TOKYO TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY- The Best View in Tokyo

TOKYO TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY- The Best View in Tokyo

Tokyo, a sprawling electric city caught 
between tradition and innovation, where ancient shrines and towering 
highrises dance between each city block. But of all the spots to see in 
Tokyo, which one is the best? Well, I’m determined to find out for myself. 
Joined today by my curious brother, Kelly. We’ll search Tokyo high and low and 
maybe find a few adventures along the way. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. When we started the quest for trying 
to find the best view. Yeah. I did   not imagine this. I can see why 
this is cheap. So cool. You can do it. You can do it. I’ve managed to be 
so bad that I’ve now made it impossible. I mean, I knew that Tokyo was large, but 
I didn’t realize it was this massive. Welcome to Atlas Unlimited, 
the best view in Tokyo. Before it became the sprawling city we know it as 
today. Tokyo was a small fishing village called Ado. But its population quickly surpassed that 
of Paris and London and in 1868 became Japan’s capital and was renamed Tokyo. But soon disaster 
struck. Allied sea forces moving up to the Japanese home island shelled the mainland almost 
without opposition. First the great KTO earthquake in 1923 and then the firebombings by the US 
military. Surrounded by the ruins of their once great city, instead of rebuilding, they redesigned 
Tokyo from the ground up. Their innovation paved the way for Japan’s economic miracle. No nation 
has ever before achieved such a phenomenal rate of growth. Tokyo was the city of the future, 
turnurning out cuttingedge technology and   influencing popular culture the world over. Japan 
went from a GDP of less than 8 billion in 1945 to over 3 trillion by the late8s, the second largest 
economy in the world. And for me, well, it’s safe to say it changed my life. But that’s a story for 
another time. Today, I’m going to introduce my little brother, Kelly, to the magic that is Tokyo. 
I’m hoping by the end he’ll catch that Japan bug, too. As we get ready to start our journey across 
Tokyo, I’m excited to announce that we’ve finally started our own Patreon and YouTube channel 
membership. With our YouTube channel membership,   you’ll get access to exclusive podcasts, 
behindthe-scenes videos, bonus content, outtakes, and so much more. And over on our Patreon, we’ve 
got a couple of levels. One that I’m very excited about is called the Postcard Club, where quarterly 
we’ll send you out a limited edition postcard from our travels. You’ll also have the ability to 
download guides that we’ve created for all the   places that we’re visiting. Lots more of those 
are coming soon. Check out the link to those in the description and help support the channel 
so we can make more crazy videos like this. Our journey begins with our flights. 
Kelly and I are taking separate planes   and meeting up in downtown Tokyo. Due to the 
restrictions with using our credit card points, Kelly will need to first fly to Osaka and 
take a train to meet me at Tokyo Station.   Neither of us anticipated just how 
daunting of a task that would be. Well, it is currently about 5:20 in the morning and 
this is the day that I finally head to Tokyo. Got all my stuff. It’s going to probably be about 
a 20our trip, so this should be fun. Let’s go. All right. Let’s do this. Unlike me, Kelly has no Japanese language 
knowledge whatsoever. So, if something happens, he’s on his own. Finally made it to the gate. 
Feels like I’m about halfway there of my travels. I got to take the plane to Osaka and then take 
the train to Tokyo and then I’ll finally be there. But at least we made it through the chaos 
that is LA. Still got about 4 hours to go until my soccer flight and that one should 
be about 12. But we’re making good time. So we got I’ve managed to make it to Vancouver where 
I have a 17-hour layover. I did not plan that super well. However, the points that 
I have wouldn’t work for anything else. So, this is the best I could get. Kelly, I think, 
has a more direct flight. I don’t think his   layover is very long, but he has the daunting 
task of traveling all the way from Osaka to Tokyo without any Japanese knowledge whatsoever. 
So, I don’t envy that. It’s going to be a long, sleepless day in the airport for me. But 
Kelly is set to land soon. Good morning. Um, I did not sleep much. It was kind of rough. 
Um, but we are about an hour away now. So, as the sun sets aboard Kelly’s flight, he’s 
able to get a rare glimpse of Mount Fuji, something I’ve never even seen with my own eyes. But night quickly descends and Kelly needs 
to hurry if he’s going to make it through   customs and to his train on time. All right, so 
after making it out of immigration and customs, got a couple problems to solve. I have to 
get to the rail pass office and exchange   get my rail pass and schedule my Shinkansen to 
Tokyo. Guidance will be displayed in English. There have been some developments. Um, I got 
into the rail pass office, uh, exchanged it for my rail pass and I said, “Do I book tickets 
here, too?” And she said, “Yes.” Said, “You   booked your tickets here as well?” So, I said, 
“Okay, well then let’s do it.” She said, “And where are you trying to go tonight?” And I said, 
“I’m going to Tokyo.” All right. And she looked at me like I was crazy. She was like, “Tonight?” 
I was like, “Yeah, I was going to I was going to   try to make it to Tokyo tonight.” The last train 
from Nagoya will leave before I can get there. I’ve managed to make it here 
at Shinjuku Station. Um,   it however is 19 1949. So that’s like 7 750ish. 
Um, and Kelly is still going through customs. That’s uh it’s a little sketchy to be honest. 
Next for me, I have to walk over and check into our Airbnb. Make sure we’re all squared away 
there. Our Airbnb didn’t give us its precise location until we were ready to check in. And 
it turns out it’s quite a trek. It’s while walking there that I finally hear the bad 
news. Oh my gosh. Okay, Kelly, is this you? I actually just I was actually filming talking 
about how worried I was for you at the exact same moment. So, hang on. Is this also where I booked 
tickets? And she said, “Yes.” And then she said, “Where are you trying to go?” And I said, “Tokyo.” 
And she like looked at me like I was crazy. It’s the furthest I could get. It’s the last train from 
Nagoya that I’ve taken to get to Tokyo. Depart before I get there. Shoot. means I’m stuck in 
Osaka for today. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. He does not sound very excited. The 
