The best Tokyo Experience: Where to see the hidden gems only locals know about

Tokyo is a massive city with over 30 million inhabitants that attracts roughly the same amount of tourists each year. With so many people, it can be quite difficult to find the hidden gems off the beaten path. But that’s where your friendly Travel Guy can offer your perfect solution for finding those secret spots only locals know about.

One of those areas in Yanesen, is made up of the three neighborhoods Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi. This is the best area to see the classical “Shitamachi” atmosphere of pre-war Japan, something that is rarely found in Tokyo these days. Think small mom-and-pop shops, traditional wooden houses, ancient shrines, and a beautiful atmosphere that makes you forget that tens of millions share the same Tokyo with you. 

Highlights include the famous Yanaka cemetery which houses famous graves such as the last emperor of Japan, Nezu Shrine, one of Tokyo’s oldest and best-preserved shrines and Yanaka Ginza, a nostalgic “Shoutengai” shopping street with amazing street food and shops away from the big chains and department stores of the city center. 

If you want to travel through time and experience a different Tokyo than everybody else, feel free to have a look at my Yanesen Tokyo Experience!