacation in Japan and it was AWESOME!!! Though, most of the places we visited are truly busy but we still manage to enjoy the experience and been to many places plus the people are very nice and friendly.
Interesting perspective with the new 360 camera, especially with the long selfie stick taking you to street sign height. That is kinda cool though how the straight down view removes the selfie stick.
Super helpful I’m going to Tokyo in April I will definitely checkout the temple around sunset instead. Temple and then dinner that sounds like a lovely evening ☺️
Very helpful warning for someone not so keen on crowds. I find that Tokyo has something to offer in every neighborhood. I would simply avoid the crowded areas altogether. You can find lots to do in any neighborhood in Tokyo.
I 100% agree with your trip regarding Asakusa. When I was in Tokyo last November we stayed at a hotel near the area. It was so peaceful walking around at night, but the daytime was crazy!
Paolo, me and my boyfriend are going to tokyo this August, I watched all your videos and I am so excited to try some of the street food you recommended.
Totally agree with the tip about Harujuku. We had a lot more fun on the side streets and hit up some great vintage shops without the stress of being on the Main Street.
Hey @paolo from tokyo! im a japan fan and a fan of your videos. Thanks for the videos. Do you have a video on the best thrift shops in Japan? Maybe that can be showcased? Thanks!
I'm literally staying at an airbnb in shin Okubo for my two week stay in Japan. I wished I knew this was a tourist trap! So hard to exit the Jr stop! Love your videos! I've used them for my travel thus far
It depends on where you're going... but I mean, you can use other stations. Higashi-Shinjuku isn't that far, depending on where you are exactly. Okubo is probably still a bit impacted.
I haaattteeed Shin Okubo when I went (during the golden week) not because the area suck but because it was so busy. All the shop were so packed, I couldn't even shop because it took almost half an hour to get from one side of the store to the other. Plus the queue for paying and food were sooooo long, it wasn't worth it. It's definitely one of those area you need to visit on weird hours. Takeshita-dori street was definitely manageable using Paolo's tip. The day I went, it was so busy that everyone was shoulder to shoulder and the mass just pull you along. I ended up going into the back street and cut across whenever the store I need was coming up.
I am going to be in Tokyo during golden week. That will be an interesting experience 😁 I am already planning a bit to avoid the most crowded spots and longest lines!
shin okubo station is toooooo small. no escalater, no elevator (now under construction), only one platform, only one exit, narrow street, and even no squares in front of exit. this is not typical in tokyo. why only shin okubo is so small??????? oftentimes i can't use this station for crowdness and walk to shinjuku station.
Thanks for the tips Paolo! I'm going to Japan next July with my family and we will be to all these spots BUT now at the better time of the day...I hope!
When I was in Tokyo in November, I visited both Nakamise and Takeshita dori. I think I got to Takeshita dori at a good time of the day because it wasn't too bad but Nakamise was SO BUSY. After seeing them at numbers 2 and 3, I thought "what on Earth is number 1?" Shin Okubo, while I personally didn't go there, easily makes the most sense. I can only imagine how bad it gets.
We went to 3 of the places mentioned in the summer of 2019. 1. Harajuku was extremely busy! So you’re right on that, and it was a weekend lol! 2. Sensoji- we saved this for the end of the day so it was empty when we went, which was nice, but we didn’t see the shops at all. 3. Tsukiji fish market- we made the mistake of going on Sunday, as barely anything was open. Still had some good squid tho! Great video! Can’t wait to go back!
Hey there - Great video! I’ve been to Okubo on Sunday nights and I found it is manageable. Was surprised to see that that it was #1 on your list - crazy!
Omg, I remember staying at the 9h capsule hotel in Shin-Okubo and even on a Monday, I remembered it just being ridiculously crowded. I’m from the Bay Area of CA and even I thought it was ridiculous how packed that place gets. Thanks for the vid! I definitely agree with all of those places you mentioned being a tourist trap.
Last spring when my cousin and I came to Takeshita Dori, the street was so packed with humans that we just skipped it altogether! I'm quite surprised the Shibuya and Shinjuku area weren't included, but I guess they aren't as crowded compared to the ones you mentioned. Great tips as always!
Yeah Shin-Okubo is super busy but it didn't stop me to go there often. My tips is to go there during daytime on a workday, where most people are working or at school. When it comes to Asakusa (my old neighborhood) is to go on the side streets. If you know where you want to go, take a detour on the side streets and you will still arrive faster than trying to go through the ocean of people.
Hey Paolo, can you please do a video on Yokohama? For Yokohama itself and also maybe Yokohama Chinatown. I am going to Kamakura and Tokyo soon and your videos have been incredibly helpful. I will be going to Yokohama too. It would be great if you can do one or two for Yokohama too. Thanks for all your great videos!
