An F1 driver's fast and furious guide to Tokyo

Red Bull's driver Yuki Tsunoda talks us through the must-see places in Tokyo ahead of his home race at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Whenever Yuki Tsunoda returns to fast and furious Tokyo after months of (literally) racing around the globe, it's the city's bountiful food options that help remind him he's home.

"When I'm back I always make a detailed plan of where I'm going to eat," declares the young Red Bull driver; known for being one of Formula 1's biggest foodies. "On every single street and every single block there are so many great restaurants. The competition for food is so high as currently Tokyo has the highest concentration of Michelin star restaurants in the world.

A native of Sagamihara city, around 47km south-west of Tokyo, Tsunoda – who now lives in Faenza, Italy – heads straight to Tokyo whenever he's back in Japan.  "Even when I return to Japan now, which happens around three times a year, I normally stay in Tokyo," he says. "That's where I can do business, enjoy the food and experience the nightlife. It's always so fun to be back there." 

Each April, Tsunoda's return to Tokyo is particularly triumphant when he races in his home Grand Prix. For Tsunoda, what separates the Japanese Grand Prix from the other tracks is the scintillating and contagious atmosphere, which he insists he "can feel in the car". Every time Tsunoda emerges at the Suzuka Circuit, he's greeted with a tidal wave of cheers and support that only increases when he's in the car and racing around the circuit.

The excitement was particularly vibrant at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, when he finished 10th to become the first Japanese drive to score points since 2012. "As soon as I got out of the car, I could see so many people were happy," he says. "With that kind of support, you just feel like a hero. You also feel extra pressure too, and responsibility. But it's a special feeling."

After the race, Tsunoda had no shortage of ways to celebrate. As the world's most populous metropolitan area, home to more than 41 million residents as of 2024, Tokyo is constantly abuzz with energy and excitement. Visitors (and locals) get lost in its bustling markets and bask in its futuristic, neon-lit shopping and nightlife sectors, while the city's many parks, gardens and ancient temples mean there's also room for contemplation and self-reflection. 

Here are Tsunoda's top ways to enjoy Tokyo – off the grid.

The city now known as Tokyo began life as a small fishing village called Edo, inhabited since ancient times. Today, its centuries of rich history are proudly on display in its captivating backdrop of modern skyscrapers set against historic temples. Each of the city's 23 wards offers unique sights – like youthful, trendy Shibuya with its iconic "scramble" street crossing; and Ginza, lined with elegant luxury boutiques.

When Tsunoda wants to soak up Tokyo's modern-meets-ancient scenery, he heads to Asakusa, a serene neighbourhood known for its traditional charm and for being one of Tokyo's main geisha districts. "If you want to see the traditional side in Japan, the Sensō-ji temple is so nice," says Tsunoda. Known for its majestic Hozomon Gate, Sensō-ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo; a five-storey pagoda and Buddhist place of worship that instantly transports you to 7th-Century Japan. Visitors to Asakusa can also stroll down Nakamise-dori; one of Japan's oldest shopping streets.

And for a mile-high view of the city, Tsunoda suggests visiting Tokyo Skytree. The tallest freestanding tower in the world at 634m, Tokyo Skytree offers stunning, all-encompassing views of Tokyo and beyond. "It's the highest building in Tokyo and you can see the whole city from there," says Tsunoda. Visitors can also enjoy the mammoth tower's 300-plus shops and restaurants. Reserving a ticket in advance is strongly recommended to avoid queues.

Website:

https://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

Address: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032Phone: +81 3-3842-0181

Website:

https://tokyo-skytree.net/

Address: 1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-0045, Japan

Phone: +81 570-550-634

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/tokyoskytree_official

Whenever he's in Tokyo, Tsunoda always hits Osoba no Kouga in Minato City for their soba (buckwheat) noodles. Helmed by Hiroshi Kouga – who has been making soba for more than 20 years – the elegant space remains one of Tokyo's most affordable Michelin-starred soba noodle shops. 

Tsunoda also insists that visitors try wagyu steak when they're in Tokyo. Translating to "Japanese cow", wagyu is globally regarded as premium beef for its flavour and tenderness, made rich and juicy by the distinctive marbling pattern of fat. Tsunoda insists, "Wagyu just tastes different when it's from a cow fed in Japan." 

