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  • My name is Sam Suzuki.

  • I recently took a trip to Tokyo with my dad.

  • We filmed our journey, and I've put together what I think are the fifteen coolest things

  • you can do and see in Tokyo.

  • Here we go.

  • We finally arrived at Tsukiji Fish Market, so we're gonna head in there, and see what's what

  • Tsukiji is the largest fish market in the world.

  • Its outer market consists of about 330 food stands, restaurants, and retailers.

  • Minced fish, cheese, and wrapped in bacon.

  • Oh wow!

  • It's a soy sauce based ramen.

  • The variety and quality of street food available in the outer market is amazing.

  • Many tourists stand in line for up to three hours to eat a sushi breakfast at particular

  • sushi places, which are good.

  • My recommendation is to save your valuable time and eat at the other food stalls at Tsukiji.

  • This was a popular stand selling massive fresh grilled scallops, shelled and cooked before

  • your eyes.

  • This custard mochi with fresh strawberry was one of the best things I've ever eaten in

  • my life!

  • Alright, we just finished up roaming around the outer market.

  • So now we're gonna head into the inner market to do some more exploring.

  • The inner market is the wholesale area and is closed to tourists until 10 am.

  • By that time most of the wholesalers are cleaning up and preparing to close for the day.

  • Even so, you can still see a stunning variety of seafood on display.

  • Fish head!

  • When visiting after 10 am, be alert of what is happening around you to avoid blocking

  • traffic.

  • Yeah, don't stare into space or bury your face in a book in the middle of traffic at

  • Tsukiji.

  • A couple of other things to keep in mind about Tsukiji.

  • First, the live tuna auction is a cool thing to see, but you'll need to arrive at 4 am

  • or earlier to wait in line for a ticket.

  • So keep that in mind when planning.

  • Second, get here soon.

  • Tsukiji Market is expected to close and move to a new site in the near future.

  • If you're lucky enough to travel to Tokyo soon, be sure to see this one of a kind place

  • while it still exists.

  • No sushi, no life.

  • OH WOW!

  • There's no better place in the world to do karaoke than Tokyo.

  • Many places have costumes available at no extra charge, if you want to get your cosplay

  • on while singing.

  • You need to grab a private mic for next time.

  • That was my first karaoke experience.

  • It was pretty amazing for everyone around that heard me singing at least.

  • Stupid!

  • No, it was super fun.

  • Super fun to sing those songs.

  • Awesome.

  • We may have to come back.

  • That's how fun it was.

  • Karaoke establishments usually open from around 11 am to 3 am the following morning.

  • In the movie Lost in Translation, my dad tells me, this is the same karaoke joint that was

  • ... that they shot the movie there.

  • So, if you're old, FYI.

  • Two of the most popular chains are Big Echo and Karaoke Kan, with locations across Tokyo.

  • Two hours will run you between 8 to 35 dollars, depending on the time of day, plus the cost

  • of food and beverage.

  • Ginza!

  • Ginzaaa!

  • Ginza is Tokyo's most famous upscale shopping, dining and entertainment district.

  • Some of the best department stores in the world are here as well.

  • Don't miss the basement levels called 'depachika,' which feature just about every beautiful and

  • delicious food you can imagine.

  • Those are 54 dollars, for the these grapes.

  • These are 10 dollars each.

  • These Hello Kitty apples are 10 dollars each, almost 11 dollars each.

  • In addition to housing bare-bottom Sanrio characters, Ginza is the home of the Nakagin

  • Capsule Tower.

  • The building was the world's first example of capsule architecture.

  • It was featured recently in the movie The Wolverine, where it is fictitiously depicted

  • as a love hotel.

  • We're at Uniqlo in Ginza to make our final purchases before we head home.

  • No trip to Ginza would be complete without a visit to Uniqlo.

  • The brand has been expanding to the US market, but its flagship store in Ginza has a massive

  • collection of cool t shirts on the top floor.

  • Many are available only at the Ginza location.

  • I love grabbing these t shirts for family and friends, because at 10 to 20 bucks each,

  • these make perfect souvenirs, especially the shirts with Japanese designs and fabrics.

  • Uniqlo, magic for all, bud.

  • I don't even know.

  • I'm trying it.

  • As it turns out, who's the premium boss?

  • Whoever that guy is.

  • Some old guy.

  • That's Tommy Lee Jones.

  • Tommy Lee Jones.

  • Why would I know that?

  • Let's vitamin, Sam.

  • Let's vitamin.

  • I've gone with the Real Gold Flavor Mix here.

  • Here are some other interesting drinks.

  • Bionic Ace.

