Essentials

Once you get into the airport you have a long lineup with airport wifi. I use this opportunity to activate my airalo e-sim card. I used the regional Asia plan to cover my data for Japan, Malaysia, & Thailand. I activated the sim using the QR code once in the Narita Tokyo airport and that covered me for the entire 2 weeks in Asia. The regional plan is easiest if you are traveling to multiple countries in the region.

I brought in a bit of cash, but not much. I think you can get by comfortably on 5000 yen a day ($32 USD) unless you're going to do some shopping. In that case the wise Visa card works amazingly well in Japan. Fund it with your home currency and convert it on the app and use the visa card or tap with Gpay wallet or apple wallet. I purchased the skyliner train ticket from Narita airport to the city metro station from the airport. They have english speaking guides if you get lost.

One of my first purchases was the 72 hour subway pass. I used my wise visa card details at the station to pay for it. My internet data, money, and transport were then sorted. Btw after your 72 hour pass expires you can renew it with a 24 hour pass again. It jut saves the hassle from buying a ticket everytime and fiddling with cash and coins. They do have uber and didi (need a local #) in Tokyo, but it's extremely expensive. Taking the train is a way of life and part of the experience of getting around in Tokyo.

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Where to Stay

I had the benefit of a Japanese Canadian friend that introduced me to Tokyo in 2015. He told me the upscale area to stay in was Roppongi. It's well connected to shopping and tourists areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, & the Ginza, but it's got an upscale business district vibe in the day. At night it's very lively with many bars and restaurants that open until late. I stayed at the Remm Roppongi (2023 award on Agoda) for the 2nd time. It's comfortable, modern, and a great value , a 3 minute walk to multiple subway lines with multiple starbucks & the upscale Tokyo Midtown mall with everything you need across the street. I paid $363 US for 4 nights. The room is fairly small, but it's got everything you need for a good sleep, powerful hot shower, Japanese toilet, it's clean and offers luggage storage, & a late noon checkout. I booked on Agoda as it's easier to navigate than the japanese site. Some other suggestions include the APA hotel group, Mitsui Garden or if budget isn't an issue try the Ritz Carlton at Tokyo Midtown. Based on my experience in Tokyo I would avoid Airbnbs as you may get a smaller room than expected or a bed with no blanket or baby pillow as I've experienced.

Where to Work

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Sure you can work at the starbucks or even better the starbucks reserve or any cafe for a short time. If you're a serious Digital Nomad or Global Remote Worker Wework's Global Pass is the answer. I've travelled & worked at many wework's around the world from Vancouver, New York, Barcelona, Paris, Bangkok, & Kuala Lumpur. I have to say that Tokyo has some of the most impressive weworks in the world and there are almost 19 locations to choose from that doesn't include Osaka & Fukuoka locations. Wework offer's prime location working space, meeting rooms, happy hour after 4pm, free premium coffee, phone booths, printing service, and in some cases even locker storage. Now I purchased my global membership from Malaysia for 459MYR or ~$105 USD a month. This is a hack as you can use it around the world. I forgot to ask the price in Tokyo, but with the weaker yen it should be cheaper than North American prices.

The 45th floor at the Shibuya Scramble building offers privileged views of the Shibuya scramble.

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The iceberg location is centrally located in harjuku for convenient shopping and has an in house coffee shop that you pay for. (not officially weworks cafe)

Where to Eat/Drink

This is very personal and I'll share some of my favourite spots, but I think it's more empowering to share how you can find your own gems. Google map is a good starting point for searching for your favourite foods like ramen, udon or sushi. I recommend downloading google translate and using the camera function to translate in real-time. There was this one time in Fukuoka I thought I was going to a beef restaurant, when it actually was a Beef tongue restaurant!

Ramen and beef rice bowels (yoshinoya, matsuya) are considered local food and really cheap. You can pay around 1000 yen ($6.55 USD ) give or take for a great ramen and gyoza meal to fill you up on a budget. Of course there are different levels of quality. Ippudo ramen is a popular chain that I trust and is clean and english friendly. I tried the new location in Harajuku branch, which even offered their own in house pale ale craft beer.

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What to Do

There are a lot of sights and shopping to be done. I've already done things like the Tokyo Tower & the sky tree. This time I wanted to get to do the Shibuya Sky, which needs to be booked almost a month in advance using a site like Klook. You get some of the best views in the city above the Shibuya scramble and an open rooftop with 360 views on all sides for a great price. Interestingly it is in the same building as Wework.

Good shopping and eats are concentrated in the Shibuya, Shinjuku, & the Ginza Area. The shopping for electronics and clothing is amazing. You can get some of the best brands and electronics and often tax free if over a certain amount (ie 5000 yen) if you bring your passport. I could go on and one as you can see. If you're interested in me sharing my Google Private Map list and more info click here. I may create a special video or members only newsletter.​

I hope you enjoyed this guide. There is never enough time in Tokyo and each time it's easy to discover more gems.

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