30 things TO SEE and do in TOKYO

Posted: 11/23/2019 | November 23rd, 2019

Tokyo is an incredible, enormous city home to over 10 million people. It’s the capital of Japan and home to a large variety of fun, historic, and quirky attractions. From the world’s largest tuna auction and the Imperial palace to robot restaurants and vampire cafés, Tokyo really does have something for everyone.

Whether you’re here for a short stopover or living here as an expat, you’ll be able to find plenty of ways to pass the time and get a feel for the organized chaos that is Tokyo. To help you make the most out of your trip, here are the best things to see and do in Tokyo:

1. check out the Fish Market

The Tsukiji Fish Market was one of the most famous staples of the city. In 2018, the market moved to Toyosu and is now twice the size of the original Tsukiji market. In fact, the new market is the largest fish market in the entire world. While you’ll need a visitor’s pass to enter (you can get one on arrival) the pass is complimentary (which indicates you’ll have a lot more money to spend on sushi!)

There are over 600 vendors here selling fresh fish as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Gorge on sushi and marvel at the chaotic atmosphere of the world’s largest tuna market. The tuna auction here powers much of the world’s sushi supply, and it is genuinely a sight to be seen. You can also see a model of the largest tuna ever sold at Tsujiki — which weighed 500kg (1,100lbs!).

In addition to the new market, the old outer market at Tsukiji still has plenty of restaurants and shops. You can still head there to eat and look around, though all the action is now at Toyosu. Be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds (especially on Saturdays).

Tsukiji Fish Market: 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, +81 3-3542-1111. Admission is free. Toyosu Fish Market: 6 Chome-6-2 Toyosu, Koto, +81 3-3520-8205. open Monday-Saturday from 5am-5pm, though a lot of shops don’t open until 7am. Admission is free.

2. explore by the Imperial Palace

The Imperial palace is the official home of the Emperor of Japan. It’s a excellent spot to learn about Japan’s history and culture. formerly Edo Castle, the palace was built in the 15th century, and some of the walls and moats from that time are still in use to this day. When the Emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869, he took Edo for his new palace and renamed it the Imperial Palace.

You can’t go inside (or even get incredibly close), however, the building itself is both regal and tranquil and a terrific place to kick back or snap some photos. The palace is surrounded by stunning grounds and a park, and there’s a moat around the enormous stone walls. Admission to the grounds is free.

3. Experience a Tea Ceremony

No check out to Japan is complete without experiencing a standard tea ceremony. Tea was brought to Japan in the 9th century by a Buddhist monk and by the 12th century, the ceremony began to take shape. While these ceremonies are normally long (not to mention expensive), there are plenty of budget-friendly options for any individual seeking to experience one without breaking the bank. here are a few budget-friednly tea ceremonies in Tokyo worth checking out:

Kyoto-kan (500 JPY per person, Yanmar Tokyo building 1F 2-1-1)

Nadeshiko (2,700-4,400 JPY per person, 2-7-24-2F Asakusa)

The way of Tea (5,500 JPY per person, Coredo Muromachi 3 3F)

4. kick back in Ueno Park

Ueno Park is a kicking back and stunning spot to kick back for a few hours (or an entire day if you’re not in a rush). It’s a tranquil spot to photograph the lots of cherry trees that line the park (which blossom in April and are a substantial vacationer draw) or to have a picnic on a sunny summer afternoon.

There are also a few crucial things to see in the park as well. here are a few sights in the park you must make time to visit:

Tokyo national museum – well established in 1872, this museum is located in the north end of the park and houses one of the world’s largest collections of art and artifacts from Asia, particularly Japan. 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito, +81 3-3822-1111, tnm.jp. open daily 9:30am-5pm (8pm on a lot of Fridays). Admission is 620 JPY.

Tosho-gu Shrine – This is a 17th-century Shinto shrine with sensational gold doors and ornate carvings. 9-88 Uenokoen, Taito, +81 3-3822-3455, uenotoshogu.com/en. open daily 9am-5:30pm. Admission is free, though to go additionally into the shrine, you’ll have to pay 500 JPY.

National museum of Western Art – opened in 1959, this is one of the only art galleries in the country to focus on Western art. The collection is comprised of 5,000 pieces, dating from the Renaissance all the way to the 20th century. There are works by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso as well as sculptures dating back to the 14th century.7-7 Uenokoen, +81 3-3828-5131 , nmwa.go.jp. open Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:30pm (8pm on Fridays). Admission is 500 JPY for adults, 250 for college students, and complimenTary para idosos e qualquer indivíduo com menos de 18 anos.