This was super helpful, especially about Asakusa. I'm planning a trip with some friends, and they wanted to go there to get souvenirs, but after hearing this, NOOOO THANKS. Do you recommend anyplace else in Tokyo that's good for souvenirs (for home and the office)?
Just go some other day of the week. And even then the crowd is almost all Nakamise Street. It's a whole district. Just like most attractions there, the tourists all seem to shed off within 1-2 streets.
BTW, you may want to spend part of a day going to Yanesen area (Yanaka/Nezu/Sendagi). Stuff like Yanaka Ginza. Even though it's pretty much the only major area that's been relatively untouched by disaster and war, it's bypassed by most foreign tourists. There's a little more of the mid-range crafted stuff and such in that area.
Thanks for another great video! 🙏 I don’t think there’s a quiet time in Tokyo. Last there in September/October 2017. Was so busy but I still love the vibes
Haha we stayed at a place in Shin Okubo and it was great. We loved the location. I was busy but didn't feel anymore busy then other spots in Tokyo, just kind of fits the whole Tokyo craziness. There are some great street food and bars in that area.
Last time I visited Japan was totally not thinking and ended up in Harajuku on a Saturday afternoon...not the best experience. But on the bright side, going down the varioua sidestreets and alleys I found a great Yakitori place.
I'm going to Asakusa and Harajuku nxt month so this was helpful. I'm going to Harajuku on a Saturday though as I heard thatt there will be cosplayers on the weekends.
We're going to in Tokyo in 10 days! 2 adults and a toddler. Unfortunately the way our schedule works we only have Saturday to see Harajuku. So our plan is to arrive at Meiji shrine around 7am, hang around till 8, catch a leisurely breakfast in Harajuku, walk around until things open at 10, hit our top spots, and then get the hell outta dodge.
Most of the crowds can be avoided or will be more smaller for most of these places if you go during the weekdays. Monday to Thursday. Sometimes Fridays are a little busy too I think. Makes it hard if you want to do sightseeing in the weekends because no matter where you go there are a lot of people.
Takeshita dori was insanely busy! good to see the videos showing the crowds, helps to prepare before visiting, although we still went at the weekend! hahahha! take paolos advice. 🙄
@@kels96 I recommend 70 USD/day+lodging+ flight + long-distance trains. (Since hostels and such run ~30, I count it as a flat 100 including lodging for me) Particularly if you go on a shorter trip where things may not average out, having 200 USD buffer is probably a good idea. Additionally, Japan is definitely a place where there are cheap things and there are expensive things. While 70 USD/day is good for having lots of fun and eating lots of good food, if you want to repeatedly go to Michelin star restaurants, shop at fancy boutiques, buy out the Pokemon store, or go to several days of stuff like Disney, you need to boost it accordingly. Conversely, if you like parks, shrines, museums, and such, 70 USD/day is probably high. Again, this 70 USD/day includes short range transportation, wi-fi, food, tickets, attractions and splurging, and NOT lodging, flight or long-distance travel.
@@redfish337 ah yes I see! I'm going in September during the rugby world cup so I suspect it will be busy but we plan to have 5k ($NZD) for 8 days. Hopefully that will be enough and I'm so excited!!!
I am a Sri Lankan and I am living in Shin Okubo now.Yes I totally agree with you.It you come around 11 a.m.-3p.m. You will be in a mess.It is too busy and too crowed.But I love Shin Okubo.
Great Tips Paolo !i know asakusa is crowded but i keep on going back for the Melon pan .😄. Thanks for the advise though,at least now I know where not to take my husband (super super crowded ).🤔
I was on tour and was playing a show in Tokyo when I got stuck in Shin-Okubo station on my way to the venue. Felt like a nightmare, like when you want to run but everything moves in slow motion, haha!
HI Paolo, Can you please do a video about where you'd recommend to go on the weekends? Since you recommended avoiding most of these busy tourist areas on the weekend if possible. Thanks!
Shin-okubo is madness, they need to fix that station up urgently. I have never been to a place that PACKED during the normal day. But I still loved it.
Hey Paulo, Enjoy the informative videos especially the food videos with you and meiko's input. I'm planning a trip the 2nd week of May (to miss golden week). Looks like Tokyo is really restrictive on Drones. I'm wondering if its worth packing my Mavic Air. Can you do a video on drone spots in Japan? Thanks.
He has a video on drones. Essentially, if you plan to go to the countryside, you can generally use it. Pretty much anywhere in Tokyo or other cities- even pretty far out where it's just suburbs or even halfway countryside, you can't without a lot of paperwork to get permission. If "tourist" stuff is your purpose, don't bother. If you're going to Setouchi or something with nature as the main point, then you can get some shots, but would still want to cross reference the maps and and check the rules to make sure you're good.
I went to Harajuku in '08(and again 9 years later). It was funny to be in this sea of people on Takeshita(sp?) street. But I'm a Minnesota State Fair veteran, so super-crowds are okay by me.
