During a winter trip to Tokyo, I made a special evening visit to Roppongi Keyakizaka Street. As the sky darkened, the lights along both sides of the street gradually came on, instantly transforming the entire road into a magical winter scene. From the sidewalk, Tokyo Tower appeared perfectly centered in the sea of lights at the end of the street. Like many others, I waited for the red light and quickly stepped into the middle of the road to snap a photo. It may be a short street, but the illuminations fill it with a wonderful holiday atmosphere. It became one of my most unforgettable memories from Tokyo.
Roppongi Keyakizaka Street | Review by Chris
Other Reviews by Chris
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Sensoji Temple
This iconic destination in Asakusa sees as many as 30 million visitors each year. It stands as a well-loved mainstay in Tokyo, all while hosting a number of annual traditions like the first temple visit at New Years, Setsubun and more across the year.
Years ago, I visited Sensoji Temple with my family. We wore kimonos and took lots of photos here. When I returned to Tokyo years later, I headed out alone to visit the temple while my family was still asleep.
Sensoji Temple isn't very crowded early in the morning. I prayed for a safe and smooth family trip and also drew an omikuji. I'd heard that Sensoji has a higher chance of drawing bad luck than other temples, so I was relieved to get good luck! -
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Kanda Myojin
Kanda Myojin is a historical shrine famous for bestowing its blessings in marriage and business prosperity, enhancing luck in battle while warding off danger and disaster. Located in Tokyo's central business district, many firms come to worship at the beginning of the year, as this shrine cannot be ignored if seeking fortune in business.
Kanda Myojin had always been one of the Tokyo shrines I really wanted to visit. On top of that, when I went, an anime I love was holding a special exhibition at the shrine, so I absolutely had to stop by.
Once inside the grounds, the bright red shrine building really stood out and looked especially beautiful under the blue sky. The grounds aren’t especially large, but they’re very clean and well maintained, with a solemn yet peaceful atmosphere.
It blends tradition and modern culture nicely. You can feel its long history, while also seeing unique charms related to anime, video games, and the IT industry. It’s definitely worth making a special trip for. -
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First Avenue Tokyo Station
"First Avenue Tokyo Station (Tokyo Station Ichibangai) " is directly connected to "Tokyo Station", the gateway to Japan.A wide variety of stores are gathered here, including ramen, local gourmet foods from all over Japan, Japanese and Western confectioneries from famous and long-established stores, and popular character goods.
Located in the underground shopping area of Tokyo Station, this is one of the most efficient places to pick up souvenirs and anime merchandise!
The character street has an amazing lineup of brands, from Pokémon and Studio Ghibli to Shonen Jump and more. You can find all kinds of Tokyo-exclusive items in one stop, and there are pop-up shops from time to time. The ramen street brings together several popular Japanese shops that usually have lines, making it great for a quick meal. The snack area also has fun treats like freshly fried potato chips. It’s a fantastic place to shop and wander around. -
