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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Yes, Book and Beer Cafes Exist: Here are Two of Tokyo’s Best

After a long, hard week, who doesn’t love to kick back and relax?...

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.

Explore Tokyo’s Underground Temple in the Ryu-Q Kan Sewer Tour

For most, the words “Tokyo sewer tour” don’t inspire much excitement. It’s an...
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Could ‘American’ Be The Biggest Sandwich In Tokyo?

Ginza, Tokyo. An upscale neighbourhood all about high-end shopping and dining. As such, many cuisines...

Exploring Tokyo’s Biggest Cave: Nippara Limestone Caves

At the western edge of Tokyo prefecture, around 2 hours from the city...

Where to Catch Tokyo’s Food Trucks: Lunch at the International Forum

I'd committed the cardinal sin of time-strapped travellers everywhere: I'd slept in. And...

Interview With Architect Kengo Kuma on the New National Stadium’s Design

Architect Kengo Kuma Weaves Nature Into New National...
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Gotokuji, Tokyo’s Lucky Cat Temple

You may not known their name, but no doubt you’ve seen those white...

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...
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Stupendous Wood-Fired Pizza at da ISA in Nakameguro

Japanese pizza is notoriously ‘weird’—as many disgruntled expats might like to complain. Putting...

The restaurant that inspired Quentin Tarantino: Gonpachi Nishi Azabu

Cinephiles coming to Tokyo could definitely put together a movie-based pilgrimage trip. Movie-themed...

An Intimate Guide to Kabukicho

Get ready to explore Shinjuku's neon heart with our ultimate guide to Kabukicho....
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The Best Tantanmen in Tokyo: Bazoku

Japan, 1977. The economy was booming, black-and-white television was a distant memory and baseball legend...

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...

Gluten-Free in Tokyo: Everything You Need to Know

Visiting new places with an allergy can be hard. However, knowing what you...

A Brooklyn Brunch that’s Beyonce approved, right in Harajuku

One day I was on my way to Harry’s Sandwich Co., and I...

A Solid Hour Of Fireworks At The Tamagawa Fireworks Festival

Yes, you read that correctly—one whole hour. To be honest, I didn’t quite...

A Visit To The Oldest Eel Restaurant in Tokyo: Izuei Honten

Unagi is a bit of a thing in Japan. Loved for centuries with...

The Stages of Tokyo: A Guide to Traditional Tokyo Theater

Most theater fans both in Japan and abroad have heard of kabuki. The...

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

Tokyo has no shortage of great shaved ice (kakigori), but even with all...

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

We hear music in the distance. Drums beat and flutes whistle a traditional...

Sakura Jingu Shrine: Pretty in Pink Cherry Blossoms and Ribbons

There are plenty of places to see cherry...
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Pizza Slice—A Taste of New York in Tokyo

Japanese pizza has a reputation for being a little strange. Where else would...
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Trams Through the Blossoms: Discovering Tokyo on the Arakawa Line

Roses line this Tokyo tram line At its peak,...

Healthy Vegan Dining at Restaurant 8ablish, Omotesando

Omotesando on the weekend is a bustling place. The wide streets and footpaths...

Da Yo Ne is A Great Little Tea Rice Bar in Roppongi

Few dishes are more comforting on a cold, rainy day than the humble...
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A Perfect Layover Lunch near Narita Airport: Grilled Unagi Rice Bowls at Kawatoyo

Have a layover at Narita Airport with several hours to spare? A day...

Tokyo Zoos: A Guide to Tokyo’s Wild Side

Amidst the towering skyscrapers of downtown Tokyo and the low grey concrete of...

Onden’s Japanese Curry Rice—a Taste of Home in the Heart of Harajuku

To the average Tokyoite, Harajuku evokes youth culture and fashion. It’s where you...
This tranquil waterwheel is in Hidaka's Kinchaku field. The red spider lily festival is held in the area.

Visiting Hidaka (Japan’s Secret Korea) and Hiking the Mt. Hiwada, Mt. Takasashi, and Mt. Monomi Trail

It was time to get my hike on. A whirlwind of days in...

Hearty Tsukemen in Akihabara: Menya Musashi Bujin

These days, ramen is a household name. But have you ever heard of...

