25 Awesome Things To Do In Tokyo – The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide For Exploring This Vibrant City!

January 2nd, 2020 by Evan | Tagged in: Harajuku, Japan, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo

This is a list of 25 awesome things to do in Tokyo for first time tourists! Japan’s vibrant capital city is a super popular tourist destination, offering a seemingly countless variety of entertainment, shopping, culture and dining options for its visitors. Based on my own recent visit, I have created this list of fun things to do in Tokyo, categorised by their respective wards.

What To Do In Tokyo

Shinjuku
1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
2. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
3. Omoide Yokocho
4. Isetan Shinjuku
5. Kabuchiko
6. Golden Gai

Harajuku
7. Meiji Shrine
8. Takeshita Street
9. Daiso

Shibuya
10. Shibuya Crossing
11. Shibuya Center Gai
12. Hachiko Statue
13. Don Quijote Shibuya
14. Niku Yokocho

Chiyoda
15. Tokyo Station
16. Akihabara

Taito
17. Sensoji Temple
18. Ueno Park

Chuo / Koto
19. Ginza
20. Tsukiji Market
21. Odaiba (Family-Friendly)
22. Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari

Day Trips
23. Tokyo DisneySea
24. Kawaguchiko
25. Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu

Shinjuku

1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (新宿御苑) is a large public park located in the heart of Shinjuku.

It offers the perfect escape from city life with its lush greenery, gorgeous landscaping, serene lakes and tranquil walking paths.

If you are visiting in Spring, you are in luck because this is one of the best places in Tokyo to view cherry blossoms.

The wife and I spent about two hours in this gorgeous park, but we did not manage to explore the entire place because it was too big.

Shinjuku Gyoen has three gates:

Shinjuku Gate is a ten minute walk east from the “New South Exit” of Shinjuku Station, or a five minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station.
Okido Gate is a five minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station.
Sendagaya Gate is a five minute walk from Sendagaya Station.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Address: 11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0014, Japan
Admission Fee: JPY500

Opening Hours:

9am to 6pm (mid Mar through Jun and late Aug through Sep)
9am to 5pm (Jul to mid Aug)
9am to 4pm (Oct to mid Mar)
CLOSED on Mondays, and from 29 Dec to 03 Jan

2. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is the Tokyo government’s headquarters. It has two free observation decks, each located on the 45th floor of the North and South Towers respectively.

On a clear day, visitors get to see famous landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Dome, and even Mount Fuji in the distance.

We visited on a weekday in November at around 3pm. There was a queue of about 20 people and we had to wait for around 15 minutes before taking the elevator up.

Unfortunately, the weather was quite foggy during our visit so we didn’t get very good views.

Note that the North Tower offers better views of Mount Fuji. And the cafe in this tower becomes a vibrant bar at night.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Observation Decks)
Address: 2 Chome-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 163-8001, Japan
Website: www.metro.tokyo.jp/english/offices/observat.html
Directions: Take the subway to Tocho-Mae Station, which is located in the basement of the building, OR walk for ten minutes via the underpass from JR Shinjuku Station west exit.

3. Omoide Yokocho

Omoide Yokocho is a vibrant alleyway lined with small Japanese restaurants selling grilled food and alcohol.

Other than the usual fare like grilled chicken and pork belly, expect to also find exotic foods like grilled intestines, turtles, frog sashimi, horse meat, pig testicles, etc.

After looking around for a while, we entered Banshakuya, a tourist-friendly restaurant that had an English menu.

We ordered the grilled chicken (JPY160 per stick), shiitake mushroom (JPY150 per stick), grilled pork belly (JPY180 per stick), tamago (JPY340) and Kirin draft beer (JPY390 for half pint).

The food was really delicious! I especially enjoyed the grilled chicken, which was tender, savoury and juicy. Together with the smooth Kirin draft beer, this was a super satisfying supper.

Omoide Yokocho
Directions: Three-minute walk from Shinjuku Station
Address: 1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0023, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 12am (varies between shops)

4. Isetan Shinjuku

Enjoying my free food sample at the depachika

Isetan Shinjuku is one of the most well-known department stores in Tokyo. It sells a large variety of things like luxury goods, beauty products, household items, apparels, etc. For the guys, there is also an Isetan Men’s building.

The wife browsed a few luxury boutiques but didn’t buy anything here because the prices were around the same as Singapore shops.

However, the main reason we went to Isetan was to check out the “depachika” (food hall) at the basement! It sells a huge variety of delicious foods and snacks, and we had fun trying all the free food samples such as tidbits, sweet potato, tea, bacon, udon, and more.

We decided to buy the popular Yoku Moku chocolates, which were significantly cheaper than the ones sold in Singapore.

