Shibuya’s sleek and relaxed neighbors Daikanyama, Nakameguro and Ebisu stun with stylish boutiques, art galleries and high-end restaurants drawing the hip and young Tokyo-crowd hungry for design-inspiration.

Start your day at T-Site - the exclusive conglomeration of shops, a restaurant and lounge, based around Tsutaya Bookstore, which in itself is worth traveling to Daikanyama for.

Make sure to take a break at the gorgeous Anjin lounge on the second floor of Tsutaya bookstore (central building) and indulge in one of the unique green tea and coffee creations, or, a simple meal and late-night cocktails. If you are craving something a little sweeter, head to Dolce Tacubo, one of the most beautiful dessert shops in town and try out their to-die-for choux à la crème.

         For a more traditional experience visit Kyu Asakura House, an early 20th century residence plus garden which will make you feel transported right back into old Japan. The entry fee is a mere 100 yen for adults and will give you access to the building itself and the lovely garden, perfect for an afternoon stroll away from the crowds of central Tokyo. 

Near Kyu Asakura House, you can take a coffee break at LURF GALLERY CAFE which hosts a beautiful cafe featuring vintage furniture from Denmark and a small shop selling design goods.

Further down the road towards Shibuya you will find Log Road, a hip road of with shops, a brewery, restaurant and outdoor seating, all nestled in a quiet, green oasis.

        Meguro river around Nakameguro is home to some stylish boutiques and restaurants and one of the city’s best places to see the cherry blossoms in spring. 

If you visit Tokyo during other seasons, be sure to check out the enormous Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Designed by famed architect Kengo Kuma, the world’s biggest Starbucks is a 4-floor coffeeshop, roastery, bakery, bar and inspiration lounge located right next to Meguro river.

If you are a photo enthusiast, head over to Ebisu and check out the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, or photographic art bookstore NADiff a/p/a/r/t and learn more about the work of Japanese and international avant-garde photographers.

        Finish your day in style at Longrain, a modern Thai restaurant with sleek interior and outstanding views over Tokyo, or Ebisu Yokocho, a tightly-packed backstreet alley, lined with smokey stalls selling mouthwatering delicacies such as grilled beef sushi to Tokyo’s late-night crowd.

Over in a small side street is Bar TRENCH, a favorite among cocktail aficionados, and always worth a trip, even if you don’t already happen to be in the area. During the warm months, crowds will spill out into the street, making for a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere, and paired with one of TRENCH’s carefully crafted drinks in hand, it’s not hard to imagine why this bar is consistently ranked as one of Asia’s best.