Tokyo On $100

Gridskipper is hosting a contest for a collection of three sets of 20 Wallpaper* City Guides for a $100 a day itinerary in any one of the 20 cities the guides covered inthe series by October 31, so my entry is Tokyo. I don't expect to win, so I thought I'd share my ideas here:

$100 In Tokyo

6am

First off an early morning trip to Tsukiji Market, Tokyo’s fish market where you can see crazed auctions and fish being hacked apart at one of the world’s largest fish markets. Entry is free. After taking the tour it is a prime opportunity to sample some of the freshest sushi you are likely to taste at Daiwa which will run you about $16-depending on what you eat. But since it is morning and you haven’t had your coffee yet we’ll estimate on the low side.

10:30am

After a little nap it’s time to head to Harajuku station. Fist stop is the impressive Meiji Shrine (free entry), which is a natural oasis in the center of Tokyo. If it’s a weekend I recommend a walk through Yoyogi park-there’s usually a lot activity going on there. Across from the park is the impressive Kenzo Tange designed Yoyogi national gymnasium designed for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics-it still looks futuristic. From there you walk down Takeshita dori to see what all the Japanese kids are wearing these days. Then moving onto Omotesando dori for more window shopping and appreciation of some of impressive architectural designs of the brand stores and shopping areas: Tadao Ando designed Omotesando Hills Shopping complex and not far off Omotesando dori is his Armani Casa / Boffi Design Store, Jun Aoki’s Louis Vuitton store, Kengo Kuma’s LVMH Japanese HQ, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa’s Dior building, Toyo Ito’s Tod’s store, and OMA (Rem Koolhaa’s firm) designed Prada building. Halfway through the tour you’ll stop halfway up Omotesando dori for lunch at Maisen, a converted bathhouse, that specializes in tonkatsu (breaded pork). Lunch is a big deal in Tokyo and most of the better restaurants have lunch specials under $20. Lunch here will cost about $13.

2pm

Once you get to Aoyama dori (also know as Route 246) you’ll turn left and walk down to Shibuya for more people watching and window-shopping. Here you can see a different kind of youth culture from that of Harajuku in 109 Building and along Centergai a street that is bursting with youth subcultures like the yamaba (mountain witch) girls. You can see the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing at the famed Hachiko exit that was seen in the film Lost in Translation. At the intersection near the two branches of Parco department store you can get a coffee at Kurage, a stylish arty café with a great healthy fusion food menu, $8 for a latte. Back to Shibuya station.

Dinner

You take the train to Ebisu ($1.20) and head across Komazawa dori to the building opposite of Wendy’s to Ootoya, a chain restaurant that serves healthy Japanese set menu meals (main dish, rice, miso soup, and pickles) for under 1000 yen and provides free tea with the meal. I recommend whatever the seasonal dish is at the time. ($8)

Post-Dinner

Next on the list is Buri, a tachinomiya (a standing bar) where you can rub shoulders with locals that specializes in nihonshu (know to us foreigners as sake) and yakitori (chicken skewers). A few pre-club drinks and snacks will come to around $20.

Late Night

Go back to Komazawa dori and turn right toward Daikanyama to one of the more happening clubs in Tokyo, Unit. During the day it is a cafe, but they have a large club space that has all sorts of events and DJ acts. Most events cost around 3000 yen ($26) and include one or two drinks. At this point you might have enough left over for an extra drink.

Comments

[phatrick]

Why shouldn't you win ? There is no one I would trust my 100 clams to more for a good time in Tokyo. That may sound a little different than I meant it to. You left out buying bizarre late night food (something drenched in plum sauce) at the am-pm to try to stave off the morning's hangover.

[Edward]

I doubt the $100 would get you through the 8pm to 4am time slot on a normal night would it? Perhaps a more realistic scenario would have been to start at 8pm with a large ramen, blow the rest by 4am, and then recommend just sleeping for the rest of the day.

[MC]

They are only giving away 3 sets of the guidebooks, so I'm competing with the NY, Singapore, etc... people's lists as well, whic I think will bring out soem stif comepetition.

Edward,I didn't say it's how I would spend my $100, but I think it's a good plan for someone in town with a limited budget.

[Arie]

The key to any budget night out in Tokyo is the open air geihin ojisan brewski.

I'm disappointed you didn't inlcude the 500 ml Asahi Dry purchase at AM/PM followed by a strategic bench for gawking from in front of one of the trendier subway stations. Maybe a packet of dried ika on the side.

[Dave Ballantine]

Hey Pat,

This is great stuff. I've been hoping to visit Tokyo for some time and it looks like I might actually make it in April (I think you mentioned on one of your visits that was a good time to go). We need to talk!

- Dave

[MC]

Dave, I love to host people, you are welcome any time. Let's talk when I visit Seattle this winter.

[Dave]

Awsome.

When ae you planning on coming back?

[MC]

I'll be in Seattle/Spokane at the end of December/beginning of January-i'm not sure exactly when yet.