wind is like out of his sails, which it would be for me, too. So, we’ll uh try to get me back so I 
can get into a position where I can actually help. In any other country, a walk in the middle of the   night of this distance would seem 
pretty daunting. But not in Tokyo. It comes to life at night in 
a way other cities just don’t.   while managing to still stay safe and clean. Both men and women of all ages can be seen out 
shopping, bar hopping, or eating a late night meal in solitude. The principle of wah or peace 
and harmony is deeply rooted in the psyche of every Japanese citizen. Being unclean, noisy 
or rude would disrupt this peace. And thus, even on the streets of Tokyo at 1:00 in 
the morning, I can walk safely in complete   tranquility. I can only hope that Kelly has 
some of that peace now. He’s going to need it. All right. Normally, this wouldn’t be I 
shouldn’t call it overwhelming. I don’t really feel overwhelmed. I feel exactly wellelmed. 
I feel very adequately wellelmed right now. I’m at a capsule hotel right now. Um, they 
have their own rules and which makes it kind of confusing. So, it just feels like a lot to 
take in at one time. But because today’s the first day I got to Japan by myself, everything 
that the guy at the front desk said just like went right over my head and I don’t really know 
what’s going on anymore. I think it’s cuz I’m   really tired and it’s a lot of information. It’s 
not too bad. Um, if I can make it, you can make it. With Kelly retired for the night, I finally 
make it to my Airbnb. This is my apartment in downtown Shinjjuku. It is It’s old. It’s very 
old. To be honest, though, this is exactly what I was looking for. It has that this is what a 
college student would live in in Japan vibe. That’s basically it. This is where I’m staying 
tonight. Kelly is stuck in a capsule hotel in   Osaka. So, he’s going to have to meet me. He’s 
taking the earliest that he possibly could tomorrow to get out here. I think he’ll 
be here sometime around 11:00 or so. So, I’m going to try to meet him out in the morning. Meanwhile, back in Osaka, Kelly is up bright 
and early preparing for his Shinkansen to Tokyo. I just checked out of my hotel for the 
night in Osaka and now I am currently on my way to the train station. I do want 
to get there with enough time, however,   to make sure I know where I’m going. 
I might try to snag something to eat. There’s a Lawson downstairs which is like 
a like a little bodega. A little 7-Eleven. Is this a hot dog? That looks 
like a That looks like a shelf. Literally looks like a hot dog. This looks 
like a like a chicken sandwich, maybe. That’s where we’re trying to get to. Shinosaka. 
And then I take Shinosaka all the way to Tokyo. So, this is Kelly’s first time boarding a Japanese 
train. And soon he’ll be soaring at 200 mph down the tracks. number five and six are passengers 
without reservation. I don’t know why riding trains in the rain is like so therapeutic, but 
it’s just quiet. No one’s talking, you know, and you’re just sitting there watching Japan 
pass you. It’s probably way more, you know, therapeutic for me, someone who doesn’t do 
this very much. Um, it’s impressive to see how how robust their transportation system is. 
I know that America has, you know, stuff in larger cities like New York and and Chicago and 
places like that. Um, but nowhere this robust. Meanwhile, across the country,   I’ve boarded my subway, hoping to catch 
Kelly when he arrives at Tokyo Station. I don’t know who this guy is. It’s a 
homeless man. We finally found each   other after what took oh my heck like 30 
minutes of of us being like stay where you are I’ll come to the station. Exactly. So 
now we’re going to get some food and then probably put our seven lockers. Put our 
seven lockers and maybe go shopping. I’m   feeling like I want to shop till I drop. 
You know, we’re already pretty close. I’m already pretty close to dropping anyway, so 
I might as well shop in the meantime. Mhm. Should I pretend to be one 
of the foreigners and like   try to you know people drink it down the spoon? It’s so hot. What’s your thought? It’s good. This 
is not your instant ramen. This is authentic. When that first drop of Japanese ramen 
touches your soul, it has the power to   bring you back to life. Why is it such a 
problem? I’m trying to give you money. Cool. Bellies full and bags behind us. We head 
off to our first destination, Akihabara. After World War II, Akihabara transformed from 
a working-class neighborhood to a black market trading hub for radio parts and electronics, 
earning it the nickname the electric town.   Nowadays, the black markets are long gone, 
but it’s still Japan’s technology hub, and we’re here on a mission to try to find a 
gadget that’ll help us with the rest of our trip.   The idea is we’re going to buy a vintage camera 
here in downtown Akiabada and we’re going to go take photos throughout our entire trip 
and then we’re going to let you guys decide   which of us took the better photo. I do feel 
like I’m at a disadvantage though. You have much more experience than I do. I love taking 
pictures, but I don’t think they’re going to be   quite as artistic. Mine’s going to be of like 
a bowl of ramen and yours is going to be some picturesque location that Akiar is probably the 
best place to come find something like this. So, we’re going to check around a couple of 
shops, see what we can find. Obviously,   you’re coming with us, so we’ll keep you updated. 
Let’s do this. Why do I keep saying that? We’ll keep you updated. Keep We’ll keep you updated. 
As if this was the end of the video. The core Akihabara area only spans about 1 kilometer, 
but a majority of its buildings are 8 to 10 stories tall and packed with everything from 
retro arcades to themed cafes and hobby shops. Book off. And of course, around every corner in Japan,   you can always expect to find something 
delicious waiting for you in a vending machine. CC Lemon. First of many. Ooh. Oh, it’s 
kind of peachy. Oh, it’s got peach in it. Ooh. Ooh, that’s actually really good. You could easily 
get lost in these stratified skyrises. Each one packed to the brim with once in a-lifetime finds. 
Yeah, this whole this whole store is our best buy. They they have so many different ones 
and the old vintage style cameras. It just looks so And because Japan always 
takes really good care of their stuff, they’re all in like perfect condition. Even 
Yeah. from like years ago, though. So amazing. Finding a working film camera is proving more 
difficult than we originally thought. So,   after a quick Google search, we discover a place 
nearby called Tokyo Camera. It’ll be a short walk, but we’re confident it’ll have 
