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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Shibuya’s Underbelly: A Walk Through Love Hotel Hill and Dogenzaka

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Intermediatheque Museum Tokyo: Curious and Curiouser 

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

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Strolling Through Yesteryear: Exploring Yanaka Ginza

After an early morning photo shoot at Nezu...

Tokyo Tower and a Tour through Surrounding Areas

Jutting out of the city center, you’d be mistaken for thinking that the...

Ponipirika Soup Curry Is A Perfect Late Lunch in Shimokitazawa

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

All Day Breakfast in Tokyo at Tractor, Nakameguro

Laid back, tattooed staff, grungy design, avocado on toast and cold drip coffee....

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

Looking for some family-friendly activities in Tokyo? Add Inokashira Park (Inokashira-koen) to your...
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Dashi Chazuke En: Comfort Food Before A Flight at Narita

Narita International Airport has dozens of eating options, from ramen and sushi to...

Electronic Stores in Tokyo: Bic Camera and Beyond

The neon-lit corridors of Tokyo’s electronic stores can be just as daunting as...

Hanami in Inokashira Park: A How To Guide

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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...

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

Tokyo is filled with trendy neighborhoods. Some of them, like Ginza, are more...
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Pizza Slice—A Taste of New York in Tokyo

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Japanese Cosmetics: Our Favorites to Shop for in Japan

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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...
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Could ‘American’ Be The Biggest Sandwich In Tokyo?

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Tokyo Rojiura Soup Curry Samurai, Shimokitazawa

Look up Shimokitazawa in most guides to the city, and you’ll quickly discover...

The Artizon Museum: Experiencing Creativity in Tokyo

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

Tokyo Sake Bar in Ebisu: Frozen Sake Bar Buri

Head west of Ebisu Station into the backstreets...

Finding Good Fortune on an Ebisu Tour

The area of Ebisu, close to the din of Shibuya, is the perfect...
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Delicious French Fusion in Nakameguro

Outside the Nakameguro French Restaurant, La Gueule de Bois We visit...

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...

Ancient Art and Tranquil Gardens at Nezu Museum

The Japanese aesthetic is the sum of many parts, each wonderful in their...

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

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

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

If you’re coming to Tokyo and worry you’ll...

Rockabillies, Dogs in Turtlenecks and Soothing Nature at Yoyogi Park

Whenever someone visits Tokyo, I’m quick to recommend slotting Yoyogi Park into their...

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...
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Aoyama Trek: A Nature and Architecture Walk

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Shopping locally made artisanal products at Akihabara’s 2k540

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A Magical Guide to Tokyo DisneySea

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

Toyosu Market Sushi Restaurant: Iso Sushi

Iso Sushi (or Isozushi) restaurant was a Tsukiji...
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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...

An Intimate Guide to Kabukicho

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Tips for Catching the Train or Bus in Tokyo

Using public transport in Tokyo can feel overwhelming, it’s the largest city in...

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

Akihabara can be a frenetic place; whirring arcades, hordes of tax free shoppers,...

Enter a Magical Wonderland at the Shibuya Disney Store

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

Camera Shopping in Tokyo: Top Spots for Great Deals

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

Moominvalley Saitama: It’s Moominsummer Madness!

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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...

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

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

Refined Kaiseki and Stunning Gardens at Tofuya Ukai

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

Sawanoi Sake Brewery: Taste and Tour Close to Tokyo

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

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...

Freshly Fried Seafood At The New Toyosu Market

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

In Tokyo's peaceful Komaba district, the Japanese and European former homes of Marquis Maeda quietly await visitors.

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...

Meat-ya Asagaya: Tokyo’s Best Spaghetti House

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

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

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

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

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Get Your Fill at Tokyo’s All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants

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A Circuit Through Shimokitazawa

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Where to get an afternoon drink in Harajuku, Tokyo

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Vegan Food in Tokyo: A Complete Guide

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Tips for Visiting Tokyo Disneyland

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

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Indie Cinema in Tokyo: Human Trust, Shibuya

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Kichijoji Tour: Hammocks, Shopping and Parks

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

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

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How to Ride the Bullet Train in Japan

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Gluten-Free in Tokyo: Everything You Need to Know

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Prime Chicken and Flaming Charcoal at Ganchan Roppongi

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Where To Get Japanese Breakfast in Tokyo Without Breaking The Bank

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The Oldest Things to See in Tokyo: Ultimate Guide

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Head To Toriyoshi For Some Juicy, Smoky, High-Quality Yakitori

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

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Unleash your inner child at the Poop Museum Tokyo

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Exploring Shinjuku – Walking the Big Two Part 3

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Cook your own dinner at Sakura Tei Okonomiyaki

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

Catch your own meal at Zauo Fishing Restaurant Tokyo

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Exploring The Tokyo Sewerage Museum “Rainbow”

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Classic Burgers at Golden Brown, Nakameguro

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Experience Old-fashioned Tokyo on a Walking Tour Of Yanaka

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Ikebukuro Tour: Sunshine City and Beyond

Of all the major transit and shopping hubs in Tokyo, Ikebukuro seems to...

Kyu Asakura House: Wood in a Concrete Jungle

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

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Somei Yoshino: The Ageing King of Cherry Blossoms

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A Perfect Layover Lunch near Narita Airport: Grilled Unagi Rice Bowls at Kawatoyo

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Healthy Vegan Lunches at Brown Rice Canteen in Omotesando

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

Sanrio Puroland: Tokyo’s Indoor Hello Kitty Theme Park

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

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Learning A Thing Or Two At A Japanese Cooking Class

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Soup Curry Ganesha—A Salaryman Favorite in Shinbashi

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Commune 2nd, Omotesando’s Food Truck Park Paradise

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

Yanaka Beer Hall: Craft Beer In A Traditional Setting

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California Cuisine from a San Francisco punk rock veteran in Shibuya

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Jindaiji Temple: A Spiritual Day Trip From Tokyo

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

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Touring Harajuku – Walking the Big Two Part 2

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Roppongi Tour: Soaring Heights and Night Life

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Trams Through the Blossoms: Discovering Tokyo on the Arakawa Line

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

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...

Pre-war nostalgia at Asakusa Okonomiyaki restaurant ‘Sometaro’

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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...

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...

Nakameguro Tour – A Taste of Trendiness

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Halloween Hijinx at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea

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

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