What do girls do for fun?

Tokyo City Life is a new column where Tokyo residents are interviewed about their lives in the capital city and places they like to visit.  Our first Tokyo guide is Yuri, a 27-year-old single woman who works as a dental hygienist in Meguro, Shinagawa ward.

Q: How long have you lived in Tokyo?

A: I grew up in Funabashi, a residential town about 40 minutes by train from the city. I attended a local school so my visits to Tokyo were limited to the occasional trips with friends. I started going to work in Tokyo when I was 21 years old.

Q: Meguro, where you work, is close to Shibuya and Roppongi and is a fashionable area.

A: Yes, there are lots of great restaurants in the Meguro area. There are lots of swanky Italian restaurants, but my favorite is Marutomi Suisan, an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) that offers delicious fish at very cheap prices.  I stop by after work two to three times a week. The sashimi is fresh and wonderful, but I recommend the seafood dish you get to cook at your own table. I go there with many friends and order a lot of different dishes and enjoy the variety.

Q: What do you do after work?

A: I go out to dinner with friends or go on dates. I don’t have a boyfriend right now. Many department stores are open until about 10 pm, so at times I go shopping on the way home. Sometimes I work out at the gym in my dental office building.  Japanese gyms have great baths. This may not sound so attractive to Americans, but a relaxing bath at the end of the day gets rid of stress.

Q: What about your weekends?

A: In the summer, I went to the beach often.  I body surf.  The Shonan area beach on the western side of Tokyo, has lots of fashionable cafes and bars. There are lots of outdoor clubs and poolside concerts.  To the east, the Chiba beach area is quieter, with small local ports where one can eat delicious fish. I go snowboarding in the mountains in the winter.

Q: Tokyoites love to travel, both locally and internationally. Do you travel much?

A: I live amid buildings and asphalt. I crave traveling just to refresh myself. For an overnight trip, I frequently go to Hakone or Izu because they are so easy to get to. I go to the onsen (hot springs) with my girlfriends, dine on kaiseki cuisine, enjoy sake. We immerse ourselves in girl talk, then fall asleep on traditional futon mats. Most girls in Tokyo, including myself, don’t own a car, so we often travel by train. Train trips are very convenient and comfortable in Japan. The bento lunch boxes we buy and eat in the trains are something we look forward to -- each one reflecting the colors and tastes of the region.

Q: Can you recommend a night spot?

A: The MADO Lounge on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills. It has a restaurant and a bar/lounge. You can see the beautiful Tokyo cityscape with a view of Tokyo Tower from the lounge.

Q: What do you find attractive about Tokyo?

A: Ginza, Akasaka, Roppongi, Shinjuku — Tokyo is an amalgam of urban areas that are slightly different from each other. It’s safe, therefore a good place for a woman to have fun. You can even nap on the midnight train home. Some trains even have Women Only cars, which makes traveling by train even more comfortable. I think Tokyo is a big city that’s kind to women.