Blade Runner Vibes • Kichijoji • How to Eat Sushi

Yakitori Alley (Omoide Yokocho)

I always start my Tokyo adventures by going to Yakitori Alley on the first night—and you should too. Save sushi for the next morning. Experience the Blade Runner vibes as you down grilled chicken skewers and ice-cold beer in the tiny restaurants occupying this historic area. 

You are likely to have great conversations with other patrons and proprietors of these establishments simply due to how small most of them are. Some of the restaurants seat 8 or less people. This type of experience doesn’t exist in America. I love Izakayas in general. That’s where you meet Japanese people who have their guard down, are curious about you, and want to share their take on Japan as well.

Kichijoji

If I moved back to Tokyo today, Kichijoji is where I would choose to live. I previously lived in Shimokitazawa (another cool neighborhood in Tokyo). 

What’s so great about Kichijoji? Well, staying here feels like living in Japan. The rhythms are different from the major areas where the big chain hotels are (Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku). You have plenty of shopping, Inokashira Park which has a lake, the Ghibli museum, a zoo, Harmonica Yokocho (similar to Yakitori Alley), tons of restaurants, lots of “live houses” (small bars where live music is played), and a wonderful covered shopping arcade all within walking distance. Kichijoji also has quick and easy access to lots of other places you’ll want to go (Shimokitazawa, Koenji, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Tokyo Station). If you stay in Kichijoji there are several hotels within a 10-minute walk of the station. 

You can easily spend an entire day (or two, or three) just walking around Kichijoji without needing to take a train anywhere else. If you want to experience what it would be like to live in Japan, this is the perfect area to stay in and explore.

Japanese people also love Kichijoji. It has often been ranked as Tokyo’s top place to live.

How to Eat Sushi According to a Master Sushi Chef

There’s a chance you’ve been eating sushi all wrong this whole time. At least according to Japanese standards. Watch this video and save yourself the embarrassment of any cultural faux pas when you are in Japan eating the real deal.