13 MUST DO THINGS IN TOKYO CITY.
Get ready to experience the 13 must do things in Tokyo City. In this guide you will discover the peak of Japan’s busy capital From neon-lit skyscrapers, animal cafes, and arcades to historic temples and shrines. This vibrant city combines old traditions with futuristic technology offering something for everyone!Â
1. VISIT AN IZAKAYA ALLEY & DRINK SAKE WITH THE LOCALS
If you want to mingle amongst the locals and enjoy the best street snacks and sake then visiting an Izakaya Alley is one of the top must-do things in Tokyo. Izakaya’s are a type of Japanese bar that serves a variety of small plates to accompany your drinks in an intimate setting.Â
My personal favourite Izakaya Alley on my trip was Omoide Yokocho, located near Shinjuku Station (west exit). The alley was lit with lanterns with a rustic vibe creating a cosy ambiance.Â
Not only was the alley impressive to the eye, but I was also utterly spoilt with choice when it came to food. You will find food selections from light bites like grilled skewers, wagyu beef, and pan-fried gyoza to more filling dishes like noodles and rice bowls. However, with limited seating available at most of the Izakaya’s, it is hard to get a seat as most only seat around 6-8 people at a time, so be sure to give yourself enough time here in case you have to wait.
Additional Locations
Other locations for izakayas are Nonbei Yokocho at Shibuya and Hoppy Street in downtown. Nonbei has rows of tiny bars, some only fitting 4-6 people at a time. It is also right next to Shibuya Station, so there are loads of quirky shops and restaurants nearby if you want to explore the area further. Hoppy Street is located on the back street of Asakusa in downtown Tokyo. This location is excellent if you are on a budget and is very lively if you are looking for good nightlife. Locally it is known as stew street as they host more old-style Izakaya, mainly serving bowls of stew.Â
Regarding alcoholic beverages, no Izakaya visit will be complete without a glass or two of the well-known sake, a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. However, also make sure to try Umeshu. It’s a sweet plum wine that was one of my staple drink orders during my trip.
2. EXPERIENCE A TEA CEREMONY
Wearing kimono and attending a Tea Ceremony is one of the most popular cultural experiences you must do when in Tokyo.Â
The first tea ceremony I attended was actually in Kyoto, at Maikoya. Maikoya also have an establishment in Tokyo and you can rent a kimono and enjoy a Tea Ceremony experience for only £39. They offer their tea ceremonies in groups, which is excellent if you are a solo traveller. The experience starts with you choosing your preferred design of kimono. After selecting your kimono, the staff will help you dress. This is called kitsuke (dressing a kimono). Then your hair will be styled, ready for the ceremony.Â
You are probably now wondering what even happens at a tea ceremony other than drinking tea. Well, you do drink tea, but the primary purpose of a tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the hospitality of their hosts in a different atmosphere. A range of intricate hand movements and ceremonial rituals are used while preparing a form of powdered green tea called matcha. When drinking the tea it is drank in a particular way then a sweet treat is served.Â
Traditional tea ceremonies can last up to four hours; however, the experience has been shortened for tourists to get a glimpse into Japanese culture while dressed in traditional clothing.
I experienced the second tea ceremony at Sakaeya Kimono in Harajuku, Tokyo. This was a private experience that included a kimono to keep, a tea ceremony, and a photo shoot in a close by Japanese garden.
If you would like to book my tea ceremony and photo shoot experience, the details are below.
Location: Sakaeya Kimono Haraiyuku
Experience Cost £94 (15,000 yen)
3. VISIT SENSO-JI TEMPLE ASAKUSA
Senso-ji is a Buddhist temple in Asakusa and Tokyo’s oldest and most colourful temple. The temple is free to enter and holds tremendous significance as it is known to be the temple where Japanese Buddhism started.
When you reach the entrance, you will see two statues of the Shinto gods Fujin and Raijin. Fujin represents the god of wind, and Raijin represents the god of thunder. Inside the Temple you will also find more statues and inside is where you can make your wish for good health, wealth, and fortune which is a cool experience. Â
I recommend really spending time exploring the Temple then take a stroll down Asakusa shopping street. The shopping street is great for souvenir shopping. It is Packed with street vendors selling clothing, products, and handmade crafts. It also has a variety of sweet and savoury street snacks. I tried many unique treats, one being sweet potato ice cream. Yes, you read correctly, sweet potato ice cream. I never thought it would work together, but it worked beautifully so make sure you don’t miss it out on your trip and give it a try!Â
4. VISIT AN ANIMAL CAFE
Coming from the UK, the sound of an animal café sounded a little crazy, but it is the norm in Japan and should most definitely be in your top 10 list of things to do in Tokyo. Animal cafes are dotted all over the city and allow you to eat and drink while interacting with your favourite animals.
