Tokyo: 30 Things To Do In Japanese Capital

Tokyo: 30 things to do in Japanese capital

By Anna Purpurpurpur

Tokyo is a city everyone wants to visit. It combines a mysterious charm of the historical Japan with ultra modern futuristic facilities, high-end cuisine with tiny family restaurants, majestic temples with large shopping malls.

I’ve been lucky to see Tokyo during my 4 trips to Japan and to see it in all four seasons, and this resulted in a rather lengthy blog below. Of course, there is more to see in Tokyo than the spots I’ve just mentioned, and many new locations emerge as the city develops and evolves, but let this be at least a mere introduction to the fascinating Japanese capital!

1.Get lost in crowds around Senso-ji

Asakusa is always super busy, especially in spring, however it’s a really nice place to buy souvenirs as there are two rows of stalls leading to Senso-Ji temple and to admire the most famous temple to Tokyo.

Senso-ji is the oldest and probably the most important temple of Tokyo: it dates back to 645 AD and is dedicated to Kannon (just as the Nagoya temple).

Come inside to admire its architecture, decorations or even for some fortune telling ritual!

The outer gates of Senso-ji are probably the most photographed but don’t forget to look at the inner gates called Hōzōmon too. Unfortunately, it faced numerous destructions since being built as Tokyo frequently fell victim to fires and earthquakes and was burnt down during WWII. It was restored in the 1950s.

Nakamise dori street is always busy and although the stall there sell a bit of cliche souvenirs, it’s still a good place for a cliche shopping when everything is in one place such as geta flip-flops, furin bells, kokeshi dolls and Japanese sweets.

You can proceed a bit forward and see a tranquil garden here and a few other shrines – there are less people here. Another shopping street starts from there too.

2. See the Imperial Palace

Stroll along the Imperial Palace located on the site of Edo Castle: basically the shoguns from Tokugawa clan lived in the Edo castle in 1603 – 1867, while the Imperial family moved here to symbolise the end of Edo Period and the beginning of the new Meiji era.

It’s open only on particular days of the year and you’ll need an online reservation to visit it – but you can still see the Seimon Ishibashi bridge on any day you want. I’d strongly recommend you explore the magnificent Ninomaru gardens nearby too – especially during the blooming season!

3. Admire precious exhibits at the Museum of the Imperial Collections (Sannomaru Shozokan)

The Museum of the Imperial Collections, or Sannomaru Shozokan, is located in the East Garden of Tokyo Imperial Palace.

The museum hosts thousands of art pieces that were collected by the imperial family. However, visitors can now visit only two rooms with the precious exhibits – you can quickly explore them in 30 mins!

4. Find a fairytale in Ninomaru Gardens

Ninomaru basically means the second circle of defences, so the Ninomaru Gardens occupy precisely this area within the grounds of the Palace.

It’s a magnificent fairytale place with a great selection of trees from all over the country, camellia, rhododendrons, a few small pavilions with historical insights about this place.

You can also spot the ruins of a citadel of Edo Castle, the Tenshudai, completed in 1638.

5. Get blinded by Shinjuku lights

Shinjuku is probably one of the most loved by tourists area of Tokyo.

You can pop into shopping centres and multiple animal cafes – and they all are glittering with bright lights!

My favourite mall here is Isetan, with a food court in the basement. Just look at those perfect fruits Japan is famous for (and they cost like a kidney transplant)

6. Omoide Yokocho

Do you know that Omoide Yokocho is located near Shinjuku station too? It’s probably the most famous set of narrow streets in Tokyo where you can find many izakaya restaurants!

It’s extremely popular with tourists not only because of the food but also because it’s extremely photogenic! In the past, right after WWII, there was a black market on this site.

7. Hanazono Shrine

Hanazono Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrines of Shinjuku, so don’t miss this tranquil spot when you’re around. In front of it there is a pair of Chinese lions and a large red Torii gate.

