1. Tsukiji Outer Market: Get there early (6-6:30 AM) and go on weekdays. And also avoid the tourist trap shops (*cough* Tamagoyaki) 2. Ameyoko - Arrive either 9 AM or 5-6 PM ish on Weekday 3. Nakamise - Asakusa - Avoid at all cost if you only have weekend. Go to the Shrine at 7PM ish 4. Harajuku - just go once, and never come back. Total tourist trap, especially with all the folks selling caps and stuff 5. Shin Okubo - DON’T EVER THINK OF COMING HERE ON WEEKEND
Thanks for the detailed info! Would you elaborate on why to avoid tamagoyaki? Price? Where would it be better to get? And maybe other places you may suggest to visit? Thanks! :)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a video on what to do on the weekends in Tokyo! It seems like in all of your video's you say to go to a place during the week for fewer crowds, but then what should my friends and I do on the weekend's when we go (hopefully sometime in the next year)?
The camera you used really helped to put the crowd into perspective. Your videos are so nice and imformative, I cant wait to go to Japan one day. When I do I'll probably be binge watching these on the plane lol
Thank you for all your videos. Currently here in Tokyo spending a week and a half here with my family. We covered a lot of ground in 3 days because of your wonderful videos. Cant thank you enough!
Thanks for the videos!! You rule. Came into Tokyo with my family for a long weekend from Los Angeles.. stayed in Asakusa at the Richmond... Really loved the temple early in the morning before everyone was even up . And all the backstreets were great for street food and was sent easy to walk around even on the weekend...so many of your videos were great... Went to a ramen place to mentioned in Shibuya. I'm still watching your videos and learning so much... And the best thing is everyone in the family loved them all ages... thanks!!
When I went back to Japan last year, my Airbnb was just down the street from Shin-Okubo station. So yeah, I can absolutely attest to it being insanely packed!
Hey dude, I am a 15 year old American and I absolutely love your videos man! I totally want to meet up with you someday when I go to Japan. I want to travel Asia when I grow up and I love studying japan in specific. You inform me and help me understand more and more about Japan and I am buying your merch soon !
Gonna do my first solo Japan trip on June and your videos are helping me a lot because I don’t really know where to go and what to do lol! Hope I bump into you when I get there! :) your videos are amazing!
Your videos are always so helpful, I'll make sure to check out your hidden place videos as well. Omg I died laughing at that statement, "Shinokubo is my number one stay the hell away", hahhahaha.
I haaattteeed Shin Okubo when I went (during the golden week) not because the area suck but because it was so busy. All the shop were so packed, I couldn't even shop because it took almost half an hour to get from one side of the store to the other. Plus the queue for paying and food were sooooo long, it wasn't worth it. It's definitely one of those area you need to visit on weird hours. Takeshita-dori street was definitely manageable using Paolo's tip. The day I went, it was so busy that everyone was shoulder to shoulder and the mass just pull you along. I ended up going into the back street and cut across whenever the store I need was coming up.
I am going to be in Tokyo during golden week. That will be an interesting experience 😁 I am already planning a bit to avoid the most crowded spots and longest lines!
shin okubo station is toooooo small. no escalater, no elevator (now under construction), only one platform, only one exit, narrow street, and even no squares in front of exit. this is not typical in tokyo. why only shin okubo is so small??????? oftentimes i can't use this station for crowdness and walk to shinjuku station.
Last time I visited Japan was totally not thinking and ended up in Harajuku on a Saturday afternoon...not the best experience. But on the bright side, going down the varioua sidestreets and alleys I found a great Yakitori place.
Im going to Japan in a couple month and sooo excited!! i love watching videos like these but just can't wait to just get lost in japan and find something fun to do.
That 360 camera made a BIG impact! You can really get a feel for the amount of people and layout of the streets with that footage. Thanks for all of these helpful videos! I'm planning a trip for a few weeks from now and I'm trying to get as much info as I can to make it run smoothly.
Just came back from a 2 weeks vacation in Japan and it was AWESOME!!! Though, most of the places we visited are truly busy but we still manage to enjoy the experience and been to many places plus the people are very nice and friendly.
When I was in Tokyo in November, I visited both Nakamise and Takeshita dori. I think I got to Takeshita dori at a good time of the day because it wasn't too bad but Nakamise was SO BUSY. After seeing them at numbers 2 and 3, I thought "what on Earth is number 1?" Shin Okubo, while I personally didn't go there, easily makes the most sense. I can only imagine how bad it gets.
