Tokyo's Buzziest Neighbourhoods

Throw a stone in Shibuya or Roppongi and you'll likely hit a Singaporean. If you're looking to avoid the usual crowded and touristy areas, why not check out lesser-known neighbourhoods instead? Audrey Tan discovers a different side to Japan's capital.

Sipping my iced flat white on a bench outside Fuglen, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with other patrons, I took another look at the snaking queue that went out the cafe door.

It was Saturday morning, and the popular third-wave coffee shop, founded in Norway in 1963, had a mix of locals and tourists (including me - I had queued for about 15 minutes earlier) eagerly waiting in the 25 deg C heat to get their hands on the coffee. I had been to the original store in Oslo years ago, and the coffee was so good that it left an indelible mark in my mind. When I saw the familiar name near my hostel in Tomigaya, a trendy and laid-back neighborhood in Shibuya, minus the crowds near Shibuya station, I knew that I had to try the Tokyo branch. It did not disappoint.

After Fuglen, I made my way to the next street to Beasty Coffee, another third-wave coffee shop done up in a sleek industrial style. The proximity of trendy cafes is characteristic of Tomigaya, which a fact that I was unaware of until after my trip Nevertheless, the coffee lover in me was satisfied with the wide availability of cafes in the area.

Nestled beside the large expanse of Yoyogi Park, Tomigaya is an unassuming oasis of calm just 15 minutes away from the chaos of Shibuya. The residential streets conceal hidden gems, from cheese stores and a craft brewery, to independent shops such as international magazine Monocle's retail store and bookstores, as well as fancy restaurants serving Italian and French fare.

I always enjoy seeking out local experiences when travelling, and Tomigaya did not disappoint.

I could take my time to wander around the quiet alleys in my own time without being swept up in crowds like the main Shibuya area, and check out independent stores rather than the towering malls with international brands.