Tsunoda's favourite place to enjoy wagyu steak is Ukai-Tei in the upscale Ginza district, lauded for its opulent mixture of Art Noveau and Japanese design. Watching its chefs prepare dishes on a teppan grill adds to the entertainment factor.

Website:

https://osobanokouga.com/

Address: 2-14-5 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031

Phone Number: +81 3-3797-6860

Seafood is a staple in Japanese cuisine, taking the starring role in dishes from traditional breakfasts of grilled fish and rice to delicious, rainbow-coloured sushi.

For the best fish in town, Tsunoda heads to Tsukiji Outer Market, locally known as Japan's "Food Town". Located next to the historic Tsukiji Market where the city's famous tuna auctions were held for decades, the lively market is crammed with stalls selling the freshest seafood. Some of the city's most famous restaurants come here to get their fish, but the market is also packed to the brim with hole-in-the-wall spots where you can snack on some of Japan's most famous foods, like tamagoyaki (omelette on a stick), mochi (glutinous rice cake) and wagyu beef skewers. It's also where Tsunoda says you can find some of Tokyo's best sushi. 

"There are many sushi restaurants at Tsukiji Outer Market," he says. "And since it is a fish market, the fish is very fresh, especially in the morning when you can enjoy it right there… It's just really great to watch people, walk around the fish market and soak up the atmosphere."

Website:

https://www.tsukiji.or.jp/english/

Address: 104-0045 Tokyo, Chuo City, Tsukiji

Phone number: +81 3-3541-9444

Instagram:

@tsukijicity

With scores of luxury and indie boutiques, Tokyo is a shopper's paradise – and there are a variety of areas that cater to Tsunoda's eclectic tastes. "I go to Harajuku when I want more street-style fashion that younger people wear. There's a lot there," he says. Located just east of Shibuya, Harajuku – known as Japan's top fashion district – is full of colourful street art, while its mass of clothing and cosplay stores, hip bars and alluring dessert shops means it's constantly buzzing with youthful vigour.

Tsunoda's first port of call in Harajuku is GR8, which is home to many of the city's up and coming designers, selling popular clothes and footwear from the US and Europe. Its neon interior and wooden entrance makes it one of the most distinct shops in the city, too. But if Tsunoda is after vintage fashion, he heads to the Shimokitazawa neighbourhood, regarded as one of Tokyo's most bohemian areas, full of music venues, cafes and clothing stores. "That's where you'll find more casual stuff," he says. When in Shimokitazawa, Tsunoda shops at BABE store, a used and vintage clothing shop where you can easily spend hours looking for lost gems amidst its mass of items.

For luxury clothes shopping, Tsunoda suggests the very fashionable Omotesando district, sometimes referred to as the Champs-Elysees of the city. "That's where you get the brand stuff," he says. "The items that are higher in price and where the most famous brands are."

Tsunoda likes jumping from store to store in the Tadao Ando-designed Omotesando Hills shopping complex. Home to high-end designer boutiques and imports from across the world, there's also the occasional vintage store and fine dining option, too.

Website:

https://www.gr8.jp

Address: 4 Chome-12-10 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001

Phone: +81 3-3408-6908

Instagram:

@________gr8

The one drinking establishment Tsunoda always tries to frequent when he's in town is Bar Centifolia, located in the laid-back Azabu Juban neighbourhood; home to embassies as well as a smattering of bars and restaurants. 

The tiny bar has an exclusive, intimate feel with just 12 seats, and its theatrical bartenders have earned the spot a reputation for doubling as a performance space — tipplers will witness staff ferociously throwing bottles into the air, using liquid nitrogen and blue fire to create a specific taste and even chopping ice with a katana.

"Its bartender Yuzo Komai recently went viral because of the drinks that he makes," says Tsunoda. "A lot of famous people have started going there. A lot of tourists, too. But it's such a nice bar." Komai's attention to detail when making cocktails, mixing each drink with surgical precision, recently saw him land the Suntory Cocktail Award Champion, one of the most coveted bartender prizes in the city. 

Address: 6F, 1-6-5 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku

Phone Number: +81 3-3478-6228

Instagram:

@bar_centifolia

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

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