Very helpful warning for someone not so keen on crowds. I find that Tokyo has something to offer in every neighborhood. I would simply avoid the crowded areas altogether. You can find lots to do in any neighborhood in Tokyo.
Yeah Shin-Okubo is super busy but it didn't stop me to go there often. My tips is to go there during daytime on a workday, where most people are working or at school. When it comes to Asakusa (my old neighborhood) is to go on the side streets. If you know where you want to go, take a detour on the side streets and you will still arrive faster than trying to go through the ocean of people.
First time we went to Harajuku was on a weekday, so we got to enjoy walking through Takeshita-dori. Even got to check out a good number of shops. When we went back on a Saturday though, boy was it crowded! Can't even tell which part we're in because of the thick crowds. If only we weren't there to buy something for a friend, would definitely stay away on a Saturday! Asakusa was nice as well. We enjoyed browsing through the shops along Nakamise-dori. Saw from friends' photos that it was super crowded when they went on a weekend. But on a weekday, it was really enjoyable. Hope to be back in Tokyo some time this year. There are still a lot of places I want to see. :) Thanks for this, Paolo! Your videos have always been helpful!
I 100% agree with your trip regarding Asakusa. When I was in Tokyo last November we stayed at a hotel near the area. It was so peaceful walking around at night, but the daytime was crazy!
Totally agree with the tip about Harujuku. We had a lot more fun on the side streets and hit up some great vintage shops without the stress of being on the Main Street.
These camera angles were so dope!!! I'm not going to lie since I live in Texas when I've traveled to Tokyo I sometimes enjoy the crowds of people. (except in the subway that was cool the first couple of times and got old fast lol)
Thank you so much for ALL of your videos. I'm going to Japan with my brother this coming October and all your videos are helping a lot. We cant speak Japanese but we are going to try many of the places you recommended. Thank you!!
We went to 3 of the places mentioned in the summer of 2019. 1. Harajuku was extremely busy! So you’re right on that, and it was a weekend lol! 2. Sensoji- we saved this for the end of the day so it was empty when we went, which was nice, but we didn’t see the shops at all. 3. Tsukiji fish market- we made the mistake of going on Sunday, as barely anything was open. Still had some good squid tho! Great video! Can’t wait to go back!
I'm literally staying at an airbnb in shin Okubo for my two week stay in Japan. I wished I knew this was a tourist trap! So hard to exit the Jr stop! Love your videos! I've used them for my travel thus far
It depends on where you're going... but I mean, you can use other stations. Higashi-Shinjuku isn't that far, depending on where you are exactly. Okubo is probably still a bit impacted.
Interesting perspective with the new 360 camera, especially with the long selfie stick taking you to street sign height. That is kinda cool though how the straight down view removes the selfie stick.
Thanks again for an great video!!! Your channel has become my Saturday morning ritual....btw, love your video shots this video..especially the insta360 footage!!
Super helpful I’m going to Tokyo in April I will definitely checkout the temple around sunset instead. Temple and then dinner that sounds like a lovely evening ☺️
Most of the crowds can be avoided or will be more smaller for most of these places if you go during the weekdays. Monday to Thursday. Sometimes Fridays are a little busy too I think. Makes it hard if you want to do sightseeing in the weekends because no matter where you go there are a lot of people.
Haha we stayed at a place in Shin Okubo and it was great. We loved the location. I was busy but didn't feel anymore busy then other spots in Tokyo, just kind of fits the whole Tokyo craziness. There are some great street food and bars in that area.
Last spring when my cousin and I came to Takeshita Dori, the street was so packed with humans that we just skipped it altogether! I'm quite surprised the Shibuya and Shinjuku area weren't included, but I guess they aren't as crowded compared to the ones you mentioned. Great tips as always!
Hey @paolo from tokyo! im a japan fan and a fan of your videos. Thanks for the videos. Do you have a video on the best thrift shops in Japan? Maybe that can be showcased? Thanks!
We're going to in Tokyo in 10 days! 2 adults and a toddler. Unfortunately the way our schedule works we only have Saturday to see Harajuku. So our plan is to arrive at Meiji shrine around 7am, hang around till 8, catch a leisurely breakfast in Harajuku, walk around until things open at 10, hit our top spots, and then get the hell outta dodge.
Omg, I remember staying at the 9h capsule hotel in Shin-Okubo and even on a Monday, I remembered it just being ridiculously crowded. I’m from the Bay Area of CA and even I thought it was ridiculous how packed that place gets. Thanks for the vid! I definitely agree with all of those places you mentioned being a tourist trap.
Paolo, me and my boyfriend are going to tokyo this August, I watched all your videos and I am so excited to try some of the street food you recommended.