I visited the Owl Café and Snake Café; however, the choice is endless. There are cafes with cats, hedgehogs, bunnies’ micro pigs, birds, dogs, and more. I will pin some locations below for you to save.
5. TAKE A PHOTO ON SHIBUYA CROSSING
Shibuya Crossing is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, with as many as 3000 people crossing at one time, making it a must-visit on your Tokyo trip. Surrounded by big TV screens, lights, and billboards, the crossing consists of 7 crossroads that all come together in orderly chaos.
To get a good view of the crossing from above and watch thousands of people scramble at once, head to the Shibuya Tsutaya Starbucks for the best view. You may have to wait for a seat but be patient, and you will get one. I did not have to wait too long to enjoy my matcha latte with a view.
The surrounding area has a vibrant scene with loads of stuff to see and do nearby. There are shopping outlets, Izakaya’s, restaurants, gaming establishments, and more, so be sure to spend a few or more hours in this area after taking your iconic photo.
Location of crossing: In front of Shibuya Station Hachiko exit.
6. LEARN A NEW JAPANESE SKILL AT AN ARTS & CRAFTS CLASS
When visiting a country I love to learn about local skills and the culture. A great way to do that in Japan is through an arts and crafts workshop.Â
Depending on your interests you can choose a workshop to learn authentic samurai, vkiyo-e scroll making, origami, manga drawing, or calligraphy which is what I chose to do.
I found the the class very insightful and got to make a t-shirt with my name in Japanese calligraphy I wrote myself which was a great souvenir.Â
I carried out my workshop with Togenuki Jizo Calligraphy which sadly closed down in the lockdown but you can find some alternative Japanese arts and crafts HERE.
7. LEARN NEW CULINARY SKILLS AT A JAPANESE COOKING CLASS
Try your hand at Japanese cooking with an authentic cooking class. You will have the opportunity to learn new culinary skills and explore Japanese food culture.
I booked my experience through Air-kitchen. Air-Kitchen has a wide range of hosts offering different experiences. So whether you want to learn the master of sushi or make ramen noodles from scratch, Air-kitchen has it all.
I made noodles from scratch, pan-fried gyoza, and ramen with host Yumi. Yumi really explained the history behind the food, and I got to experience traditional cooking customs like massaging the dough with the heels of my feet and cutting eggs with a string. I also learned how to wrap gyoza dumplings beautifully in a design. The experience was very reasonably priced at £54pp too. Including the cooking class, all the ingredients, a great host, eating the fruits of your labour, and a printed recipe of all the dishes.
8. SPEND A DAY IN HARAJUKU
Another must do in Tokyo City is to spend the day in Harajuku. From fashion to food, Harajuku is a neighbourhood that has it all going on to keep you occupied all day.Â
Harajuku is full of fashion boutiques, department stores, and food establishments, but the number one busiest street is Takeshita Street. Takeshita has mainly alternative, more affordable fashion and unusual offerings. The street is also buzzing with crazy cafes, colourful street snacks, crazy cotton candy, and crepe stands to satisfy your sweet tooth.Â
Be sure to stop at Rainbow Sweets Harajuku for your giant candy floss, and head to Sweet Box or Marion Crepes to try some world-class crepes.Â
If you prefer to relax and experience art and culture, Harajuku offers this too. It houses contemporary art galleries, shrines, and a Japanese garden hidden away from all the hustle and bustle of the busy streets.
And if you are still around in the evening, enjoy some top-notch entertainment at the many bars and restaurants.Â
9. Visit The Studio Ghibli Museum
For all you Studio Ghibli fans out there, the Studio Ghibli Museum is a must-visit. This fun interactive animation studio is located in the suburban area of Tokyo.
Tickets to this museum can be pricey and pretty hard to get but worth it. I’m not a huge anime or manga fan but the museum was super fun.
It had many interactive elements, and you even got to watch a short movie in the studio theatre. The outside area was also very pretty and had a charming little cafe.
Even if you are not heavily into Japanese animation and you’re lucky enough to get tickets I would recommend going if you like museums.
