When I moved to Tokyo, I came in knowing almost nothing. I wasn’t into anime or J-pop, and the extent of my Japanese was basically just arigatou. Living here has been one long learning curve, and I’m still discovering new things all the time. At some point, I thought, why not just share what I’m finding? So I started a Tiktok series where I explore different Tokyo neighborhoods and take you along with me. It’s been way more fun than I expected, and I’ve learned a ton about Japan in the process. If you’re interested in seeing both the well-known areas and the local spots people actually love, keep reading.
First up: Jiyugaoka
Jiyugaoka is a European-inspired neighborhood in Meguro Ward. I almost didn’t want to talk about it because it’s not completely flooded with tourists yet — which is part of why I love it so much.
The area has a great mix of restaurants, cafés, and small shops, plus a couple of thrift stores that are perfectly curated. Anytime I’m here, I usually pop into the Book Off and 2nd Street thrift stores, just to see what I can find. It’s the kind of neighborhood where you don’t need a strict plan — you can just walk, turn down random streets, and still end up somewhere interesting.
Another reason I’m in Jiyugaoka more often than I expected is the number of pet shops. I should say, though, most of them are very much catered to tiny dogs. Like under-15-pounds tiny. My dog is a 35-pound Shikoku Ken, which makes her “Oki!” (Japanese for “large”) by Tokyo standards, so finding things for her can be… a challenge. Still, it’s fun to look, even if most of it isn’t meant for us.
While wandering around this time, I grabbed a pork bun from Tokyo Pork Bun and tried what’s officially my new favorite drink: an iced chai with tapioca from Gong Cha. Gong Cha is originally from Taiwan but has gone pretty international at this point. I’ve tried several of their drinks but each time I keep coming back to the chai.
Jiyugaoka also has no shortage of cafés. I passed by a Peter Rabbit Café that looked incredibly cute, but we ended up going somewhere a little more traditional instead. Kosoan is a tea house tucked away from the busier streets. It’s like taking a step back in time. You sit on tatami mats, look out onto a small garden, and forget you’re still in modern day Tokyo for a bit.
They also recently opened an I’m donut, location in the area. This malasada-style donut shop is incredibly popular with both tourists and locals, and it’s common to see lines wrapping around the block at locations like Harajuku or Nakameguro. This spot, though, was noticeably less crowded, which made the experience way more enjoyable — and hopefully it stays that way. I’m donut makes some of the best donuts I’ve ever had, and while I do think they live up to the hype, I wouldn’t personally wait more than about 20 minutes for them.
Who I’d Recommend This Area To
I recommend Jiyugaoka if you want a less crowded part of Tokyo where you can check out a couple thrift stores, wander around, enjoy a nice café or delicious restaurant and buy a cute souvenir for your fur baby. To me I think Jiyugaoka is an awesome lesser known gem of Tokyo. Keep following along to see which Tokyo neighborhood I cover next.
Check out these other articles for some more of our adventures:
Recap on a year living in Tokyo
What I miss about living in Italy … and what I don’t