I’ve noticed a lot of posts on the sub asking about less crowded/less touristy areas of Tokyo so I thought I’d chip in. Been to Japan 3x now and have spent a total of around 25 days in Tokyo. I feel like that’s given me enough time to get a nice feel of the various neighborhoods all around the city. So I’d like to suggest some areas that have less tourists or are less visited than Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, asakusa etc
Disclaimer: none of these areas or neighborhoods are hidden gems or unknown by any means. They’re just less visited by international tourists and a lot of first time visitors may be unaware of them.
Kichijoji: nice residentialish area a little bit outside the main city Center. Worth checking out for the beautiful Inokashira Park and Ghibli museum is nearby. The park is one of my favourite places in Tokyo, especially during cherry blossom season
Koenji: feels very local with a somewhat gritty vibe (by Tokyo standards anyway). Tons of vintage clothing shops and unique, wacky stores to check out. Nice place to spend a few hours
Nakameguro: very quaint and cute area right beside the canal. Some lovely cafes, shops and some of my favourite back alleys and little streets to walk around in. The canalside paths and bridges are wonderful during cherry blossom season
Akabane: I actually don’t know if I’ve ever seen any western tourists here. It’s very out of the way and there’s not actually a lot of things to do. But this little area is at near the top of my list when it comes to pure vibes, especially at night. If you ever want that classic storybook Japanese nighttime atmosphere and aesthetic, come to Akabane after dark. It’s wonderful.
Yanaka: quiet little area that has a nice old timey vibe to it. Yanaka Ginza is a cool little shopping street with a hodgepodge of different businesses. There’s a little street that’s really nice during cherry blossom season, Sakura-dori I think it’s called
Those are my 5 suggestions for less-crowded neighborhoods you might enjoy. Considered putting Shimokitazawa as well but I think it’s been pretty popular for a while now.
by Typical_Country_6463