@@kels96 I recommend 70 USD/day+lodging+ flight + long-distance trains. (Since hostels and such run ~30, I count it as a flat 100 including lodging for me) Particularly if you go on a shorter trip where things may not average out, having 200 USD buffer is probably a good idea. Additionally, Japan is definitely a place where there are cheap things and there are expensive things. While 70 USD/day is good for having lots of fun and eating lots of good food, if you want to repeatedly go to Michelin star restaurants, shop at fancy boutiques, buy out the Pokemon store, or go to several days of stuff like Disney, you need to boost it accordingly. Conversely, if you like parks, shrines, museums, and such, 70 USD/day is probably high. Again, this 70 USD/day includes short range transportation, wi-fi, food, tickets, attractions and splurging, and NOT lodging, flight or long-distance travel.
@@redfish337 ah yes I see! I'm going in September during the rugby world cup so I suspect it will be busy but we plan to have 5k ($NZD) for 8 days. Hopefully that will be enough and I'm so excited!!!
Hey there - Great video! I’ve been to Okubo on Sunday nights and I found it is manageable. Was surprised to see that that it was #1 on your list - crazy!
Thanks for the tips Paolo! I'm going to Japan next July with my family and we will be to all these spots BUT now at the better time of the day...I hope!
I'm going to Asakusa and Harajuku nxt month so this was helpful. I'm going to Harajuku on a Saturday though as I heard thatt there will be cosplayers on the weekends.
Wandering all these areas at a busy time on a rainy day is also pretty bad. What little space is vacated by the slightly fewer people avoiding bad weather, is immediately filled with a parade of umbrellas, bumping & clashing for space down the narrow alleyways.
Thanks for another great video! 🙏 I don’t think there’s a quiet time in Tokyo. Last there in September/October 2017. Was so busy but I still love the vibes
I am a Sri Lankan and I am living in Shin Okubo now.Yes I totally agree with you.It you come around 11 a.m.-3p.m. You will be in a mess.It is too busy and too crowed.But I love Shin Okubo.
This was super helpful, especially about Asakusa. I'm planning a trip with some friends, and they wanted to go there to get souvenirs, but after hearing this, NOOOO THANKS. Do you recommend anyplace else in Tokyo that's good for souvenirs (for home and the office)?
Just go some other day of the week. And even then the crowd is almost all Nakamise Street. It's a whole district. Just like most attractions there, the tourists all seem to shed off within 1-2 streets.
BTW, you may want to spend part of a day going to Yanesen area (Yanaka/Nezu/Sendagi). Stuff like Yanaka Ginza. Even though it's pretty much the only major area that's been relatively untouched by disaster and war, it's bypassed by most foreign tourists. There's a little more of the mid-range crafted stuff and such in that area.
Great Tips Paolo !i know asakusa is crowded but i keep on going back for the Melon pan .😄. Thanks for the advise though,at least now I know where not to take my husband (super super crowded ).🤔
I was on tour and was playing a show in Tokyo when I got stuck in Shin-Okubo station on my way to the venue. Felt like a nightmare, like when you want to run but everything moves in slow motion, haha!
Hey Paolo, can you please do a video on Yokohama? For Yokohama itself and also maybe Yokohama Chinatown. I am going to Kamakura and Tokyo soon and your videos have been incredibly helpful. I will be going to Yokohama too. It would be great if you can do one or two for Yokohama too. Thanks for all your great videos!
I went to Harajuku in '08(and again 9 years later). It was funny to be in this sea of people on Takeshita(sp?) street. But I'm a Minnesota State Fair veteran, so super-crowds are okay by me.
Takeshita dori was insanely busy! good to see the videos showing the crowds, helps to prepare before visiting, although we still went at the weekend! hahahha! take paolos advice. 🙄
Paolo, please make videos explaining what are the main ingredients you can expect for a certain type of food, what options are available in a particular restaurant (e.g. at a kaiten sushi) for people that is picky and is afraid of trying anything that looks strange, especially whatever requires to acquire a taste. Like "if you try this fish, it will have a soft taste, and this other fish is harder to chew; stay away of wasabi if you're not into spicy things, etc." Japanese food is sometimes very intimidating. I went to Japan three years ago and into a kaiten shushi but didn't dare to try most of the dishes because I didn't know what they were. I ended up picking up only whatever was passing by in the belt that didn't look menacing (and I've made some bad choices anyway). Same thing for those ramen restaurants with all the japanese names hanging from the wall. Will all of them have seaweed? Will the meat have chunks of grease attached? For instance, I don't eat the inner parts of the chicken, only the white meat, not shrimp, or oysters, or too spicy; how can I order food and be confident it's not something that will shock me? Your food reviews are funny and inspiring, but you seem to be a person that will eat anything with courage! I'll return to Japan in April this year, and this time with my daughter (15). She is picky too! Anyway, thanks for your videos!!
