What is the Most Overrated Place in Tokyo??

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[@chrisf7345]

“I’m just not a temple person.” - Grant, former monk

[@fitztanciangco9311]

He maybe just got sick of it

[@wizofhell]

Most Thai people would deal with it once or not at all.

[@liayo]

Whats crazy is that Garnt was a monk on two separate occasions and he still said that 😂 ​@wizofhell

[@wizofhell]

@@liayo Still seems normal as long as he wasn’t doing it long-term

[@wipeoutpulse007]

If its your first time in Tokyo, go to the overrated spots... they're popular for a reason. Yeah sure on your second trip you can skip them but I've enjoyed them all. It's kind of a big culture shock when you first land as everything is different. Trying to navigate a ginormous metropolitan city to find hidden gems will be a nightmare. Go to the tourist spots, then you can wander off the path and find some really awesome places, but use the spots as a guide to navigate you around.

[@nilmerg]

As someone who went to Japan last year, I wanted to avoid Akihabara but ended up going because locals told me that's where I'd find more cosplays. Some secondhand stores are nice, but it really is not that great. Ikebukuro was better for anime stuff, felt cleaner. IKB also has the rebuilt 9F flagship Animate store.

[@bex6638]

Connor has forgotten what its like to be a tourist.

[@tsukuneboy]

If you're living there of course. I lived in Japan since the first time I went to there for 7 years. I just experienced the first time as a tourist last year after my visa ran out due to covid. OMG, it's so much better. Japan is better to be visited as a tourist not a local

[@SydneyTravellersGuide]

agreed. also... I think they're just jaded. They're all worth visiting if you're a tourist.

[@icebox1954]

@@tsukuneboy That's everywhere though. As a tourist you don't experience what it's actually like as a country. That's why I've never been interested in traveling because it's all fake unless you actually live there and become a part of the culture.

[@tsukuneboy]

@@icebox1954 true that

[@Mocci-Eli-]

@@icebox1954so travel and stay somewhere lol

[@NiekNooijens]

My recommendation for Tokyo: go to odaiba after sunset. The view of the rainbow bridge, with the Tokyo tower behind it and all the skyscrapers lit up is just incredible!

[@shikaman]

THIS ! Even during the day, if you have good weather, its so chill, especially if you go to Daiba Park, the view is stunning

[@rebelpiggy]

I saw it incidentally at sunset. We had spent the majority of the day there too. It was great!

[@simenok3292]

Yes!!! Especially in summer, has that strong citypop-vibe hahah

[@leedevlin8260]

Conner: team labs/ Mario cart over rated! The rest: have u done it b4? Conner: No.. Wtf! 😂😅

[@PandaBearWithMic]

Team Labs - one of things that I spend 4 hours in and wanted more

[@TheMgutierrez]

Like in all srsness, TeamLabs is good to do at least once. (Also if your okay getting your feet wet)

[@jeus_saaa]

Connor the type of guy who would tell you something isn't worth it even though he hasn't tried it.

[@glswenson]

I've done both - TeamLabs is worth the cost of admission and then some. I loved it. Mario Kart sucked.

[@iamreiunderscore]

@@jeus_saaa I think that's just everyone on the internet. People constantly say stuff sucks while also admitting that they have zero actual experience with the thing,

[@VictorAdmin]

I'm glad Joey elaborated on Asakusa because there are indeed amazing places to eat there. My favorite place was in Asakusa with very nice workers and a great vibe! Sensouji temple was indeed nice to see once, but for someone who doesn't value tourist spots too much it was not that great.

[@fauzirahman3285]

I like Akihabara, but funnily enough, not because of anime or gaming. I found some little niche electronic shops there and I can find rare electronics that is hard to find elsewhere, especially since Japan likes to make some specialised computers that are not in demand elsewhere.

[@Kuro_kazz]

It's also funny because Akihabara used to be an area specializing in electronics where people would flock to up until in the mid 2000s when it gradually got replaced by anime/gaming industries which is the Akihabara we see today.

[@haowong6601]

if you reading this, can i ask you whats your favorite electronics store or stores to explore ? im traveling to japan soon and would love to spend a day explore akihabara.

