The Yamanote Line train jolts and you bump into a beleaguered salaryman in the packed car. After a sheepish glance, you return to the video clip playing on your phone, where your favorite influencer turns the handle of a gacha (capsule toy) machine to unveil the secret bar everyone already knew about.
As a tourist in Tokyo with a packed itinerary, this new-to-you spot is a bit out of the way from the next cultural experience or restaurant reservation you’re on the way to — but if you sprinted back to the station when you’re finished to catch an express train and then hopped in the first taxi you see, you could make last call at this trendy bar just in the nick of time. Lost in thought, you look up to see the salaryman now staring you down; the train’s doors open and he wants out.
Amid a visit to the infinite urban landscape that is Tokyo, what does it mean to maximize your time? According to Gilles Poitras, a retired librarian and author of “Tokyo Stroll: A Guide to City Sidetracks and Easy Explorations,” your best return on investment is to explore the city only as fast as your feet can take you. And key to this, he says, is letting go of the perceived need to beeline from one destination to the next via train or taxi.
“I tend to describe Tokyo as being in a forest,” Poitras says. “Whereas in America, big cities mean sameness. In Tokyo, nothing is exactly the same. You get this delightful variety in architecture that is pleasing to the eye. The variety of Tokyo relaxes. Tokyo is like a forest, whereas America is a cornfield.”
Each neighborhood of Tokyo holds its own stories, and unless you commit to traveling at a slightly slower pace than itineraries full of short stops at a hundred Instagrammable sites each day, you’ll miss out on all the small delights the metropolis is hiding. To Poitras, Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood dramatically changes depending on not only on the time of day but how far tourists range from hotspots like Sensoji Temple. Asakusa’s northern reaches may lack such grand set pieces but provide a better glimpse into the everyday lives of Japanese people.
Poitras recommends tourists do as much research as they can before their arrival to draw themselves toward less-known sights — all with the intention of strolling down side streets for deeper understanding.
“Ask yourself the question: ‘What am I looking at?’” Poitras says.
Of course, traversing a city as big as Tokyo means hopping on a train or into a cab from time to time. However, travelers should use that as an opportunity to scope out neighborhoods to explore later.
“Look out the windows — if you see something interesting, double back and discover the neighborhood around it,” he says, adding that if you find trees in Tokyo, they’re likely a sign of a small temple or park.
Walking Tokyo’s endless maze of a metropolis is no simple feat, though. To maximize the distance you can cover, a proper pair of shoes good for tough concrete is best. Pack in an extra pair of cushioned soles for varied textures to reduce fatigue on your feet.
Finally, when it comes to the innumerable konbini (convenience stores) you’ll encounter on your leisurely walks through Tokyo, Poitras recommends considering your choice of drink carefully — sweet drinks encourage larger gulps, which means more bathroom breaks. Instead, a bitter tea is perfect to quench your thirst in smaller sips so you’ll have more time checking out the wonders of Tokyo rather than wondering if the next konbini you come across has a toilet.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.