Tokyo is one of the largest city in the world and often misinformed about the city by medias and social medias.
Discovering the Real Tokyo: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure
After my last video on Tokyo’s hidden gems, I received a comment that really stuck with me: “Wow, this is so different from what we see on social media!” It got me thinking about what “off the beaten path” truly means in a city as vast as Tokyo. Is it a hidden gem, or simply a place rarely featured in tourist guides?
Today, I wanted to show you Tokyo unfiltered, visiting five stations chosen by my YouTube members – places they’d never heard of. My goal was to find at least one scenic spot in each to capture that authentic local vibe. Let’s dive in!
Stop 1: Sasazuka – A Local Gem Next to Shinjuku
First up was Sasazuka, suggested by DK. This station is just one stop from Shinjuku on the Keio Line, or the third stop on the Keio New Line, which connects directly to the Shinjuku Line. About 70,000 people pass through here daily, but most are probably on their way to Mount Takao, not getting off at Sasazuka!
Stepping out of the station, I immediately found Keio Crown-Gai, a small arcade leading to the outside. On the north side, a horseshoe-shaped street, known as 10th Street, forms the heart of Sasazuka. It’s bustling with local shops and has a wonderfully authentic feel.
I stumbled upon a fish shop with a truly local atmosphere and discovered a community market supporting people with disabilities, where I bought a cute towel and a cat-themed stick. Further down, I saw an old-fashioned liquor store and even a classic electronics shop – sights you rarely see in modern Tokyo anymore. And yes, there was a manga cafe where you can read to your heart’s content!
For lunch, I spontaneously chose a taco shop. The owner was from Mexico, and his staff from Southern California – super friendly! I ordered their tacos, and the place quickly filled up with a lively lunch crowd.
After lunch, I explored a quiet side street leading to an interesting market tucked under a condo building, with a small fish market and bars. I also grabbed a delicious anko (red bean paste) bun and coffee from a chain bakery in front of Sasazuka Station. At under 500 yen ($3), it was a very reasonable and pleasant break.
I was determined to find a scenic spot, and I did! Walking along a beautiful riverbank, I enjoyed the serene spring atmosphere and a large hybrid flower.
Sasazuka, being a popular residential area, is probably the most accessible of the places I visited today. If you’re looking for an easy dip into local Tokyo life, it’s definitely worth a stop!
Stop 2: Nerima – Peaceful Living in the Heart of the City
Next, at Julia’s request, I headed to Nerima Station. Nerima is served by three Seibu Railway lines and the Oedo subway line. It’s the center of Nerima City, one of Tokyo’s 23 special wards, home to about 750,000 people. It’s not luxurious or downtown, but a peaceful, friendly neighborhood, just 10-20 minutes from Ikebukuro and Shinjuku – making it a very popular place to live.
A quiet, pleasant street led me toward the Nerima City Hall. It’s a tall building, and to my delight, I discovered the 20th floor is an observatory with a restaurant! This was, without a doubt, a fantastic scenic spot. From here, I could see glimpses of the Shinjuku skyline, though Tokyo Skytree was partially hidden by construction. It exceeded my expectations!
Finding a coffee shop proved a bit challenging in this area, but after exploring the quiet residential streets and passing the Nerima Cultural Center, I eventually found a Mos Burger inside the station gate for an iced coffee and a quick bite.
Stop 3: Toyosu & Tokyo Big Sight – Unexpected Views
My next destination took me all the way to the southeast side of Tokyo, to Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho Line. This area has seen massive development in the past 10-20 years, now dominated by towering condo buildings. From Toyosu, I continued to Tokyo Big Sight Station, Mison’s request.
Tokyo Big Sight is primarily an exhibition center, famous for hosting Comic Market, where anime and subculture creators gather. While it’s largely an office and exhibition hub, I was surprised to find a really nice, unexpected little park nearby. I could even smell the ocean and spotted a police boat – it felt more like a port town than central Tokyo! There’s also a direct bus to Tokyo Station from here, which is handy.
For coffee, I opted for my reliable favorite, Doutor Coffee. Instead of just an iced coffee, I got their delicious coffee jelly for just 50 yen more – highly recommend it! I had to eat quickly, as time was running short, but with sunset at 7 PM, I still had over an hour of daylight.
Tokyo Big Sight, while not somewhere people typically live, was surprisingly interesting to explore. Now, it was time to move on!
Stop 4: Unoki – The Most Authentic Slice of Tokyo
From Tokyo Big Sight, I took the Rinkai Line to Ōi-machi, then changed to the Keihin-Tōhoku Line, and finally to the Tōkyū Tamagawa Line to reach Kamata Station. Kamata still retains some charming old arcades and smoke bars.
From Kamata, two more lines branch off: the Ikegami Line and the Tamagawa Line. I was heading to Unoki Station on the Tamagawa Line. While Tokyo Big Sight was small, Unoki felt like the most authentic town among the five I visited today.
I decided to try a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant I found on the map. The calendar facing me in the shop made me realize how quickly time flies! I was tired, but the tonkatsu was incredibly good – the fat part was sweet, and the sauce perfectly tart. The owner was very kind, and at 2019 yen, it was a great value.
Next, I searched for Unoki’s scenic spot. I spotted old skyscraper condos in what looked like Kawasaki, not Tokyo. But my goal was to catch the sunset on the banks of the Tama River.
I made it! It was beautiful. The riverbank was bustling with high school students heading home, and it brought back nostalgic memories of my own high school days – some scenes truly haven’t changed. There was even a baseball ground!
The stations here are quite close, so I decided to walk to the next one, enjoying the riverside stroll. It was truly beautiful.
Stop 5: Tamagawa – A Serene Conclusion
As I walked, I saw the bridge of the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line, signaling that Tamagawa Station was just to my right. So, I managed to walk to the fifth and final station!
My search for a scenic spot near Tamagawa Station led me to Tamagawa Sengen Shrine, right in front of the station. It’s a very nice, beautiful place with an observatory offering wonderful views. Thank you, Kasa, for suggesting this station!
Each of these seemingly random neighborhoods had its own unique charm. Today’s video, I hope, gave you a little taste of just how diverse Tokyo’s neighborhoods can be. Some of these places are so minor, I might never visit them again unless I make new friends who live there – but it was a fun and meaningful day nonetheless.
If you enjoyed this adventure, I’d love to try this kind of exploration again. Tokyo is full of surprises, and I’m excited to uncover more hidden corners next time.
What do you think defines “off the beaten path” in a city like Tokyo? Let me know in the comments below!
