TOKYO

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

TOKYO

Japan’s bustling capital is home to over 9 million people and is a veritable hub of culture, dining, shopping and entertainment. As such, there are an endless array of things to do in Tokyo. History and culture buffs will love wandering the many temples, shrines, museums and traditional districts. Foodies will have access to some of the best restaurants in the world. Outdoorsy types may be surprised to learn that Tokyo is in fact a great walking and biking city; many suburbs are connected by landscaped greenways and spectacular parks and gardens abound. And you can take it all in from one of the great city views around town—you might even glimpse Mount Fuji.  

Whether it’s the neon lights of Shinjuku, the traditional backstreets of Asakusa or the ultra-hip Shimokitazawa, Tokyo has a vibe for everyone. Simply wander off the beaten track to discover what else this amazing city has to offer. In the meantime, here are a few of our favourite things to do in Tokyo.

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Tokyo Day Trip: Koedo, Kawagoe’s Breath of Edo

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Sangenjaya Tour – Burgers, Cafes and a Stop in the Park

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Nagi Shokudo is Where to Go for Affordable, Delicious Vegan Food in Shibuya

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Finding New York Style Pizza at The Pizza in Hiroo

One of the first things I tell people who visit Tokyo is that...
Mixed sashimi platter at Tobusakana

Tobusakana—A Local Seafood Izakaya in Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa is known for vintage fashion, soup curry, and cafes. The unceasing renovation...
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Superb Slurps at street pasta company

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California Cuisine from a San Francisco punk rock veteran in Shibuya

*Note: This restaurant is no longer operating* “Tonight there’s gonna...

Kyu Asakura House: Wood in a Concrete Jungle

Kyu Asakura House is an unlikely residential building with a beautiful strolling garden, nestled in the concrete heart of Shibuya.

Views and Booze at The Peak Lounge and Bar at Park Hyatt

If you only have a limited time in Tokyo, you’ll no doubt be...

Camera Shopping in Tokyo: Top Spots for Great Deals

Tokyo rightly deserves its reputation as a world-class shopping destination, especially when it...

Mizumoto Park: Tokyo’s Biggest and Best Place to See Irises

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Ueno Park

Ueno Park: One of the Best Places to see Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Come springtime in Japan, there’s one thing on everybody’s mind: cherry blossoms. People...

Strolling Through Yesteryear: Exploring Yanaka Ginza

After an early morning photo shoot at Nezu...

A Magical Guide to Tokyo DisneySea

For Disney fans, the happiest place in Japan isn’t Tokyo Disneyland, but next...

Tokyo’s Favourite Day Hike: Mount Takao (Takaosan)

Offering scenic hiking trails, a popular monkey park, and ancient shrines, it's no...

What’s Up with These Japanese Fish Flags? Koinobori and Children’s Day

Once spring hits, they’re nearly everywhere. Visitors to Japan will find long strands...
Shinjuku

Exploring Shinjuku – Walking the Big Two Part 3

If Shibuya is the current center of development, commerce, and shopping, Shinjuku is...

Electronic Stores in Tokyo: Bic Camera and Beyond

The neon-lit corridors of Tokyo’s electronic stores can be just as daunting as...
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Urban Oasis: Aoyama Flower Market Teahouse

Interior of Tokyo cafe 'Aoyama Flower Market Teahouse' The...

Prime Chicken and Flaming Charcoal at Ganchan Roppongi

Yakitori has to be one of my favourite meals in Japan. It’s an...

Catch your own meal at Zauo Fishing Restaurant Tokyo

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Harajuku Art Scene: Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art

Looking for a dash of culture at a Tokyo museum? Skip the Harajuku...
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Tsukiji Market Trek – A Tour Through Old Tokyo Part 2

After leaving Ginza on your way south, the luxury of early 20th century...
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Gloriously Decadent Sukiyaki at Ningyocho Imahan

If you want a meal that’s guaranteed to...
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TeamLab Planets Digital Art Phenomenon Tokyo

Digital art installations and infinity rooms are all the rage in contemporary art....