@@kryn1030 I hardly ever eat fish in Japan. It's... not actually THAT common. Take the older generations and the fish for breakfast crowd out of the equation and I'm pretty sure pork and chicken lead.
Shin-okubo is madness, they need to fix that station up urgently. I have never been to a place that PACKED during the normal day. But I still loved it.
Currently staying at a hotel near Shin Okubo and you're completely right, it seems fine during weekdays before 5pm but anytime during the weekend or after 5pm it's just horrible 🤣
Great video, as usual! Just one point though, a "tourist trap" refers to a place that rips people off through charging higher prices than normal to tourists. I'm not sure that's really true of these places.
I was able to go in 2017 to the original spot. We went in the morning at around 7am found a local fish shop with all local workers ate tons of fresh sushi each was about a dollar huge steal!
On our trip to Japan in 2019, we decided to go to Harajuku. We did see some cool things on the side streets, as well as get some very rich monster ice cream that I couldn't finish. But, after taking one look at Takeshita Street, we basically said, "Nope!" and went across the street to the temple/shrine there. SO MUCH better. It didn't seem worth it to try to get through that crowd.
HI Paolo, Can you please do a video about where you'd recommend to go on the weekends? Since you recommended avoiding most of these busy tourist areas on the weekend if possible. Thanks!
I just returned to Australia from Japan. My hotel in tokyo was in the shinjuku Kabukicho area and my first day of walking around was from the station walking through shin okubo with my luggage around on the Saturday. Worst mistake of my life. The sidewalk already filled with people lining up or squeezing through gaps imagine pushing a luggage through that crowd squished like canned sardines
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1. Tsukiji Outer Market: Get there early (6-6:30 AM) and go on weekdays. And also avoid the tourist trap shops (*cough* Tamagoyaki)
2. Ameyoko - Arrive either 9 AM or 5-6 PM ish on Weekday
3. Nakamise - Asakusa - Avoid at all cost if you only have weekend. Go to the Shrine at 7PM ish
4. Harajuku - just go once, and never come back. Total tourist trap, especially with all the folks selling caps and stuff
5. Shin Okubo - DON’T EVER THINK OF COMING HERE ON WEEKEND
Thanks for the detailed info! Would you elaborate on why to avoid tamagoyaki? Price? Where would it be better to get? And maybe other places you may suggest to visit? Thanks! :)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a video on what to do on the weekends in Tokyo! It seems like in all of your video's you say to go to a place during the week for fewer crowds, but then what should my friends and I do on the weekend's when we go (hopefully sometime in the next year)?
go to an other city ...
get on a train and go somewhere else lol
The camera you used really helped to put the crowd into perspective. Your videos are so nice and imformative, I cant wait to go to Japan one day. When I do I'll probably be binge watching these on the plane lol
Haha, i thought you flew a drone in shibuya. Then saw your really long, long, long.... Long selfie stick. Nice vid guys.
Thank you for all your videos. Currently here in Tokyo spending a week and a half here with my family. We covered a lot of ground in 3 days because of your wonderful videos. Cant thank you enough!
Thanks for the videos!! You rule. Came into Tokyo with my family for a long weekend from Los Angeles.. stayed in Asakusa at the Richmond... Really loved the temple early in the morning before everyone was even up . And all the backstreets were great for street food and was sent easy to walk around even on the weekend...so many of your videos were great... Went to a ramen place to mentioned in Shibuya. I'm still watching your videos and learning so much... And the best thing is everyone in the family loved them all ages... thanks!!
Will be staying at the Richmond and thanks for the early rise tip. Hoping the breakfast is available early too.
When I went back to Japan last year, my Airbnb was just down the street from Shin-Okubo station. So yeah, I can absolutely attest to it being insanely packed!
yeah...it's way too crazy on the weekends.
Hey dude, I am a 15 year old American and I absolutely love your videos man! I totally want to meet up with you someday when I go to Japan. I want to travel Asia when I grow up and I love studying japan in specific. You inform me and help me understand more and more about Japan and I am buying your merch soon !
Bryce Parker you are totally like me but i want to travel solo cause it’s better and you can plan your trip and im 15 tooo😆
Gonna do my first solo Japan trip on June and your videos are helping me a lot because I don’t really know where to go and what to do lol! Hope I bump into you when I get there! :) your videos are amazing!