  • Jungle Man.

  • Sam is going to try this corn beverage at some point.

  • You need to.

  • You just need to try it.

  • So when normal ice cream just doesn't cut it, you can get some Coolish or some Crunky.

  • Vending machines are everywhere in Tokyo.

  • Be adventurous and try something weird.

  • You'll be pleasantly surprised.

  • I don't know.

  • I can't seem to find this place.

  • It must be tucked away somewhere . . . I don't know, somewhere . . .

  • Oh, wow!

  • The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku is total sensory overload.

  • You're brought into a waiting area with a live band in robot wardrobe.

  • Led down very subtly decorated hallways and to your seat.

  • And then the insanity begins.

  • Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Robot Restaurant, yay!

  • What is that huge shark?

  • We are looking forward to see you again.

  • Thank you!

  • Arigato gozaimasu!

  • We just finished at the Robot Restaurant.

  • I don't quite know how to describe it.

  • You have to come see it for yourself.

  • Even then, I don't think you'll able to comprehend the complete madness.

  • We are currently at Meiji Jingu shrine.

  • As you can see, the tori gate behind me is simply amazing.

  • Meiji Jingu is a shinto shrine dedicated to the spirit of Emperor Meiji, the first emperor

  • of modern Japan.

  • He ascended to the throne in 1867 and began the era known as the Meiji Restoration.

  • The shrine and forest area were completed in 1920, using approximately 100,000 trees

  • donated from regions all across Japan.

  • Playing some Pokemon Go, in Japan.

  • It's the real deal.

  • So I just got my omikuji, which is a poem fortune telling.

  • Okay, so the way that you do omikuji is you get a box right over there.

  • And you shake it up, and there's sticks inside.

  • And you draw out a stick, and it will have a number on it.

  • And then you'll tell the lady your number, and she'll bring you one of these little papers

  • with your fortune inside.

  • It's pretty . . . sounds like me, so . . . Walking down the peaceful paths of Meiji Jingu,

  • you almost forget you're in the most populated city in the world.

  • We just arrived in Akihabara, otaku central as it is known by some people.

  • And we're gonna go see what it's all about.

  • Akihabara is the center of Japan's otaku culture.

  • Electronics shops ranging from super-specialized tiny stalls to massive electronics retailers

  • line the streets around Akihabara.

  • There's just every kind of wire you can imagine!

  • There are countless shops devoted to anime and manga, video games, and collectibles of

  • every kind.

  • If you're looking for the weird and wacky, Akihabara won't disappoint.

  • Google kan-cho for some additional bewilderment.

  • Akihabara is also home to the famous maid cafes, and that imagery is reflected throughout

  • the area.

  • We've been about a block, and there's been three Sega multi-level arcades.

  • So we're gonna head to the one at the end of the block.

  • It's Club Sega.

  • We're gonna see how it is.

  • Visiting an arcade in Akihabara is another mind bender.

  • The quality and variety of games available is worth the visit alone.

  • And the gaming skill and speed on display is truly next level.

  • Akihabara is also a great place to get some gachapon, which are vending machine dispensed

  • capsule toys.

  • They range from the bizarre to the familiar.

  • Oh, it's the one with his butt.

  • Oh, that's awesome!

  • That's ridiculous.

  • That's amazing.

  • I'm getting one.

  • Amazing!

  • What is this . . . where does it go?

  • On top of a water bottle.

  • That's disgusting.

  • That's awesome.

  • That's the best.

  • A common problem with gachapon is where do I put all of my tricks and trinkets and whatnot?

  • Well, if you have a handy fanny pack like this, there's no problem with fitting it all

  • in here.

  • Oh no!

  • Whether you're a true otaku, a kid at heart, or just plain curious, Akihabara is a must

  • see destination in Tokyo.

  • We're here in Akihabara.

  • We're gonna be visiting an owl cafe.

  • And I have a feeling it's gonna be some full on Harry Potter up in here!

  • Owl cafes are one of Tokyo's latest crazes.

  • Contrary to their name, there is no food and little beverage.

  • These places are focused on your interaction with animals, not lattes.

  • We went to a place called Akiba Fukurou, where sessions last about an hour.

  • You're technically not supposed to film video here, but we managed to sneak in a few shots.

  • This cafe requires reservations.

  • One hour costs about 20 dollars per person, which includes a keepsake professional photo

  • of you with one of the owls.

  • So we just got done at the owl cafe.

  • It was such a cool experience.

  • They just bring you the owls, and put them on your shoulder, on your hands.

  • It's something, just an experience that you can't get anywhere else in the world other

  • than Japan.

