Visiting Tokyo again last week was so dope! I spent the majority of my time in the Ueno / Akihabara sections of Tokyo this time, since those areas were new to me. It was a good choice.
Ueno is most well known for its proximity to the massive Ueno Zoological Gardens, and the many museums, gardens and sights within it. But Ueno itself has a lot to offer, which I discovered.
Akihabara is considered a center of otaku and geek culture, with many stores selling toys, collectibles, manga, and electronics. There are also a number of maid cafes located there, which I was interested in checking out.
The coolest thing I did in Tokyo was TeamLabs “Borderless,” one of the best known digital art experiences put on by the TeamLabs folks. I had had just meh experiences with other TeamLabs sites, so I was a little hesitant to visit this one. But several friends encouraged me to give this one a go, and they were so so right.
Words can’t describe how cool the immersive digital art was. These images capture a bit of the magic though.
Another unexpectedly delightful experience was the Small Worlds miniatures museum. Small Worlds i several galleries full of expansive and beautiful dioramas, from a massive space port to a mountain village to a steampunk medieval town, teeming with thousands of miniature people, creatures, and other beings. Each gallery showcased intricately designed scenes and interactions that I found so pleasing. I could have spent hours there.
The Tomix model train showroom was also a lot of fun, although honestly felt a bit sterile compared to the fantastical scenes in Small Worlds. Still, an impressive display of model trains and dioramas.
The best meal I had in Tokyo was the omakase I enjoyed at a very tiny sushi spot in Ueno called Dokorokawa. I actually passed by it four times before realizing I was at the spot. It looks so humble and non descript. Inside was a simple, elegant little room with a long counter with eight seats facing two sushi chefs. Having my own personal chef making me a multi course sushi and sashimi meal was such a treat.
I also went roller skating in Tokyo! I visited the Tokyo Dome rink, home to the local skate community there. Folks were very welcoming, despite the language barrier. It was so hard to skate on those rentals with the chunky toe stops though!
A few other random delights in Tokyo. I can’t get enough of this city.
This train ride on the Ginza-Yonchome line was just magical. My new favorite metro line in Tokyo.
Other random pics from the trip.