exactly what we’re looking for. And sure enough, as we pull up, we know 
instantly we’ve come to the right place. The walls are lined with retrofilm cameras in 
pristine condition. And after a good 10 minutes of marveling at their collection, well, we 
found it. We settle on a pair of cameras to start our challenge. But on our way out, 
the cashier tells us to step next door where they keep some of their cooler stuff. And as a 
filmmaker, I can’t turn down an offer like that. This is unbelievable. I mean, we were 
just over at the Tokyo camera next door, literally the building right next to us 
where we bought our cameras for the film   camera challenge that we’re doing. And this 
is open, so it doesn’t have a door on it. And this is seems to be like more of the retro. I 
mean, all that stuff in there is retro filmy,   but this seems to be more of like I wouldn’t call 
it junk cuz it’s not junk to us. just the stuff that they don’t associate with their brand in the 
main store. But I think this is cooler. You know, I just think about, you know, the the 
Japanese dad who bought this to take   pictures of his children. You know, it’s so 
cool to me. My own little piece of history. After nerding out for a bit, it’s time to wind 
up our film and get started. We We bought two   of a very similar model of film camera. And then 
we also got some we thought it would make it look kind of cool if we got some expired film. So it’ll 
give another cool layer to It’s not that it was cheaper. Okay. I think I think that’s exactly 
why you got the expired film. Kim was uh it’s a little bit cheaper than $50 a roll of That’s 
actually a good point. It was very expensive. Yeah. Here’s yours. All right, Kim. All right. 
Show you how to load this. First, let’s load it. You want to give it a tap on the knee. Oh, really? 
No. Oh, okay. Some people are going to Did you just smell it? It has to smell good or you don’t 
use it. I don’t think that’s I don’t think that’s   how it works. Then you do this till something 
breaks. Okay. Then assuming that it’s been threaded correctly, which it usually is, basically 
just have to wind it until you get there. What winds itself? Yep. And then how 
do you know that it’s fed correctly? Uhoh. I don’t. So the first roll um I 
rewound straight back into the roll. Ruined it. So it’s a keychain now. So 
I went back in and got a couple more. We’re going to do this one more 
time. This one’s going to work.   Okay. Feed that right there. Close it. Open your 
lens. Just take one photo and it’ll wind it as the film’s in. Now it’s ready. Now it’s ready. 
Okay. It’s just that simple. Just don’t hit rewind. Just don’t roll it the first thing. Seems 
pretty self-explanatory. It should, but that’s where they get you. With that, I snap my first 
photo. The expired film is working its magic. With dinner on our mind, we head back to 
downtown Akihabara. Feeling a drizzle coming on, we step in a familiar restaurant to get 
a taste of McDonald’s the Japanese way. Well, it was inevitably going to happen anyway. 
Um, we’re at McDonald’s cuz sometimes you just need a little taste of home. You got a samurai 
mac, which looks like it has teriyak sauce on it. I just went with a chicken nugget. Just want start 
with a baseline and go go from there. I think McDonald’s is one of those places that you go 
because you know the quality every time. I mean,   this is good. It’s still good, but it’s just 
different. Dang, that’s actually a crazy view. It is, as you can probably tell, raining 
really hard. Um, it’s going to be a tight shot cuz I don’t want to get the camera wet. 
The rain makes Tokyo streets glow twice as bright. The puddles of water bouncing 
its vibrant lights off the streets. Ellie and I wind our way back to the 
train station, but being sure to take   the long way. It’s worth the damp socks for a 
chance to see Akihabara in this stunning way. After our first tiny taste 
of Tokyo’s sublime vistas,   we set out the next day for our first 
real candidate for the best view in Tokyo, a famous urban crosswalk known the world 
over as Shabuya Crossing. Both Kelly and I spent a good portion of our trip money on a 
JR Rail Pass. These tickets allow you to ride any JR line an unlimited amount of times for 
the duration of the purchase. Unfortunately, most of the subways in Tokyo aren’t JR lines. So, 
needless to say, today we got all our steps in. Arriving at Shibuya Station, it’s a 
quick step out to the scramble crosswalk. The sky is crystal clear and the last light 
of day is just settling behind the skyline. If Shabuya Scramble was going to take 
the trophy for the best view in Tokyo,   tonight would be the night to do it. But at last, with the tracks behind us,   we finally set our eyes on the 
towering screens of Shabuya Crossing. As grand as it is now, Shabuya Scramble Crossing 
hides a humble history. It began life in the early 1900s as a humble suburb. But the Yamanote and 
Ginsza lines transformed Shabuya Station into a thriving hub, and the Scramble Crosswalk 
was built to accommodate the large volume of traffic. If you’ve got a VR headset, check out our 
virtual walkthrough after this video. All right, so we’re here at uh Shabuya Crossing, 
the biggest crossing in the world,   right? I think so. I have more people cross 
this than any other place in the road. Now, we’re on the hunt for the best view in 
Tokyo. So, we’re here. We’re going to try to   get some good shots. And actually, I think we’re 
we’re I think we’re about to go. Okay. While it may not be the largest crosswalk in terms of 
size, it’s often considered to be the largest   in terms of traffic volume. At its peak, between 
2500 and 3,000 people can cross at once. Shabuya, fantastic. Um, honestly like it’s it’s what you 
think of when you think of Tokyo. It’s got the lights. It is very very picturesque 
city. The music, everything’s here. Even though we might see some places that are 
like higher up, you you won’t get this kind of view from the ground. you won’t get this 
very, you know, uh, skyscrapers around you and the billboards lighting everything up. And 
even the people here, I think, make it really   cool. That’s why Shabuya, Shabuya Crossing 
is so popular, cuz all of the people here are crossing the street. You know, it’s this massive 
convergence of hundreds of people at one time. Part of why people love big cities is they like 
feeling like a little small cog in the machine. But it it moves you along. It kind of sweeps 
you with it. And in that way, there’s kind   of a romance to it. And I think that’s what I 
think of when I think of Tokyo. There’s always something new to experience, always someone 
