Ebisu, Nakameguro, Daikanyama恵比寿・中目黒・代官山

Suits:

Dinner and bars away from the crowds

In short:

One stop from Shibuya; Meguro River is packed in blossom week.

Think of central Tokyo as the JR Yamanote loop, about 35 km and an hour end to end. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro sit on its west side; Tokyo Station, Ginza and Ueno on the east; Asakusa is just outside it to the north-east and Odaiba across the bay. A first visit lives on the loop plus Asakusa: pick a bed near a station on your airport's line and keep each day on one side of the loop.

Lines from the Tokyo drinking guide that name this district.

• Ebisu and Nakameguro · Standing bars, craft beer, cocktail rooms · until about 24:00–02:00The calmer, locals' night out one stop from Shibuya.
• Izakaya · Japanese pub with small plates; chain or family-run · until about 23:00–24:00 · ¥3,000–5,000 (≈ US$25–35) an eveningAround every station; Ebisu, Yūrakuchō, Shinjuku
• Alley bars (yokochō) · Rows of tiny counters seating 6–10 · until Late · ¥700–1,200 (≈ US$5–9) a drink plus a seat chargeOmoide Yokochō, Golden Gai, Nonbei Yokochō, Ebisu Yokochō

Markets and shopping streets from the Tokyo buying guide that name this district.

• Books and prints · Jinbōchō used-book district; Tsutaya Daikanyama and Ginza Six · About 10:00–19:00About 10:00 AM–7:00 PMSome Jinbōchō shops sell old woodblock prints and maps.