Currently staying at a hotel near Shin Okubo and you're completely right, it seems fine during weekdays before 5pm but anytime during the weekend or after 5pm it's just horrible 🤣
On our trip to Japan in 2019, we decided to go to Harajuku. We did see some cool things on the side streets, as well as get some very rich monster ice cream that I couldn't finish. But, after taking one look at Takeshita Street, we basically said, "Nope!" and went across the street to the temple/shrine there. SO MUCH better. It didn't seem worth it to try to get through that crowd.
Wandering all these areas at a busy time on a rainy day is also pretty bad. What little space is vacated by the slightly fewer people avoiding bad weather, is immediately filled with a parade of umbrellas, bumping & clashing for space down the narrow alleyways.
Every place chooses their own off days... if you look online at restaurants, you need to take care to notice their day off. Museums are often closed Monday. And you do have to be a little careful, because some areas, instead of just splitting days off, choose with nearby shops to take a particular day off. I can't tell you specifics for most, but I know Nakano Broadway shuts down significantly on Wednesdays, particularly 3rd Wednesday of the month. A few shops take Tuesday instead. So for Nakano Broadway, it's something like: Sunday/Monday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday: +90% open Tuesday: 80% open Wednesday: 50% open 3rd Wednesday: 40% open Most of the main tourist areas, the shops don't coordinate so it's not too important that a few are closed each day. But some areas are like that, especially where most of them are mom and pop style a bit further out. Check a few shops online to make sure the district isn't dead on the day you plan to go. =P
@@redfish337 thanks for your reply and tips! not interested in actually getting any street food at tsukiji, but wanted to show my friends the area. do you think it'll still be worth the visit to soak up the atmosphere there? appreciate your views.
@@chinglong Oh, you're just talking about Tsukiji? Well, I can't really say- I haven't been since the actual market moved, as that was within the last 8 months or so. You used to want to go fairly early, even just for the outer market stuff, but it's hard to say if that'll carry over since it's supposedly transitioned to more designated tourist spot. I thought it was interesting before, and most people seem to like it. It's generally a bit different than most of the other stuff you'd do on a trip to Tokyo, so it adds some variety.
Paolo, please make videos explaining what are the main ingredients you can expect for a certain type of food, what options are available in a particular restaurant (e.g. at a kaiten sushi) for people that is picky and is afraid of trying anything that looks strange, especially whatever requires to acquire a taste. Like "if you try this fish, it will have a soft taste, and this other fish is harder to chew; stay away of wasabi if you're not into spicy things, etc." Japanese food is sometimes very intimidating. I went to Japan three years ago and into a kaiten shushi but didn't dare to try most of the dishes because I didn't know what they were. I ended up picking up only whatever was passing by in the belt that didn't look menacing (and I've made some bad choices anyway). Same thing for those ramen restaurants with all the japanese names hanging from the wall. Will all of them have seaweed? Will the meat have chunks of grease attached? For instance, I don't eat the inner parts of the chicken, only the white meat, not shrimp, or oysters, or too spicy; how can I order food and be confident it's not something that will shock me? Your food reviews are funny and inspiring, but you seem to be a person that will eat anything with courage! I'll return to Japan in April this year, and this time with my daughter (15). She is picky too! Anyway, thanks for your videos!!
@@kryn1030 I hardly ever eat fish in Japan. It's... not actually THAT common. Take the older generations and the fish for breakfast crowd out of the equation and I'm pretty sure pork and chicken lead.
Great video, I'll be visiting in April. Are there any good museums or sight seeing places to go? I know there's food shopping but would like to experience something else for the scholar in me. Any tips?
I recommend the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It has a good mix of cultural exhibits. The National Museum in Ueno is mostly artifacts. You want to see 20 different plates or cups from each period, that's where you go for that. Edo-Tokyo is more about models and scenes, trying to show culture and such. Of the Ueno Museums, I actually prefer the Science Museum, which is cool, but only about 15% related to Japan in particular.
Also, there are of course many temples, shrines, etc. And many small museums and such. The Yanesen area (Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi) is an area that wasn't really damaged in either the earthquake/firestorms or firebombing, and have a lot more traditional things, with only a moderate number of tourists. BTW, while it's not exactly scholarly... April is baseball season in Japan. The Japanese take on the sport makes for a fun cultural experience. There are also lots of traditional shows like bunraku, kabuki, and such. Again, I wouldn't call it scholarly, but stuff like maid cafes or an underground rock or idol show also makes for a fun and interesting cultural experience.
I was able to go in 2017 to the original spot. We went in the morning at around 7am found a local fish shop with all local workers ate tons of fresh sushi each was about a dollar huge steal!
Great video, as usual! Just one point though, a "tourist trap" refers to a place that rips people off through charging higher prices than normal to tourists. I'm not sure that's really true of these places.