new to meet. 100%. With that, Kelly took the   opportunity to snap his first film photo before 
we heard another challenge calling our names. We’re currently in downtown Tokyo on Basketball 
Street. We’re trying to find the best view of Tokyo, but we got a little bit distracted. Kim, I 
found a whole arcade filled with different crane machines with all sorts of different stuff in 
it. So, I proposed a challenge. Each of us get 5,000 yen to spend in these crane machines. 
Whoever can come away with the best prizes,   not just quantity, but also quality, um, will 
get to choose uh something that the other person has to do some point during our trip. And I’ve 
already got some some schemy little ideas. I’m pretty good at crane games. This is going to be 
hard for you. I’m good at American crane games,   so it’s probably very different. I don’t think 
you can afford to leave is what I’m saying. We are out here at Shukuya Crossing trying to 
find the best crane game in Japan. Will we find Holy. Oh, I thought you I 
thought you nabbed that already. Oh, what the odd odd grip there. Oh, 
right around the booty. Right around the caboose. A caboose grab. Now we’re in 
position. This is when we come in for the final strike. He’s going to be saying this all 
night. Booty grip. Good old booty grip. Oh my. Come on, Huggy Monster. That hurt my heart. Not going to lie. He always slips out of the top. Is that what I 
needed? Is that what I needed? Oh no. Here it is. Oh my gosh. He’s in the zone right 
now. He’s He’s moving. Did he just do a 360? Oh   my gosh. He just did a He just did a a rotate. 
Okay. Oh, he’s searching his pockets. What is he looking for? What is he looking for in 
his pockets right now? What is this? Oh,   he’s taking a self He took a selfie before 
he’s about to drop the clock. Got a lot of Oh, he just Oh, I’m going to laugh so 
hard when you don’t get this. Oh, come on. Oh my. Okay. All right. We get it. We 
get it. You have a beetle now. Congrats. So, I’ve come up with what the loser has to do. Oh, 
no. They have to take home an anime figurine and completely straightfaced give it to their 
wife and say they want to put it in their room. I would get I wouldn’t be married after that. 
She would just leave me. Well, you don’t have to stick with it. You can throw it away. It’s the 
shock factor. The stakes have never been higher. Already a few thousand yen down and no prize to 
show for it. Kelly needs to go big or go home. Aha. No way. Let’s go. Let’s go. Oh my 
gosh. The undisputed master. I mean, it’s no big deal. I just I just I just come to 
win. Really? The odds are pretty insane on this one. It seems like you’re going to do really 
well. You drop all these hooks and they can hopefully you could win more than one, but how in 
the world do you get them off when you hook them? Okay, let’s see. Let’s see. No way. Oh. Wo. So, evidently what I want is a bottle of Kisu. 
It’s like a local Japanese drink. I’ve never had it. I have friends who have tried it. But 
we’re actually going to put it to the test   in our taste test video, which you should click 
on and watch after this. Um because we’re about to see if this actually tastes good or not. 
We’re going to find out. It sounds like cowus. With Kelly still in the lead, he’s looking 
to put a nail in the coffin. And soon he’s   joined by some unexpected admirers. Good luck. 
You can do it. You can do it again. You can do it. Don’t give up. Yes. Come on. Come on. Again. 
Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Oh my. I’ll try to win for you. Yeah. Yeah. Go, go, go. 
I’ll wait for you. Deep breath. Deep breathe. I want you to try again. Do it. Not wanting to let our newfound inebriated 
friends down, I switched to a slightly simpler machine. Move it backwards a little 
bit. Yeah, you’re good on our side. Oh, is that the one? That’s the 
one, baby. That’s the one. Let’s go. Okay. What is What is this and why are you trying 
to win it? This is This is Anya from Spy Family,   my wife and I’s favorite show. So, if I 
can win this, this would be huge for me. Tell us what the strategy is. You got 
a three a three-prongong. Uh-huh. So, are you going to go for head or you going 
to go for center mass? Well, here’s So,   let me let me tell you the strategy with 
with two of the prongs, you’re going to want to grab underneath and then with the other 
one, you’re going to want to reach on the other   side and and and scoop. Yeah. Okay, that makes 
sense. So, so it’s like like the claw method is what you’re saying. The the grab. Sure. Sure, 
sure. Sure. All right. Well, enough talk. Well, you got to try your best. Do the damage. Come on. 
Oh. Oh, it might scoop around the head. No way. This is massive. It’s thinking. I’m shocked that 
it moved as much as it did. You think so? Yeah. eventually. I think so. That might be 
the play. Yeah, come on. What? I don’t know this if this is impressive or or if 
I’ve managed to be so bad that I’ve now made it impossible. With my money exhausted, 
I have no choice but to watch as Kelly tries to steal the win out from under me. Oh, 
this is for Chasey. Look at the touchdown. Come up for Anna. Come on. Come 
on. That’s right over the head. Oh, we got her. We got her. Yeah. Let’s go. We 
got her. Oh, yeah. Who’s your Who’s your Who’s your daddy? Who Who is Who is daddy? Who is that? 
I don’t know who he is. We got her. That That has got Anna. The win of the night. I don’t think I 
don’t think I could possibly top that. I’m just   going to have fun for the rest of night. That’s 
all I care about. I was really competitive until this point and now I know I’ve won. So yeah, you 
know, it doesn’t matter. There’s no hope. I’d like to think that I did a pretty good job. I really 
held my own. I’m not a pro at this. He set me up   for some stuff. I came in as the underdog and I’d 
like that to be taken into account. If it weren’t for this win right here, I would say I I should 
have won. I can’t get around this. My wife will agree. If it weren’t for this, too, I think you 
might have been sleeping on the couch for how much   you spent on the crane game. I don’t want to talk 
about how much money that But at least we got her. What was her name again? I forgot. Anya. Anna from 
Secret Family. Secret agents. Secret spy family. Spy secret. Spy. Spy family. Okay. Well, there it 
is. But I think this alone seals the deal. Kelly, maybe we’ll have a rematch. We’re out. 
Yeah. Let’s get out of here. Next up,   we’re headed to our hotels. But we’re 
not staying in just any hotel. For me, I’ll be staying in the Capsule Inn. the cheapest 
capsule hotel I could find. With only three stars and less than favorable reviews, the $30 a night 