Your videos are always so helpful, I'll make sure to check out your hidden place videos as well. Omg I died laughing at that statement, "Shinokubo is my number one stay the hell away", hahhahaha.
I haaattteeed Shin Okubo when I went (during the golden week) not because the area suck but because it was so busy. All the shop were so packed, I couldn't even shop because it took almost half an hour to get from one side of the store to the other. Plus the queue for paying and food were sooooo long, it wasn't worth it. It's definitely one of those area you need to visit on weird hours.
Takeshita-dori street was definitely manageable using Paolo's tip. The day I went, it was so busy that everyone was shoulder to shoulder and the mass just pull you along. I ended up going into the back street and cut across whenever the store I need was coming up.
Yeah, that's right. Shin-Okubo is a no-go for me on the weekends. Thanks for sharing.
I am going to be in Tokyo during golden week. That will be an interesting experience 😁 I am already planning a bit to avoid the most crowded spots and longest lines!
How was Tokyo during golden week otherwise? Any tips?
shin okubo station is toooooo small. no escalater, no elevator (now under construction), only one platform, only one exit, narrow street, and even no squares in front of exit.
this is not typical in tokyo. why only shin okubo is so small???????
oftentimes i can't use this station for crowdness and walk to shinjuku station.
Last time I visited Japan was totally not thinking and ended up in Harajuku on a Saturday afternoon...not the best experience. But on the bright side, going down the varioua sidestreets and alleys I found a great Yakitori place.
Love the video with the 360 camera !!
Im going to Japan in a couple month and sooo excited!! i love watching videos like these but just can't wait to just get lost in japan and find something fun to do.
Perfect! Can't thank-you enough for all of the tips, you've made planning a trip to Tokyo so much easier!
That 360 camera made a BIG impact! You can really get a feel for the amount of people and layout of the streets with that footage. Thanks for all of these helpful videos! I'm planning a trip for a few weeks from now and I'm trying to get as much info as I can to make it run smoothly.
Just came back from a 2 weeks vacation in Japan and it was AWESOME!!! Though, most of the places we visited are truly busy but we still manage to enjoy the experience and been to many places plus the people are very nice and friendly.
When I was in Tokyo in November, I visited both Nakamise and Takeshita dori. I think I got to Takeshita dori at a good time of the day because it wasn't too bad but Nakamise was SO BUSY. After seeing them at numbers 2 and 3, I thought "what on Earth is number 1?" Shin Okubo, while I personally didn't go there, easily makes the most sense. I can only imagine how bad it gets.
Thanks for that info mate! Me and the wife are going there in a few weeks for the first time, so we'll factor your tips in with our plans.
Very helpful warning for someone not so keen on crowds. I find that Tokyo has something to offer in every neighborhood. I would simply avoid the crowded areas altogether. You can find lots to do in any neighborhood in Tokyo.
Yeah Shin-Okubo is super busy but it didn't stop me to go there often. My tips is to go there during daytime on a workday, where most people are working or at school.
When it comes to Asakusa (my old neighborhood) is to go on the side streets. If you know where you want to go, take a detour on the side streets and you will still arrive faster than trying to go through the ocean of people.
First time we went to Harajuku was on a weekday, so we got to enjoy walking through Takeshita-dori. Even got to check out a good number of shops. When we went back on a Saturday though, boy was it crowded! Can't even tell which part we're in because of the thick crowds. If only we weren't there to buy something for a friend, would definitely stay away on a Saturday!
Asakusa was nice as well. We enjoyed browsing through the shops along Nakamise-dori. Saw from friends' photos that it was super crowded when they went on a weekend. But on a weekday, it was really enjoyable.
Hope to be back in Tokyo some time this year. There are still a lot of places I want to see. :) Thanks for this, Paolo! Your videos have always been helpful!
I 100% agree with your trip regarding Asakusa. When I was in Tokyo last November we stayed at a hotel near the area. It was so peaceful walking around at night, but the daytime was crazy!
Totally agree with the tip about Harujuku. We had a lot more fun on the side streets and hit up some great vintage shops without the stress of being on the Main Street.
These camera angles were so dope!!! I'm not going to lie since I live in Texas when I've traveled to Tokyo I sometimes enjoy the crowds of people. (except in the subway that was cool the first couple of times and got old fast lol)
Thank you so much for ALL of your videos. I'm going to Japan with my brother this coming October and all your videos are helping a lot. We cant speak Japanese but we are going to try many of the places you recommended. Thank you!!