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Do you have your OneX Camera mounted on a stick or something?
Paolo fromTOKYO what do you think of insta360 one X? I am planning of getting it when we go back there wanted to know if it’s worth the price.
1. Tsukiji Outer Market: Get there early (6-6:30 AM) and go on weekdays. And also avoid the tourist trap shops (*cough* Tamagoyaki)
2. Ameyoko - Arrive either 9 AM or 5-6 PM ish on Weekday
3. Nakamise - Asakusa - Avoid at all cost if you only have weekend. Go to the Shrine at 7PM ish
4. Harajuku - just go once, and never come back. Total tourist trap, especially with all the folks selling caps and stuff
5. Shin Okubo - DON’T EVER THINK OF COMING HERE ON WEEKEND
Thanks for the detailed info! Would you elaborate on why to avoid tamagoyaki? Price? Where would it be better to get? And maybe other places you may suggest to visit? Thanks! :)
Haha, i thought you flew a drone in shibuya. Then saw your really long, long, long.... Long selfie stick. Nice vid guys.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a video on what to do on the weekends in Tokyo! It seems like in all of your video's you say to go to a place during the week for fewer crowds, but then what should my friends and I do on the weekend's when we go (hopefully sometime in the next year)?
go to an other city ...
get on a train and go somewhere else lol
The camera you used really helped to put the crowd into perspective. Your videos are so nice and imformative, I cant wait to go to Japan one day. When I do I'll probably be binge watching these on the plane lol
Thank you for all your videos. Currently here in Tokyo spending a week and a half here with my family. We covered a lot of ground in 3 days because of your wonderful videos. Cant thank you enough!
Thanks for the videos!! You rule. Came into Tokyo with my family for a long weekend from Los Angeles.. stayed in Asakusa at the Richmond... Really loved the temple early in the morning before everyone was even up . And all the backstreets were great for street food and was sent easy to walk around even on the weekend...so many of your videos were great... Went to a ramen place to mentioned in Shibuya. I'm still watching your videos and learning so much... And the best thing is everyone in the family loved them all ages... thanks!!
Will be staying at the Richmond and thanks for the early rise tip. Hoping the breakfast is available early too.
Gonna do my first solo Japan trip on June and your videos are helping me a lot because I don’t really know where to go and what to do lol! Hope I bump into you when I get there! :) your videos are amazing!
Hey dude, I am a 15 year old American and I absolutely love your videos man! I totally want to meet up with you someday when I go to Japan. I want to travel Asia when I grow up and I love studying japan in specific. You inform me and help me understand more and more about Japan and I am buying your merch soon !
Bryce Parker you are totally like me but i want to travel solo cause it’s better and you can plan your trip and im 15 tooo😆
Your videos are always so helpful, I'll make sure to check out your hidden place videos as well. Omg I died laughing at that statement, "Shinokubo is my number one stay the hell away", hahhahaha.
When I went back to Japan last year, my Airbnb was just down the street from Shin-Okubo station. So yeah, I can absolutely attest to it being insanely packed!
yeah...it's way too crazy on the weekends.
Im going to Japan in a couple month and sooo excited!! i love watching videos like these but just can't wait to just get lost in japan and find something fun to do.
That 360 camera made a BIG impact! You can really get a feel for the amount of people and layout of the streets with that footage. Thanks for all of these helpful videos! I'm planning a trip for a few weeks from now and I'm trying to get as much info as I can to make it run smoothly.
Perfect! Can't thank-you enough for all of the tips, you've made planning a trip to Tokyo so much easier!
Thank you so much for ALL of your videos. I'm going to Japan with my brother this coming October and all your videos are helping a lot. We cant speak Japanese but we are going to try many of the places you recommended. Thank you!!
Super helpful! I hate crowds so I'll follow your tips!
Love the video with the 360 camera !!
These camera angles were so dope!!! I'm not going to lie since I live in Texas when I've traveled to Tokyo I sometimes enjoy the crowds of people. (except in the subway that was cool the first couple of times and got old fast lol)
Thanks for that info mate! Me and the wife are going there in a few weeks for the first time, so we'll factor your tips in with our plans.
Flying to Tokyo this summer. Your videos are amazing. Will definitely check out all your recommendations especially restaurants.
Thanks again for an great video!!! Your channel has become my Saturday morning ritual....btw, love your video shots this video..especially the insta360 footage!!
That's a pretty cool view from your 360 camera. Thanks for the always helpful videos!
First time we went to Harajuku was on a weekday, so we got to enjoy walking through Takeshita-dori. Even got to check out a good number of shops. When we went back on a Saturday though, boy was it crowded! Can't even tell which part we're in because of the thick crowds. If only we weren't there to buy something for a friend, would definitely stay away on a Saturday!