that I paid makes a lot of sense. Meanwhile, for triple the price, Kelly will be staying 
at First Cabin, an upper class capsule hotel just down the block. All to show you guys 
that that price tag really is worth it. All right. So, I’m here at the capsule in 
in Hamamasucho. This is going to be my cheap capsule stay while Kelly’s off in paradise. Um, 
I’m about to go in and get checked in and see what it’s all about. See if that price really does 
make a difference. Let’s go. Capsule hotels are a quintessential Japanese invention. The father 
and architect of their design was Kisho Kurokawa, who created the first capsule hotel in Osaka, 
Japan in 1979. He saw it as a way for office workers who missed the last train to get a 
good night’s rest. But the concept quickly   spread beyond Japan to countries as remote as 
Iceland. For us, it’s a great way to see Japan on a budget. Some capsules, however, are a little 
more budget than others. We’re all stepping into the bathroom. They have special shoes, but most 
bathrooms will have these. So when you step in, you just take take this pick in your flip 
feet and you go and do your business. Normal western style toilets, which 
is nice. I’ve stayed in some before   where they’re the basic Japanese squat toilets. Meanwhile, a few blocks away over at First Cabin,   Kelly is settling in for quite a different 
experience. All right, guys. So, I’m currently standing outside of my capsule hotel for the 
evening. Uh, it’s called First Cabin. So, we’re going to go in. We’re going to get checked 
in, see what it’s all about. It looks really nice. So, for the average peasant, you 
usually have to put all of your gear, your big suitcases here because there’s 
no place to fit them in your capsule. But,   uh, that’s not the case with my capsule. 
While First Cabin does have some standard smaller capsules, Kelly’s going to 
be staying in their deluxe model. It’s funny. I know this is supposed 
to be old, but this is really cool.   I’m a huge fan of old Japanese technology. 
So like these dials and switches. I want to take it home. I think that’s supposed to be our TV. No way. I’m about 5’9. So, let’s see how big 
it is when I lay down. If I feel like I have enough room to stretch out. Okay, 
feet are flat against the back now. This will give you a little bit of 
headroom, but I’m one of those people   that like stretches out when I sleep. 
So, I can see this maybe causing me some issues while I’m sleeping. There’s 
like nothing coming out of that vent. I’m a little worried I might overheat tonight, 
to be honest, cuz I’m on the upper capsule, too. After a peaceful night’s rest,   Kelly gets up bright and early to 
show us how the other half lives. First Cabin is a capsule hotel that’s known 
for its amazing bathing experience. Or if you’re not a fan of Japanese bathous, there’s 
a full western shower available to use as well. With all that beauty sleep, Kelly can get back 
to doing his taxes or whatever. My experience was a little different. I just woke up 
from my first night in this capsule and uh it was pretty rough. It’s way too small 
um for at least how I sleep. My feet kept like bumping into the bottom and my arms kind of 
hit the side. I knocked the side of this rolling   over so many times. The thing that really 
got me was the temperature that all the heat rises up into this capsule. This fan does 
not do anything. I can see why this is cheap. Next on our list is a contender for the best   view in Tokyo. We’re headed just 
down the street to Tokyo Tower. But we’re not just going to the observation 
platform. With all the money we saved by   sleeping in a torpedo tube, we shelled out for 
tickets to the top deck, the best seats in the house. As Tokyo was working to rebuild their great 
city, they wanted a monument to commemorate their efforts. Their inspiration came from the Eiffel 
Tower. And while visually similar, it still has a character all its own and has stood as a symbol of 
Tokyo and its massive accomplishments since 1958. All right, everybody. We are now here in Tokyo 
Tower. Um, we’re currently on the main deck,   which is the lower deck, but we are transferring 
to the elevator to go to the higher deck. So, we’re just about to get on and go up and then 
we’ll show you what it’s like. As we slowly wind our way to,00 ft in the air, Tokyo doesn’t 
seem smaller. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I didn’t think it was this big. I never 
I mean, I knew that Tokyo was large,   but I didn’t realize it was this massive. Oh 
my. The view from the top is breathtaking. And the glowing streets 
hum with late night energy. We’re on the hunt for the best view in 
Tokyo. I have to say this is impossible to beat. This is incredible. The I think the 
most incredible part is you get to see how sprawling Tokyo is. You get to see how far it 
goes out really like how big the metropolitan area is. And the best part about this is 
it’s not just a single view. It’s It’s a   circle. I I can’t imagine just going to the 
middle floor knowing what lies above this. Everyone should go to the top. Everyone should 
go to the top one. Going to do one time. This   is going to be hard to beat. I can tell you 
that right now. It’s going to be hard to beat. was Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Tower. Holy crap. What did 
you think? That was amazing. It is a beautiful tower. And Kim said something as we were walking 
away from it. We were taking more pictures. We   were taking more video. You just can’t get a 
bad photo or video of it. You really can’t. It’s gorgeous. It dominates. It is forever. It’s 
going to be my wallpaper on my desktop computer. At first, I I compared it to the Eiffel Tower cuz 
I mean, it does look a lot like the Eiffel Tower.   And it it almost it feels disrespectful to me now 
to to compare it to the Eiffel Tower because it’s so unique. It really is its own thing. It stands 
out in its skyline in its own way. You know, it’s beautifully lit up at night. It’s just the most 
Japan essence that you can get. It’s just Tokyo. With that, Kelly and I are off to the 
next view in Tokyo. But a familiar   Japanese trapping catches our eye. It’s 
called Gachapon. And while we’ve adopted it to some extent in the US, Japan is on 
another level. Did you see this over here? It’s just little food. This is This 
is what Mini Brands ripped off. This is This came before Mini Brand. I’m I’m I’m 
just missing the dumpling towel and then I’ll have the complete set. I would totally look at this 
little like table set. Wait, that’s so cool. There’s little storage bins. There’s Look at that. 