I’ve stayed in asakusa every single time I’ve gone to Japan and I’ve NEVER seen it THAT busy. Literally I stay there bc it’s been so peaceful
We went to 3 of the places mentioned in the summer of 2019.
1. Harajuku was extremely busy! So you’re right on that, and it was a weekend lol!
2. Sensoji- we saved this for the end of the day so it was empty when we went, which was nice, but we didn’t see the shops at all.
3. Tsukiji fish market- we made the mistake of going on Sunday, as barely anything was open. Still had some good squid tho!
Great video! Can’t wait to go back!
Great info Paolo. It just ended and I’m wanting more. Please! Keep up the good work.
I'm literally staying at an airbnb in shin Okubo for my two week stay in Japan. I wished I knew this was a tourist trap! So hard to exit the Jr stop! Love your videos! I've used them for my travel thus far
It depends on where you're going... but I mean, you can use other stations. Higashi-Shinjuku isn't that far, depending on where you are exactly. Okubo is probably still a bit impacted.
Interesting perspective with the new 360 camera, especially with the long selfie stick taking you to street sign height. That is kinda cool though how the straight down view removes the selfie stick.
Flying to Tokyo this summer. Your videos are amazing. Will definitely check out all your recommendations especially restaurants.
That's a pretty cool view from your 360 camera. Thanks for the always helpful videos!
Thanks again for an great video!!! Your channel has become my Saturday morning ritual....btw, love your video shots this video..especially the insta360 footage!!
Super helpful I’m going to Tokyo in April I will definitely checkout the temple around sunset instead. Temple and then dinner that sounds like a lovely evening ☺️
Most of the crowds can be avoided or will be more smaller for most of these places if you go during the weekdays. Monday to Thursday. Sometimes Fridays are a little busy too I think. Makes it hard if you want to do sightseeing in the weekends because no matter where you go there are a lot of people.
Very useful video Paolo! Hope you and Maiko had the best time in Vietnam!!
Thanks Connor Taylor!
Haha we stayed at a place in Shin Okubo and it was great. We loved the location. I was busy but didn't feel anymore busy then other spots in Tokyo, just kind of fits the whole Tokyo craziness. There are some great street food and bars in that area.
"My ultimate 'stay the hell away on the weekend' spot" 😂😂
Man, Takeshita dori is sooo packed nowadays. I’ve been coming to Tokyo for 19 years now and it’s definitely become a tourist trap!
Love the tips! If it’s this busy now, I can’t imagine what it will be like during the Olympics! 😬
Sounds like visit Tokyo during the week and hit the countryside on the weekends. Sounds like a plan!
Thanks for these great tips and great videos!
Last spring when my cousin and I came to Takeshita Dori, the street was so packed with humans that we just skipped it altogether! I'm quite surprised the Shibuya and Shinjuku area weren't included, but I guess they aren't as crowded compared to the ones you mentioned. Great tips as always!
Hey @paolo from tokyo! im a japan fan and a fan of your videos. Thanks for the videos. Do you have a video on the best thrift shops in Japan? Maybe that can be showcased? Thanks!
We're going to in Tokyo in 10 days! 2 adults and a toddler. Unfortunately the way our schedule works we only have Saturday to see Harajuku. So our plan is to arrive at Meiji shrine around 7am, hang around till 8, catch a leisurely breakfast in Harajuku, walk around until things open at 10, hit our top spots, and then get the hell outta dodge.
Omg, I remember staying at the 9h capsule hotel in Shin-Okubo and even on a Monday, I remembered it just being ridiculously crowded. I’m from the Bay Area of CA and even I thought it was ridiculous how packed that place gets. Thanks for the vid! I definitely agree with all of those places you mentioned being a tourist trap.
Paolo, me and my boyfriend are going to tokyo this August, I watched all your videos and I am so excited to try some of the street food you recommended.
Those 360 camera shots look so good and very stable too!
Thanks for the video and have a great weekend guys! ^_____^
I never get tired with this Country ❤Japan
Super helpful! I hate crowds so I'll follow your tips!
So useful! I watched all your videos pretty much when I planned my Japan trip!
Helpful info thank you.
I was at Tsukiji 2 days ago (Thursday) around 8:30am. It wasn't crowded and 1 or 2 stores haven't opened up yet at that time.
thanks for the tips! my husband and I are going to Tokyo in 3 weeks. Your videos are so helpfull!!
Nice new camera angles 👍🙂
Yay! A new Paolo video! $1,500 away from my goal and payday is coming up. Thanks for another informative video.
what's your budget? I'm saving up as well
Yeah what's your budget and how long are you going for??