[@fauzirahman3285]

@@haowong6601 unfortunately the names of the stores weren't memorable, and with many other Asian places I go, either they're poorly signed or just have some very generic name. I would suggest walking down the alleys between Akihabara Electric Town and Akihabara Junk Street in 3-Chome and explore.

[@ARPelayre]

My wife and I stayed in Asakusa for the first few days of our trip, and while I can somewhat agree about Sensoji during the day, we actually explored the temple early in the morning before anything opened (jetlagged) and it was fantastic. And as Joey said, there's plenty of stuff in Asakusa around Sensoji that are worth exploring if the crowds and temples aren't your thing. Asakusa is actually one of the first places I recommend people to visit, again, warning them about the crowds if they'd like to avoid that the Sensoji area.

[@glswenson]

We stayed in Asakusa as well and really appreciated the quieter and more laid back vibe. Coming back to Asakusa at the end of a long day was really relaxing.

[@asdf2103912pi]

As someone who's been to Japan many times now, here's my take on it. Honestly I think crowds don't bother me THAT much. If its just a lot of people I don't really mind unless its at a point where it's literally hard to walk, which I don't think happens that often especially if you time your visits to the most popular destinations at the right time. I kinda do agree with anime man about Shinjuku being a bit overrated though. Everyone points it out as a must visit on a first visit to Japan, but I kinda disagree. Don't get me wrong the gardens are nice and the metropolitan building is a nice free observation deck, but if you have a few days in Tokyo I wouldn't really recommend going there since despite being a very lively area I feel like there's not THAT much to do here. On the other hand I actually feel like Shibuya has a lot for tourists, lots of really interesting stores/malls and Shibuya Sky is my favorite observation deck in Tokyo (though it does cost money). Yes its crowded but I still think it's a cool area. As for Gyukatsu Motomura and Ichiran I somewhat agree with Connor. Honestly first time I've had both I thought they were the greatest thing ever, but then since then I've been to other Gyukatsu and Ramen places and although I wouldn't really say I significantly preferred any of them over Gyukatsu Motomura/Ichiran, but they were at least a similar level. So I wouldn't say not to go since they're both very tourist friendly locations with delicious food, but don't be afraid to try other restaurants too. Agree with Hyogo prefecture, Kobe's a great city with good food and amazing night views, not to mention it also contains Himeji which imo is my favorite castle I've been to. Also agree with Kagoshima, always wanted to go there even before going to Japan and loved my experience there, need to go to Yakushima one day too. As for Kyoto idk if I'd really consider it overrated since I loved my time there, and I still think it's great for someone to experience at least once. That being said I do think it loses a lot of charm if you were to visit again and it would be better visiting some other temples

[@vtambellini]

Yeah I’m considering planning my second trip soon, and I agree with your points. Crowds don’t bother me unless it’s shoulder to shoulder and you can’t move (happened in harajuku). I think the guys are jaded simply because they live in Japan and it’s not “special” anymore. Honestly, you should see all of those touristy places the first time you visit. Now for my second visit, I can focus more on the lesser known or at least slightly less “touristy” areas!

[@Fafnerluver922]

Whenever I visit Japan, I try to go somewhere where the tourists don't go to a lot. Ikebukuro was a good surprise and Inokashira park. First time I went to Akiba, I ate ramen at a small shop where the salarymen eat. It was great.

[@MyargonautsJason]

I'll second Joey's recommendation of Hiroshima ken. You can go to the Peace Museum, a nice castle, a great covered shopping street, and they have a great multi-story restaurant dedicated to okinomiyaki, which is great in Hiroshima. You can also take a day-trip over to Miyajima island with the famous shrine with the floating torii. Great destination. And nearby is Shimane prefecture, which is my favorite prefecture in Japan.

[@monstersoul]

Inside Tokyo City, I love going to some museums, the gardens. But most of the time I'll be going outside of Tokyo City like Hakone, Kawaguchiko, Nikko

[@fauzirahman3285]

I'm actually surprised some of the parks and gardens have an entrance fee.