Yanaka Beer Hall: Craft Beer In A Traditional Setting

With its bustling Ginza shopping street, veteran shopkeepers,...
Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba

Crossing the Rainbow Bridge and Diving Into an Odaiba Tour

The artificial island of Odaiba is one of the primary leisure centers in...
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Digging Through Don Don Down on Wednesday

Shopping for second-hand clothing in Tokyo isn’t quite the cost-saving measure it is...

Strolling Through Yesteryear: Exploring Yanaka Ginza

After an early morning photo shoot at Nezu...

Hanami in Inokashira Park: A How To Guide

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

Ferries and Cruises: A Tour of Tokyo Waterways – Part 2

Walking isn’t the only way to tour Tokyo’s extensive system of waterways. While...

Where to Take the Best Photos of the Shibuya Crossing

Ah, the Shibuya Crossing. A visit to Tokyo simply wouldn’t be complete without...

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

The northeastern reaches of Tokyo are home to the oft-overlooked Katsushika Ward, bordered...

Natural History Comes To Life at Tokyo’s National Museum of Nature and Science

Natural history and science come to life at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo's Ueno Park!

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...
The New National Stadium Tokyo

Aoyama Trek: A Nature and Architecture Walk

Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis with countless landscapes to explore. Besides the main...

Intermediatheque Museum Tokyo: Curious and Curiouser 

If taxidermy, skeletons, minerals, and turn-of-the-century gadgets float your boat, Intermediatheque is for...

Radio Taiso At Nezu Shrine And An Early Morning Walk

“Ohayōgozaimasu!” says the man stretching beside his portable radio. Its tinny sound reminds...

Tokyo’s Secret Wilderness: Exploring Todoroki Valley

Todoroki Valley is one of Tokyo’s best-kept secrets. Had your fill of busy...

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

Looking for a dash of culture at a Tokyo museum? Skip the Harajuku...

Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan

Traveling around Japan this finals season? Missing the echo of the siren, the...
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Starting Up and Breaking Down: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 1

Follow our road trip from Tokyo to Okinawa; fourteen days, multiple forms of...
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Kichijoji Tour: Hammocks, Shopping and Parks

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

Healthy Vegan Lunches at Brown Rice Canteen in Omotesando

Vegan-friendly meals used to be difficult to find...

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea: Tips & Hacks for First Timers

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

Sawanoi Sake Brewery: Taste and Tour Close to Tokyo

Sake can be easily found in every restaurant and convenience store in Japan,...

All You Can Eat Candy at Tokyo’s Dagashi Bars

When visitors think of old school Japan, they no doubt picture kimono-clad geisha...

Soup Curry in Tokyo: Where and Why You Should Eat It

If you like soup and if you love...
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Backpacking Through Japan – An Overview

In the spring of 2019, my fiancée and I spent three weeks backpacking...

Ponipirika Soup Curry Is A Perfect Late Lunch in Shimokitazawa

Besides seafood, Hokkaido’s best export must be soup curry. This is exactly as...

Pizza Toast and Kombucha at Café Benisica

Yurakucho's long standing Café Benisica launched the Japanese pizza toast craze Many wouldn’t immediately associate Japan...

A Magical Guide to Tokyo DisneySea

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

Japanese Edible Candy Art: Amezaiku at Ameshin

Amezaiku is an ancient art requiring intense concentration and skill. Specifically, amezaiku is...

Stroll through Architectural History at Tokyo’s Open-Air Folk House Museum

In its sunken hearth, the fire crackles enticingly. Its guardian, an elderly woman...

A Curry To Remember At Joto Curry Shibuya Honten

Shibuya can feel more like a nightlife and shopping area than a culinary...

The Artizon Museum: Experiencing Creativity in Tokyo

If you find yourself near Tokyo Station with time to spare, consider checking...

Kabuki Single Act Tickets at Kabukiza Theatre, Tokyo

Heading to Tokyo and looking for something traditional to do? The Single Act...

Exploring the Tarō Okamoto Memorial Museum

If you’re a fan of avant-garde artwork, you’ve probably heard of Tarō Okamoto....
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Where to Buy English Books in Tokyo

You’re in Tokyo and fancy a read but you don’t know where to...

Top 3 Torii Gate Tunnel Photo Spots in…Tokyo!

