From its famous attractions to its well-kept secrets, here are the 50 Best things to do in Tokyo. Be sure to check it out before you head to Japan, and use it as a guide when planning your trip schedule!

1. Meiji Shrine Celebrations

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Meiji is Tokyo’s most popular Shinto shrine. Its located amidst a green forest, so serene you can hardly believe you’re in the busy center of Tokyo. A massive monochromatic colors tori gate at the entrance and ongoing celebrations on a daily basis, from Japanese Festivals to traditional Shinto weddings. Meiji Shrine is part of our Tokyo Day Tours.

2. Asakusa Geisha district

tour-2-in-tokyo-hidden-treasures Visiting the Asakusa area in Tokyo is Like Stepping into Another Time Zone. Tokyo’s former Red light and Geisha district have a very traditional feel to it.

See More: Asakusa is included in our Tokyo Tours

3. Senso-ji Temple

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At Sensoji Temple there is a fortune-telling stand where it’s a custom to tie your fortune paper to a wooden stand, which will apparently blow away the bad luck. Nakamise Street leading to Senso-ji Temple is lined with souvenir shops and traditional Japanese food stalls, a great place to stock up on souvenirs for your friends and family. Senso-ji Temple is included in our Tokyo Tours

4. Tokyo Station

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Tokyo Station is more than a station: it’s a city beneath a city, with every imaginable merchandise – from souvenirs, to huge department stores to many restaurants both cheap and fancy. Marunouchi and Otemachi areas which surround the station are the biggest business districts in Tokyo, so many workers go through it every day, and many tourists and shoppers too. Tokyo Station is the hub station of the Shinkansen bullet trains which are known for their speed.

5. A Breathtaking City Skyline

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source: Find-travel
Seeing the City Skyline from a top Tokyo Sky Tree is by far the most arresting vision in all of Tokyo. You should disembark at Asakusa Station, home of the iconic Sensoji Temple and adjacent souvenir paradise, and walk the ten minutes from there.

6. Tokyo Tower

Photo Credit: Tokyo Tower” by Kakidai – 投稿者自身による作品. Licensed under CC 表示-継承 3.0 via ウィキメディア・コモンズ
Tokyo Tower is one of the most Romantic things to do in Tokyo, the lookalike of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which for some reason never gained international recognition as it’s French twin. This glowing, wonderfully lit tower was built after World War 2 using pieces of steel left behind from the American battle tanks. Beneath the tower there’s a museum, restaurants and shops. Tokyo tower offers two observation decks. The Main Observation deck is located at 150 meters height (490 ft), and the higher Observation deck reaches 249.6 metres (819 ft).

7. Odaiba Fuji TV headquarters

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By Stéfan Le Dû from Nantes, France – Odaiba – Fuji TV building, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9982185 The first thing you’ll notice when crossing Rainbow Bridge towards Odaiba district, is the Fuji TV headquarters building. It has a giant metal ball on top of it, which serves as an observatory deck. A good place to start your Odaiba excursion. Get off at Daiba station for this attraction. The area was built from man made islands in the Bay of Tokyo which were created in the Edo Period.

During the extravagant eighties in Japan the islands were developed into a futuristic business district. Odaiba is part of our Tokyo Tours.

8. An Interactive museum – Walk Right Through

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By Arashiyama (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons No Tokyo sightseeing is complete without visiting Edo-Tokyo Museum. The museum is easily one of the top 10 attractions in Tokyo. It really captures life in the Japanese culture in different Eras. The striking exhibitions are suitable for kids and adults – A full size Kabuki theater built right into the place, where you can actually walk in and experience the Japanese musical instruments, miniature Japanese warriors reconstructing war scenes, Real size Traditional Japanese houses you can enter after taking off your shoes.

Unlike many other Museums in Tokyo, this one is geared towards international visitors. There are plenty of English signs, and English speaking guides and earphones.

9. Cherry Viewing along the Sumida River

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The Sumida River promenade, right next to Asakusa, is the perfect place for a relaxed stroll soaking in the sight of Cherry-Blossoms. Cherry Blossom viewing at night is part of a beautiful custom, and Picnic along the promenade is traditional festival fun!

10. Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Mid-Town

Two sleek malls that house hundreds of high-end shops, restaurants, Cinemas, museums and the Tokyo City Skyline Observatory. Don’t miss nighttime illuminations – the sight of the city and of Tokyo Tower from Roppongi Hills at night is strikingly beautiful! See More: Roppongi Hills

11.Tokyo’s Times Square – Shibuya

Sibuya - Things to do in Tokyo

This huge crosswalk surrounded by glittering neon signs is an incredible sight to see. During Rush hour thousands of pedestrians cross the street at once. It’s best to watch this organized chaos from the second-floor window of Starbucks, overlooking the crossing. This is definitely one of the most amazing things to do in Tokyo. Not to be missed! Shibuya is part of our Tokyo Tours.

12. Akihabara Mega-Shops

Akihabara Area Guide Tokyo

Akihabara is home to the Coolest Gadgets, latest laptops, video games, and cellphones. It’s called “Electric City”.

It is also the hub of pachinko parlors and massive electronic video-gaming centers, maid cafés, and butler cafés which are part of the Japanese Youth culture. Akihabara is included in our Tokyo tours.

12. Miraikan Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

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Asimo, the walking robot from Honda that plays football and looks like a little guy in a spacesuit is the major attraction here. Another sensation here is the perfect pet – a furry seal robot which reacts to your strokes,

13. Most Beautiful Japanese Garden

Rikugien - Things to do in Tokyo

Rikugien wins first place as the Best Japanese Garden in Tokyo. It is so peaceful, you can easily forget that you are in the city. It is most magnificent in autumn when maple trees turn a stunning blend of red and yellow. Cherry Blossom trees in spring are Super-beautiful at the gardens. After a leisurely walk, you arrive at the tiny Japanese Tea House which serves green tea and Japanese desserts. The sliding walls of the teahouse are made of paper and bamboo. Don’t miss it! Rikugien is part of our Tokyo Tours.

14. Yoyogi park

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Yoyogi Park right next to Meiji shrine stop is a gathering place for Tokyo Youth. The park is the hub for all kinds of Japanese youth sub-cultures from hip-hop dancers and rock bands, to Elvis-inspired costumes who play American music from the ’50s. During Cherry Blossom Season picnic under the Blossoming, Cherry trees are a local custom.

15. The perfect people-watching street in Tokyo – Takeshita Dori Street

Takeshita Dori Street is where young fashionable teens dress up in the trendiest street fashion, as well as Manga, Goth, and Anime costumes. This is the area that international designers and celebrities look to for inspiration. The narrow alleys are lined with fashion boutiques and cafes. Takeshita-dori is part of our Tokyo Tours.

Japanese Gardens

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One of the best things to do in Tokyo, especially during spring or Autumn, is to sip on green tea, sample some Japanese desserts and enjoy Autumn colors or blooming pink cherry trees in Spring. Give rest to your aching feet in the small Teahouse in the garden, watch the huge Japanese fish in the ponds, walk the stepping stones and enjoy the traditional Japanese Bridge. See More: Must-See Japanese Gardens in Tokyo

Geisha

geisha-4-2 Visiting Asakusa area in Tokyo is Like Stepping into Another Time Zone. Tokyo’s former Red light and Geisha district has a very Traditional feel to it.

See More: Asakusa Tokyo’s Geisha District

Studio Ghibli Museum

The Disney Of The East. Housed in a quirky building that sets the atmosphere, it’s a Fun place for anyone into Animation.

The famous Studio Ghibli has created many Japanese animation movies (Ponio on a cliff by the sea, My neighbor Totoro, Howl’s moving castle and more).
See More:

Kabuki Theater

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Love, Revenge And Secrets: Traditional Japan at its Best. Check out Kabukiza Theater in Ginza Tokyo. Its the best place to see Japanese Kabuki. Discounts for Japanese Kabuki Theater in Tokyo.