[@monstersoul]

@@fauzirahman3285 this is normal practice for the upkeep of parks and gardens depend on their willingness to pay

[@x2lazy2die]

hakone was beautiful. even tho during my 2 days the weather was horrid. would go again

[@Vindichimo]

@@fauzirahman3285the fees are still so low, come to my EU country and they gonna charge one leg or arm lol

[@fauzirahman3285]

@@monstersoul I just find it odd because the parks are free where I am and they're just as good.

[@puschart_tom]

I think best daytrip from Tokyo is definitely Kamakura. It has some touristy areas and can get overcrowded, but you can find some insanely beautiful areas there, being at sea is also always so nice, in total, in think Kamakura is just the better Kyoto, and you can do it in a daytrip.

[@fitztanciangco9311]

Add enoshima to the finish line and its perfect

[@cboy0394]

Kamakura is definitely a must-go day trip.

[@koolarooo]

Nice Buddhist temples as well.

[@pev789]

I love golden gai! It’s a great place talk with other expats and talk about your Japan travels! Especially when traveling alone it’s hard to start up conversations anywhere, but not here since you’ll run into alot of people who speak English, yes there are a lot of places with seat covers but just gotta walk around and find a place that’s right for you

[@MrJohnnyYang]

Will be going to Tokyo on May 2-8th. I'm excited and thanks for having this conversation

[@skullfullofbats]

Nara is fun through the day with cafes and great museums and culture but everything shut really early at night when I was there.

[@heresy_unfolding]

I once have gone to Kamakura to visit the Engaku-ji Temple. It's a bit far from the Kamakura Station, but it is oh so worth it. Much fewer crowds, very serene ambiance, and soothingly calm. For those who are planning to visit Japan, remember to always take your destinations to the next step. Don't just use itineraries from the web, most people have seen those and thus, are expected to be crowded. Venture the road not taken. 😉

[@dabbingduskullz]

There is a station 1 min walk away from this temple we found it very easy to get to

[@drebin652]

USJ is "pretty good" if you're into theme parks but great if they have a collaboration going for something you're into. I am not really into theme parks (waiting over an hour for like a 5 minute experience) but the resident evil 2 maze thing was goated

[@NiekNooijens]

Yeah but currently it's a bit of a bad deal. Donkey kong still needs to open and the left corner of the park is dead. Spiderman is closed, terminator is closed etc. That corner is probably going to see massive renovation in the near future. So I would wait a year if you really want to go to USJ

[@RigoRM]

It's wild how completely on the opposite spectrum of this I am and have been during my time in japan XD. 1. The Temples are dope for people that didn't grow up with them. I think the vibes are nice, I don't even buy anthing I'll just like, exist in that area and appreciate the architecture/surround parks/chill at a bench. 2. Asakusa has one of my favorite izakayas - ran into it completely by accident as we were starving and just trying to get any sustenance in us. Turned out to be a super fun place, really nice workers, they were the most talkative japanese people we met during the trip. It was super fun. 3. Skytree - I loved this place not for the view but just becuase of how much I wish U.S. malls were like this. It felt like there was so much variety, and yes things were expensive, but again, just walking through, seeing stuff, grabbing a few desert and appreciating the aesthetics of the place was really nice.

[@notatallheng]

I think Solamachi (the Skytree mall) is underrated and lots of fun. Bit pricy but still not too bad the last time I went. But yeah, I can see why they would say the Skytree observation deck is overrated.

[@RigoRM]

@@notatallheng You reminded me of how intermixed luxury stores and regular shops are in Tokyo, noticed it at Skytree but really all over Tokyo (Ginza being another good example) I'll be shopping in my price range for a good minute then BAM somehow I'm in a shop where the jackets are the equivalent of $400+, and it looked no different from the other 10 shops I was just at lol. In shibuya I accidentally bought a $200 jacket because I didn't bother to look at that store's particular prices since the surrounding stores were all about 40-80 bucks lol

[@Infinite_exhilaration]

Former Monk Garnt - I’m just not a temple person

[@kevinsteevens4468]

I feel like that might be why he's not a temple person, they're just too ordinary for him at this point.

[@Asek006]

I think with Shibuya crossing thing is that the people that are from cities with low population or towns get amazed by it because its something they have never experienced before. But if you are form a big city, NYC in my case, its like whatever, just a typical day going to work.