  • This is Sensoji Temple.

  • Sensoji is a buddhist temple located in Asakusa.

  • Legend has it that in 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy,

  • out of the Sumida River.

  • They threw the statute back into the river, but it always returned to them.

  • Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of mercy in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.

  • Leading to the temple's gate, there's a centuries old shopping street, Nakamise, where you can

  • find souvenirs and some incredible local street food.

  • The entire Asakusa area is beautiful and a great place to explore.

  • During our visit, we were lucky enough to see a bride and groom being serenaded in traditional

  • chants down the street.

  • Just beyond the famous Hachiko statue lies the world's busiest pedestrian crosswalk and

  • Shibuya, Tokyo's crowded center of youth fashion, shopping and entertainment.

  • With every green light, up to 3,000 people move across the five diagonal crosswalks at

  • Shibuya Crossing.

  • This is the famous Shibuya 109, which is the mecca for cutting edge women's fashion.

  • Be sure to catch a glimpse of the crazy fashions on display on the ten circular stories of

  • Shibuya 109.

  • Shibuya is home to more than a dozen major department store branches.

  • Shibuya Loft features six stories of unique items perfect for cool souvenirs.

  • These are amazing.

  • Come sit on this.

  • These are amazing.

  • If Brookstone were a lot cooler, and Japanese, it would be Loft.

  • Fanny packs are not lame!

  • Uobei Sushi is one my absolute favorite sushi places anywhere.

  • We're here in Shibuya.

  • We just stopped into this great little sushi joint.

  • It's almost like conveyor belt sushi, except it's kind of like shinkansen sushi.

  • It comes to you on a little rail.

  • You order on a touch screen, and your sushi comes out bullet train style directly to your

  • table.

  • The sushi is cheap, fresh, and good.

  • We had the normal selection of tuna sushi.

  • But we also had Hokkaido scallops.

  • Charred baby squid.

  • Fatty tuna with foie gras.

  • Even dessert: Ice cream over mochi.

  • So, all of that was about 10, 11 bucks U.S.

  • More information on Uobei Sushi is in the description.

  • There is truly nowhere like Shibuya in the world.

  • It's an absolute must-see when you're in Tokyo.

  • Yanaka feels like a secluded residential area apart from the hustle and bustle of modern

  • Tokyo.

  • You can really observe the day-to-day lives of Tokyo-ites.

  • It is one of the few districts where the atmosphere of Old Tokyo still survives.

  • How would you describe the neighborhood here?

  • It's a very cozy neighborhood.

  • You know, it's not all the blinking lights, fabulous - you know - all that jazz.

  • It's just residential area, and it's super cozy.

  • Stopping at the corner ramen joint was both cheaper and more charming than dining in the

  • more touristy areas.

  • We stayed in Yanaka during our entire time in Tokyo, and it is a great home base from

  • which to explore the rest of the city.

  • We are here at a place called Snake Street, because like me it has all the right curves.

  • And that's why they call it Snake Street.

  • This is the Imperial Palace.

  • The emperor still lives here.

  • Unfortunately, they don't allow swimming in the moat, so I wore my Speedo underneath my

  • shorts for nothing.

  • The Imperial Palace is located on the former site of Edo Castle, in the center of Tokyo.

  • The palace is a short, charming walk from Tokyo Station.

  • The entire area is peaceful, yet still visibly within the larger environment of busy central

  • Tokyo.

  • Now, the inner grounds of the palace are not open to the public unless you have a reservation.

  • So this is mostly a photo op from outside the walls.

  • But it's also a chance to appreciate the history of Tokyo as a castle town.

  • Guided tours of the palace grounds, but not the interior buildings, are offered in Japanese

  • daily at 10 o'clock and 1:30, except on Sundays and Mondays.

  • Advance reservations are available through the Imperial Household Agency website.

  • After hours of whining, nagging, and complaining, I finally broke the old man down.

  • And here we are in Sunshine City, headed to the Pokemon Center!

  • One of the things I was most excited to do during my visit to Japan was visit some of

  • the Pokemon Centers.

  • If you grew up playing the Gameboy and DS games like I did, visiting the store is like

  • taking a trip down memory lane.

  • The whole store is jam packed with plushies of Pokemon of every shape, size, and color,

  • ranging from giant Pikachus to mini plush key chains.

  • This store has got it all.

  • Pokemon socks, cards

  • cookies, t-shirts

  • even shoes.

  • Snore-lax. I'm buying it.

  • You can never get enough Pikachu.

  • That's why you need a bunch of tiny Pikachus making up a giant Pikachu.