We don’t know when it was founded but it already existed in the late 16th century, and the current shrine dates to 1965. The shrine is dedicated to Inari Okami.

8. Have fun at Harajuku

Harajuku and Takeshita street are always loved by tourists and locals alike because this is one of the best spots for people watching and for cool eating experiences!

Harajuku used to be a site for people with some crazy and creative outfits but now it’s just filled with tourists.

What do you think about animal cafes? Feeding a hedgehog was one of my brightest memories from my first ever trip to Japan (it was in Kyoto), and now we found another cafe in Tokyo! They have pretty strict rules – which is definitely thumbs up for me-for handling hedgehogs, and the experience is still good. Always choose a cafe with strict rules because this is how the animal wellbeing can be sustained.

But the good news is you can still get all sorts of desserts here! Oh my, just look at this crepe with Shiba Inu or the Sakura inspired one?

9. Eat raw seafood at Tsukiji

Tsukuji was the main site for the fish market in Tokyo before it moved to Toyosu place (I visited it last time), however I still love the Tsukiji area a lot, and you still can eat super fresh fish here.

I adore raw seafood, so that’s a must visit place for anyone like me! It’s still better to come in the morning but you can buy fresh food from the outdoor stall even around lunch time.

On our last visit, avocado was chosen as a seasonal product and they served a few Mexico-inspired dishes too.

10. Visit Tsukiji Hongwanji

Near the market there’s the Tsukiji Hongwanji dating back to the 17th century. In the early 20th century it was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 1934 – and just look at its main hall now!

The whole area was named after this temple with Tsukiji meaning ‘reclaimed land’ and refers to the followers of Shin Buddhism who reclaimed this area for the temple.

11. Meet sunset at Odaiba

In the mid-19th century a few small islands aka forts were constructed in this area to protect Tokyo from the sea. Later they were interconnected to form one large artificial island where futuristic buildings were built – and that’s the Odaiba we know today!

Now it’s a beautiful spot perfect for an evs ofening stroll with a view over Tokyo, Tokyo Bay and Rainbow bridge. Come here just before the sunset to capture how the daylight comes into the sunset.

You can also take a boat cruise from here, walk on the Skywalk, see the replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Apart from it, admire some of the architectural sites such as Fuji TV Building, The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, DiverCity Tokyo Plaza and some others.

12. Climb Tokyo SkyTree

Tokyo SkyTree is one of the world’s tallest buildings – just behind the Burj Khalifa and Merdeka 118 (I showed it to you in my blog about Kuala Lumpur). It’s 634 metre tall and was opened in 2012 – now you can spot it from all over Tokyo.

You can buy tickets to the lower desk – the Tempo deck at 350 metres – or together with the highest point of the tower, Tempo gallery at 450 metres.

Each of the elevators leading to the decks is dedicated to one of the seasons: autumn, winter, spring, or summer. There’s a shop at the end of your visit, and they celebrated 50 years of Hello Kitty when we visited!

To be honest, although the views are fantastic, the overall experience is not very pleasant because there are definitely too many tickets sold for the visitors which leads to enormous queues on every stage of the visit.

After visiting the Skytree you can also visit the Skytree shop and one of the numerous restaurants, cafes and even the vendor machines around the place!

13. Find the cuties of Daikeizan Gotokuji

Gotokuji temple is a Buddhist temple established in 1480 – now it’s Setagaya part of Tokyo.

It’s famous for its symbol, maneko neko: dozens of cat figurines are left here by visitors. When I say dozens, I really mean it!

You can also spot cats on ema tablets and even on the pagoda – and there’s even a cat train running from a station nearby (see below).

14. Ride Maneki neko train

This is the cutest thing you’ve seen in my guide so far: it’s a cat train in Tokyo! Maneki neko train, or officially Kofuku-no-Manekineko Densha runs on Setagaya Lin.

It is decorated with cat-related details showcasing lucky cats from Gotokuji temple in this part of Tokyo. You can buy tickets once you’re onboard: one ride tickets are 160 yen (adults) and 80 yen (kids).