Asakusa was nice as well. We enjoyed browsing through the shops along Nakamise-dori. Saw from friends' photos that it was super crowded when they went on a weekend. But on a weekday, it was really enjoyable.
Hope to be back in Tokyo some time this year. There are still a lot of places I want to see. :) Thanks for this, Paolo! Your videos have always been helpful!
Just came back from a 2 weeks vacation in Japan and it was AWESOME!!! Though, most of the places we visited are truly busy but we still manage to enjoy the experience and been to many places plus the people are very nice and friendly.
Interesting perspective with the new 360 camera, especially with the long selfie stick taking you to street sign height. That is kinda cool though how the straight down view removes the selfie stick.
Great info Paolo. It just ended and I’m wanting more. Please! Keep up the good work.
Super helpful I’m going to Tokyo in April I will definitely checkout the temple around sunset instead. Temple and then dinner that sounds like a lovely evening ☺️
Very helpful warning for someone not so keen on crowds. I find that Tokyo has something to offer in every neighborhood. I would simply avoid the crowded areas altogether. You can find lots to do in any neighborhood in Tokyo.
Sounds like visit Tokyo during the week and hit the countryside on the weekends. Sounds like a plan!
Thanks for these great tips and great videos!
I 100% agree with your trip regarding Asakusa. When I was in Tokyo last November we stayed at a hotel near the area. It was so peaceful walking around at night, but the daytime was crazy!
Paolo, me and my boyfriend are going to tokyo this August, I watched all your videos and I am so excited to try some of the street food you recommended.
Totally agree with the tip about Harujuku. We had a lot more fun on the side streets and hit up some great vintage shops without the stress of being on the Main Street.
Those 360 camera shots look so good and very stable too!
Thanks for the video and have a great weekend guys! ^_____^
Hey @paolo from tokyo! im a japan fan and a fan of your videos. Thanks for the videos. Do you have a video on the best thrift shops in Japan? Maybe that can be showcased? Thanks!
I'm literally staying at an airbnb in shin Okubo for my two week stay in Japan. I wished I knew this was a tourist trap! So hard to exit the Jr stop! Love your videos! I've used them for my travel thus far
It depends on where you're going... but I mean, you can use other stations. Higashi-Shinjuku isn't that far, depending on where you are exactly. Okubo is probably still a bit impacted.
I haaattteeed Shin Okubo when I went (during the golden week) not because the area suck but because it was so busy. All the shop were so packed, I couldn't even shop because it took almost half an hour to get from one side of the store to the other. Plus the queue for paying and food were sooooo long, it wasn't worth it. It's definitely one of those area you need to visit on weird hours.
Takeshita-dori street was definitely manageable using Paolo's tip. The day I went, it was so busy that everyone was shoulder to shoulder and the mass just pull you along. I ended up going into the back street and cut across whenever the store I need was coming up.
Yeah, that's right. Shin-Okubo is a no-go for me on the weekends. Thanks for sharing.
I am going to be in Tokyo during golden week. That will be an interesting experience 😁 I am already planning a bit to avoid the most crowded spots and longest lines!
How was Tokyo during golden week otherwise? Any tips?
shin okubo station is toooooo small. no escalater, no elevator (now under construction), only one platform, only one exit, narrow street, and even no squares in front of exit.
this is not typical in tokyo. why only shin okubo is so small???????
oftentimes i can't use this station for crowdness and walk to shinjuku station.
Love the tips! If it’s this busy now, I can’t imagine what it will be like during the Olympics! 😬
So useful! I watched all your videos pretty much when I planned my Japan trip!
Thanks for the tips Paolo! I'm going to Japan next July with my family and we will be to all these spots BUT now at the better time of the day...I hope!
Nice new camera angles 👍🙂
Great and insightful tips and an awesome point of view! 👍⛩️😀
When I was in Tokyo in November, I visited both Nakamise and Takeshita dori. I think I got to Takeshita dori at a good time of the day because it wasn't too bad but Nakamise was SO BUSY. After seeing them at numbers 2 and 3, I thought "what on Earth is number 1?" Shin Okubo, while I personally didn't go there, easily makes the most sense. I can only imagine how bad it gets.
We went to 3 of the places mentioned in the summer of 2019.
1. Harajuku was extremely busy! So you’re right on that, and it was a weekend lol!
2. Sensoji- we saved this for the end of the day so it was empty when we went, which was nice, but we didn’t see the shops at all.
3. Tsukiji fish market- we made the mistake of going on Sunday, as barely anything was open. Still had some good squid tho!
Great video! Can’t wait to go back!
Hey there - Great video! I’ve been to Okubo on Sunday nights and I found it is manageable. Was surprised to see that that it was #1 on your list - crazy!
