Top 10 Tokyo Insider Tips: Hidden Gems Beyond the Guidebook

Our Japaventura travel advisers all have a close personal connection to Japan. Some have had the chance to explore the country since childhood and know the Japanese in their everyday and family lives.

The result is that they feel bound to this fascinating country not just from afar, but know it behind the scenes too.

There are plenty of lists out there setting out the typical Tokyo sights – so here is something a little different: a list of the top 10 Tokyo insider tips from our Japaventura team!

Looking for a quiet, undisturbed spot without getting lost in an unfamiliar, hard-to-reach area? Would you like to relax over a cup of coffee for half an hour without heading somewhere crowded?

Then climb up to the rooftop of the Tokyu Plaza shopping centre! This stylish building is known for its "mirrored ball entrance". Step inside and you will feel as though you are walking into a diamond.

At the top, Tokyu Plaza offers a wonderfully calm, green terrace in the heart of Tokyo. The Starbucks chain serves Japanese-style coffees, including matcha specialities!

If you would rather drink something more local, there is usually a wide choice of other drinks stands. And whatever drink is in your hand, the view across the city makes sure this rooftop terrace ranks among Tokyo's best-kept secrets!

Address: 150-0001, 4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya District, Tokyo

Access:

• Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda/Fukutoshin Lines Omotesando Station on the Chiyoda/Hanzomon/Ginza Lines

The huge Shinsui Park, stretching almost 1.8 km, was built largely on reclaimed land above the Oyokogawa River. This river runs through the Sumida district.

If you take a look at the map of Tokyo's sights, you will see that this park is a little off the beaten track, but not too far. And thanks to Tokyo's efficient public transport network, it is easy to reach.

The park has five different areas, each with its own atmosphere.

The Tsurikawara area is good for fishing, while children can play with water in the Kappakawara area.

The Hanamomiji area, by contrast, has the feel of a valley or deep gorges. Events are held in the Palet Plaza area, while the Blue Terrace area is devoted entirely to sport.

It is also possible to take a ride in a "wasen", a traditional Japanese boat.

Here is one of those travel tips that always holds true: give yourself plenty of time, because an idyllic boat trip is not relaxing if you are under time pressure.

If you do have the time, though, this is one of our great Tokyo secrets, because it really is a beautiful experience: gliding through an idyllic, peaceful, green area in a little boat in the heart of the Japanese capital!

We have the volunteers of the "Wasen Tomo no Kai" association to thank for this. From March to November (every Wednesday) and from December to February (every Sunday), they offer trips on the water. The weather conditions do, of course, need to be good.

Reception is open from 10.00 to 13.45.

One more Tokyo travel tip: a glance at the map shows that the famous 634m-high Tokyo Skytree tower is very close by. If you can, take our word for it – a detour here is well worth it!

Address: Yokojikkengawa Shinsui Koen; 1-1-1 Minamisuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo Access: a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line. Or a 5-minute walk from Honjo-azumabashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Line.

Roppongi is a chic, popular district among expats, known for its many nightclubs. Here you will find the Tsutaya bookshop, a peaceful refuge for insomniacs, music lovers and readers – and a truly cosy spot!

Open seven days a week from seven in the morning until four in the morning, it has a lovely, welcoming entrance area with trees. You will find just as many beautiful books about Japan as the latest Japanese and international music.

Enjoy a hot coffee or a matcha drink to see off the cold in winter. In summer, the refreshing drinks are of course served chilled to cool you down on hot summer nights.

Leaf through a book from the shop while you sit comfortably in a leather armchair – almost as though you were at home in your own living room.

You will not be alone, though: you will be surrounded by Japanese people, expats, freelancers working at their computers or students asleep on their books.

If you want to listen to music, head upstairs: here you can enjoy the latest stationery and audio equipment.

And should you get a little peckish, simply take the footbridge to the nearby supermarket, which is open 24 hours a day!

Most tourists in Tokyo, with its Japanese eccentricity, head to Takeshita Street and Omotesando to enjoy the luxury on offer.

But where do the adventurers go? They seek out Cat Street!

This very long, winding street, which spans an old river and runs parallel to Omotesando, is a must for fashion fans and Japanese hipsters. It is the spiritual home of Tokyo street fashion and will delight not only shopping lovers but also those looking for a little peace in the heart of the capital.

Do visit the Design Festa Gallery, a fascinating building designed by Tadao Ando that houses the Armani Casa brand. The figurine shop by Pook and Koop is also worth a visit.

This is also home to free exhibitions by young artists, making it the ideal place to recover from sightseeing or shopping while you admire your creativity-filled surroundings over a drink.