[@ArnnFrost]

Honestly if anybody is visiting Tokyo for the first time then its probably better to just check everything everywhere, and I mean EVERYTHING, not only the known places too because sometimes even the area around your hotel might be hella nice and chill, don't be afraid to check everything lest you regret not doing so when you go back home and find out you missed out on a lot of stuff to try ;P I recommend going with a friend too, because a lot of times if you go alone to new places and see anything you're unfamiliar with you probably wouldn't think of trying it/checking it out, while if you went with a friend you'll have more confidence and probably check out everything easily for the lols no matter what. xD

[@ngc_au]

I some how stumbled into Golden Gai in 2016 as a tourist with no Japanese language skills whatsoever, while travelling alone. It was my favourite part of the whole trip. I ran into a couple of older Japanese guys who spoke some English, and we ended up eating Fish Ramen and drinking all night. I could see how it might seem crappy for most tourists though. I had no idea what to expect when I saw it, just looked interesting so I started walking through.

[@Eyesonly302]

Like wtf, I feel that if something involves walking they dislike it, they dont understand at all what a tourist wants, they didnt even mention tokyo tower, what you want is to be able to take a picture and from that picture instanly recognize what place it is, tokyo has plenty of great tourist destination, I recomend Odaiba, has a great park with sakura trees and tulips, has a real size gundam, big stores, great view of the city, and at night the Rainbow bridge lights up and you had the city skyline in the background is beautiful

[@lugan232]

they just like bar...

[@zyrtec455]

Love Odaiba too. Everything looks nice and futuristic.

[@Vindichimo]

I went to this place for half a day. Need to (re)discover/visit once again for a day or two.

[@juanpabloperezgomez4349]

"they dont understand at all what a tourist wants" That's basically it, they've been living there for so long that they have a completely different perspective that a person that goes visiting, on a maybe once in a lifetime kind of trip. They're desensitized to what makes Japan or Tokyo special or attractive for visitors because for them that's normal, that's their day to day.

[@deaddrunkgamer7399]

used to think golden gai was such a tourist trap myself, though since last year i've changed my opinion on it. It's a bit of a trap if you wanna bar jump as many places have cover charge with inexpensive drinks or not cover charge with very expensive drinks. Meaning if you just wanna have a look its somewhat expensive doing bar hopping there. Though sitting down for 2-4 houres+++ in a cover charge spot you really get to know the locals (oh yeah i mostly sat in bars with primarly japanese people there, didnt always have someone to talk to but they sure tried to include me none the less.

[@johnforde7735]

Shimokitazawa has always been pretty good for shops and bars because it is a bit of a student town.

[@myllis3807]

As someone from Finland 1000¥ (=6.16€) drinks sound just normal like prices. Drinks here are usually 5-10€ at bars

[@lordeisschrank]

5 places to visit in Tokyo: 1. Okutama 2. just pick a train station and a direction and walk and find a bar 3. the beach on Odaiba? 4.. .... 5. the train that takes you to Yokohama

[@koolarooo]

Akiba is still like pretty good. I go each trip. For one it’s way cheaper to find stuff there than overseas even if the prices are a bit more than what you want. Like sure you can get it cheaper on yaj but shipping will kill you. Plus there are still stores around worth visiting by themselves. Mandarake complex, Radio kaikan for the floor where people rent out those cubes, yellow submarine to look at all the model kits, yodobashi camera to look at all the crazy expensive high end stuff. Plus there are still some great arcades. Floor 2 and higher of HEY is amazing, the sixth floor of GIGO 3 is amazing ton of harder to find retro games, some stuff where there has got to be like 20-30 left worldwide.

[@cboy0394]

Asakusa is definitely not overrated. Coming from someone who loved seeing Sensoji in the middle of a large modern city, I loved seeing the dichotomy of important historical structure in the middle of a modern city with Tokyo Sky Tree in the background, one of the main reasons why foreigners go to Tokyo. Also, the indie shops and restaurants outside of Sensoji were really good. "Kyoto is overrated", lol it was my favorite city amongst Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto. "Temples are overrated" coming from someone who's from Thailand and is surrounded by them sure, but if you're from the West where temples aren't that common, they are definitely not overrated. Sure seeing more than a couple becomes overkill but they are definitely a required visit when you're seeing Tokyo for the first time.