  • We visited two of the Pokemon Centers located in Tokyo.

  • One in Ikebukuro at the Sunshine City shopping center.

  • Ikebukuro is one of the most popular shopping centers in Tokyo, and is definitely worth

  • a visit in its own right.

  • The other location we visited was at Tokyo Sky Tree, which is the tallest structure in

  • Japan and features a 360 degree view of the massive city.

  • At each Pokemon Center there are exclusive items available only at that specific location.

  • Oh, okay, we just killed it at the Pokemon Center.

  • We spent 110 dollars.

  • Because, Pokemon.

  • I had to.

  • This bridge over here is famous cuz it kind of started the whole Harajuku girl kind of

  • thing.

  • So every Sunday afternoon, right here is where all the cosplayers would come to see and be seen.

  • And that's kind of where the whole Harajuku girl kind of style originated from.

  • The epicenter of Harajuku's teenage culture is Takeshita Dori and its many side streets,

  • which are packed with super trendy shops, used cloths stores, crepe stands, and restaurants

  • geared toward trendy Japanese teens.

  • Don't miss the crepes, which come in every conceivable variety.

  • I'm gonna get this one.

  • It's the double chocolate, chocolate cake special.

  • Can't go wrong.

  • I've been waiting so long for this moment.

  • Oh yeah.

  • We're back in Harajuku.

  • I had to get myself another crepe!

  • This is crepe brûlée.

  • What a savage!

  • This is a place that specializes in potato chips, and ironically, they have a potato

  • mascot.

  • They're cooking the potatoes.

  • We just got through Takeshita Dori.

  • And now we're gonna be heading to Cat Street, still here in Harajuku.

  • Running perpendicular to the south of Takeshita Dori is Omotesando.

  • Here you can find famous upscale shops, cafes, and restaurants for a more affluent, adult

  • clientele.

  • Continuing south, Cat Street is another long shopping street.

  • But it's more hipster and boutique oriented.

  • We're here on Cat Street.

  • We just went to a little mochi spot.

  • Just a small, tiny little shop.

  • And we got six mochi, really great.

  • The stores go more upscale and mainstream the further south you go.

  • I'm noticing that we're moving into more of a yuppy territory.

  • Because as you can see, there's a North Face Kids.

  • Not just North Face, but North Face Kids.

  • Once you go under the train tracks and hit this Death Star looking building, you're in

  • Shibuya.

  • If you don't mind some walking, you can really make a full day of it.

  • Starting at Meiji Shrine, and walking through Takeshita Street,

  • taking a side trip to Omotesando, then through Cat Street and into Shibuya.

  • The total distance is less than two miles, and it's all comfortably downhill.

  • Tokyo is the greatest culinary city in the world.

  • There are at least 80,000 restaurants in Tokyo, including 226 Michelin starred restaurants.

  • Paris by comparison has a mere 94.

  • And it's not just the high-end cuisine.

  • Tokyo has eateries of all kinds.

  • And as you've seen, I love the street food available all over the city.

  • But don't miss the opportunity to try traditional Japanese cuisine, which is as beautiful as

  • it is delicious.

  • I got way out of my comfort zone on this trip.

  • Even though I couldn't quite bring myself to eat the fish head here, I tried just about

  • everything I could and was glad I did.

  • The food is just amazing.

  • And if you need a familiar meal, Tokyo has a ton of high quality Western style restaurants.

  • Mos Burger!

  • That's mine.

  • Oh baby!

  • Of course, you have to eat your sushi when in Tokyo.

  • Even at unassuming, affordable restaurants, the quality of sushi is simply on another

  • level.

  • Ramen is an art form in Japan.

  • In fact, there's mind blowing cuisine of all kinds all around Tokyo.

  • This was raw Wagyu beef sushi, sent from beef heaven.

  • I had gyoza.

  • I had tons of mochi.

  • And I had Kobe beef.

  • This skewer gave me the most mind blowing bite of food I think I've ever had in my entire

  • life.

  • So that's it: My list of fifteen incredible things to do in Tokyo.

  • Tokyo is simultaneously ultra modern and steeped in traditions thousands of years old.

  • After you visit, you'll wonder why no other city in the world is quite as cool.

  • Godzilla!

  • Its transportation system is clean and safe.

  • And it's ALWAYS on time.

  • These are just fifteen of my favorite things.

  • We haven't shown you Tokyo Tower, or any of the world-class museums,

  • or dozens of other incredible things to do in what is arguably the greatest city in the world.

  • Now it's up to you to get yourself to this amazing city and make your own top fifteen!

My name is Sam Suzuki.

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