Tokyo is like a person with a split personality. On the one hand there’s the calm beauty of the strolling gardens, the majestic gravity of the shrines and the fascinating temples. On the other side there’s the highly advanced technology, frantically busy streets and chic bars and restaurants – I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere that is so pronounced in its contrast between old and new. With that in mind I wanted to give you some suggestions of ten ways to experience modern Tokyo and tomorrow I’ll follow up with how to experience traditional Tokyo.
1. Visit Akhibara, Tokyo’s Electronic Town
Akhibara is Tokyo’s technology hub, with shops selling gadgets, computers, games, phones…basically any electronic that you can imagine. It’s a fascinating place just to walk around and experience sensory overload such as in the Pachinko parlours a place where you can witness an addictive form of gambling a little like pinball.
Akhibara is also the centre of manga and anime culture and you can find plenty of shops selling comics in between the technology outlets.
2. Visit a themed cafe
With everything I’d heard about Japan, I thought there would be themed cafes everywhere. I thought I’d only need to turn a corner to find the cat cafe, owl restaurant or the place where you can share a meal with a Moomin. I was wrong, there aren’t as many as you would think but one I particularly wanted to find was maidreamin, we went to the one in Akhibara though there are others across the city.
The cafe isn’t sleazy at all, it’s really cute and funny and the customers are men, women and children. ‘Kawaii’ or cuteness is an aspect of culture seen throughout modern Tokyo and at maidreamin you can partake in adorable food made into the shape of animals.
Mr S chose a strawberry flavour rabbit, while I went for the vanilla cat.
Mr S and I enjoyed our sundaes served by the maids who also sing, dance and entertain you. The whole experience is actually hilarious.
3. Visit the Robot Restaurant
Talking of themed cafes we also paid a visit to the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s most lively entertainment areas. 
Quite honestly, it was one of the most touristy things that we did but it was also utterly hilarious…
It’s not really a restaurant but you can order a bento box and some drinks and sit back and enjoy the fun. Prepare for cabaret performers, dancers, flashing lights, giant robots, dinosaurs and techno music. Oh, and it’s all in English.
4. Karaoke!!
One thing we didn’t have a chance to do is experience karaoke, one of Japan’s most loved forms of entertainment. 
We saw a fair few karaoke bar in the Shinjuku area near the Robot Restaurant, but there are literally 100’s of karaoke bars to choose from. The more popular choice is for a group to rent a karaoke box and sing to their heart’s content while being served food and drinks. Hot tub karaoke is one option that sounds particularly interesting…
5. Take in the View
With a room on the 36th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Toyko in the Nihonbashi Tower we had a spectacular view of the city but there are several more great places to take in the view. Of course, there are other tall buildings which offer incredible panoramas. The Tokyo Skytree is at 634 metres, the world’s tallest communication tower and the second highest structure in the world with views extending 100km on a clear day. An alternative is the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills which includes the Tokyo City View observation deck, widely agreed to be one the city’s best with a 250m high point of view.
An alternative way to admire the modern architecture of the city is on the Sumida River Cruise. We caught the boat from the Asakusa Pier from which you can see the Tokyo Skytree and Philippe Starck’s famous sculpture that sits on top of the Asahi Beer headquarters and has been nicknamed the ‘golden turd.’
6. Go for drinks at the Park Hyatt Toyko
If you’ve seen the film Lost in Translation, you’ll have heard of the famous Park Hyatt Hotel. Mr S and I wanted to retrace the steps of the two main characters of the film who met at the hotel’s New York Bar whilst staying there.
We had debated staying there but I was warned the location wasn’t the best and after visiting we realised we’d made the right decision as The Mandarin Oriental was the more stylish hotel. However, you can’t beat the view at the Park Hyatt and we loved the atmosphere of the bar as we enjoyed drinks while listening to live music.
7. Explore teenage pop culture in Harajuku
Harajuku is where you can find some of the most extreme in Japanese teenage fashion and popular culture. 
The sacred place in kawaii and the hub of this culture is Takeshita Street, lined with funky boutiques, themed cafes, crepe places and bubble tea outlets, its a pedestrianised area and well and truly packed with people.
But it’s definitely worth squeezing your way in and checking out the interesting streets and beguiling fashions.
8. Visit the Shibuya Crossing
Dubbed the world’s busiest crossing, where ten lanes of traffic and five walk ways converge, there can be as many as 2,500 dashing across the street at the Shibuya Crossing at one time. Known as ‘The Scramble’ people cross in all directions as the massive neon lights glimmer in the background.
9. Shop ’til You Drop
Omote-sando has been dubbed the Champs-Élysées of Toyko, a beautiful street filled with contemporary architecture and lined with fashion boutiques and high-end shopping centres. Here you can also find Kiddy Land, a toy mecca, kawaii heaven and perfect place to satisfy all your Hello Kitty needs. 
Ginza (a short distance from Mandarin Oriental Tokyo) is also one of Tokyo’s top shopping districts blending luxury department stores with long standing stores and galleries. Speaking of department stores, be sure to check out the basement of one to see the most amazing food hall and the opportunity to purchase basically any Japanese delicacy you can think of. 
The Mitsukoshi department store near our hotel totally knocked the socks off of Harrods.
10. Try sushi with a twist at Nobu Tokyo
We couldn’t help but try out the Japanese version of one of our all time favourite sushi restaurants: Nobu. 
World-renowned chef and restauranteur Nobu Matsuhisa is know for his fusion food of Japanese and Peruvian flavours, having originally trained in sushi bars in Tokyo. Despite there being two Nobu restaurants in London, we were keen to try the ‘Nobu-style’ sushi using the local ingredients in Japan. 
With fish sourced directly from the Tsujiki Market, it was incredible to try the food from our favourite restaurant using fish that fresh.
Those are my ten ways to experience modern Tokyo, let me know if you have any to add!
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