1,200 -1,500 will cover round trip flight and hotel for a week.
@@kels96 I recommend 70 USD/day+lodging+ flight + long-distance trains. (Since hostels and such run ~30, I count it as a flat 100 including lodging for me)
Particularly if you go on a shorter trip where things may not average out, having 200 USD buffer is probably a good idea. Additionally, Japan is definitely a place where there are cheap things and there are expensive things. While 70 USD/day is good for having lots of fun and eating lots of good food, if you want to repeatedly go to Michelin star restaurants, shop at fancy boutiques, buy out the Pokemon store, or go to several days of stuff like Disney, you need to boost it accordingly.
Conversely, if you like parks, shrines, museums, and such, 70 USD/day is probably high. Again, this 70 USD/day includes short range transportation, wi-fi, food, tickets, attractions and splurging, and NOT lodging, flight or long-distance travel.
@@redfish337 ah yes I see! I'm going in September during the rugby world cup so I suspect it will be busy but we plan to have 5k ($NZD) for 8 days. Hopefully that will be enough and I'm so excited!!!
Hey there - Great video! I’ve been to Okubo on Sunday nights and I found it is manageable. Was surprised to see that that it was #1 on your list - crazy!
Thanks for the tips Paolo! I'm going to Japan next July with my family and we will be to all these spots BUT now at the better time of the day...I hope!
Thanks for these tips, it will help me with planning itenerary for my future Japan trip!
That's what I wonna see! Thx so much to avoide crowds!
Always thankfull for your tips and tricks
Great info and tips.☺☺
I'm going to Asakusa and Harajuku nxt month so this was helpful. I'm going to Harajuku on a Saturday though as I heard thatt there will be cosplayers on the weekends.
Wandering all these areas at a busy time on a rainy day is also pretty bad. What little space is vacated by the slightly fewer people avoiding bad weather, is immediately filled with a parade of umbrellas, bumping & clashing for space down the narrow alleyways.
I'm going to Japan with my mom this spring break. Hope to see you.
@@lifeintokyo3048 im unfortunately going from march 9th or so, to the 16th or so. So I don't think I'll see the cherry blossoms. :(
@@lifeintokyo3048 thank you.
Thanks for another great video! 🙏 I don’t think there’s a quiet time in Tokyo. Last there in September/October 2017. Was so busy but I still love the vibes
I am a Sri Lankan and I am living in Shin Okubo now.Yes I totally agree with you.It you come around 11 a.m.-3p.m. You will be in a mess.It is too busy and too crowed.But I love Shin Okubo.
This was super helpful, especially about Asakusa. I'm planning a trip with some friends, and they wanted to go there to get souvenirs, but after hearing this, NOOOO THANKS. Do you recommend anyplace else in Tokyo that's good for souvenirs (for home and the office)?
Just go some other day of the week. And even then the crowd is almost all Nakamise Street. It's a whole district. Just like most attractions there, the tourists all seem to shed off within 1-2 streets.
You can go to any Don Quijote shop. They have a good range of souvenirs and other goods ^_^
We visited it last spring and it was fantastic! A little bit crowded, but still it was worth it! Beautiful and very atmospheric
BTW, you may want to spend part of a day going to Yanesen area (Yanaka/Nezu/Sendagi). Stuff like Yanaka Ginza. Even though it's pretty much the only major area that's been relatively untouched by disaster and war, it's bypassed by most foreign tourists. There's a little more of the mid-range crafted stuff and such in that area.
Great and insightful tips and an awesome point of view! 👍⛩️😀
I can especially agree to the number one on your list. VERY busy!! Hard to get through the station near there.
Will be back in Japan in mid March. Can't wait!
Dope camera angle!
This is great info, thank you so much! BTW, love your merch, I get lots of compliments on your shirts, you're awesome!
Great Tips Paolo !i know asakusa is crowded but i keep on going back for the Melon pan .😄. Thanks for the advise though,at least now I know where not to take my husband (super super crowded ).🤔
another great video bro!! cant wait to be in japan in four months!
Thank you😊
I was on tour and was playing a show in Tokyo when I got stuck in Shin-Okubo station on my way to the venue. Felt like a nightmare, like when you want to run but everything moves in slow motion, haha!
Was staying in Shin Okubo in 2014 and I guess that time, Korean wave wasn't that big yet so the crowd was manageable then. Lol
Hey Paolo, can you please do a video on Yokohama? For Yokohama itself and also maybe Yokohama Chinatown. I am going to Kamakura and Tokyo soon and your videos have been incredibly helpful. I will be going to Yokohama too. It would be great if you can do one or two for Yokohama too. Thanks for all your great videos!