Wait, that’s Does that have a camera and tripod in it? So, this one’s like retro tech. Yeah, 
this one’s camera and tripod. That is so cool. Okay. Well, I’ve got You want to choose one? Oh, 
jeez. I don’t know. Okay. There’s a 500o for you. Unlike the cheap plastic that you’ll find in 
American capsule toys, these are highquality plastics made to be collectible. Kim finally got 
a red camera. Finally got a red. Yeah, it’s great. Okay, we’re going to try our luck. Want one of 
these two guns for my wife. Let’s see what we get. Oh, that’s someone. Let’s see who it is. Yes. Yes. We got the little god. 
We did. It’s the one she wanted. Oh my. Oh my gosh. She’s going to love that. We got the poster. Yes. The poster on it. That’s 
the one I wanted second. Come on. Samurai sword. Oh, it’s a blue and yellow one. This one here. I 
love him. I have to free him. He can’t breathe. What I spend my money on. 
Don’t show this to my wife. Our next candidate for the best view in Tokyo 
was Kelly’s number one pick, Ueno Park. Before it was a park, it was the site of the Battle of 
Ueno. The Bosshin War and parts of that conflict would be adapted into the movie The Last Samurai. 
Nowadays, it’s known for its world famous cherry blossom festival. And we’ve come just in time 
to catch the last day of it. Hypothetically, cherry blossoms are beautiful, fleeting. One could 
say that you’ll blink and you’ll miss them or just come at the wrong time and miss them. Where are 
they? Where are they, Kelly? I don’t want to talk about it. He really does want to talk about it. 
He’s just being shy. I don’t even know what to say. Everyone’s like, “Oh, April’s the best time 
to go for this exact reason.” You would think that   if the cherry blossom festival was still going on 
that there would still be cherry blossoms to see. Just imagine this whole this whole way before 
us covered in pink. Mhm. This is all we’ve got. It is beautiful though. But around the 
corner, we may have found where all the   petals went. Cherry blossom flavored ice 
cream. But is it as good as it sounds? I’m in Uenu Park today looking 
for the famous Sakurai. It is Sakura or cherry blossom ice cream. What? I don’t even know how to 
describe that. It’s really good though. It is a little bit floral, but 
it’s just very creamy like ice   cream is. Yeah. You want to try that? Oh, yeah. It’s not bad. How would you describe it? It’s kind of hard to describe, isn’t it? 
It’s like It has a honeysuckle. It really   does. Definitely honeysuckle. I definitely taste 
it. I almost feel like that’s like a pollenish kind of springtime. Yeah. It definitely makes me 
think about springtime. It’s good though, isn’t   it? Cherry blossoms or not, Uino Park still has 
tons of things to see. The grounds are bustling with natives and tourists basking in the shade. 
It’s amazing to me that despite its innovation, Tokyo is still one of the most physically 
active cities in the world. Its citizens walk an average of 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day. 
And just a short trip to Ueno Park is sure to put you well over that number. Scattered throughout 
its 133 acres are myriad gardens, art museums, a zoo, and some amazing shrines. One of which, 
the Ouano Toshogu shrine, is our next stop. Built in 1627 to honor Tokugawa Ayasu, the man 
who helped to unify Japan. Its stone tory gate and main hall are still made from the same wooden 
stone structure that’s been there since the 1650s. That’s incredibly rare, especially for buildings 
that have seen as many calamities as these have. And to still be maintained as a functional 
Shinto shrine is nothing short of a miracle. There’s so much more to see across Ouo Park. And 
luckily, we filmed a VR virtual tour and a special 2D walking tour for people who join our YouTube 
membership. Join us and support the channel. After a slow, leisurely stroll through Ueno Park, 
it’s time to take in Tokyo from the fast lane. This is crazy. We’re shifting things into high gear and taking a 
go-kart street tour through Tokyo. And for this, we’re having the amazing folks over at 
Street Cart give us our tour. Why them? Well, it’s not the cool logo and not the fact 
that Mr. Beast used them for his video.   I tied up an FBI agent. We strap 100 
rockets to us. No, they were the only website that had an amazing graph to tell us 
exactly what we’d be getting. Maximum speed, maximum fun, and only a moderate amount of 
crowd many people. Get suited up in one of the many costumes you can pick. Get ready to 
take to the streets. So, sit well, please. Okay. Woo! And just like that, we take 
off along the crowded Tokyo streets, driving on the opposite side of 
the road in the tiniest street   legal thing we’ve ever been in. And 
it is absolutely exhilarating. Woohoo! This is ridiculous, bro. This is insane. We’re 
in freaking downtown Tokyo. This is unreal. When we started the quest for trying to find the best 
view. Yeah, I did not imagine this. When I said   best view of Tokyo, I meant best view of Tokyo. 
Best view of Tokyo. One line. Go ahead. All right. Oh, he passed me. What? What a shot. I am speed. Look at this, dude. In addition 
to cruising through Shabuya Crossing, the tour weaves in and out of the side streets,   and the wind in your face makes it 
feel like you’re going twice as fast. And everywhere you drive, tourists and 
locals alike stop to excitedly wave at you. I guess we’re kind of famous, right? Oh my gosh, this is amazing. How do you compare this to Tokyo Town? 
I don’t know. It’s like It’s like two   completely different experiences. It 
really is. It’s like comparing uh Tell me with something. What’s it What’s it like 
comparing two things that are completely red   and blue? Red and blue. All right. Yeah. Toku 
Tower is so I mean, you’re high up and you get to see everything sprawling. This one is 
kind of like Shibuya Crossing where you’re   you’re in the thick of it. Yeah, you know, 
you’re seeing the buildings passing you and I agree. But there’s something to be said about 
being with the people, right? You’re driving in, you’re saying hi to people, you’re a celebrity. 
Like to me, that feels more like I’m in Tokyo than, I don’t know, being above everybody. 
For all my excitement, I never stopped to think what would happen if I got separated. 
It’s okay. inside. Oh my gosh, what a shot. We lost him. Lost him at the light. How long 
have you been doing this for? Beat it in. Yeah. Seven years. Seven years. Wow. Has it been fun the 
whole time? Has it been kind of scary? Yeah. Yeah, I bet. What’s the scariest experience you’ve had? 
Is there any customer? Yeah, a customer crashing or something. Driving and drifting. Oh, drifting. 