Alternatively you can buy a day Setagaya Line Explorer Ticket, it’s 380 yen (adult) – 190 yen (kids).

15. Shop at Ginza six

Pop into the Ginza Six department store freshly opened in 2017 – you’ll find there everything from international brands to local skincare and fashion producers, cafes and a bookstore.

But I suggest you go downstairs to the food court (and it applies to every huge Japanese department store) and try all the cute and unknown food you can get! Have you ever heard of amanatsu, iyokan, unshiu, haruka, or kiyomi, just to name a few. They all are different in gradation of bitterness, sweetness and sourness.

And you can try juice and jellies made from them and choose your favourite! This is the reason why I returned to Japan, honestly. You can try all sorts of Japanese citruses in jelly or juice form.

16. Spot Wako Building

Wako and its clock tower is one of the most recognisable symbols of Ginza – and, possibly, of the entire Tokyo. It was built in 1932 and survived WWII without a scratch.

Pop in inside too – although the building is amazing (and filled me with Manhattan-like vibes), I was a bit disappointed with the range of shops inside. Maybe you’ll find it different for yourself. In front of it you’ll find the Ginza Crossing. It’s less busy than the famous Shibuya crossing – but isn’t it actually a good thing?

17. Watch a performance at Kabuki-za Theatre

Kabuki is one of the main theatre styles of Japan (it’s often described in opposition to Noh theatre) where drama is combined with dancing.

Originally it was performed by women, but with time going by only men became allowed to participate in this type of performance: female roles were given to younger men. It is traditionally believed the first performance took place in Kyoto in 1603. Now Kabuki is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The most famous Kabuki theatre is located in Ginza district: it was originally built in 1889, then destroyed and rebuilt several times, and, finally, reopened to the public once fully renovated in 2013. You can order tickets online in advance and collect them at the theatre on the day of performance. Don’t forget to take an audio guide! Otherwise it would be quite challenging to understand what is going on on stage.

18. Climb Tokyo Tower

If you have seen at least some films, cartoons, or postcards about Tokyo, there is no way you haven’t seen the Tokyo tower, the orange television and radio tower turned into a major tourist site!

It’s been one of the most iconic landmarks in the Japanese capital since its opening in 1958, and the design was created by famous Tachū Naitō. The Tower stands 333 metre high and used to be the tallest tower in all of Japan – till 2011 and construction of the Tokyo SkyTree.

You can also see its sister tower in Nagoya. You can visit it, and buy some souvenirs in its shop – and of course grab some snacks in the coffeeshop!

19. Don’t miss the Zojoji Temple

If you’re around the area of Tokyo tower, don’t miss the Zojoji Temple, which belongs to the Jodo Buddhist sect and was founded in 1393. The temple played an important role in the history of Japan because it was transferred to this location by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1598 when he moved to Edo, and the Tokugawa mausoleums of 6 shoguns were located here.

Sadly, the majority of the buildings are not the original ones however the Sangedatsumon, the main gates, date to 1622. The mausoleums were never rebuilt after being destroyed by fire of WWII raids, and only small humble shogun tombs remain here.

20. Eat at Toyosu fish market

Visit the Toyosu fish market, which recently opened its doors to the public instead of the Tsukiji market! One of the main attractions of it remains the Tuna Auction that recently opened in a new location. It takes place from 5:30 am to 6:30 am, and you can watch it from the observation desk if you’re lucky enough to get a place.

Food stalls and multiple shops have also migrated to a new location. From my experience, I can say that the new market is much better adapted for visitors, contains English signs and direction everywhere.

And navigation became much easier even considering the fact that new market is so much bigger! Btw, the waterfront area is extremely nice too!

21. Stroll in Ueno Park

Stroll along the Ueno Park, one of the first public parks in Japan and see the magnificent pagoda of Tōeizan Kan’ei-ji Endon-in temple – basically the territory of the park belonged to this temple in the past.

