So in my research of places to stay in Tokyo for my trip in 2013 , I came across a place in Nihombashi which was a Guest house/hostel. This place was one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. Name of the place, Khaosan Ninja, with a theme of a ninja house. This was in Nihombashi. So picking my place to stay I've made a name for myself staying there for my vacation. Now I know you're thinking hey a vacation is not long enough to say much. Well a year later I was about to work for the very first place I rested my head at. I also got to live in that same building. Nihombashi is an easy commute to many places from Asakusa, Ueno, and Akihabara which is 15 min walking from there if you kinda walk fast. The people in the area are nice, there are nice views of this little river with these boats, I think there is a restaurant that tours around. It pretty easy to get lost but worth it when you start to get to areas that have some hidden gems to eat. If you dont want to stay in a super touristy area but still stay in Tokyo with places to browse around and eat, then Nihombashi it is.
Nihonbashi is great. Not for the bridge, not for the office buildings, not for the variety of restaurants, not for the small fresh fruit smoothie shop as you leave the train, but for something else. The story of a secret underground rice bunker.
I wander around for a while looking for the entrance to the secret underground rice bunker. It takes a while but I eventually find a huge office building that has every window on one side completely covered in plants. On the other side of the building I scare away an eagle pecking at a gold statue of Prometheus. This must be the place, I think to myself. It turns out it is.
Deeply tucked away in the second basement level of a huge skyscraper, they grow rice. I am not entirely sure why they grow rice, but people are free to come and see it. Huge natural light shines from above. Rice grows.
From what I was told, this area stretches under the whole business district, although it doesn’t. The size of the area was heavily exaggerated to me. The rice isn’t really that secret either, it is not too well advertised, but no one is trying to hide the fact that it grows here either. I think it is actually encouraged for people to come here and learn about rice cultivation, and you definitely should.