One Slow day, Tokyo Micro Style
Good news for all of you travelers: Japan is reopening its borders to non-visa holders this November! This means two things: first off, I’m genuinely happy for many of you that have been dreaming to travel this far with the recent appreciation of Japanese culture. Second is, my DMs are absolutely filled with the same question: “Hey man, I’m going to Japan next month, do you know anyone I can connect with to ride bikes?”
To that, my general answer is:
“I can connect you with places where you might meet people that are dear to me and into the same culture as we are. But I can’t send every person asking for help to the same group of people”
Here is the best thing I can do, though. Taking you on my favorite day in the crazy city that is Tokyo, and making you discover some of my beloved spots, and who knows, you might encounter a few of my friends over there.
Just before we start this, I’d like to stress something very important: Japan is NOT your country. It is essential to remember that the special cultural customs over there are very different from the ones we have in the western world. Even if you are a client, you still need to obey how this country works. Be nice, be respectful, and if you’re not sure of what is rude or not, I’ll happily answer any of your questions in the comment section below this article. Now that we’ve settled that, let’s get into it!
Since I live my life pretty slow, it isn’t rare that a day off, for me, consists of only three destinations. One coffee to talk with friends, one bike shop to look at bikes and parts, and a good meal to send me to bed with a smile on my face. This guide is also a good way for you to have places to ride to. I feel like having an objective, a place to be at, usually works better for me than just cycling aimlessly around. If you’re taking your bike with you and are worried about the Japanese laws about brakeless cycling, I'll take you back to this write-up, where I explain everything in more detail.
First on the list is:
Good People Good Coffee
It is by far the place I've spent the most amount of time at. Damn, I've spent entire days over there, just talking to people. It is a very small place, and it got pretty popular in the past few years. But there is usually always a place to sit and people to talk to. It is a “no -laptop coffee” so don’t expect to get any work done there, since the owner clearly made this place for you to relax and take a break. If you go on Sunday or Monday, Good People Good Coffee, transforms itself into Torazawa Coffee. You’ll be met by Tora-San who is a very good friend of mine and a damn fast messenger to top it all off. He is an awesome dude that loves to look and talk about bikes, so make sure you bring your best asset. IF you go any other day of the week, your barista will be Tomoshi-San (who is also the owner of the place). Tomoshi-San doesn't talk a lot, but this man literally told me 80% of everything I know about fixed-gear. He is a true OG and his playlist is always on point.
Next on the list is 25LAS. Which is, for me, my all-time favorite bike shop in Tokyo. You have a 100% chance to find someone with a sick bike arriving within the hour (if they’re not already there).
If you’re on the hunt for an NJS frame or some cool parts, this is also a great place to start. The owner, Nickolas, has an “always moving” inventory, so you’ll be guaranteed to find something interesting. He is the kind of guy that professional Keirin racers go to when they want to get rid of things. If you haven’t seen it yet, I made a blog post on his own bike,you can find it here. Just remember that the shop is EXTREMELY small! So if there are already 2 people inside, don’t force your way in, and just wait a few minutes.
Finally, it’s time to eat! It’s simple, VOVO-Curry is my all-time favourite curry place ever! The menu is quite simple with only four options: A classic chicken butter curry, a vegetable curry, a spicy beef curry, and the dry-pork curry. They are all amazing but the dry-pork is out of this world, and the spicy beef is like, reaaaaallyyyyyyy spicy.
You can choose up to two versions on your plate and the meal is really affordable.
It is a traditional “small kitchen” kind of restaurant with only a few seats. Don’t wait for anything fancy, because this is where the real deal is at! My best advice when it comes to food in Japan is: Take a gamble! Small places that look like nothing are usually full of delicious things that your brain can’t yet understand. The menu will most likely be in Japanese, but if you’re respectful and genuinely interested, you’ll have the best time over, I can guarantee it.
Let me finish on this: Things over there don’t really work the way that you think they do. Yes, you might have watched nine hundred episodes of One Piece and read the entirety of Naruto three times, but it's still not like that. Be the tourist that you'd like to see in your hometown, even if that means holding your excitement back a bit. You’re going to have an amazing experience, and I’m sure you’ll make unforgettable memories. So enjoy, and make it enjoyable for others!
Also, if you come this far into this write-up, here is a map of all the cool bike shops in Tokyo. You’re welcome.