A Taste of Home: Tokyo’s International Grocery Stores

It happens to the best of us. You’ve planned your trip, you’re all...

Meeting the King Kaiju: A Closer Look at Shinjuku’s Godzilla Head

It's difficult to miss the screeching, smoke-spewing, 40-foot Godzilla head in Shinjuku. In...

Buckle up for Tokyo Mario Kart Tours

Tokyo Mario Kart Tours!? These Nintendo-esque go-kart street tours have to be one...

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea: Tips & Hacks for First Timers

One look at the Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea map will show just how...

Japan Folk Crafts Museum in Tokyo: The Home of Japan’s Handmade Heritage

The Japan Folk Crafts Museum, hidden away in Tokyo's leafy Komaba district, is a must-visit for craft enthusiasts.

Standing Yakiniku Restaurant Jiromaru: a great place for A5 Wagyu Beef

Whenever I have visitors in town, I love taking them to a stand-up...

Hot Pies, Cold Drinks: A Taste of Australia at Punk Doily

Biting into my classic steak pie, I relished a flavour profile I hadn’t...

Best Yakitori in Nakameguro: Kushiwakamaru. The Stick Factory.

When people ask me what to eat in Tokyo, a hundred places immediately...

Chill Out in Tokyo’s Hammock Cafes: Mahika Mano & Cafe Stay Happy

In all my years on this earth, I’ve never met a single person...

A Tokyo Ryokan Where You Can Bathe Under City Lights: Cyashitsu Ryokan

Tokyo's duality is one of its many charms; that intersection of ancient history,...

Akihabara to Ueno Part 2: An Ueno Tour

Unlike Akihabara, which comprises the first part of this tour, Ueno offers a...
Chicken vegetable soup curry at Ganesha

Soup Curry Ganesha—A Salaryman Favorite in Shinbashi

It’s an open secret for Tokyo diners—you’ll find all the great restaurants where...

Japanese Cosmetics: Our Favorites to Shop for in Japan

While Korean cosmetics have taken the spotlight in recent years, many Japanese makeup...

Tokyo’s Secret “Power Spot”: Meiji Jingu Inner Garden

I look on as a group of five groundskeepers silently go about their...

World’s Biggest Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Nakameguro

Whether you’re a coffee lover, architecture buff or just want to see what...

Radio Taiso At Nezu Shrine And An Early Morning Walk

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Three Instagrammable Tokyo Photo Spots You Can’t Miss

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Where to get an afternoon drink in Omotesando

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Tokyo’s Secret Wilderness: Exploring Todoroki Valley

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A Tuna Extravaganza at Maguro Mart in Nakano

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Unlimited Fun at Kabukicho’s Okinawa Paradise

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Zōjōji Temple, underneath Tokyo Tower, is full of great local history!

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Tokyo’s Plum Blossom Season: Where and why you should go

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Nakameguro Tour – A Taste of Trendiness

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Visiting The World’s Tallest Tower: Tokyo Skytree

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Sanrio Puroland: Tokyo’s Indoor Hello Kitty Theme Park

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Rare and Extreme Japanese Beers on Tap at Beer Boy

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Gallivanting around Ginza – A Tour Through Old Tokyo Part 1

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Toyosu Market Sushi Restaurant: Iso Sushi

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Tips for Catching the Train or Bus in Tokyo

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The Retro Post-War Izakaya of Hoppy Dori, Asakusa

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Rockabillies, Dogs in Turtlenecks and Soothing Nature at Yoyogi Park

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Sakura Jingu Shrine: Pretty in Pink Cherry Blossoms and Ribbons

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Why Yanaka ‘Cat Town’ Is THE Place For Cat Lovers in Tokyo

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Moominvalley Saitama: It’s Moominsummer Madness!

