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What are the best hobbies to learn in Tokyo?
For the last year, I've been obsessed with Tennis playing daily, but as far as my research showed, tennis is not an easy hobby to do in Tokyo due to lack of cou… I recently moved to Tokyo from abroad.
For the last year, I've been obsessed with Tennis playing daily, but as far as my research showed, tennis is not an easy hobby to do in Tokyo due to lack of courts, practice ealls and English speaking facilities.
What could be other hobbies I can pick while living in Tokyo? I see that bouldering is popular in Tokyo so that might be an option. My friend told there are jeans crafting courses/workshops, which sounds interesting.
Any additional suggestions apart from gym and learning Japanese? I already plan to do those.
BTW, I'm living in the Harajaku/Sendagaya area.
honestly bouldering is a solid pick, there's a bunch of gyms near you like B-Pump in Akihabara or even smaller ones in Shibuya. the community is super international so english is rarely an issue, plus it's easy to go solo
sounds like you're near the Sendagaya tennis courts actually, they're municipal so they're cheap but you gotta reserve online at 6am sharp for weekends. not impossible but def a hustle
since you're in Harajuku area, have you thought about film photography? there's a bunch of little camera shops around Yoyogi and you can develop at places like Sumida Photo. it's a chill way to explore the city without needing a partner
also if you're into making stuff, check out the leathercraft or knife-making workshops in Kappabashi. they do single-session classes in english sometimes, way less of a commitment than jeans crafting
Since you're in Sendagaya, you're walking distance from Meiji Jingu Gaien, which has a solid running route that loops around the stadiums and baseball fields. Lots of foreigners run there in the mornings and evenings, and there are free water stations near the Olympic memorial. It's a good way to see the changing seasons without any booking hassle.
If you want something more social, there are a few pottery studios in the Daikanyama area, like the one on Kyu-Yamate-dori that does wheel-throwing classes in English. It takes a few sessions to make something usable, but the walk from Harajuku through the backstreets is nice and the studio atmosphere is relaxed. You don't need to bring anything.
For something completely different, there's a shakuhachi (bamboo flute) teacher who runs workshops in a small temple near Yoyogi-Hachiman station. It's about a 15-minute walk from Sendagaya, and he teaches the basics in simple English. It's not a typical hobby and takes patience, but it's a genuine Tokyo experience that doesn't involve crowded courts or climbing holds.
ngl the jeans crafting thing is cool but also there's a bunch of woodworking studios in Shimokitazawa that do beginner classes in english, like Tokyo Wood Shop. you can make a little stool or shelf in a weekend, and the vibe is super chill
also since you're near Harajuku, have you tried running clubs? there's one that meets at Yoyogi Park on saturdays, super casual and mostly expats. no booking, just show up with shoes
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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