Top 10 Things To Do In Tokyo If You Have Only 1 Day

Tokyo Tourists Share Their Must See Unique Tokyo Places

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I interviewed many of my friends who visited Tokyo on what's their Perfect day and their Top 10 Things to Do in Tokyo.

Where would they go?
What would they eat?
What would they absolutely have to see?

Mario, 54, Advertising, Italy

My Top Things to See in Tokyo would be the Japanese Cosplay Gothic fashion on a Sunday. Then I'd go to Yoyogi Park to see Tokyo Teens dancing. This is one of the most unique Tokyo things to do. For lunch I would probably grab some Okonomiyaki from the food stalls in the park.

On the way back I would pop into Meiji Jingu shrine and relax in the Green surrounding.

If I'm lucky enough there will be a Japanese Traditional wedding in the shrine.

From there I would continue straight to Omotesando Avenue Tokyo's 'fifth avenue'. I would stroll down the street, enjoying the phenomenal contemporary architecture of the Armani, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Christian Dior and other designer buildings.
I would stay there until sunset, when all the Fashion boutiques light up and create an exceptional illumination.

For dinner I'd book a place at my favorite Tokyo Restaurant - Gonpachi - the cozy Izakaya which inspired the big sword fight scene from 'Kill Bill'.
I love this place, although some say it's 'touristic', but I always have a good time there. I go to the Nishi-Azabu one (there are a few Gonpachi in Tokyo).

Josh,27, Backpacker from Australia

My Top 10 Things To Do In Tokyo would include Sony building in Ginza for the Gadgets. Then I'd head to Shibuya for some people watching at the famous intersection, and then eat Ramen at one of the cheap Tokyo Restaurants in the area.

From there I'd head to Marunouchi for a drink with the locals as they wind down before they catch the train home.
The Marunouchi building is filled many Restaurants, so for dinner I would choose one that is packed with office workers – a good sign of quality.

To end the evening I'd go to a Karaoke venue, drink myself silly and sing along with the Japanese crowd.

Tanya, 37, mother of 3, London

For Top 10 Things To Do In Tokyo with the children I would start at the Japanese Gardens, let them run around and take out some energy (Although Japanese kids are so polite and quiet you hardly notice them and mine can be heard for miles). Still, the Japanese gardens are certainly one of the best things to do in Tokyo for children, because of the huge fish and turtles in the pond, the stepping stones and the Japanese Tea Ceremony in the little Tea House.

Kabuki Theater with Traditional Kabuki Makeup is another great thing to do with children in Japan. Make sure you buy tickets for only one act of Kabuki Theater, which is about 30 minutes. More than that can be hard on your kid's patience. They have shows going all day long in Ginza.

Studio Ghibli Museum is a Fun place to go with your Teens who are into Japanese Anima.They teach you How to create Animations and many of their famous characters are presented in the museum too.
The museum itself has a fun shape, as if it came right out of one of their movies.
This museum is so popular it needs to be booked in advance, usually about a month before.
You can do it yourself through the Museum site, or book a Ghibli Museum Tour. I'm recommending the tour because transportation to the museum is not easy.

Of course Tokyo Disneyland wins as one of the Top 10 Things to Do in Tokyo for kids, just don't go there during the weekends or Japanese Holidays because the lines are unbelievable. And remember – you need 2 or 3 days to it all.

Paul, 47, Businessman, London

Start the day running along the jogging track around the Imperial Palace Tokyo. Then off to Roppongi Hills and Mori tower for the Tokyo skyline observatory on the 54th floor. Then a contemporary art exhibition at Mori tower's superb art gallery (I consider this one of the Top 10 Things To Do In Tokyo since some of the best Exhibitions I've ever seen where there), and some shopping in the complex.

If I'm lucky and my business trip falls on Sumo tournament season, I'd book a Sumo wrestler match.

For dinner I'd choose to go again to Kanda in Roppongi for Japanese Food. It's one of the Michelin Restaurant Guide recommended Restaurants.

Anne & Greg, from NY

We stayed at a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese style inn, which is very Romantic.

Tokyo fish market is one of our Top 10 Things To Do In Tokyo. Although it involves getting up at 5:00 am in the morning (!!), I'm glad we did it, because it's such a unique Tokyo place.

From Tokyo Museums Fukagawa Edo Museum was our favorite. This Tokyo Museum is great fun because this is where Tokyo History really comes to life. There's a reproduction of a neighborhood during the Edo Period with life sized replicas of traditional houses.This Museum even changes the exhibition according to the seasons and the time of day - the cherry blossom trees bloom in spring. and there's a daily cycle in which lights brighten or the roof closes to make sun set.

For shopping we really enjoyed Ginza Department stores, and we would probably go back to Laduree Café that overlooks the famous Ginza clock. It's an excellent place for people watching as it sits right on the intersection.

We loved the sight of Tokyo Tower in the evening, at it lights up. We called it the Japanese version of the Eiffel Tower. We found the best place to see it was from Roppongi Hills complex.

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