Imperial Palace Tokyo

marounouchi Near Tokyo Station

Tokyo Imperial Palace is a magnificent Japanese Palace that is home to one of the most discreet and unknown Royal families in the world. Take a leisurely stroll through the Japanese gardens surrounding the palace. Don’t Miss Marunouchi right next to the palace, an area bubbling with bars, restaurants, up-scale shopping malls, culture and Entertainment. See More: Imperial Palace Tokyo, and Marunouchi

Sumo

Sumo Tourniment In Tokyo

Sumo Wrestling in Tokyo is one of the Coolest Tokyo Attractions: More details on Schedule, Best seats for foreigners, How to get there, what time the Professional wrestlers appear, visiting the Wrestling Stables and the Sumo museum are here – Sumo Tournaments, Tokyo

Mt Fuji

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Photo Credit: Fujisan from Motohakone“. Lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 3.0 über Wikimedia Commons
Myt Fuji is the famous symbol of Japan, a sacred mountain and an active volcano. With a beautifully symmetrical volcanic cone, It goes without saying Fuji Mountain is a must see while staying in Japan. See More: 2 Ways To See Mt Fuji

Tokyo Disneyland

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Amusement ParksTokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea are magnificent parks with Cinderella castle, a complete replica of a medieval Italian village, Gondolas in the river, an erupting volcano, magical nighttime illuminations, and the famous Disney parades.

Must See Tokyo Museums

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Did you know that Tokyo Museums are nothing like the boring, stuffy museums you’ve been to. Think interactive, adventurous, constantly changing while you’re there. How about Robots That Play Football at The National Museum of Emerging Science, Flight Simulators at The National Science Museum or Studio Ghibli-creator of famous Japanese Anima. One of the best Tokyo things to do. See More: Top 10 Museums In Tokyo

Booking.com

Shopping in Tokyo

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Tokyo’s ‘Fifth Avenue’, Omotesando street, is an elegant boulevard lined with elm trees, designer shops and small cafe’s. It’s a great place to stroll, do some window-Shopping, and enjoy a chic ambiance while avoiding the heavy crowds of Midtown. See More: Omotesando, Tokyo’s Fifth Avenue

The Best Tokyo city Skyline observatories

Tokyo Sky Tree – towering some 634 meters above the Japanese capital is the tallest tower in the world. Glass-flooring makes you feel like you’re sky-walking. Makes the Eiffel Tower look like small change.
Tokyo Tower – The lookalike of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which for some reason never gained international recognition as it’s French twin. One of the most Romantic things to do in Tokyo.
Roppongi Hills This viewing deck gives you a superb 360 degrees of the city from the 52nd floor of one of the Most elegant Tokyo Shopping malls.

Odaiba Futuristic Island

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Fuji TV headquarters, Miraikan science museum, Las Vegas-style Shopping malls, an extravagant replica of the statue of liberty, Toyota showroom, Panasonic showroom, Rainbow bridge, and the Ferris wheel. The area is packed with theme parks, one of the best Science museums in the world, and very interesting futuristic architecture.

Tea Ceremony

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Experience the very Best of traditional Japanese culture. People in Japan treat the ceremony as an art form. They use it as a sort of meditation – a way to detach themselves from the daily routine and to attain inner peace.

Karaoke

akihabara-3-4-4 A Karaoke bar or a Karaoke box (private room with a TV, microphones, and a karaoke system).

Either way, a fun evening is guaranteed. Check out the Karaoke bars with English songs included.

Day Trips from Tokyo

What To Do in Tokyo? Click here for Best Day Tours: Fuji, Kyoto, Nikko, Ghibli Museum… Find a broad range of Tokyo Tours and Day Tours from Tokyo at a very reasonable cost.

Tokyo Trip Checklist

  • To make sure you have all the important things covered see my first-time-in-Tokyo guide
  • Get your 1,2 or 3-day Tokyo Unlimited Subway Pass to easily get around Tokyo
  • If you want to travel on bullet trains you can save big with a Japan Rail Pass. Here’s why is worth it.
  • You’ll need a prepaid sim or Portable WIFI to stay connected in Tokyo.
  • Check out my detailed Tokyo packing list to make sure you’re prepared.
  • The best site to book hotels in Tokyo is almost always Booking.com. And remember to book early, especially during busy times.
  • For travel insurance (which you need) Word Nomads offer great coverage in Japan and are highly recommended.

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