Yanaka / Ueno

Old Tokyo neighborhood with temples, museums, and local shopping. Safe and cheaper than central areas. Less English spoken.

Yanaka survived WWII bombings so it still has narrow lanes with old wooden houses, small temples, and Yanaka Cemetery - gives you an old Tokyo feel that's rare now. Yanaka Ginza shopping street has locals buying street food and talking to shop owners they've known forever. Cat decorations and cat-themed stuff everywhere. Ueno Park has museums, a zoo, and walking paths. Ueno Station is a big transit hub. In the morning you'll see people doing tai chi in the park and families feeding birds. Both areas are safe, though less English than tourist zones since it's more local life. The walk between Ueno Station and Yanaka takes 15-20 minutes and shows you daily Tokyo instead of tourist stuff. Cheaper than central Tokyo.