[@gunkatas01]

I could've used this segment of the podcast about 2 months ago when planning for my Tokyo trip next week....

[@toxickingchristian2645]

Everywhere they said was overrated you should go. They’re locals now, of course they hate all the tourist attractions. You’ll have a lot of fun don’t worry about what they say, except sky tree😂 they’re right about that 😂😂

[@michaelktran]

Not a big anime fan but I love your takes on general Japan. Do more of these 🙏

[@GunterD1337]

I agree Kagoshima is a hidden gem. Insanely good food (that kurobuta damn), close to nature, amazing looking volcano in front of you, friendly people and better weather. Basically no proper winter there. One of the most beautiful gardens/parks in Japan there too.

[@spatulaex6017]

Went to Shimokitazawa for the Bocchi pilgrimage. But even after leaving Tokyo, it was by far the best district I've visited. Theres no Shibuya/Shinjuku crowd, no skyscrapers, no heavy traffic. Just walking around aimlessly through the neighbourhood was such a fantastic time. Vibes were off the charts. Definitely recommend

[@joon4768]

Gyukatsu Motomura is one of my favorite restaurants not necessarily for their Gyukatsu, but because of a sauce they have. It pairs amazingly well with the gyukatsu. Also, there are plenty of branches, so it should be possible to find one that doesn't have a massive line. At least it used to be that way a few years ago haha.

[@hobog12777]

I stumbled upon it accidentally on my last day in Tokyo, I didn't even know it was a chain. I thought it was great honestly but then again it was the only gyukatsu I've ever had. There was no line either (Akihabara).

[@RaymondwLin]

Me too, although I first had it back in 2019, way before even the start of Trash Taste and before it blew up. I tried to tell everyone about it back then!

[@westhefitting4105]

I went to Golden Gai last summer. Definitely a lot of foreigner-only bars, but I found a couple (on the first floor) where I was one of (or the only) gaijin. Up Out and 水の木 were very welcoming bars where I talked to Japanese people in my, horribly broken, Japanese about pro wrestling and music.

[@ClockManOffical]

Akihabara. It’s definitely touristy but it’s got a great second hand electronics markets.

[@fauzirahman3285]

Sushi joints in Ginza. Maybe it's a one time experience but I realise I've had equally good experiences in Australia

[@frederica_bauer]

Honestly, as someone who has been across Tokyo bay from Yokohama to Chiba, I don't really like Tokyo at all. I think Tokyo itself is overrated. Once you have soaked in the general atmosphere it feels difficult to really enjoy anything in particular. The best you can do is just get lost exploring some of the different areas. If you are planning a trip to Japan, I recommend a few days in Tokyo just to experience it, but after that, the best thing you can do is spend time elsewhere. It depends on what you want out of your trip, but an endless urban area is just boring to me. Even the parks and temples felt to me crowded and unimpressive. When you start seeing less other western tourists is when Japan becomes special and fun.

[@dima3899]

Shibuya, Shinjuku centers. The surrounding small areas within them are awesome. Local areas go hard

[@juanaloulehoux]

Sooo niche and unique bro

[@CoveringFish]

How do you spell the place mentioned at 7:40 instead of Golden gai?

[@Bloodworia]

Kyoto is the most overhyped place in Japan. Especially Arahsiyama, it is an insult how bad it is. Kyoto has more Chinese than China.

[@jensebu78]

Kyoto is totally crowded which is shit. Agree. On the other hand are the people there for a reason. But yes, too much Chinese

[@samvd]

As a game/mange and anime enjoyer, Akihabara was my favorite place in tokyo by far. It is not that big, but there are so many stores and things to see... and then theres also yodobashi akiba.. Also, the street karting is really fun.

[@Islandasian_]

Many other Gyukatsu places are also owned by Motomura just named different (ex. Gyukatsu ichi ni san, Gyukatsu いろは)

[@AISolipsil]

You couldn't pay me to wait in line for food. When it's food o'clock you gotta eat now.