Make sure you pop into the museums, stroll around the Shinobazu Pond with lotuses and maybe even get acquainted with pandas in the zoo nearby!

22. Admire the collection of Tokyo National Museum

Explore the collection of Tokyo National Museum, the complex of six buildings that houses the largest and one of the most important museums in Tokyo dedicated to the history of the country.

Make sure you see the Honkan collection at least – it covers ukiyo-e, samurai armour, noh and kabuki masks, lacquerware, kimonos, archeological treasures and so much more!

23. Broaden your mind in TeamLabs Planets

Have you ever been to any of the TeamLabs, interactive museums where art fuses with technology?

The Tokyo TeamLabs museum is probably the most famous of them all! There are various zones where you can literally be part of art happening around you: touch the balloons, walk in the water, get lost in light strings. And my opinion can be unpopular but I sincerely think that TeamLabs Planets is far more than a photogenic spot although it has taken Instagram over: it can stimulate your senses like no other museum can!

24. Learn about Edo at Fukagawa Edo Museum

Dive into the life of an Edo city at the Fukagawa Edo Museum – wander around the city built indoors and learn the story behind every single building and its owners!

Lighting and sound effects, moving figures and real flowing water all add to the authenticity of the place.

25. Have fun at Ghibli Museum

Take a little ride outside Tokyo to see Ghibli Museum and the masterpieces of Miyazaki!

The photography is limited here but you can see various inspirations behind the different movies, sketches, and shop some merchandise.

Don’t forget to book in advance – I wrote a detailed description of it in my other blog. If you’re a Ghibli fan, you can also visit Ghibli park in Nagoya!

26. Fall in love with Shibuya

Find Hachiko statue who is still waiting for his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, at Shibuya station and walk along the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world!

The reasons for the intersection being so crowded include the proximity of one of the biggest stations (Shibuya) and a number of offices and other workplaces nearby.

27. Pay a visit to Akihabara

Akihabara used to be one of the most vibrant areas of Tokyo however I got a feeling that nowadays many tourists skip this destination.

And this is a mistake, because you can get blinded by the colours and lights of Akihabara! Explore the Electric Town, buy some anime related souvenirs and maybe even pop into one of the maid cafes if you’re interested: this area has lots to offer.

28. Explore Meiji shrine

And we’re off to one of the most tranquil parts of touristic Tokyo. The shrine was established in 1920.

As this is a sacred place, the photography of what’s inside the shrine is prohibited, but you can notice people hitting a large drum and priests making prayers.

Ema tablets left by visitors contain wishes and prayers. The barrels of sake there is one of the most photogenic spots of the shrine. Also make sure you visit the park where the shrine is located – an absolute gem!

29. Visit Tokyo station ..

Tokyo station is the main train station of Tokyo – if you arrive on the Shinkansen, bets are you’re going here!

The station opened in 1914 and grew so big that the old brick part – now on Marunouchi side – had to be enormously expanded.

I stayed in the apartments here on my second trip to Japan and we stayed around this area again in Shangri-La Tokyo.

30….and have a day trip from Tokyo

Tokyo is conveniently located in the middle of the main island so there are many day-trips you can easily do from here! My top suggestions would be Yokohama, Kamakura, Kawagoe, Nagoya, or Nagano.

Where to stay:

This time we opted for one of the most luxurious hotels in Tokyo: Shangri-La, and it didn’t disappoint.

We’ve got a corner room right above Tokyo Station with the panoramic windows: you can spot Tokyo Tree and Tokyo tower too from it!

And I’m speechless for this bathroom with the bathtub opening over the sleepless city and L’occitane skin care products.

The Lobby lounge restaurant serves fantastic seasonal Japanese dishes together with some western dishes. Their breakfasts were also good, especially the Japanese traditional breakfast (however I must note that the breakfast area is tiny, you have to wait for a table from time to time, and the buffet selection is rather limited).

Pictures of the floating world