Fall in Love with Tokyo with This Insider’s Guide

Juan Pablo Vieytes, a consultant for an Austrian firm specializing in new technologies in the automotive industry, is a Chilean that has been living in Japan for about 14 years. He arrived first with a scholarship for his undergraduate studies and stayed for two great reasons: his love for Japan and his son.

He has been in Tokyo for 10 years, and currently lives in the Ebisu-Hiro area, which is part of Shibuya district, but more suited for ​”​young adults​”. A place with plenty of options like bars, restaurants and public transportation access. Tokyo is such a big city that it’s imperative to find the neighborhood that better suits your needs in order to make the best out of living in this metropolis.

Juan Pablo has a taste for finding new eateries and fantastic bars with his friends in Tokyo, and trying to mix with the locals by looking for a quiet coffee shop or a popular neighborhood restaurant when traveling. “Although a lot of fun, Tokyo can be a rather stressful city. Therefore when I travel, I try not to think too much about planning and I completely unplug from everything. I just check a few well trusted sources and with tips from friends I try to find the easy to walk areas, the friendly local stores an​d coffee shops, and just relax.”

In your opinion, what kind of city is Tokyo?
A huge, busy city with all the advantages that a metropolis like that can give you, but at the same time safe, clean a​n​d efficient.

What do you like the most about it?
The access to so many things – from the choices on food and their high standards,​to the all the different kind of people. Plus, the fact that is not as expensive as so many people abroad think.

For what kind of traveler is it better suited?
I think it is avery flexible city which can fit different kind of travelers. Since most shops are open until late and also on weekends, it can work well the busy business person that can only explore on weekends or those only passing by ​on transit​ to somewhere else. However, it can also be a place for those with more time and that want to relax, where you can spend endless hours walking through the different neighborhoods.

What’s the best advice you could give to a new visitor?
Go into those restaurants that do not have a menu in ​English and, even better, in darker alleys not so close to the station. You will most likely end up making friends with the regulars and maybe​ even end up in the most fun karaoke night of your life.

This is a two day version of a city guide to enjoy Tokyo as an insider and to get to enjoy the essence of everything Tokyo has to offer:

If you could choose 3 cities you’ve visited, which ones would they be?
In no specific order:
Madrid: the people, the party, the food​, the gin & tonics!​
Istanbul: the general vibe, the views, turkish baths, the people.
Hong Kong: the fact that I keep feeling like I should go back soon (same feeling for Berlin, Budapest and NYC, but somehow stronger for ​ ​HK)

What do you always travel with?
I like traveling light, therefore I try to carry only a small but very flexible suit case. My phone has become more and more my main photo camera, so that is a must. However, I still carry my very reliable compact Nikon. A few japanese travelling goodies are necessary (wet towels, a small set of swiss army kind of tools…) and a weekender bag in case a good friend invites me to the beach or the countryside during my trip.

Here are some Tokyo Snapshots from Juan Pablo’s personal collection:

Have you been to Tokyo before? What did you like the most about it? Let us know in the comments!