Oh, no. Would you say every week someone crashes? Yeah, sometimes. Yeah. Uh, about one time or 
two times? Oh, yeah. Oh, of course. Yeah. So, the police know you pretty well? Yeah. 
Have you ever thought about being an actor? I think you can do it. I 
think you can do it. Yeah. As soon as the light turns green, we zip 
off to catch back up to Kelly in the lead. And just like that, we’re back in formation. Oh, 
look at this, Kim. Okay, you didn’t answer my question. I feel like I feel like being here, just 
like Shibuya Crossing, you get a better sense of scale. Obviously, when you’re at the top of Tokyo 
Tower, you see everything. In this one, you’re   weaving through and you see people and you see how 
tall the buildings are and just how grand Tokyo is, how, you know, like you said last night, how 
you’re just a little moving piece in this massive machine. And that’s exactly what’s happening right 
now. That’s Tokyo in a nutshell. Yeah. In a way, it almost feels like you’re famous. Yeah. 
Right. It really does. This is crazy. Behind the wheel of a go-kart, driving through 
the most spectacular places in Tokyo is an unforgettable experience, and a time just flies. 
Would you recommend this to somebody else? Um, I might need some time to do it. Are you 
kidding me? There’s so many different   things to see in Tokyo. It’s never like you 
go through a place and you’re like, “Ah, the same as I.” But you you can’t get this 
experience anywhere else. You can ride in a   taxi and roll the window down, you know? But 
you’re not going to get something like this. Hey, I won. Okay. Well, we just got off 
our street cart tour around Tokyo. That was incredible. It was so fun. It’s I feel like 
it’s pretty rare that you go to a place that   exceeds your expectations. That was crazy. That 
was so Sorry about that red shell back there, man. I mean, I knew that it was going to be 
fun and it was probably close, what’ you say,   to an hour and a half about that we were riding. 
And you’d think that it would get old, you know, you’d drive for 30 minutes and you’re like, 
I’m just seeing the same stuff pretty much.   We went through Shibuya Crossing three times and 
I it was a different experience every single time, you know, cuz you’re seeing it 
from a different view. Honestly,   I think I think it might be Tokyo Tower for me as 
far as best view so far. It’s I think there’s one more place that we could check just a quick peaky 
to see if it maybe has a chance to tell. I don’t think it will. You think so? But I think it’s 
worth a shot. I’m curious. Piques my interest. As we head off to our next destination, Kelly 
snaps an incredible photo. This one is going to be hard to beat. Now, you can’t explore 
Tokyo on an empty stomach. And if you’re looking for a quick bite of some authentic 
Japanese food, Ameo has some amazing places, but we are filming a documentary after all, 
so we got to make it weird. Ready to roast some shrooms? What I’ve seen other people do I’m 
really just kind of like putting it together at this point. You have these little trays. You put 
your sauces in it. You’re going to put your beef   up on this and you cook it yourself. So, you 
can decide how cooked or uncooked it is. And then you take it out with chopsticks, put 
it on your plate, and then dip it in your   sauce and just eat it. But it’s really good. 
All right. He’s going to try his first bite. Oh boy. Mr. Please. Wow. I ordered an assortment. Assuming it had 
some vegetables. It just had things I’ve never eaten in it. So, the first was 
liver. We’re 99% sure it was liver. Number man, it’s it’s so It’s hard 
to compare it to what I did today. Ready? Kelly couldn’t finish his bite of 
it. So, we’re going to see in a while. When he ordered it, our server was like, “Really?” He was like, “You want intestines and liver?   You sure?” We did tell him it was our 
first time, and we did it anyway, but Having been to Tokyo myself, I knew how special 
and amazing it was. And for the most part, he helped plan it all, too. Everything except 
for this last one. This I kept a secret. Do you have any idea what this 
is, Kelly? I didn’t know any room. We’re not even close to downtown like 
I thought we would be. The other, but I couldn’t keep it a secret for long. Pulling   up to an airfield is kind of obvious. 
Are we at like an airfield or something? You’re kidding me, right? No. Are you serious? 
No, I’m serious. Just us? Yeah. No. Yeah. I’ll be honest, when we started this challenge,   I didn’t really think we’d 
find a best view in Tokyo. For over 20 years, I’ve been in love with this 
city. I’ve traveled here numerous times and those experiences built the foundation of who 
I am today, seeing life with a new perspective. Oh my, I can’t even believe this right 
now. I feel like I’m dreaming. But with my brother in that helicopter, I 
can definitively say I was wrong. Because when you share something 
you like with someone you love, you get to see it through a fresh set of 
eyes. And that was my best view of Tokyo. We finally found each other. That was crazy. Let’s 
go. We got her. This is going to be hard to beat. Oh, it’s unreal. I would say 
it’s a real experience I ever I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep 
tonight. Yeah. I have so much adrenaline right   now. Even though we’ve been on airplanes before 
and you’re able to look down and see the view, you know, it was it was almost a little bit 
more of a of an intimate experience. It was so cool to see the the sight of, you know, Tokyo 
Tower because being up at Tokyo Tower was already mind-blowing. And then to see us higher than it 
was just it was just an unparalleled experience. But this journey is not over. There’s still 
so much of Japan to see, but to do that, we’re going to need to get out of the city. How you doing, Co? Show off. If you’ve enjoyed this journey, 
don’t worry, it’s not over. In fact,   it’s just getting started. I’m going to show 
you a sneak peek of what’s coming soon in our next episode of Atlas Unlimited. If 
this has touched you at all and you   want to support these sorts of videos, think 
about subscribing to our channel membership or jumping over to Patreon and supporting 
us there. Next time on Atlas Unlimited, we’re headed out of the big city and into the 
countryside. I don’t even have words to This is the most quintessential Japanese experience you 
can have. It’s like the countryside, you know? This is definitely the Japan 
that I was looking for.   Look at this. We found the pigota. I thought 
it’d be taller. And I also thought it was orange. Are you just Are you bumping me now? It’s 
not even a bow. It’s just kind of rude.