Loving those red torii gate tunnel images from Kyoto, but just can’t get...

Gallivanting around Ginza – A Tour Through Old Tokyo Part 1

Many people come to Tokyo for the bright lights of Shibuya and Shinjuku....
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Tokyo Craft Beer at Far Yeast Brewing in Shibuya

Note: the Shibuya location moved to Gotanda to...

An American Style Cafe; Good Town Bakehouse in Yoyogi Uehara

“The Japanese people just do everything so authentically. They copy every last detail...

Where To Get Japanese Breakfast in Tokyo Without Breaking The Bank

Are you a budget conscious traveller? If so, you’re probably not staying in...

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

Vegans have a tough time of it in Tokyo—at least, that’s how it...

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

From the jam-packed transit system to the teeming walkways around hubs like Shibuya...

Phenomenal Ramen in the Suburbs: Shibasakitei in Umegaoka

With literally thousands of ramen restaurants in Central Tokyo and across the Greater...

Visiting The World’s Tallest Tower: Tokyo Skytree

Since its opening in 2012, Tokyo Skytree has become a beloved fixture on...

Halloween Hijinx at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea

Halloween is one of the spookiest events on the calendar; a time for...

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

The Umi No Hi festival is celebrated by decorating the beach of Odaiba...

Tokyo’s Fabled 100 Yen Stores: Our Top Picks

For cash-strapped travellers, Tokyo’s 100 yen stores are a godsend. One hundred yen...
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Kurogi’s Killer Kinako Kakigori – A Shaved Ice Dessert to Die For

Kinako, or roasted soybean flour, might be a difficult sell if you’ve never...

Don’t Miss Tokyo’s Dreamiest Cherry Blossom Spot: Meguro River

Tiny and sweet, cherry blossoms are a sure-fire symbol of spring, and in...

Sanrio Puroland: Tokyo’s Indoor Hello Kitty Theme Park

For fans of Hello Kitty and her menagerie of mates, or even those...
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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...

Where to get an afternoon drink in Omotesando

So, I totally get it. You’re on vacation and you’ve been sightseeing or...
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Indie Cinema in Tokyo: Human Trust, Shibuya

Tokyo Cinema Scene For...

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.

Vegan Food in Tokyo: A Complete Guide

Travelling while vegan can be difficult; worrying about whether you’re going to be...

Grab an exquisite lunch at Hayama Ramen, Shinjuku

Hayama Ramen, Shinjuku. Some of the best ramen in Tokyo.
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Tips for Visiting Tokyo Disneyland

Whether you’re looking for a fun day trip while you’re in Tokyo or...
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21_21 Design Sight: Tokyo’s Modernist Masterpiece

21_21 Design Sight is a modernist gallery in Tokyo featuring exhibitions on the themes of ecology, sustainability and design.
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Tobusakana—A Local Seafood Izakaya in Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa is known for vintage fashion, soup curry, and cafes. The unceasing renovation...
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Cook your own dinner at Sakura Tei Okonomiyaki

The artistic interior of Harajuku Okonomiyaki purveyors 'Sakura Tei'.

Prime Chicken and Flaming Charcoal at Ganchan Roppongi

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

Torimero yakitori: A cheap chain restaurant with many locations in Tokyo

Living in Tokyo you take some things for granted. Two of these things...

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,...

Gomaya Kuki – World’s Richest Black Sesame Ice Cream?

If you have a sweet tooth and you’re visiting Japan, green tea-flavoured desserts...

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...

Unlimited Fun at Kabukicho’s Okinawa Paradise

If you’re after a rowdy night with Tokyo locals, look no further than...
The main street in Akihabara

Akihabara to Ueno Part 1 – An Akihabara Trek

The districts of Akihabara and Ueno sit next to one another and offer...

Gachapon Capsule Toys: Cheap Souvenirs and a Bit of Fun

If you’re looking for a cheap souvenir that comes with a bit of...

Tokyo Farmer’s Market at UNU

The Tokyo Farmer’s Market at UNU runs every...
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Motsuyaki Ban, Tokyo’s original Lemon Sour Bar

We head to the birthplace of the Lemon Sour, ‘Motsuyaki Ban’  The Lemon Sour, a staple...

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