Isetan Shinjuku
Directions: Five minute walk from JR Shinjuku East Gate
Address:〒160-0022 3-14-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am to 8pm

5. Kabuchiko

Kabuchiko is Japan’s largest red light district. We saw nightclubs, love hotels, adult toys shops, and sleazy massage shops in this area. There are also many great restaurants here.

The “Robot Restaurant” is a well-known attraction in Kabuchiko. For a fee, you get to see a live “high tech show” with laser lights, booming music, flamboyant performers, and elaborate stage props.

I didn’t catch the show because I saw a Youtube video of it and wasn’t impressed. However, based on online reviews I’ve read, there are many other people who love it.

Kabuchiko
Directions: Five-minute walk from Shinjuku Station
Address: Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0021
Opening Hours: | Daily 11am to 12am for Restaurants | Daily 7pm till next morning for bars |

6. Golden Gai

Shinjuku Golden Gai is a small district known for its intimate bars and restaurants. It is a popular spot for late night drinks.

Walking around, I could see many locals and foreigners having a good time in the numerous bars. Ladies can check out “Bar Darling”, a female friendly 8-seater bar manned by female staff only.

Note that you need to pay a cover charge for most of the bars, and some only welcome local customers.

I didn’t visit any of the bars because the wife and I were quite tired by the time we reached. However, I could definitely sense the vibrant nightlife atmosphere here.

Shinjuku Golden Gai
Directions: 10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station
Address: 1 Chome-1-６ Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku, Tōkyō-to 160-0021, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily 8pm to 5am (varies between shops)

Harajuku

7. Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine (also known as Meiji Jingu) is a famous shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.

The wife and I spent a pleasant morning at this serene place, which was definitely a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We were fortunate enough to see a Shinto wedding taking place at the shrine! It was a surreal experience to witness this solemn and beautiful procession.

Given its cultural significance and central location, Meiji Shrine hosts many festivals, events, and even food fairs throughout the year. There was a “Tokyo Chrysanthemum Flowers Festival” going on when we visited. You can check out the full schedule of festivals and events at Meiji Shrine.

Meiji Shrine
Directions: The shrine gate is a 2-minute walk from Harajuku Station. From the gate, it is a short 10-minute walk.
Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557, Japan
Opening Hours: Sunrise to Sunset, click here for the exact times.

8. Takeshita Street

Takeshita Street (or Takeshita Dori) is a vibrant youth-oriented shopping street in Harajuku. It is lined with many fashion boutiques, mini malls, cosmetic shops, and awesome eateries.

I came here on a Sunday at around 3pm, and it was super crowded! We could barely move through the throngs of locals and tourists. Therefore, I highly recommend going on a weekday instead.

On the whole, Takeshita Street exudes an eclectic charm with its numerous quirky shops, but I would advise visiting only when it’s not crazily crowded.

Takeshita Street
Directions: Opposite Harajuku Station on the Yamanote line (Takeshita Street Exit)
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 8.30pm (for most shops)

9. Daiso

Daiso is Japan’s biggest 100-yen shop chain, and the three-storey Harajuku branch at Takeshita Street is one of the most prominent outlets.

I was amazed by the seemingly unlimited variety of items on sale here, ranging from household goods and gardening equipment, to toys and souvenirs, to cosmetics and fake eyelashes, to Japanese snacks and even fireworks!

Most of the products were priced at JPY100, but I also saw many items being sold at slightly higher prices like JPY150 or JPY200.

Daiso Harajuku
Directions: One-minute walk from Harajuku Station (Takeshita Street Exit)
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 9pm

Shibuya

10. Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing is the busiest street intersection in the world! Located in Shibuya just outside the train station, it is one of the most iconic images of Tokyo.

There are several places to view the crossing. I went to the most famous spot, Starbucks (Shibuya Tsutaya), which has large windows on the second floor with great views of the intersection.

After taking some pictures from Starbucks, I even went down to the crossing to take some photos while standing in the middle of the intersection!

The ideal time to see the crowds walking across the crossing is after 7pm on weekdays and after 1pm on weekends. I took the photos above on a Saturday at around 2pm.

11. Shibuya Center Gai

Shibuya Center Gai is a vibrant area home to many trendy shops, eateries, bars, and night clubs. It is very popular with young Japanese locals.

We felt a little old amidst the young people here but it was still nice to walk around and enjoy the bustling vibe. Center Gai is a one-minute walk from Shibuya Station.

12. Hachiko Statue

The Hachiko Statue is a statue built to commemorate Eizaburo Ueno’s famous loyal dog. It is just steps from Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Exit.

Hachiko was the pet dog of Eizaburo Ueno, a professor at Tokyo’s Imperial University. Hachiko would accompany his master to Shibuya Station every morning, and return to the station in the afternoon to greet Ueno upon his return from work.