[@amlannanda4023]

Yall sleeping on Nakano

[@Ash_Wen-li]

I remember them talking about it in a previous episode

[@Bray-EN]

True but Nakano broadway is a dud imo, the surround area is much more interesting

[@amlannanda4023]

@@Bray-EN nah the Broadway is also cool. The nightlife area nearby is better though

[@silentgaia]

Nakano is so scary to me. I spent like 8k yen for gacha lottery for a gomu gomu fruit haha. Edit: sorry 8k not 80k, if 80k I probably died.

[@alexcollier1587]

Nakano Broadway, for anime needs, is super-concentrated Akiba. It's a much more efficient buying experience 😅

[@Ash_Wen-li]

Takeshita street is pretty overrated. Especially when it's busy af

[@koolarooo]

For real. I’m into some of the clothing stores there but it’s such a pain to go there.

[@glswenson]

100% agreed. It was so crowded I really couldn't enjoy myself whatsoever.

[@GunterD1337]

used to be good there but nowadays it's way too overcrowded and touristy

[@__-vu8io]

Did karting in Osaka right at dusk and it was one of the highlights of my trip.

[@juanpabloperezgomez4349]

It seems to me that the guys are somehow jaded about life in Japan or at least Tokyo and lost much of their sense of wonder of living there, and only react to the basic enjoyment of eating and drinking at this point. Theye are asked about tourist destinations and what they rambled mostly was about overrated places, including several of the most iconic spots in Tokyo. It took them quite a bit to actually thing of cool places to visit.

[@TheBeatles..]

spot on!

[@quintinmcclary7099]

I mean that's the nature of living in a tourist city. The tourist spot become just an unnecessarily expensive part of your city and loses its luster.

[@johnp6987]

When you live somewhere for this long places loose their colour so to speak and yes the scramble crossing is just a crossing but the chaos of it will be a first for many

[@brooks9184]

I get what they’re saying. I moved to Australia from the US for my job for a couple years and it’s one of those countries that tons of Americans dream of going but never get to because the travel time and the cost of it. After 2 years here, I’m over it. It’s just a discount version of the US, it being so far from everything else sucks, the food sucks, everything is overpriced, and it just feels like they’re 20-30 years behind the US in terms of almost everything. All you need is a week here and you’re good, not to mention every city is so far from the next place worth seeing. I found living in Central Asia way more fun than Australia

[@stasiatheo]

@@brooks9184the food sucks? Where in Australia do you live? I’m in Melbourne and the food is great here :(

[@wanashthegash]

I love temples, the architecture, the smell and the sculptures there are great.

[@sj524]

Kyoto has soooo much more to offer than the surface level tourist attractions, and the location is ideal for some of the most memorable day trips like Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Uji, Nara, Kibune, Kobe, Ine, Amanohashidate, Himeji, Kurashiki, Lake Biwa, etc.

[@wanashthegash]

I don't think the sky tree is far away, but i guess it depends on how long time you have in Tokyo and where your hotel is located. And being tired flying for 11+ hours won't give you that good of an experience as going up the sky tree.

[@final3119]

What are some of the decent bars in Golden Gai?

[@jeus_saaa]

19:35 Connor admitting that all he does is eat and drink leads me to believe that he is the type of friend who would constantly say bad things about anything you want to try to discourage you and you guys just end up wastefully eating and drinking your entire stay in Japan. Sounds like I'd rather be with Garnt than him any day.

[@ThatNinjaGuy]

Ikebukuro is by far the best place in Tokyo. It has the best parts of shibuya, shinkuku, Akihabara, and so much more in one district with a fraction of the people. Everyone I’ve taken to ikebukuro always ends up staying there for their next trip to Japan

[@tobiastranetellefsen4203]

Only me who finds Ikebukuro highly underrated, the area probably have some of the most awesome arcades in Tokyo.

[@Gnarloo]

Does anyone know any alternatives to golden gai in Tokyo? Where is the shimokita one they mentioned?

[@pax6833]

Funny I'll be flying to Tokyo in a few days, well timed episode.

[@willisread]

10 years in Tokyo here (2007 - 2017). My spots were always Nakameguro, Shimokitazawa, Koenji, Asagaya, Kichijoji and Shibuya.