Access: Harajuku Station (Yamanote Line), Omotesando exit, or Meiji-Jingumae (Chiyoda Line), exit 4.

Fancy a break? Take a rest at the "And People" café in Shibuya. A glance at the map of Tokyo's sights shows that this is a spot on the edge of the capital.

Far removed from the kitsch typical of some Japanese establishments, this place has created its own universe. With its curtains, branches and unusual sofas, the airy, natural atmosphere stands apart from Tokyo's usual surroundings.

One of our Tokyo travel tips: try the matcha latte here – it tastes absolutely wonderful!

For true connoisseurs who want to enjoy the breathtaking view, there is the New York Bar. Famous for being the key setting in Sofia Coppola's film "Lost in Translation", it remains a draw for those in the know.

The New York Bar, high up on the 52nd floor of the magnificent Park Hyatt hotel, offers an experience that awakens all the senses in a trendy, "jazzy" atmosphere.

Take your time trying the cocktails, depending on the occasion for your visit.

And what about the view? Impressive, of course! Our Tokyo travel tip: the seats near the huge bay windows are the most popular. You should arrive early enough not to miss the sunset!

Address: PARK HYATT TOKYO 3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, 163-1055

Fans of Hayao Miyazaki's animated films, young and old alike, immerse themselves in this dreamy, aesthetic universe by visiting the Ghibli Museum.

Whether you want to relive lovely moments, buy plenty of original gifts, or simply have fun in wonderful surroundings, the Ghibli Museum absolutely must not be missed!

What is more, the museum has kept pace with the studio's new productions and also puts on excellent temporary exhibitions.

Another of our Tokyo secrets on the subject: combine the museum with a walk! The route there is very pleasant, because if you get off at Kichijoji Station, you walk through the heart of Inokashira Park. Otherwise, you can always take the famous "neko bus" (the catbus seen in "My Neighbour Totoro") from Mitaka Station! (Do note, though, that a reservation is required.)

Access: In Mitaka Inokashira Park. At Mitaka Station take the JR Chuo Line. About 20 minutes from Shinjuku Station. From the south exit of Mitaka it is about a 15-minute walk along the Tamagawa Josui "waterworks".

At Tokyu Hands, whether the Shibuya (Tokyo) or Yokohama branch, you will find everything you could wish for across more than 15 floors.

From furniture and kitchen accessories to travel gear, bicycles, cosmetics, models and even magic tricks – it is all here!

And for any traveller who loves stationery and creative arts: you will be delighted. Kiddy Land is for children and adults alike! Here you will find the entire Disney and Sanrio universe (including Hello Kitty), as well as Star Wars and Harry Potter merchandise not available back home.

Beyond the originality of their concept, Tokyu Hands and Kiddy Land are also perfect places for last-minute gifts!

Tokyu Hands: Address: 12-18 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Access: a 5-minute walk from the Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station.

Kiddy Land: Address: 6 Chome-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001. Access: Meiji-jingumae "Harajuku" Station.

A note for video game and arcade fans: the SEGA clubs await you!

You may already know them, but in short, the SEGA Corporation is a Japanese company that develops and publishes video games as well as making kiosks and arcade systems. The SEGA clubs are therefore huge amusement arcades, usually open until one in the morning.

Alongside role-playing and racing games, there is also a 3rd floor devoted entirely to Purikura, the fun Japanese photo booths. Just the place for original, colourful keepsake photos!

Visit the area devoted to the world of gaming: Akihabara. There you will find several SEGA clubs, but the main one is on Chuo Dori. You cannot miss it, with its large red front and six floors!

Near Tokyo lies Japan's second-largest city, Yokohama. Once there, do not hesitate to visit the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum to learn all about the famous Japanese noodles known as "ramen".

As soon as you step into the museum, you find yourself on a journey through time. You will indeed enter a district completely redesigned to reflect the way things looked in early 20th-century Tokyo!

You can move around freely and, of course, take a seat in one of the many ramen restaurants.

In just a few hours you can try as many different ramen as you like – or rather, as many as your stomach can hold!

Most regions are represented here, and each has its own specialities. It is best to choose smaller portions to make the most of your meal. Vegetarian dishes are also available.

Our tip: however full you are, do not hesitate to try the biscuits and sweets from the old confectionery on the spot (or to take some away for later).

If you are anything like our Japaventura team, you will now have an incredible urge to explore Tokyo – all the well-known sights, of course, but also a few of the insider tips we have shared with you here!

Happily, almost all of our Japan itineraries pass through the capital. Come with us, and we will show you Japan at its most authentic and beautiful!