Searching for the best view in Tokyo? Join my brother and me as we spend 7 unforgettable days exploring Japan’s most iconic districts—Akihabara, Shibuya Crossing, Ueno Park, Ameya-Yokochō, Tokyo Tower, and even a night helicopter flight over the city. From neon skylines to quiet shrines, crane-game chaos to capsule hotels, we chase every angle that makes Tokyo magic.

We’re on a mission:
Which spot truly has the best view in Tokyo?

This cinematic travel documentary follows our full journey through the city’s most legendary neighborhoods:
• Akihabara – arcades, crane games, electric-town energy
• Shibuya Scramble Crossing – the world’s busiest crosswalk at dusk
• Ueno Park & Ueno Tōshōgū – lanterns, shrines, and hidden history
• Ameya-Yokochō – street food + retro market streets
• Tokyo Tower – a timeless skyline view over all of Tokyo
• Capsule Hotels – tiny rooms, big vibes
• Tokyo Night Helicopter Flight – the view that changes everything

If you love cinematic travel films, Japanese culture, or emotional family adventures, this documentary is for you.
Thanks for being here with us. 🙏

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📍 Locations Featured

Akihabara
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Ueno Park
Ueno Tōshōgū
Ameya-Yokochō
Tokyo Tower
Shinjuku
Roppongi
Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Night Helicopter Flight

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🎬 About This Project

This film is part of our series where my brother and I travel the world searching for answers to impossible questions.
This time: “Where is the best view in Tokyo?”

If you enjoy cinematic documentaries, please consider liking the video or subscribing for more adventures across Japan and beyond.

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🕒 Chapters

0:00:00 Intro
0:01:38 Edo to Tokyo
0:03:36 Journey to Japan
0:08:52 Midnight in Tokyo
0:11:30 Reunited
0:14:50 Akihabara Challenge
0:22:54 Shibuya Crossing
0:26:27 Crane Games
0:35:28 Capsule Hotel Challenge
0:40:49 Tokyo Tower
0:44:28 Gatcha Games
0:46:35 Ueno Park
0:50:49 Street Go Kart Tour
0:58:40 Wrong Menu
1:00:48 Tokyo Helicopter Tour
1:04:40 Sneak Peek

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What do YOU think is the best view in Tokyo?

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💌 Join the Postcard Club

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