Always thankfull for your tips and tricks
Omg, I remember staying at the 9h capsule hotel in Shin-Okubo and even on a Monday, I remembered it just being ridiculously crowded. I’m from the Bay Area of CA and even I thought it was ridiculous how packed that place gets. Thanks for the vid! I definitely agree with all of those places you mentioned being a tourist trap.
Very useful video Paolo! Hope you and Maiko had the best time in Vietnam!!
Thanks Connor Taylor!
Last spring when my cousin and I came to Takeshita Dori, the street was so packed with humans that we just skipped it altogether! I'm quite surprised the Shibuya and Shinjuku area weren't included, but I guess they aren't as crowded compared to the ones you mentioned. Great tips as always!
Thanks for these tips, it will help me with planning itenerary for my future Japan trip!
Yeah Shin-Okubo is super busy but it didn't stop me to go there often. My tips is to go there during daytime on a workday, where most people are working or at school.
When it comes to Asakusa (my old neighborhood) is to go on the side streets. If you know where you want to go, take a detour on the side streets and you will still arrive faster than trying to go through the ocean of people.
That's what I wonna see! Thx so much to avoide crowds!
Hey Paolo, can you please do a video on Yokohama? For Yokohama itself and also maybe Yokohama Chinatown. I am going to Kamakura and Tokyo soon and your videos have been incredibly helpful. I will be going to Yokohama too. It would be great if you can do one or two for Yokohama too. Thanks for all your great videos!
This was super helpful, especially about Asakusa. I'm planning a trip with some friends, and they wanted to go there to get souvenirs, but after hearing this, NOOOO THANKS. Do you recommend anyplace else in Tokyo that's good for souvenirs (for home and the office)?
Just go some other day of the week. And even then the crowd is almost all Nakamise Street. It's a whole district. Just like most attractions there, the tourists all seem to shed off within 1-2 streets.
You can go to any Don Quijote shop. They have a good range of souvenirs and other goods ^_^
We visited it last spring and it was fantastic! A little bit crowded, but still it was worth it! Beautiful and very atmospheric
BTW, you may want to spend part of a day going to Yanesen area (Yanaka/Nezu/Sendagi). Stuff like Yanaka Ginza. Even though it's pretty much the only major area that's been relatively untouched by disaster and war, it's bypassed by most foreign tourists. There's a little more of the mid-range crafted stuff and such in that area.
I’ve stayed in asakusa every single time I’ve gone to Japan and I’ve NEVER seen it THAT busy. Literally I stay there bc it’s been so peaceful
Thanks for another great video! 🙏 I don’t think there’s a quiet time in Tokyo. Last there in September/October 2017. Was so busy but I still love the vibes
I never get tired with this Country ❤Japan
Will be back in Japan in mid March. Can't wait!
This is great info, thank you so much! BTW, love your merch, I get lots of compliments on your shirts, you're awesome!
Dope camera angle!
Haha we stayed at a place in Shin Okubo and it was great. We loved the location. I was busy but didn't feel anymore busy then other spots in Tokyo, just kind of fits the whole Tokyo craziness. There are some great street food and bars in that area.
Last time I visited Japan was totally not thinking and ended up in Harajuku on a Saturday afternoon...not the best experience. But on the bright side, going down the varioua sidestreets and alleys I found a great Yakitori place.
Helpful info thank you.
Great info and tips.☺☺
another great video bro!! cant wait to be in japan in four months!
Man, Takeshita dori is sooo packed nowadays. I’ve been coming to Tokyo for 19 years now and it’s definitely become a tourist trap!
"My ultimate 'stay the hell away on the weekend' spot" 😂😂
extremely helpful info thanks so much for tips
I'm going to Asakusa and Harajuku nxt month so this was helpful. I'm going to Harajuku on a Saturday though as I heard thatt there will be cosplayers on the weekends.
Thanks for the great tips :)
Thanks for this some places get sooo busy it can be no fun at all 😔🇬🇧🏴
I can especially agree to the number one on your list. VERY busy!! Hard to get through the station near there.
We're going to in Tokyo in 10 days! 2 adults and a toddler. Unfortunately the way our schedule works we only have Saturday to see Harajuku. So our plan is to arrive at Meiji shrine around 7am, hang around till 8, catch a leisurely breakfast in Harajuku, walk around until things open at 10, hit our top spots, and then get the hell outta dodge.
Most of the crowds can be avoided or will be more smaller for most of these places if you go during the weekdays. Monday to Thursday. Sometimes Fridays are a little busy too I think. Makes it hard if you want to do sightseeing in the weekends because no matter where you go there are a lot of people.
I'm going to Japan with my mom this spring break. Hope to see you.
@@lifeintokyo3048 im unfortunately going from march 9th or so, to the 16th or so. So I don't think I'll see the cherry blossoms. :(
@@lifeintokyo3048 thank you.
