5 Hidden Gems In Tokyo

Beer lovers might think of the Ebisu Brewery at first for the place they’d want to visit, but the Suntory Musashino Brewery is also worth seeing! Suntory is a huge company in Japan for beer and whiskey production. From Bubaigawara Station, you can get a free shuttle to the factory, where you can learn all about the brewing process and even smell and taste free samples! Best of all, this hour-long tour of the factory is completely free.

If you mention must-see gardens in Tokyo, most people would likely name Shinjuku Gyoen or the Imperial Palace Gardens first. Hamarikyu Gardens are actually the former imperial gardens and are a lesser-known yet just as beautiful place in which to relax and enjoy nice weather in spring or early summer. The Edo-style layout with the Tokyo skyscraper background is really charming, and a quiet escape in the busy Shimbashi area.

Those who like drinking in Tokyo might suggest Ueno’s busy streets, Shinjuku’s Golden Gai, or Shibuya’s clubs for nightlife. But for a real local experience, spend your time in Ebisu Yokocho. This “yokocho” is lesser known by tourists and well-loved by locals of the charming and underrated Ebisu area, which is reachable on foot from Shibuya. “Yokocho” means “alley” in Japanese and this place is stuffed full of izakaya pubs and eateries. Whether you are looking for beer, Chinese food, yakitori skewered chicken or authentic sake rice wine, Ebisu Yokocho has it! It is a fantastic place to experience Japanese nightlife, which you might find is very different from your home country. This place gets crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, but if you visit on a weekday, you’re in for a great evening of tasting great food and meeting cool people. The yokocho starts to come to life after 5:00 pm and is a good way to finish off your day in Tokyo with a refreshing beer and pub snacks.