TTokyo

Advice: Fun things to do in or near jinbocho for a non-tokyo, long term resident.

Sorry for the weird title, but I’ve been living in Japan for 17 years, 15 of which in Hokkaido. I am going to be staying at Jinbocho for 3 nights for work, but have 1 afternoon free, and some time after work too (from 4pm). Any fun shop, or good restaurant you’d recommend with easy access? I really want to watch the « weapons » movie but it seems it’s not our here yet. Thanks.

by fakiresky

8 comments

  1. Jimbocho is known for its second hand and vintage bookshops. You can explore them and then head further towards Akihabara and go to all of the sports shops too on the same huge street. Also not far from there is the Kitanomaru park which is nice and part of the Imperial Palace complex, or you could walk around the whole thing. Also the Yasukuni jinja isn’t too far from there. If you like Vietnamese there’s a half decent banh mi shop by Suidobashi station and if you like katsudon there’s a really good place [here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/49QMW9ph1ED7wDE56?g_st=ipc), which is in Jimbocho. Happy exploring!

    Edit Akihabara, not Ueno.

  4. I loved the bookshops in Jimbocho. There’s a few cafes in the area that are nice to sit and have coffee at. Generally just a very chill, laid back neighborhood.

  5. Jimbocho is the place to go for old books in Tokyo. Naturally, most of the stores are dedicated to Japanese books, but there are also places that have western books. The local neighbourhood association even publishes a very handy map of all the bookstores in Jimbocho: https://en.jimbou.info/map/

    More info on Jimbocho: https://www.japan-experience.com/all-about-japan/tokyo/attractions-excursions/jinbocho

    Also, if you visit Jimbocho, I highly recommend having a break at this old cafe in the backstreets of Jimbocho. It has a great atmosphere. If you’re standing in the street facing the cafe, the doorway on the left leads to the cafe where you can have coffee, tea and cake/toast; the doorway on the right leads to the lunch area, where you can have an actual meal, such as curry or pasta.

    https://retrotabitokyo.com/sabouru-jimbocho/

    https://old-tokyo.info/sabouru-coffee-tokyos-unique-kissaten/

  8. Polaris is a great music venue there, although it’s closing to relocate to Minami-Aoyama at the end of August.

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