People watching: A voyeur's guide to Tokyo

With 13 million residents and not a few sidewalk cafes, Tokyo is a fantastic city for kicking back and ogling the masses. So whether you’re on the lookout for fashion, attitude, the high life or even the low life, enjoy the view at these five prime perches.

1. Shibuya: Mark City

Shibuya’s best-known people-watching spot is the Starbucks overlooking the notorious “scramble” intersection, but a more interesting venue lies just across the street.

The Mark City shopping center, which connects Shibuya station with the Dogenzaka nightlife district, attracts a parade of office workers, gyaru, students and lunching ladies, all drawn to the mall’s busy shops, restaurants and cafes.

At night, couples and groups of friends make their way to nearby clubs and love hotels. Many visitors to Shibuya use Mark City to bypass the scramble intersection ... as do in-the-know people-watchers.

1-12-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, +81 (0) 3 3780 6503

Weekdays: 9:30 a.m.--8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday: 9:30 a.m.--6 p.m.

Website

2. Kagurazaka: Royal Host

In a neighborhood renowned for its restaurants, Royal Host may be the least interesting of the bunch -- a drab, family-focused spot with a remarkably uninventive menu. But if you can snag a seat at a window-side table, all culinary sins are forgiven.

As one of Tokyo’s most cosmopolitan destinations, Kagurazaka attracts a wide demographic, from Japanese day-trippers who mob the traditional sweetshops, to students from nearby Hosei University, to French expats living within easy reach of the Lycée Franco-Japonais.

Enjoy a fine meal elsewhere, then head to Royal Host for a dessert of eye candy.

3-2-20 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, +81 (0) 3 5228 4415

Daily 10 a.m.--5 a.m.

Website

3. Akihabara: Sanbo

Located on a side street thick with maid cafes, secondhand computer shops and X-rated DVD stores, Sanbo caters to a largely otaku clientele. In other words, it’s the quintessential Akihabara hangout.

The menu, too, is geared for fanboy pleasure, with just a single dish on offer -- gyudon rice bowls topped with beef, starting at a meager ¥400. But at Sanbo, it’s not all maids and man-boobs.

Stop by during lunchtime, and the restaurant -- just a block from the main Chuo Dori drag -- fills up with salarymen, tourists and an army of bargain-hunters. Sometimes it seems like all the world is here, albeit many appear to be from a different planet.

3-14-4 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, no phone

Daily 12 p.m.-- 6 p.m.

Website