[@AtlantisAng]

After discovering a shop selling Hokkaido stuff at a street nearby Asakusa, I want to return to visit that shop! I bought melon Pocky and Hokkaido foodstuff etc there. :D :D

[@CaseNumber00]

Anyone know any places in Japan to go to get artisan stuff? Like knives, pottery, or clothing?

[@conanlau4091]

Kappabashi Street for knives in Tokyo

[@chesteryu5647]

For clothing, if you are talking about modern Japanese fashion brand, go to Ura-Harajuku/Shimokita in Tokyo or Minamisenba/Amemura in Osaka.

[@koolarooo]

If you want to go way out of the way, Arita for pottery.

[@MarcoCaifan87]

Yes, Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho are overrated and touristy as hell, but it was really fun mingling with locals and other foreigners. Also, Asakusa (not the area around Sensoji), Ueno and Yokohama are awesome.

[@OneLastWo]

Still can't believe that the gyukatsu chain got so popular when there are so much good food in Japan.

[@auliaazzi8578]

My hometown is one of the hottest tourist spot in the country. As a local I can relate so much on your convo lol

[@patkundesu]

I went to Japan a few months ago, I had the urge to try Ichiran, but when I saw the line, I thought for myself "No, I don't have time for this" so I went someplace else.

[@Lattellerr]

3:36 That's not true, I've found some very good yakiniku places dead center of Akihabara. There's also a Yoshinoya, and idk about you but Yoshinoya is pretty mid when it comes to food in Japan but is goated by food quality standards worldwide.

[@lobodraco]

Grant at 1:26 “I hate crowds” but lives in Tokyo 😂 I wonder if he hates crowds because of living in Tokyo? 🤔 💭

[@tyrabjurman3584]

If one wants to experience the local vibe, stay at some place where there hardly is any tourist and just go to a local pub.

[@TenshiAM]

Takeshita Street was super overrated to me. It's just an overcrowded street and a hastle to get through imo

[@BOYVIRGO666]

I agree Akihabara is correctly rated. Everyone knows its not what it used to be but its still a spot to check it out if your a specific kind of tourist. And people kinda know that in general. Ichiran is not worth a 5 minute line. If theres no line its ok. Its fine. Its edible.

[@lycanlube7484]

I loved Shimokitazawa and Kappabashi in tokyo and anything outside of the touristy spots.

[@sow_scout4989]

Overrated for me is possibly Nara for the deer park. Last year I went to Miyajima and you get a similar experience with the deers, much less crowded and the deers are friendlier.

[@monkeyboyjonathan42]

Yeah, but who goes there just for the deer. I would mainly go for Todaiji and Kasuga Taisha. The deer is just something to do for a bit on the way to those places. The best time to go there though is in early to mid-August when they have the lantern festival.

[@johnp6987]

Everywhere has overrated tourist spots. Like you mentioned going off the beaten path can lead you to discover gems.

[@waterflame321]

The UDX building in Akihabara has some good food places.

[@Avalarion87]

I went to the skytree and had no line (go before 12) :D Imo its not overrated omoide yokocho > Golden Gai And i agree Kagoshima is a great city to stay, was there on my last trip

[@blaaaaaaaaaaaaargh]

Hoppi Dori in Asakusa is lit

[@Rx79100]

Glad that Ueno is not on this list 😂. ( Good place for relax / see some nature stuffs ) , But I probably put Ameyoko market up there. ( Unless you know certain shops there )

[@alyden567]

It is a good place to visit

[@Ariennon]

Ueno also has a lot of museums and good shopping places. Except for the big market street. It’s overrated af and it’s been ruined by foreign businesses

[@TheBeatles..]