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The Best Tantanmen in Tokyo: Bazoku

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Studio Ghibli, Live Music, and Cursed Swan Boats: A Day at Inokashira Park

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Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street: Tokyo’s Hidden Gem

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Hearty Tsukemen in Akihabara: Menya Musashi Bujin

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Shimokitazawa

A Circuit Through Shimokitazawa

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A Day Trip To Shibamata: Tokyo’s Magical Retro Hood

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Inokashira Park in Kichijoji

Kichijoji Tour: Hammocks, Shopping and Parks

Kichijoji is a favorite destination for both tourists and Tokyo residents. With a...

Vegan Food with a Side o’ Wonder at Saido Vegan Restaurant Jiyugaoka

Historically, vegetarians and vegans have had a tricky time dining out in Japan....

5-star Luxury in a Historic Oasis: Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

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An American Style Cafe; Good Town Bakehouse in Yoyogi Uehara

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Ambling Asakusa Tour: A Tour of Old Tokyo Part 3

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Tokyo Zoos: A Guide to Tokyo’s Wild Side

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Enter the Belly of the Kawaii (Cute) Beast: Harajuku’s Kawaii Monster Café

Lights, camera, monsters? Delve into the belly of the beast (a cute beast...
Rikugien Garden is a Cultural Heritage Park in Tokyo.

A Cultural Heritage Park in Tokyo – Rikugien Garden of Waka poetry

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Phenomenal Ramen in the Suburbs: Shibasakitei in Umegaoka

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Umi No Hi Festival A Different Way to Experience Tokyo in the Summer

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The New National Stadium Tokyo

Aoyama Trek: A Nature and Architecture Walk

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Spicy, Soupy, Sublime: That’s Soup Curry at Yellow Company

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Intermediatheque Museum Tokyo: Curious and Curiouser 

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Exploring Tokyo’s Biggest Cave: Nippara Limestone Caves

At the western edge of Tokyo prefecture, around 2 hours from the city...
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Lose yourself in the Digital Landscapes of TeamLab Borderless

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Shopping locally made artisanal products at Akihabara’s 2k540

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Jindaiji Temple: A Spiritual Day Trip From Tokyo

Follow the Keio line to Chofu in West Tokyo where you'll find a...
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Starting Up and Breaking Down: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 1

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JK For A Day: Embracing Your Inner Teen In Tokyo

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Marquis Maeda’s Tokyo Legacy: A Tale of Two Homes

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Trams Through the Blossoms: Discovering Tokyo on the Arakawa Line

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Kooriya Peace in Kichijoji Serves Gorgeous Shaved Ice Creations Almost Too Beautiful to Eat

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All Rise for Kikuya’s Standing Tempura in Ebisu

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A Mystical Sea of Clouds in Tokyo’s Historic Chinzanso Garden

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Enter a Magical Wonderland at the Shibuya Disney Store

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River Walks: A Tour of Tokyo’s Waterways – Part 1

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Skating the Art Rink at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse: Fun Winter Activities in Tokyo

Toddlers giggle, adults fall flat on their back, and a select few swoop...

Where to Take the Best Photos of the Shibuya Crossing

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Hana wa Saku in Nakano Serves A Mean Bowl of Udon

One of our favourite areas in the metropolis to hang out and eat...

Serenity and Samurai at the Bamboo Temple: Hokokuji

A tranquil haven linked to an ancient, ruling samurai clan, Hokokuji Temple is...

Tokyo, Books, and You: Curl up in these Three Green Study Spaces

There’s something about plants that makes studying so much easier to bear. It...

Hanami in Inokashira Park: A How To Guide

It would be a shame to be in Japan during cherry blossom season...

Unleash your inner child at the Poop Museum Tokyo

From the outside, the Unko Museum Tokyo looks like a colourful knick-knack shop...

Meat-ya Asagaya: Tokyo’s Best Spaghetti House

Do one thing, and do it well. Many restaurants in Japan subscribe to...

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