10. RELAX IN AN ONSEN
Relax your mind and tense muscles in an onsen. Onsens are natural hot springs. During my Stay in Tokyo, I enjoyed two onsen experiences. The first experience was at ODAIBA Oedo Onsen theme park, which consisted of 13 kinds of onsen indoor and outdoor style baths, spa treatments, game stalls, restaurants, and souvenir shops. ODAIBA Oedo Onsen was one of my trip’s highlights; unfortunately, it has now shut down due to the pandemic. I also enjoyed an Onsen experience on a smaller scale at my airport hotel Kawasaki King Skyfront Toky REI Hotel. You can find onsens around the city, and some accommodation stays house their baths, free for guests, or a small fee charged to non-guests.
The water in the onsens has healing benefits, they are gender separated, and before entering, it is customary to wash your body to ensure you are clean. There is usually an area for this with stalls, water, and soap. Also note it is a Japanese custom that everyone goes into the onsen naked, so don’t be alarmed by all the naked bodies. At first, it may feel a little daunting but believe me when I say no one is watching, and it’s a very liberating and relaxing experience.
11. HAVE A MAGICAL DAY AT TOKYO DISNEY SEA
Tokyo Disney Sea is located just outside Tokyo in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture.
This park offers attractions inspired by ocean tales and legends. It is bursting with entertainment, shopping, and food outlets. It provides the Electric Railway trains like the other parks, but you can also get around by Venetian gondolas, heightening your Disney adventure experience.
The highlights for me were the on-the-water Disney show with fireworks and the Indiana Jones ride, which was so good I did it twice over. One day at the park is not enough to do it all, so I will definitely be visiting again in the future.Â
The Opening hours are 9.00-9.00pm everyday and ticket prices start from £49 (7,900 yen) in the week and up to £59 (9,400 yen) on the weekends.
I booked my tickets direct on the website https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tds/
12. STROLL AROUND YOYOGI PARK
Yoyogi Park is great for everyone! It’s home to beautiful shrines, green areas for picnics, lakes and loads of trees that look great in the cherry blossom season.
You can spend the day just strolling around the park admiring the park beauty and people-watching then hire a boat and go along the lake. However, my rowing skills were subpar so I think it’s best I go in the pedal boat next time.
13. COSPLAY IN A SELF-DRIVE KART AROUND TOKYO CITY
Fantasy becomes a reality in this superhero self-drive Street Go-Karting experience. Dress up in your favorite character costume, put on some music and drive your way through the colourful City. Â
Please note this experience must be pre-booked in advance and requires an international driving license. The Karts can be rented from Tokyo Bay with different routes available either as a group or privately but note all Karts are designed for one passenger only.Â
F&QSÂ https://kart.st/en/faq_tokyobay.html
I never had the opportunity to enjoy this experience as I did not have a license, so I was gutted when I found out I could not take part. However, it should be a must on the top 10 things to do if you meet the requirements. On the upside, Street Car now offers a TUK TUK ride around the city, so you can still participate in the fun if you do not drive. Â
If you want to continue on the fun close by head down to Akihabara. It is home to the gaming world, so that you can enjoy this area’s arcades, electronics, and books. I bought out my inner child and had a blast with all on offer.Â
Conclusion
Tokyo has so much on offer for every type of traveler. For a cultural experience, you have temples, shrines, and tea ceremonies. Onsens for relaxation, shopping, and desserts in Harajuku, photo opportunities on Shibuya Crossing, animal cafes for animal lovers, cooking classes for food lovers, and Tokyo Disney Sea and Street Karting for adventure and thrill seekers. These are just the Top 10 MUST DO Things in Tokyo City, but there is much more for you to discover.Â
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Language: JapaneseÂ
Currency: Japanese Yen
Country Entry Requirements:https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan/entry-requirements
MY TRIP DETAILSÂ
Who I flew with: Air France UK-TokyoÂ
Where I stayed
- Nine Hours Shinjuku-North 4 nights
- Nest Hotel Tokyo Hanzomon 5 nightsÂ
- The Millennials Kyoto 1 nightÂ
- Kawasaki King Skyfront Tokyu REI Hotel 1 night
ExperiencesÂ
- Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony £39
Sakaeya Kimono £94 - Tokyo Disney Sea £59
- Air Kitchen Cooking Class £54
- Street Car ExperienceÂ
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