Kappabashi Dougu Street is the kitchenware district Jay was referring to: professional cookware, chef knives and the hyper-realistic plastic food displays used by Japanese restaurants. Allow roughly 2–3 hours and treat the knife purchase as the anchor.

• ★ Kappabashi Dougu Street Priority

  Start here and browse rather than buying at the first shop.

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• ★ Tsubaya Priority

  Knife specialist founded in Kappabashi in 1956; 1,000+ products and English-speaking staff. Excellent first stop to understand shapes, steels and price points.

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• ★ Kamata Hakensha Priority

  Four-generation knife shop/sharpener dating to 1923. Free name engraving is offered on purchased knives — a particularly good souvenir option.

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• ○ Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya Would like

  One of the classic public-facing plastic-food replica shops; souvenirs plus food-replica making experiences.

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• ○ Sato Food Samples Would like

  Professional and miniature food replicas; a good second plastic-food stop.

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Knife buying note: Tell the staff what you actually cook, whether you prefer stainless/easy-care or carbon steel, your dominant hand, and your comfort with sharpening. For an all-purpose home knife, ask to compare a gyuto and santoku rather than deciding on brand first.

Practical: Pack any purchased knife in checked baggage for the flight home and keep the receipt/packaging. Confirm current airline and Australian border requirements before departure.

• ★ Toyosu Market + sushi breakfast Priority

  Jay’s standout market suggestion: go very early, see the wholesale market atmosphere, then have sushi and a small beer for breakfast. The market opens at 5:00am on market days; the special tuna-auction observation deck is lottery-based, but the second-floor visitor walkway remains an option.

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• ○ Tsukiji Outer Market Would like

  The old wholesale market moved to Toyosu, but Tsukiji remains useful for food stalls, seafood and market atmosphere.

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• ○ Convenience-store meal Would like

  Jay specifically says to do this at least once: 7-Eleven, Lawson or Daily Yamazaki for sandwiches, pastries, fruit and snacks.

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• ○ Takashimaya food hall Would like

  Jay’s “Japanese Harrods” comparison: browse a basement depachika food hall and pick up something good.

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• ◇ Luxury hotel brunch If nearby

  Jay suggests a weekend brunch high in a major hotel for skyline views over coffee or a Bloody Mary.

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• ★ Palace Hotel Tokyo Priority

  Jay’s favourite hotel in the world. Go for a polished drink and the setting rather than necessarily staying there.

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• ★ The Peninsula Tokyo Priority

  Jay calls it the nicest hotel he has stayed in; his practical suggestion is coffee downstairs or a drink at the top-floor bar.

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• ○ Imperial Hotel Tokyo Would like

  Worth a drink for the hotel’s history and atmosphere. Note: Frank Lloyd Wright designed the famous earlier Imperial Hotel building; today’s main building is not that original Wright structure.

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• ○ Roppongi Would like

  Jay’s choice for a genuinely late night: clubs, karaoke, bottle service and venues running toward sunrise.

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• ◇ Jazz / blues / live music If nearby

  Jay says good small clubs are scattered across Tokyo — choose one near wherever you end up that night.

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• ★ Imperial Palace loop / East Gardens Priority

  Jay’s regular Tokyo morning routine. Walk or run around the moats; the palace area is also accessible from Marunouchi/Otemachi.

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• ★ Akihabara Priority

  Electronics, Pokémon cards, manga, gaming and cosplay — one of Jay’s must-see districts.

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• ○ Ginza Would like

  High-end shopping and cafés. Convenient to save some of this for your final Tokyo night when you are staying in Ginza.

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• ○ Temples & shrines Would like

  Jay’s advice is not to over-plan these: enter interesting ones as you encounter them, observe local etiquette and enjoy the surrounding stalls.

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• ★ One weird Tokyo experience Priority

  Jay explicitly recommends leaning into Tokyo’s eccentric side — themed cafés, robot experiences, street go-karts or whatever currently appeals.

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• ★ Onsen Priority

  Jay strongly recommends a traditional Japanese bathing experience, ideally at a natural hot spring. Usually nude and gender-separated; follow the venue’s etiquette.

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• Set up Suica or PASMO on your phones; Jay notes they are useful for convenience stores as well as trains.
• Use Google Maps or Apple Maps for rail navigation; Tokyo Metro and JR are separate systems.
• Keep your hotel name/address handy for taxis.
• For Tokyo → Kyoto, buy reserved Shinkansen seats together. Consider Green Car if the premium feels worthwhile.
• At the station, ask staff for help if you want it. For Tokyo–Kyoto you will be choosing a Tokaido Shinkansen service rather than simply asking for “limited express.”