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- The Japanese capital of Tokyo is one of TV personality Anthony Bourdain’s favorite destinations to visit across the world.
- For food, visit the culinary halls in Japanese department stores, or try the egg salad sandwiches in ‘Lawson,’ a chain of convenience stores.
- Popular with tourists, Bourdain recommends experiencing the cabaret show at ‘The Robot Restaurant’ in the nightlife district known of Shinjuku.
It’s no secret, Tokyo is one of Anthony Bourdain‘s favorite cities. “I’m endlessly fascinated,” he says. “I’ve been many times and it’s still thrilling.”
And this year, it’s one of MONEY’s favorites as well, ranking #1 for the international city that delivers Americans the best bang for their buck, a choice Bourdain endorses. “I think Tokyo is a good choice for number one because it has the highest density of experiences per square foot,” he says. “You can pretty much check into a cheap hotel in Shinjuku district and never leave that area, yet still have the most awesome mind blowing, busy time of your life.”
But be prepared to be the “big goofy foreigner,” Bourdain says. “You will not blend. You will not immerse, but you will have a true, true adventure.”
Here are the top five experiences Bourdain recommends for a first-time visitor.
1. Visit the Robot Restaurant
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It’s “touristy as hell,” Bourdain says, but you’ve got to go to Robot Restaurant. Located in the Shinjuku nightlife district, the venue offers dinner and a 90-minute cabaret-style show that incorporates robots, dinosaurs and dancers. But Bourdain says you don’t have to eat in Robot Restaurant. Decline the meal, but just go for the experience, he says.
2. Get take-out from Lawson
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Similar to a 7-Eleven (which Japan also has), Bourdain recommends checking out this convenience store chain for its incredible egg salad sandwiches and little tonkatsu — or as Bourdain puts it, “little fried chicken cutlets under light bulbs.”
3. Hit up the Izakayas
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There’s not really a direct English translation, but Izakayas are essentially pubs that serve shared dishes that pair well with alcohol. The best ones, Bourdain says, are in the Golden Gai district — an area consisting of six alleys lined by almost two hundred tiny bars.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- How to find the best restaurant wherever you are, according to Anthony Bourdain
- What it’s like aboard the world’s largest cruise ship
- The most popular tourist attraction in every state
