For this trip to Tokyo, we chose to stay near Sugamo Station, where there are relatively fewer tourists. It was very close to the APA Hotel where we were staying, just a few minutes away on foot. Early in the morning, we first went to the nearby Beck’s coffee chain for a hearty and affordable breakfast to recharge for the day ahead.
Then we took a walk to the locally famous Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street. In the morning, the shopping street was full of lively, everyday energy. We wandered through the warm and welcoming little alleys, casually browsing all kinds of small local Japanese shops and getting an up-close look at the everyday lives of Japanese people.
This kind of wandering experience—getting away from the hustle and bustle and slowly settling into the pace of local life—has always been my favorite way to travel. If you enjoy a relaxing stroll, I highly recommend coming here to experience a different side of Tokyo’s old shopping streets.




























