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 Tower and a Tour through Surrounding Areas

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

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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...
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Gloriously Decadent Sukiyaki at Ningyocho Imahan

If you want a meal that’s guaranteed to...

Finding New York Style Pizza at The Pizza in Hiroo

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Tokyo Tower vs. Tokyo Skytree: Why Age Reigns Supreme

Tokyo’s skyline is locked in an epic battle between two towers. The reigning...
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Kichijoji Tour: Hammocks, Shopping and Parks

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

Tokyo’s Secret Wilderness: Exploring Todoroki Valley

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

Experience Summer Fireflies in Tokyo at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

At night, the winding paths of Tokyo’s Chinzanso Garden are bathed in a...

Japanese Edible Candy Art: Amezaiku at Ameshin

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Tokyo Craft Beer at Far Yeast Brewing in Shibuya

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

Jindaiji Temple: A Spiritual Day Trip From Tokyo

Follow the Keio line to Chofu in West Tokyo where you'll find a...

Enter a Magical Wonderland at the Shibuya Disney Store

For Disney fans, a visit to Japan is a no brainer. There’s Tokyo...

An American Style Cafe; Good Town Bakehouse in Yoyogi Uehara

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

The restaurant that inspired Quentin Tarantino: Gonpachi Nishi Azabu

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

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...

Sampling, Shopping and Snacking at Tokyu Food Show

Food lovers, prepare yourselves for one of the most dangerous foodie activities in...

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

If you like soup and if you love...

Buckle up for Tokyo Mario Kart Tours

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

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.
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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...

Unlimited Fun at Kabukicho’s Okinawa Paradise

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Akihabara to Ueno Part 2: An Ueno Tour

Unlike Akihabara, which comprises the first part of this tour, Ueno offers a...

International Food in Tokyo: Injera, Poutine, and Pasta

Travelers visiting Tokyo are spoiled for options when it comes to Japanese food....

Hanami in Inokashira Park: A How To Guide

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

Phenomenal Ramen in the Suburbs: Shibasakitei in Umegaoka

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

Gachapon Capsule Toys: Cheap Souvenirs and a Bit of Fun

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

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

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Akihabara to Ueno Part 1 – An Akihabara Trek

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

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...

Hearty Tsukemen in Akihabara: Menya Musashi Bujin

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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

Not sure if you’ve heard, but the whole Tokyo city lights and neon...

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

Tokyo is filled with trendy neighborhoods. Some of them, like Ginza, are more...

Top Tokyo Instagram Spots: Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden’s Japanese Clover Tunnel

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Healthy Vegan Lunches at Brown Rice Canteen in Omotesando

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

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

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

Unleash your inner child at the Poop Museum Tokyo

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

Tokyo’s Fabled 100 Yen Stores: Our Top Picks

For cash-strapped travellers, Tokyo’s 100 yen stores are a godsend. One hundred yen...

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

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Soothing Summer Wind Chimes from Shinohara Furin

Shopping in Tokyo? Head to Shinohara Furin Honpo for some traditional glass wind...

Experience Old-fashioned Tokyo on a Walking Tour Of Yanaka

On any given day, you can count on the main tourist areas of...

A Tuna Extravaganza at Maguro Mart in Nakano

Tuna lovers visiting Tokyo should consider a meal at Maguro Mart. As the...

Meiji Shrine: Serenity Amid The Urban Sprawl

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Rare and Extreme Japanese Beers on Tap at Beer Boy

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Rikugien Garden is a Cultural Heritage Park in Tokyo.

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

Beautiful Parks in Tokyo Many...

Catch your own meal at Zauo Fishing Restaurant Tokyo

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

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Toyosu Market Sushi Restaurant: Iso Sushi

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Tips for Visiting Tokyo Disneyland

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

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Exploring Local Nightlife at a Japanese Yokocho

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Healthy Fast Food at Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku

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Where to Buy English Books in Tokyo

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

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Tokyo Sake Bar in Ebisu: Frozen Sake Bar Buri

Head west of Ebisu Station into the backstreets...

Kyu Asakura House: Wood in a Concrete Jungle

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Hana wa Saku in Nakano Serves A Mean Bowl of Udon

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Serenity and Samurai at the Bamboo Temple: Hokokuji

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Tokyo Zoos: A Guide to Tokyo’s Wild Side

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

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What To Eat While Watching Sumo: Kokugikan Yakitori

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Pre-war nostalgia at Asakusa Okonomiyaki restaurant ‘Sometaro’

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

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Learning A Thing Or Two At A Japanese Cooking Class

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Ranshu: Best Boiled Dumplings in Tokyo?

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Nakameguro Tour – A Taste of Trendiness

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The Artizon Museum: Experiencing Creativity in Tokyo

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

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JK For A Day: Embracing Your Inner Teen In Tokyo

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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...

Refined Kaiseki and Stunning Gardens at Tofuya Ukai

We follow our hostess through the twisting and turning hallways of the converted...

Camera Shopping in Tokyo: Top Spots for Great Deals

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

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

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

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

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All You Can Eat Candy at Tokyo’s Dagashi Bars

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Commune 2nd, Omotesando’s Food Truck Park Paradise

Tokyo food trucks at Commune 2nd, Omotesando. Commune 2nd...

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

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Three Instagrammable Tokyo Photo Spots You Can’t Miss

Photography is a hobby of mine, a long running interest that I’ve had...

Late Night Eats at Ebisu Yokocho

By day, the neighbourhood of Ebisu hums with shoppers, museum-goers and the lunchtime...
Junteuchi Daruma's shoyu ramen is beautiful to behold.

For Fabulous Shoyu Ramen, Head to Junteuchi Daruma

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

Unagi is a bit of a thing in Japan. Loved for centuries with...
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Cook your own dinner at Sakura Tei Okonomiyaki

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

Sawanoi Sake Brewery: Taste and Tour Close to Tokyo

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Japanese Cosmetics: Our Favorites to Shop for in Japan

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Radio Taiso At Nezu Shrine And An Early Morning Walk

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Kappabashi and its Many Tasteless Treats

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Where To Get Japanese Breakfast in Tokyo Without Breaking The Bank

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Japanese Craft Beer By The River: Hitachino Brewing Lab, Akihabara

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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...

First Avenue: Characters, Ramen and Sweets

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Say Cheese! The Ultimate Guide to Purikura Japanese Photo Booths

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Tokyo Station: The Best Spots For Chills and Views

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Exploring The Tokyo Sewerage Museum “Rainbow”

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

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Yes, Cold Noodles Are Cool: Sanpotei Tokyo Lab’s Hiyashi Tantanmen

Summer in Tokyo is deadly. We’re not even joking: hundreds of people in...

California Cuisine from a San Francisco punk rock veteran in Shibuya

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

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