Blog

Guides, routes, and notes from the road. Page 3 of 10.

A modern mid-rise apartment building with a wood-paved entrance on a quiet residential street in Tokyo. Japan

Renting a Monthly Airbnb in Tokyo: How to Find, Book, and Live in One

How to rent a monthly Airbnb in Tokyo: legal listings, the 30-night rule, what a month costs, the passport copy, and what Japanese apartments are like.
The cat statue at the entrance to Ameyoko market street in Ueno, Tokyo, under the red arch sign. Japan

The 16 Best Things to Do in Tokyo (and What to Skip)

The best things to do in Tokyo from a month in Shinjuku: neon nights, Nakameguro, Odaiba sunsets, the big sights, prices, free picks, and what to skip.
Tokyu Kabukicho Tower rising above karaoke signs and shop buildings on a street in Shinjuku, Tokyo, under a clear blue sky. Japan

Staying in Shinjuku: Is It a Good Place to Stay in Tokyo?

Is Shinjuku a good place to stay in Tokyo? We lived there for a month. Which part to book, what we loved, what annoyed us, and who should skip it.
The Godzilla head on top of the Shinjuku Toho Building in Kabukicho, Tokyo, against a blue sky. Japan

The 17 Best Things to Do in Shinjuku, Tokyo

The best things to do in Shinjuku, from the Godzilla head and Golden Gai to a free city view, with costs, hours, and a day-to-night route.
A sunny Kabukicho street in Shinjuku, Tokyo, lined with shop signs, billboards, and tall buildings. Japan

How Many Days in Tokyo? Our 3, 5, 7, and 10-Day Plans

How many days in Tokyo? Our answer after a month there, with 3, 5, 7, and 10-day plans built one area at a time, plus the best day trips.
A pink rose bush in full bloom spilling over a low wall beside a brick sidewalk in Tokyo in May. Japan

10 Things to Do in Tokyo in May (Our Favorite Month)

The best things to do in Tokyo in May: flowers, green parks, Sanja Matsuri, sumo, Pokémon GO Fest, rooftop beer gardens, and how to handle Golden Week.
A wide, tree-lined Tokyo avenue running between office towers on a sunny day, with the red and white Tokyo Tower in the distance. Japan

Where to Stay in Tokyo: The Best Areas for Your First Trip

Where to stay in Tokyo, from a month living in Shinjuku: the best area for a first trip, how Shibuya, Ueno, and Asakusa compare, and who each suits.
Our apartment at unito residence Shinjuku Wakamatsu in Tokyo, with a wood kitchen counter and two gas burners in front of a gray sofa and curtained windows. Japan

unito residence Shinjuku Wakamatsu Review: Our Month in a Tokyo Airbnb

Our unito residence Shinjuku Wakamatsu review after a month in a Tokyo Airbnb. The heated bidet, the nightly bath, the price, and who should book.
The Moon Pine, a pine tree trained into a circle, seen from the red railing of Kiyomizu Kannon-do above the green trees of Ueno Park in Tokyo. Japan

The Best Time to Visit Tokyo

The best time to visit Tokyo, month by month: what May was really like, the rainy season, cherry blossoms, fall leaves, crowds, and the cheapest weeks.
A Shinjuku intersection at night under tall buildings covered in neon signs, with a taxi waiting at the crosswalk, Tokyo. Japan

Shinjuku vs Shibuya: Why We Chose Shinjuku (and Who Should Pick Shibuya)

Shinjuku vs Shibuya: we lived in Shinjuku for a month and spent a full day in Shibuya. Hotel prices, food, nightlife, shopping, and trains, compared.
A wide, tree-lined avenue running between glass skyscrapers in Tokyo, Japan, under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Japan

Is Tokyo Worth Visiting? Our Honest Take After a Month

Is Tokyo worth visiting? Our honest verdict after a month living in Shinjuku, what we loved, what we didn't, and who should wait for a longer trip.
Pedestrians in everyday summer clothes walk down a busy Shibuya shopping street lined with shops, signs, and banners under a bright blue sky. Japan

What to Wear in Tokyo: A Month-by-Month Guide

What to wear in Tokyo in every month, from what we wore living in Shinjuku in May to winter coats, rainy season gear, and walking shoes.