5. Coma no restaurante Robot

Este restaurante, literalmente chamado de Robot Restaurant, é uma sobrecarga sensorial absoluta. Possui lasers, robôs, monstros, música, dança e muito, muito mais! Claro, pode ser uma armadilha para turistas (também conhecida como não é barata), mas é uma experiência de jantar épica diferente de tudo o que você já viu. Vale a pena o preço se você quiser fazer algo completamente fora do comum – e algo decididamente japonês.

1 Chome-7-1 Kabukicho, +81 3-3200-5500, shinjuku-bot.com/pc. Há três apresentações por dia nos dias úteis a partir das 16h45, com matinês da tarde nos fins de semana.

6. Museu de arte metropolitana de Tóquio

Este pequeno museu costumava ser a residência oficial do príncipe e a princesa Asaka. Construído em 1933, o próprio edifício foi influenciado pelo movimento Art Deco em Paris. O príncipe estudou em Paris e queria trazer o estilo Art Deco para o Japão, por esse motivo, o estilo e as decorações do edifício. Em 1983, a residência passou para um museu e agora abriga uma série rotativa de exposições de arte modernas. Consulte o site deles para obter informações sobre quais exposições estão disponíveis.

5-21-9 Shirokanedai, +81 3-3443-0201, Teien-Art-museum.ne.jp/en. Aberto diariamente das 10h às 18h. A entrada é de 200 JPY, com descontos disponíveis para estudantes, crianças e idosos.

7. Passeie ao longo do rio Meguro

O rio Meguro tece quase oito quilômetros pela cidade e contribui para um passeio espetacular. Há um caminho com um pouco de espaço verde que segue a água, para que muitos moradores andem ou se exercitem até lá. Na primavera, você poderá ver muitas flores de cerejeira enquanto caminha pelas margens do rio também.

Enquanto a caminhada é ótima em qualquer época do ano, o final de março até o início de abril é quando as flores de cerejeira estarão em flor. Embora haja muita gente (a flor de cerejeira, checando é um passatempo nacional), você será recompensado com algumas paisagens impressionantes no coração da metrópole.

8. Confira Asakusa

Se você quiser conferir alguns dos locais religiosos históricos e culturalmente significativos de Tóquio, passe algum tempo vagando pela Asakusa. Dois lugares que eu sugiro que você verifique são:

Senso-ji-Este é o templo popular (e sem dúvida muito famoso). É lindamente pintado e fica em um local pitoresco perto de um pagode e do portão Kaminari. Há uma estátua substancial de Kannon, a deusa da misericórdia, dentro do salão principal. É ocupado durante o dia, então, o gol de conferir à noite vencer a multidão. 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, +81 3-3842-0181, senso-ji.jp. Os terrenos estão abertos 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana, embora o templo esteja aberto diariamente das 6h às 17h. A entrada é gratuita.

Santuário de Asakusa-Este é um santuário xintoísta localizado perto de Senso-ji. É muito mais sereno e menos ocupado que o Senso-ji também. Foi construído durante o período Edo e milagrosamente sobreviveu aos ataques aéreos da Segunda Guerra Mundial. 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, +81 3-3844-1575, Asakusajinja.jp. Aberto diariamente das 9h às 16h30. A entrada é gratuita.

9. Jante com ninjas

Para outra experiência gastronômica especial, vá para Ninja Akasaka. É um restaurante com tema de novidade criado como um edifício da era da Edo. Os garçons estão vestidos com roupas estereotipadas totalmente pretas e treinadas em todos os tipos de truques básicos, truques e ilusões. Você comprará rolos antigos enquanto se divertirá com os truques hábeis do seu servidor. A comida não é nada especial, é incrivelmente divertido e a atmosfera é única.

Tokyu Plaza Akasaka, +81 3-5157-3936, ninjaakasaka.com. Aberto diariamente 17:00 às 22:30 (21:45 aos domingos)

10. Beba em Golden Gai

Se você está tentando encontrar algo interessante para fazer à noite, este beco de bares de backstreet é um local incrível para começar. Não há muita coisa aqui durante o dia, mas, no sol, esses corredores em zigue-zague e salas de cerveja do tamanho de armários estão cheios de pessoas interessantes e bebidas de baixo custo. Existem 6 becos conectados por passagens estreitas apenas o suficiente para 1 ou 2 pessoas, tornando -o um lugar bastante especial para começar sua noite na cidade. Está localizado em Shinjuku.