I went to Harajuku in '08(and again 9 years later). It was funny to be in this sea of people on Takeshita(sp?) street. But I'm a Minnesota State Fair veteran, so super-crowds are okay by me.
Takeshita dori was insanely busy! good to see the videos showing the crowds, helps to prepare before visiting, although we still went at the weekend! hahahha! take paolos advice. 🙄
Gotta love the hoodie 🤣
i went to senso-ji in the early morning (just before 8am) by chance and it was beautiful, no people just me and a few others.
It's also nice at night, as the crowds disappear and they put lights on it until 11pm or something.
Thanks for sharing this. Id give credit for going through all the crowds to make a video for us. Im not a fan of big crowds either
Great video! Thanks for your information, man!
Thanks for this some places get sooo busy it can be no fun at all 😔🇬🇧🏴
Paolo, please make videos explaining what are the main ingredients you can expect for a certain type of food, what options are available in a particular restaurant (e.g. at a kaiten sushi) for people that is picky and is afraid of trying anything that looks strange, especially whatever requires to acquire a taste. Like "if you try this fish, it will have a soft taste, and this other fish is harder to chew; stay away of wasabi if you're not into spicy things, etc." Japanese food is sometimes very intimidating. I went to Japan three years ago and into a kaiten shushi but didn't dare to try most of the dishes because I didn't know what they were. I ended up picking up only whatever was passing by in the belt that didn't look menacing (and I've made some bad choices anyway). Same thing for those ramen restaurants with all the japanese names hanging from the wall. Will all of them have seaweed? Will the meat have chunks of grease attached? For instance, I don't eat the inner parts of the chicken, only the white meat, not shrimp, or oysters, or too spicy; how can I order food and be confident it's not something that will shock me? Your food reviews are funny and inspiring, but you seem to be a person that will eat anything with courage! I'll return to Japan in April this year, and this time with my daughter (15). She is picky too! Anyway, thanks for your videos!!
Good idea! I'll try to do something like that.
As an insanely picky eater I would love this. I'm going in May and I.. well.. I hate fish. So it's going to be a difficult trip.
@@kryn1030 I hardly ever eat fish in Japan. It's... not actually THAT common. Take the older generations and the fish for breakfast crowd out of the equation and I'm pretty sure pork and chicken lead.
Shin-okubo is madness, they need to fix that station up urgently. I have never been to a place that PACKED during the normal day. But I still loved it.
Currently staying at a hotel near Shin Okubo and you're completely right, it seems fine during weekdays before 5pm but anytime during the weekend or after 5pm it's just horrible 🤣
Great video, as usual!
Just one point though, a "tourist trap" refers to a place that rips people off through charging higher prices than normal to tourists. I'm not sure that's really true of these places.
They literally trap you in the train station due to high crowds. If that's not a tourist trap idk what is lol
Thanks for the great tips :)
The scams in Japan are nothing compared to the ones in Europe lol
Yeah Venice had a ton of tourist scams all over the place
OMG for real. I never felt scammed in Tokyo, everything felt reasonable or slightly upcharged. Complete 180 from Paris or Venice.
Omg nothing compared to SE Asia lol the scams are everywhere there. Didn't witness any in Japan
Yep that's the way to do it never travel or leave before weekends that's a long term traveler trip for sure!
I was able to go in 2017 to the original spot. We went in the morning at around 7am found a local fish shop with all local workers ate tons of fresh sushi each was about a dollar huge steal!
On our trip to Japan in 2019, we decided to go to Harajuku. We did see some cool things on the side streets, as well as get some very rich monster ice cream that I couldn't finish. But, after taking one look at Takeshita Street, we basically said, "Nope!" and went across the street to the temple/shrine there. SO MUCH better. It didn't seem worth it to try to get through that crowd.
HI Paolo,
Can you please do a video about where you'd recommend to go on the weekends? Since you recommended avoiding most of these busy tourist areas on the weekend if possible. Thanks!
Sadly I miss going to asakusa every time I go to japan. I'm planning to wander it this time.
Where do you recommend to go during Saturday in the day time?
I just returned to Australia from Japan. My hotel in tokyo was in the shinjuku Kabukicho area and my first day of walking around was from the station walking through shin okubo with my luggage around on the Saturday. Worst mistake of my life. The sidewalk already filled with people lining up or squeezing through gaps imagine pushing a luggage through that crowd squished like canned sardines
Can't stop admiring your hair, Paolo...:-)
Harajuku on a Wednesday perfect, no lines hardly any people specially in the morning