Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa
Retro revival: Shimokitazawa

What you'll do

Head for the hipster heart of alternative Tokyo, where tiny streets burst with trendy vendors all manner of retro finds. You could shop till you drop at vintage shops like Garage Department Store, which stocks all kinds of funk, or you could sift through mountains of old CDs at Flash Disk, where the only school is old-school. If you’re hungry, you could choose from jazzy joints like City Country City, where good music meets even better coffee, or swap out for a cocktail at Shimokitazawa Mother, where Gaudi-esque decoration compliments fine Okinawan cuisine. And you’ll be thankful for your host’s insider knowledge when it comes to the chaos and creativity of Shimokitazawa Cage, an outdoor arts and food venue popular with Tokyo’s cool kids.

Where you’ll go

Enter the heart of Tokyo’s cultural scene in bohemian Shimokitazawa, one of west Tokyo’s trendy neighborhoods, where live music and hippie vibes rule daily life. With your host by your side, you’ll get the chance to discover this maze of eccentric art, indie music and hipster fashion, while taking in a very different Tokyo to the one you would have imagined. Take part in the lively coffee culture of Shimokita, as the locals call it, or go thrift shopping in the area’s best vintage stores. Explore the hustle and bustle around the local station, where locals gather to enjoy the slow life, or wait for the sun to go down and jam to a local band with a hot bowl of soba noodles in one hand, and some smooth sake in the other.

  • Private & 100% personalized tour

  • 3 hours

  • Matched to your ideal host

  • Walking Tour

  • Hosted in English (On request: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish)

  • Meet at your accommodation or a central location

Experience outline

  • Explore one of Tokyo’s trendiest neighborhoods with a helpful host along for the ride.
  • See a very different side of Tokyo, where art and music are all important aspects of life.
  • Navigate the area’s maze of streets, lined with quirky galleries and tasteful vintage stores.
  • Catch a break - or a wakeup - at one of Shimokita’s many popular coffee shops.
  • Immerse yourself in the vibrant live music scene, and jam to some good tunes.

Things to know

What’s included

  • Private & personalized experience
  • 3 hours with a host
  • A coffee or non-alcoholic drink at one of the neighborhood’s quirky bars or coffee shops
  • Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
  • Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

What’s not included

  • Additional food and drinks
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Transportation costs
  • Gratuities (optional)

Cancellation

  • Cancel 14 days before the experience for a full refund
  • COVID-19 Flexible Policy: you can cancel for free up to a day before the experience and receive a full refund.

Photos taken by our hosts and guests

City Unscripted guests photos

Reviews

    I would just like to pass along a very high recommendation for Marie, my guide for a recent tour (Explore the Bohemian Shimokitazawa Neighbourhood) on September 22. Of all the tours I took during my time in Tokyo, hers was the best, especially in terms of her professionalism. She was very proactive in contacting me beforehand to confirm tour details, meeting place and contact details. She put in a lot of effort to ascertain my interests and then tailored the tour to them. She was very personable and well-informed, and recommended other sites in Tokyo for me to explore, which I did (e.g., Harajuku). I have already recommended Sara to friends in Melbourne, and I would have no hesitation in giving her the highest recommendation to others who wanted a unique tour of Tokyo. Best regards, Dennis

    October 2019

    Dennis H

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Meet our local hosts in Tokyo. One of them will tailor this experience to your wishes!

We’ll expertly match you to your best suited host based on your interests, personality and the experience vibe you’re after.

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