11. Confira o Centro Nacional de Arte

Inaugurado em 2007, este museu e galeria não tem uma coleção permanente, mas abriga uma série interminável de exposições momentâneas, do impressionismo à arte moderna (a exposição Monet realizada aqui em 2007 foi a exposição mais checida em o mundo). Existem exposições de mais de 60 mais de 60 anos, então verifique seu site para ver o que está sendo mostrado atualmente.

7 Chome-22-2 Roppongi, +81 3-5777-8600, NACT.JP. Aberto de quarta-feira-a meses das 10h às 17h30. A admissão varia de acordo com a exibição.

12. Coma abaixo das vigas

Não muito longe de Ginza é o bairro de Yurakucho. Abaixo dos trilhos de trem elevados na estação de Yurakucho, há um trecho de 700m de restaurantes e bares. Existem bares de vinho branco, pubs de cerveja e restaurantes casuais cheios de empresários. Se você quer ter uma noção da vida da cidade local, isso éa good neighborhood to explore after the workday is over.

13. Superhero Go-Karting

If you’re a video game fan (or just want to do something different), check out street Kart. This is a real-life Mario Bros. go-kart company that lets you dress up and race around the city. As long as you have an international driving permit (which you can get if you have a valid driver’s license), you can take part, racing around the city dressed up as Mario, Yoshi, or even Spiderman.

4-12-9 Sotokanda, +81 80-8899-8899, maricar.com/en/akihabara.html. open daily 10am-10pm. The course will take 1-2 hours and costs 9,000 JPY per person. There are multiple locations around the city.

14. check out a Sento

A sento is a standard (and communal) Japanese public bathhouse. In the past, private baths were rare as accommodations in Japan are notoriously small. While private baths are much a lot more commo today, sentos remaining crucial cultural hubs. The Japanese are not shy in sentos so you need to be comfortable with nudity! They are usually separated by gender. A budget-friendly sento will cost you just under 1,000 JPY. just keep in mind that lots of have policies against tattoos.

15. check out a Quirky Café

Tokyo has all sorts of odd and terrific cafés. Monster cafés, cat cafés, pet dog cafés, owl cafés, vampire cafés, and much more! If you can think of it, there is probably a café for it somewhere in the city. If you’re trying to find something unusual to do (or just want a place to kick back after exploring) then take a look and see what odd and quirky cafés are near you (they’re all around the city so you never have to go far to find one!).

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Kawaii Monster Café

Vampire Café

Christon Café (Christian-themed café)

Dog Heart (dog café)

Cat Café Calico

16. See Shibuya Crossing

This is normally considered to be the busiest (and a lot of famous) intersection in the world. This nearby metro station transports 2.4 million people per day and it’s estimated that upwards of 2,500 cross it at a time during rush hour. At night, the interaction is buzzing. futuristic bright lights line the streets, with billboards playing videos and ads. It has a sci-fi feel to it (it kind of reminds me of Times Square on steroids).

While you’re here, make sure to check out the statue between Shibuya station and the intersection. It’s a tribute to Hachiko, a devoted pet dog who waited for its master each day for 9 years, not knowing his owner had passed away. The pet dog is something of a national icon in Japan, and the story was made popular by the film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.

17. stroll around Shimokitazawa

Brimming with vintage shops, this Bohemian neighborhood is typically compared to new York’s east Village. It’s a terrific example of the quieter side of Tokyo and uses some a lot more kicking back streets to wander and window shop. Whether you’re seeking to shop or just want to take in the scene, this is a amazing neighborhood to explore for a couple of hours.

18. gaze at Mt. Fuji from Hakone

If you want to take a day trip (or a multi-day trip) from the city, consider going to Hakone. It’s located just over an hour from Tokyo and is one of the best places to get away from the city, kick back for a few days, and take in the view of mount Fuji. There are many guesthouses in the area, lots of with their own private onsen (natural hot springs), making it a terrific place to choose a romantic vacation or if you just want to pamper yourself.

If you have the Japan Rail Pass you can get here for free.

19. Hang with the Harajuku Girls

Harajuku is an electric and quirky part of town known for its fashion, vintage stores, and cosplay shops. As you wander, you’ll typically see “Harajuku girls” walking around town in special clothing and colorful hairstyles (imagine a 1990s Gwen Stefani video come to life). In addition to all of the avant-garde fashion, there are also tons of trendy restaurants in the area as well. and there is also a monthly Harajuku fashion walk which highlights the costumed cos-players of the city as they parade a