For my 27th birthday, I was in Tokyo. And it was a dream!

My first time in Tokyo was in May 2018 for a modelling job but unfortunately, I couldn’t explore much of the city. So this time in November 2019 I had my second chance.

My Tokyo travel guide will expose you which dishes to order and where to eat them, plus some sightseeing spots in between food breaks.

 

When I reflect back both of the season’s May -November were extremely cold, around 10 degrees.

So, my recommendations to you are to always bring warm clothes and apply layering. 

Fashion tip: You can wear anything you want in Tokyo, that is the beauty of it.

Going for a run, immediately after unpacking my suitcase. Some people would find it strange, well, it would be the people that don’t really know me personally. It’s a small ritual I developed for 6 years modelling in different parts of the world. I would go for a run because for me, it’s the easiest way to get to know your surroundings.

Tokyo is definitely an all year destination, appealing to both business and leisure travellers.

You will need at least 3 to 5 days to explore the city.

Almost everywhere you can choose between a traditional Japanese breakfast in the morning or typical selection of bread, variety of pastries, live stations for eggs (any way you crave them) or yoghurt.

And when I mentioned yoghurt, have you ever heard of Caspian Sea yoghurt. Me, neither. So apparently, Caspian Sea Yogurt or also called matsoni, is a semi-thick, drinkable yoghurt, acting like a probiotic. And after I did my research this is a BULGARIAN YOGURT!!!

With so many eating/dining options, we were hard press to try them all.

Service in Tokyo is truly top-notch. The staff everywhere is trying their best.

For my birthday we went for a special dinner at Roppongi Uka-tei, a restaurant where a chef cooked in front of us on an iron plate.

The experience was one of a kind.

What I love the most about Tokyo are the gardens and parks in the centre of the city. Feels like a refuge in the busy metropolis.

If you fancy a workout, you are in walking distance from any urban oasis.

Travellers can enjoy a number of sweets. There are plenty of street food stalls that offer mochi and soft ice cream. For the ones that are not familiar with mochi – mochi is a Japanese type of rice cake. My advice is to treat yourself and don’t go to Japan if you are dieting.

 

For complete RAMEN experience, sit down and let the chef prepare it in front of you. The good Ramen places are very tiny with limited space. And for the pretty famous places, there is always a queue.

For cocktails, we headed to Bar Starman in Roppongi. Where the customers can choose their own ingredients for the cocktails.

Drinks are taken very seriously over here, so don’t expect a boring glass of wine. It’s a whole performance.

The strange thing I tried there was a sake with gold flakes.

From fashion to cosmetics, to candy, there is something for everyone.

We took a break from all the mouth-watering dishes and we went to Tokyo Sky Tree.

The world tallest observation tower at 634 m. The view from the top of the television tower was stunning, obviously. The best part, though? The high-speed elevator that takes passengers approximately for 50 seconds. Worth-seeing once in a lifetime !

We grab a coffee art latte there while enjoying the view.

One thing that surprised me pleasantly, was that Smoking in Japan is ONLY ALLOWED in designed areas in parks, streets and buildings.

If you are caught breaking the law, you will be fined 1,000 yen. (around 8 euro, but still) As a result of the regulation, the smoking rate has dropped to 19 per cent and continues to decline faster than any Western nation. We have so much to learn from Japan.

You can literally go on the street with your animal. While sightseeing I noticed this guy you had his cat on his shoulders while WALKING. Crazy! Another guy walking with his pet ( I think it was an opossum).

If anyone knows the name of this animal, write it to me in the comments section.

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On 22nd November this year, I had an amazing job with a very talented team. Many thanks to Makoto (the Japanese photographer), Ou Eiken (hair and makeup) and Okukawa (makeup artist and stylist) that created this beautiful portrait series of me under the heavy pouring rain.

Tokyo is occupying a very special place in my heart and I can’t wait to explore more of Japan in 2020! Can’t recommend it enough, it must be seen and felt.