This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Justin Miller, a Tokyo-based DJ and English teacher. He shares what he's learned about Tokyo after living in Japan for 15 years. It's been edited for length and clarity.
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is one of the biggest cities in the world, with over 37 million people living in the metropolitan area. Tokyo is also one of the most popular travel destinations in Asia. In 2019, over 15 million people visited the city. Famous for its expansive urban landscape, it's also filled with natural havens like Ueno Park and the Imperial Palace Garden.
I'm originally from Albany, in upstate New York, but I have lived in Japan for 15 years. I moved to Nagoya in 2008 and then relocated to Tokyo. I've called Tokyo my home for the past 12 years.
The city is so vast, and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface after living here for over a decade. My favorite thing about living in Tokyo is constantly exploring and discovering new things — from lesser-known neighborhoods to the countless immaculate gardens and temples. The nightlife is spectacular, too — I ran a Japanese oldies DJ event in Shibuya for 10 years — just one example of the many exciting happenings people can check out in Tokyo.
After living in Tokyo for over a decade, I've seen tourists make the same mistakes while traveling about the city. Here are seven of the most common mistakes I've spotted and how they can be avoided.