Our Travel Angels - Pierre-Alexandre Lacaze

Once he finished his studies in multimedia and computing, Pierre-Alexandre eventually decided to work in an area he specializes in: video games. Having spent several years working in sales and with his life having settled into a routine that was too simple to suit him, his plan to set off for pastures new was born and became reality shortly afterwards.

After 9 months studying the Japanese language in Japan, alongside working in a gastronomic French bistro in the country’s capital, he decided to look for a job which would allow him to share his other passion: life in Japan. He then rapidly joined up with the Japan Experience team and it is now his pleasure to advise you about his favorite places in Tokyo.

Our Travel Angels in Japan

His advice for you

  • Must-see:

The quietest areas of the capital, which you can hardly believe are part of Tokyo. Yanaka, for example.

Asakusa in the evening, the area which is packed with tourists during the day becomes a haven of absolute peace and quiet in the evening, when you will probably be the only people walking by the temple and pagoda, which will be beautifully lit up. A magnificent mystical atmosphere.

  • To bring back with you:

Goodies and retro spin-off products connected with our favorite series, which cannot be found in our home countries.

Also, a bottle of genuine Japanese sake, which is known here as nihonshu (similar to our French wine in terms of alcohol percentage), a product which is often confused with Chinese sake or shôchû.

  • Things to do:

Spend and evening in an izakaya, one of those Japanese bistros which are a bit like tapas bars, where you can spend time with friends, having a drink and sharing a bite to eat.

  • Words to know: 

"Osusume" mean recommendation, often used for dish of the day or the chef’s recommended dish; it is always a good option to choose when faced with a menu entirely written in Japanese and it may allow you to discover new flavors.

  • Dishes to try: 

Absolutely everything! Japan is a gastronomical marvel, be sure not to miss out on anything!

That said, eating Japanese sushi gives you the guarantee that you will taste hundreds of different types of sushi which you will not find in France.

  • Traps to avoid:

Limiting yourself to ground-floor restaurants with a shop front. Tokyo is a city which lives high up in the air, so lift your eyes and look at the restaurant signs very high up the tall buildings: it’s a really good way of finding restaurants which are often cheaper and magnificently decorated.