Thanks for sharing this. Id give credit for going through all the crowds to make a video for us. Im not a fan of big crowds either
Takeshita dori was insanely busy! good to see the videos showing the crowds, helps to prepare before visiting, although we still went at the weekend! hahahha! take paolos advice. 🙄
Great video! Thanks for your information, man!
i went to senso-ji in the early morning (just before 8am) by chance and it was beautiful, no people just me and a few others.
It's also nice at night, as the crowds disappear and they put lights on it until 11pm or something.
Yay! A new Paolo video! $1,500 away from my goal and payday is coming up. Thanks for another informative video.
what's your budget? I'm saving up as well
Yeah what's your budget and how long are you going for??
1,200 -1,500 will cover round trip flight and hotel for a week.
@@kels96 I recommend 70 USD/day+lodging+ flight + long-distance trains. (Since hostels and such run ~30, I count it as a flat 100 including lodging for me)
Particularly if you go on a shorter trip where things may not average out, having 200 USD buffer is probably a good idea. Additionally, Japan is definitely a place where there are cheap things and there are expensive things. While 70 USD/day is good for having lots of fun and eating lots of good food, if you want to repeatedly go to Michelin star restaurants, shop at fancy boutiques, buy out the Pokemon store, or go to several days of stuff like Disney, you need to boost it accordingly.
Conversely, if you like parks, shrines, museums, and such, 70 USD/day is probably high. Again, this 70 USD/day includes short range transportation, wi-fi, food, tickets, attractions and splurging, and NOT lodging, flight or long-distance travel.
@@redfish337 ah yes I see! I'm going in September during the rugby world cup so I suspect it will be busy but we plan to have 5k ($NZD) for 8 days. Hopefully that will be enough and I'm so excited!!!
I am a Sri Lankan and I am living in Shin Okubo now.Yes I totally agree with you.It you come around 11 a.m.-3p.m. You will be in a mess.It is too busy and too crowed.But I love Shin Okubo.
Great Tips Paolo !i know asakusa is crowded but i keep on going back for the Melon pan .😄. Thanks for the advise though,at least now I know where not to take my husband (super super crowded ).🤔
I was on tour and was playing a show in Tokyo when I got stuck in Shin-Okubo station on my way to the venue. Felt like a nightmare, like when you want to run but everything moves in slow motion, haha!
HI Paolo,
Can you please do a video about where you'd recommend to go on the weekends? Since you recommended avoiding most of these busy tourist areas on the weekend if possible. Thanks!
Shin-okubo is madness, they need to fix that station up urgently. I have never been to a place that PACKED during the normal day. But I still loved it.
I was at Tsukiji 2 days ago (Thursday) around 8:30am. It wasn't crowded and 1 or 2 stores haven't opened up yet at that time.
Hey Paulo,
Enjoy the informative videos especially the food videos with you and meiko's input. I'm planning a trip the 2nd week of May (to miss golden week). Looks like Tokyo is really restrictive on Drones. I'm wondering if its worth packing my Mavic Air. Can you do a video on drone spots in Japan? Thanks.
He has a video on drones. Essentially, if you plan to go to the countryside, you can generally use it. Pretty much anywhere in Tokyo or other cities- even pretty far out where it's just suburbs or even halfway countryside, you can't without a lot of paperwork to get permission. If "tourist" stuff is your purpose, don't bother. If you're going to Setouchi or something with nature as the main point, then you can get some shots, but would still want to cross reference the maps and and check the rules to make sure you're good.
I went to Harajuku in '08(and again 9 years later). It was funny to be in this sea of people on Takeshita(sp?) street. But I'm a Minnesota State Fair veteran, so super-crowds are okay by me.
Currently staying at a hotel near Shin Okubo and you're completely right, it seems fine during weekdays before 5pm but anytime during the weekend or after 5pm it's just horrible 🤣
Paolo love all of ur blog
U have a new camera. What are u using?
On our trip to Japan in 2019, we decided to go to Harajuku. We did see some cool things on the side streets, as well as get some very rich monster ice cream that I couldn't finish. But, after taking one look at Takeshita Street, we basically said, "Nope!" and went across the street to the temple/shrine there. SO MUCH better. It didn't seem worth it to try to get through that crowd.
Your Japan videos are helpful, where should one stay in Tokyo for a good convenient experience and near to the metro and tourist spot?
Wandering all these areas at a busy time on a rainy day is also pretty bad. What little space is vacated by the slightly fewer people avoiding bad weather, is immediately filled with a parade of umbrellas, bumping & clashing for space down the narrow alleyways.
Gotta love the hoodie 🤣
hi paolo, thanks for sharing with us these videos. most shops are also closed on wednesdays?
Every place chooses their own off days... if you look online at restaurants, you need to take care to notice their day off.
Museums are often closed Monday.
