Restaurants, Bars and Cafés Beauty & Health Points of Interest

Downtown charm and century-old businesses Ueno (上野), Asakusa (浅草) and Ningyocho (人形町) are older, Edo-era areas of the city. Perhaps one of the most photographed scenes in Tokyo, the big red lantern under the Kaminarimon (雷門, “thunder gate”) in Asakusa is the start of a long walkway down to Sensoji temple (浅草寺), both sides lined with small shops selling souvenirs, handmade sweets and snacks. Ueno is the site of Tokyo’s proud zoo with animals from around the globe, and Ningyocho is full of old Japanese charm (and traditional delicacies) and is a perfect place to splurge on a nice lunch or dinner, pick up a few souvenirs or get a few great photos ops.

Ameya Yokocho (アメヤ横町) outdoor shopping area Find great deals on seafood, meats, vegetables, pickled and packaged foods, clothes, accessories and pretty much anything else that can be merchandised at this large outdoor market, known as “Ame-yoko”. Lively bargaining takes place on all street corners; go for the energy if not for a good deal. Recommended: for a great selection of Korean and Chinese ingredients, go to the basement of the Ameyoko Center Building. Directly opposite of JR Ueno station, Hirokoji exit 03-3832-5053 Station: Ueno (JR Hirokoji exit) more information...

Mefle (メイドリフレクソロジー　ミフレ) maid café and reflexology Akihabara is famous for its otaku (comic and anime geeks) culture, so it may not come as a surprise that there are cafes where the servers are all young women dressed in maid costumes who call you goshujinsama (master). Both men and women are welcome to stop by most of these cafes. Mefle (pronounced 'mi-fu-re') is unique in that it offers reflexology treatments as well. All areas are non-smoking. You can get Polaroid pictures taken with the maids; two photos for ￥1,000. Watanabe Bldg. 2F, 3-8-17 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku 03-5294-8855 Station: Akihabara (JR Denkimachi exit) more information...

Ueno Zoo (上野動物園) ueno_zoo A large zoo with several unique and endangered animals like pandas, lowland gorillas, polar bears and Bengal tigers. A petting zoo for children is located on the south side. ￥600 for adults. 9-83 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku 03-3828-5171 Station: Ueno (JR Park exit; Keisei line main gate exit), Nezu (metro south exit) more information...