After we dropped off our luggage at the hotel, we took the metro to Tokyo Station. The station website refers to itself as Tokyo Station City. After getting lost in its enormous labyrinth, I can see why it deserves that name.
Tokyo Station Sushiro
The first order of business was to eat lunch. We arrived before the 11:00 a.m. opening time at Sushiro, so we did a little shopping at a drug store (sunscreen) and 3 Coins.
Going to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant is a must-do when visiting Japan. The kids had fun placing our orders on the tablet and waiting for the sushi to zoom to our table.
I thought these hot water dispensers at each table were so convenient. The tables also had a small jar of green tea powder so you could serve yourself hot tea. D could not get enough (it was surprisingly good).
After trying most of the basic nigiri, we decided to be a little adventurous. This was an interesting combination (the Japanese do love their mayonnaise).
We ordered a grand total of 22 plates, and the total bill was $24!
Tokyo Okashi Land
Not too far from Sushiro, we happened upon a cluster of stores called Okashi Land. Since were full from our sushi lunch, we did not have much room to try all the snacks. I also didn’t want to buy any food souvenirs since we would have to carry them around for the rest of the day. However, it was still fun to browse.
I did have to make a stop when we saw Tokyo Banana.
This is the Cream An Donut, which has red bean and banana custard filling. We all shared one, but k and I are the only ones in the family that appreciate red bean desserts. The flavors were more subtle than I expected. Here is a thoughtful and thorough review of the Tokyo Banana donut, along with the famous curry pan.
Tokyo Character Street
Another highlight of Tokyo Station is Tokyo Character Street. This is a collection of small shops that sell character merch. I made a list of the shops I wanted to see: Sumikko-gurashi, Rilakkuma, Miffy Style, Koupen-chan and Tomica.
Miffy is my current favorite. I think I was influenced by my mom having my sister and I eat off of Miffy plates for a good part of our childhood.
Now I am passing my love of Miffy down to k. It is so interesting to me that Miffy is not Japanese, as she totally has a Japanese vibe. One day I hope to visit the Miffy Museum in Miffy’s original home, the Netherlands.
One tip that a friend gave me that I will pass along: if you see something that you like in Japan, just buy it there. Do not tell yourself that you will see it again someplace else, because oftentimes it will be difficult to find again.
Neither k nor n are into anime, but I had n stand in front of this display just for kicks.
Traveler’s Factory At Tokyo Station
While researching potential Japanese souvenirs, I fell down the Youtube Traveler’s Factory rabbit hole. After watching so many Youtubers extol the Traveler’s Factory notebooks, I had to check them out. Finding the Traveler’s Factory store in Tokyo Station proved to be somewhat of a challenge.
The small store was fun to peruse, but I could not bring myself to make the somewhat expensive investment in a hobby I probably don’t have time for.
However, I was excited to see the Traveler’s Factory stamping station. Japan is a nation of stamp-lovers (again, my people!), so keep your eyes open and you will see stamps to commemorate your travels at various places (train stations, museums, etc.)
I think D and the kids were kind of like, “Really, we came all this way for a stamp?” They just don’t understand the satisfaction.
Tokyo Station Post Office
Another somewhat random stop I wanted to make was the Tokyo post office that is located just outside of Tokyo Station. As I mentioned, we were a little lost when trying to find the Traveler’s Factory Store. Well, we were even more lost while trying to exit Tokyo Station to get to street level. Google maps and asking strangers did not work. Finally, D suggested trying this one staircase, and we made it out! By this time, D and the kids were not in the mood for more walking to a post office, so they rested at Marunouchi Square while I went on a solo quest.
Aren’t these post office mascots so cute? The post office had some cute stationery and cards, which was my main reason for visiting. I think the US post office needs a mascot!
I bought these two frame-worthy postcards.
When I met up with the family, I saw this BEAMS store which looks so impressive from the outside. I thought it would be interesting to take a look, but everything was expensive and not really our style.
Final Thoughts
If you stay in Tokyo, you will probably find yourself near Tokyo Station at some point. It is a major transportation hub and the place where many travelers catch the Shinkansen to visit other places in Japan. Since it is located underground, it would be a cool place (literally) to visit in the summer or when it is raining. There are so many restaurants and shops that it is impossible to see it all. Make a list of the places you want to experience beforehand to make the most of your visit. (If we go again, I want to check out Ramen Street). There are maps everywhere and try not to get lost like us.