And you do have to be a little careful, because some areas, instead of just splitting days off, choose with nearby shops to take a particular day off. I can't tell you specifics for most, but I know Nakano Broadway shuts down significantly on Wednesdays, particularly 3rd Wednesday of the month. A few shops take Tuesday instead.
So for Nakano Broadway, it's something like:
Sunday/Monday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday: +90% open
Tuesday: 80% open
Wednesday: 50% open
3rd Wednesday: 40% open
Most of the main tourist areas, the shops don't coordinate so it's not too important that a few are closed each day. But some areas are like that, especially where most of them are mom and pop style a bit further out. Check a few shops online to make sure the district isn't dead on the day you plan to go. =P
@@redfish337 thanks for your reply and tips! not interested in actually getting any street food at tsukiji, but wanted to show my friends the area. do you think it'll still be worth the visit to soak up the atmosphere there? appreciate your views.
@@chinglong Oh, you're just talking about Tsukiji? Well, I can't really say- I haven't been since the actual market moved, as that was within the last 8 months or so. You used to want to go fairly early, even just for the outer market stuff, but it's hard to say if that'll carry over since it's supposedly transitioned to more designated tourist spot.
I thought it was interesting before, and most people seem to like it. It's generally a bit different than most of the other stuff you'd do on a trip to Tokyo, so it adds some variety.
@@redfish337 sorry for the late response, and thanks for sharing your thoughts about tsukiji with me! :)
Was staying in Shin Okubo in 2014 and I guess that time, Korean wave wasn't that big yet so the crowd was manageable then. Lol
pretty neat camera view
Paolo, please make videos explaining what are the main ingredients you can expect for a certain type of food, what options are available in a particular restaurant (e.g. at a kaiten sushi) for people that is picky and is afraid of trying anything that looks strange, especially whatever requires to acquire a taste. Like "if you try this fish, it will have a soft taste, and this other fish is harder to chew; stay away of wasabi if you're not into spicy things, etc." Japanese food is sometimes very intimidating. I went to Japan three years ago and into a kaiten shushi but didn't dare to try most of the dishes because I didn't know what they were. I ended up picking up only whatever was passing by in the belt that didn't look menacing (and I've made some bad choices anyway). Same thing for those ramen restaurants with all the japanese names hanging from the wall. Will all of them have seaweed? Will the meat have chunks of grease attached? For instance, I don't eat the inner parts of the chicken, only the white meat, not shrimp, or oysters, or too spicy; how can I order food and be confident it's not something that will shock me? Your food reviews are funny and inspiring, but you seem to be a person that will eat anything with courage! I'll return to Japan in April this year, and this time with my daughter (15). She is picky too! Anyway, thanks for your videos!!
Good idea! I'll try to do something like that.
As an insanely picky eater I would love this. I'm going in May and I.. well.. I hate fish. So it's going to be a difficult trip.
@@kryn1030 I hardly ever eat fish in Japan. It's... not actually THAT common. Take the older generations and the fish for breakfast crowd out of the equation and I'm pretty sure pork and chicken lead.
Great video, I'll be visiting in April. Are there any good museums or sight seeing places to go? I know there's food shopping but would like to experience something else for the scholar in me. Any tips?
I recommend the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It has a good mix of cultural exhibits.
The National Museum in Ueno is mostly artifacts. You want to see 20 different plates or cups from each period, that's where you go for that. Edo-Tokyo is more about models and scenes, trying to show culture and such. Of the Ueno Museums, I actually prefer the Science Museum, which is cool, but only about 15% related to Japan in particular.
Also, there are of course many temples, shrines, etc. And many small museums and such. The Yanesen area (Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi) is an area that wasn't really damaged in either the earthquake/firestorms or firebombing, and have a lot more traditional things, with only a moderate number of tourists.
BTW, while it's not exactly scholarly... April is baseball season in Japan. The Japanese take on the sport makes for a fun cultural experience. There are also lots of traditional shows like bunraku, kabuki, and such. Again, I wouldn't call it scholarly, but stuff like maid cafes or an underground rock or idol show also makes for a fun and interesting cultural experience.
The scams in Japan are nothing compared to the ones in Europe lol
Yeah Venice had a ton of tourist scams all over the place
OMG for real. I never felt scammed in Tokyo, everything felt reasonable or slightly upcharged. Complete 180 from Paris or Venice.
Omg nothing compared to SE Asia lol the scams are everywhere there. Didn't witness any in Japan
Yep that's the way to do it never travel or leave before weekends that's a long term traveler trip for sure!
I was able to go in 2017 to the original spot. We went in the morning at around 7am found a local fish shop with all local workers ate tons of fresh sushi each was about a dollar huge steal!
Great video, as usual!
Just one point though, a "tourist trap" refers to a place that rips people off through charging higher prices than normal to tourists. I'm not sure that's really true of these places.
They literally trap you in the train station due to high crowds. If that's not a tourist trap idk what is lol