The Essential Guide to Taking on Tokyo Like a Local

From trendy Tomigaya to local-favorite Kichijoji, here are some of Tokyo's best-kept secrets.

Midnight trains packed with spent salarymen. Tangled streets snaking through canyons of neon light. Alleys wall-to-wall with shops hawking bowls of ramen and electronic parts. And of course, the world's busiest crossing, where pedestrians glued to their cell-phone screens fire like pinballs every time the walk signal turns green.

Images like these have branded Tokyo as a concrete jungle that never sleeps. But if you get to know the city's vast constellation of neighborhoods, a more nuanced picture comes into view. From trendy Tomigaya to local-favorite Kichijoji, many areas prove that even Tokyo has a quiet side. Here are some of the best spots to experience Tokyo like a local.

Tomigaya

A great place to start is Tomigaya. This stylish inner-city oasis just beyond Shibuya's thrum is an ideal entry point into Tokyo's local side. The best way to experience this vibrant community of in-the-know locals and expats is to cafe or bar hop through its calm lanes.

Camelback Sandwich & Espresso is a great spot for a daytime caffeine shot and a bite to-go. Another popular hangout is the Japanese outpost of Norwegian cafe and bar Fuglen, which serves coffee in the daylight hours and aperitifs after dusk. And in the evening, Ahiru Store, the community's favorite wine bar, serves a great menu of Japanese-inspired Western tapas.