Hahaha So its your 1st time in tokyo and you skip Shibuya & Shinjiku?? Really -> NO WAY. Asakusa is an experience & not just a temple!!! Joey is quite correct in his assessment. The only problem with this is when they do this type of evaluation, they are making the decisions based on living in Tokyo quite a long time (3-10 years i think). I bet all of them visited Shibuya, Harijuku and probably liked it the 1st time. To be honest, Ive been to Japan maybe 7 times in last 10 years and I do search for "less travelled" areas but man, walking Shibuya crossing, seeing hachiko and and going to Takeshita St was amazing. I do love Shimokita, kamakura etc but man, 1st two times visting Japan all these "tourist" spots were a dream to visit, but maybe not 10 times. Is chocolate or Matcha overrated - yes if you have had 10 blocks of chocolate in 2 days or matcha everyday, but initially these sweets are amazing. Thats Tokyo or Shibuya or Onigiri or Hokkaido ice cream or Shojin Ryori cuisine. All must do / must haves!!

[@xBabyRawrX]

just in time guys! going in two weeks

[@Cunningstunts23]

This was a great video

[@TheExcessus]

I haven't been to japan for 20 years, and at this point I would be completely lost if I went back since I don't know anyone there anymore.

[@TheExcessus]

Do the cable car in Kobe still have the sign that translates to "Carrying into a pet's gondola refuses a cat a dog etc"?

[@seelo1167]

This is why I don’t live in places I want to vacation.

[@AnonymousMarty]

3 times in Tokyo and every time, i line up for Ichiran. No regrets! Going a 4th this coming December.... and Ichiran once again!

[@Sleepy_I]

Presumably I'm missing the joke because this is some crazy advice for tourists. Apart from sky tree. There really is no need to go there, you can get better views of the city at any number of places. The rest are all good places to go if you're a tourist. It feels like a lot of the criticisms are coming from the views of locals rather than thinking for tourists. As the city caters more and more for tourists it loses some of its 'local' charm but it benefits the tourists. Some actual overrated places for both tourists and locals are Roppongi and the Ebisu/nakameguro/daikanyama triangle. Really not worth the time for anyone unless you live in those places.

[@requiemforameme1]

15:34 Joey’s the only hipster that’s anti-cyclist. 😂

[@Thiniking]

Golden Gai is mega overrated

[@averagedude7546]

if anyone ever reads this and goes to tokyo do not go to the tower, tokyo tower made me want to jump out of that fucking observatory thing especially for the higher deck, holy shit it sucks so much i wish i could get my 1500 yen and 45 minutes back

[@kart0ffel]

Asakusa is not cool if you life in japan…. But if you are a foreign for sure is a place to go! Though definitely at night with the lights on and now crowds!!

[@mygetawayart]

"I'm just not a temple person" -the buddhist monk

[@eigojiyouzu]

Akihabara resident - 100% overrated. Cant remember the last time i did something here. Always go to okachimachi, ueno, kanda for better food, parks, shopping etc. but, im not into anime, manga or maids so theres that

[@KaramelKing07]

I've been to Japan twice for about 30 days total and I love Ichiran lol.

[@joyjoyz778]

"Kyoto is overrated" , me laying in bed after having the time of my life this week in Kyoto "🙉"

[@collinhalverson4681]

Kyoto is a great place that is absolutely not overrated for tourists. When you live here a while, however, Kyoto loses some of its charm.

[@GunterD1337]

it's a must see for tourists but sucks for living in my opinion

[@monkeyboyjonathan42]

Kyoto is not overrated. You should definitely go if you have never been. The thing I don't like about it is how it is not as easy to get around by public transit as the other big cities. I guess the transit network is not as good because it is old and they don't want to disrupt that aesthetic. But it is definitely worth going to,.

[@Ariennon]

Kyoto is definitely not overrated, it’s just the crowds and all the disrespectful tourists…

[@theluffy99]

Don't listen to these idiots. If you like theme parks USJ is a lot of fun. There is so much things to do that 1 day is not enough.

[@ramengodzilla]

Shame you guys didn’t mention M.T. Takao

[@therealuncleben]

The monk isn't a temple person?

[@fabiozwei]

i will always return to Shibuya Area. favorite place to get everything for me

[@shandytown7019]

I agree with Chris Broad about views in Tokyo. Mori Tower is by far the best.

[@manofthepeople2165]

Maid cafes are a must do in tokyo

[@saborivaille1258]

I only go to Tokyo to see friends. Love Tohoku and Kyushu

[@iam_nick]

It’s easy to complain what’s bad, what’s your go to place then?