It’s easy to fall in love with Japan. If you care about design and stores and eating and style then falling in love is even easier. I lived in Tokyo after I graduated from college and would return periodically for work. Then my sister and I started going on an annual trip which became a highlight of our year.
That was all put on hold during Covid. Only now is the country fully opening to travelers, which is very exciting. Tourism, however, is a double-edge sword, necessary for the economy and, at times, an inconvenience for residents. That fine line was explored in this recent piece in the Times about Kyoto’s reluctant reliance on visitors.
Yet this remains a good time to go, so here are some favorite places in Tokyo and general thoughts about visiting one of the world’s truly special places.