Hidden Gems in Tokyo: How To Get Off the Beaten Path

If you’re a foodie, a stop at the depachika—food halls in the basements of luxury department stores—is a must. They are true temples to food, with rows of gleaming booths selling everything from gourmet groceries to bento boxes and traditional sweets, and a visit to them is a great way of getting an overview of Japanese cuisine.

Though everything is to take away, many of the department stores have rooftops with seating where you can enjoy your finds. However, the beautifully packaged teas and snacks make great gifts, and many stalls offer gift-wrapping.

Insider tip: For deals on prepared food, try visiting right before the store closes. Isetan Shinjuku and Takashimaya Nihonbashi are two popular options.

A parfait with a perfect swirl of whipped cream, a can of beer sweating ice crystals, a bowl of ramen with levitating chopsticks—spend a day in Japan and you’ll notice the detailed food replicas that line many restaurant and café windows.

One of the more unique things to do in Tokyo is to explore Kappabashi Street, also known as Kitchen Town, to see the restaurant supply stores selling these models, known as sampuru. They make a great kitschy souvenir, and you can also find Japanese knives and kitchenware in the area. (Or, you can even take a class to make your own food model.)

Jimbocho is a place for people who love the smell of old books. Known as the city’s book district, a visit here makes for a fun local experience in Tokyo ... and it’s accessible by metro—just get off at Jimbocho Station.

Then, you can spend hours sifting through the stacks of secondhand books, before enjoying a coffee at one of the area’s charming cafés. (Glitch Coffee & Roasters is particularly popular among coffee snobs.) The neighborhood is also home to many curry restaurants if you're seeking a proper meal after all that exploring.

Insider tip: For more contemporary books and magazines, check out Daikanyama T-Site, a stunning outpost of the Tsutaya chain that’s worth visiting for the architecture alone.

Yanaka is often overlooked by first-time visitors to Tokyo, but its wooden buildings and temples offer a gateway to a more traditional side of the city. The area was one of the few parts of Tokyo that wasn’t bombed during World War II, and the preserved buildings stand in sharp contrast to Tokyo’s modern architecture and skyscrapers.

Here, enjoy a slower pace of life and get lost by walking along the area’s winding streets. And while you're at it, keep an eye out for cat-themed souvenirs, snacks, and statues in the area, especially along Yanaka Ginza, the main shopping street.

Insider tip: While you’re in the area, check out neighboring Nezu, too.

Related: How To Experience Old and New Tokyo

When it comes to vintage shopping in Tokyo, many people make a beeline for trendy Shimokitazawa, but the neighborhood can get packed with tourists. Koenji, a more residential area, keeps that creative spirit while offering a more local experience.

Here, you’ll find everything from secondhand clothing shops to record stores and hip bars. The area also used to be a hub for Tokyo’s punk scene and still has a lively underground music tradition. Try checking out a live house—small local venues for live music—if you’re in the area at night.

The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is a must-visit for architecture and history fans. Instead of just reading about what life in Tokyo was like during different eras, you can actually see examples as you walk around the open-air museum.

Many of the preserved and reconstructed buildings are from the Meiji period, and they include private homes, a farmhouse, teahouses, street cars, and more. For a similarly peaceful retreat from the city, try the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, which is dedicated to ceramics and textiles.

Insider tip: Make a pit stop at a konbini, a convenience store, to stock up on snacks to enjoy in the beautiful park surrounding the museum.

Anyone seeking a quiet Tokyo adventure should head to the Shunkaen Bonsai Museum. It takes years to become a bonsai master, and this garden museum was founded by the master Kunio Kobayashi himself.

Some of the trees in the collection are hundreds of years old and, if you’re lucky, you may even get to see the master or apprentices as they work on the trees. Either way, a visit to the museum makes for a wonderful break from the bustling city and you may even feel inspired to make your own bonsai in a workshop after your visit, too.

From origami to kintsugi, there are plenty of art forms that originated in Japan. Aside from visiting a museum, the best way to appreciate the craft and skill it takes to create these objects is to try doing it yourself.

You can learn how to repair broken pottery with gold from a master, fold cranes like a pro, or try traditional woodworking in a chopstick-making class. Meanwhile, comic book fans can learn how to draw manga from a professional artist. Whichever craft you prefer, the workshops are great entry points for learning about local culture.

Japan is famous for its whisky and sake, but it can be overwhelming to navigate the different options on your own. So, enhance your Tokyo cultural exploration by booking a class or tasting with a sommelier early on in your trip.

That way, you’ll know exactly which foods to pair with your drink of choice, as well as the flavor profiles you’re drawn to and how to discern between different brands when shopping for bottles to take home as gifts. (However, if you’re not a sake beginner, a private class may be a better option to tailor the experience to your level.)