In 1925, Ueno died while at the university and didn’t manage to bid his loyal pet farewell. Amazingly, Hachiko continued returning to the station every day to wait for his master for another 10 years until his own death.

Today, the statue is a popular meeting point and photo op spot. When I went in the afternoon there were plenty of tourists crowding around to take a picture with Hachiko.

13. Don Quijote Shibuya

Don Quijote is a huge discount chain store, and the Shibuya outlet is the largest branch in Japan!

Known as “MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Honten”, this seven-storey mega store sells a myriad of products, ranging from groceries to Japanese snacks, kitchenware to electronics, perfume to cosmetics, toys, and more.

I only walked around the shop for a short while due to time constraints, but if you have time it should be nice to browse through the different levels.

Note that this Don Quijote branch is open 24 hours so if you are staying nearby you can come here to get some late night snacks.

Don Quijote Shibuya
Directions: 2-minute walk from Shibuya Station
Address: 28-6 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 154-0042, Japan
Opening Hours: 24 Hours

14. Niku Yokocho

Niku Yokocho is a small building in Shibuya that houses dozens of Japanese eateries selling grilled meat dishes like yakitori (chicken skewers), yakiniku (grilled beef), etc.

This place is very popular with young Japanese office workers due to its affordable prices and lively vibe.

We visited a small restaurant with a cozy vibe, and ordered eight delicious meat skewers for only around JPY1300!

Niku Yokocho
Directions: 3-minute walk from Shibuya Station
Address: 13-8 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0042, Japan
Opening Hours: | Mon to Fri: 5pm – 5am | Sat & Sun: 4pm – 5am |

Chiyoda

15. Tokyo Station

The wife and I found plenty of shops selling delicious snacks inside Tokyo Station! It was tricky navigating this huge station, but we managed to find our way around with the help of the friendly station staff.

Some of our favourite snacks here include the Tokyo Banana, New York Perfect Cheese, Press Butter Sand, Yoku Moku, and Calbee Plus.

16. Akihabara

Akihabara is a district known for its otaku (“geek”) culture, with many anime and manga shops dispersed throughout the area. One of the most famous stores here is Mandarake, which offers countless anime, manga, video games and cosplay products.

It is also called “Electronic Town” because it is home to plenty of electronic stores. The most famous building is Yodobashi, where you can find a countless variety of electronic products spread out over nine floors!

Gamers will be happy to know that there are many arcades here. Check out the famous Sega Akihabara Building No. 1, a multi-storey arcade building where you can spend an entire day playing claw machines and classic video games.

Lastly, if you are a single male (or just a curious person), you might want to check out the quirky “Maid Cafes”, where you will be served by waitresses dressed in maid costumes. They will act as servants and even address you as “master”!

Taito

17. Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple is a famous Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is Tokyo’s oldest temple.

Before reaching the temple, I passed through a large gate called Kaminarimon (“Thunder Gate”). The gate, with its iconic large lantern and statues, is a popular photo op for tourists.

Once through the gate, I entered Nakamise-Dori, a short shopping street that leads directly to the temple. It is lined with dozens of touristy shops selling souvenirs like kimonos, fans, ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), traditional snacks, t-shirts, phone accessories, etc. I didn’t spend much time here because the place felt like a tourist trap.

After that, I reached Sensoji Temple! I visited at night and the temple was beautiful! All the temple structures were lighted up with neon lights, and it felt surreal to walk around the complex.

Sensoji Temple
Directions: 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station
Address: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Opening Hours: Main temple hall opens from 6am to 5pm, but the temple is lighted from sunset till 11pm daily.

18. Ueno Park

Hanazono Inari Shrine

Ueno Park is one of Japan’s most popular public park, drawing over 10 million visitors a year. It is also home to many major museums, temples, shrines, and even a zoo.

I visited the park in late November and was impressed by the gorgeous autumn foliage. It felt really nice to stroll around the tranquil park with the wife.

We passed by the famous Shinobazu Pond, which is often featured in prominent Japanese literary pieces and works of art. It is known for being covered with beautiful water lilies, but when we visited in late November the lilies looked like they were starting to wither. The pond is probably more picturesque during Summer.

While walking around the pond, we chanced upon Hanazono Inari Shrine, a small shrine that has a path of beautiful orange torii gates leading towards it.

Walking a little further into the park, we were surprised to see a Starbucks outlet. It seemed like the perfect place to order a coffee and sit down to enjoy the surrounding great views.

Ueno Park
Directions: 4-minute walk from Ueno Station
Opening Hours: Daily 5am to 11pm (the zoo, shrines, and museums close from 4.30pm onwards, and some of them are closed on Mondays)

Chuo / Koto

19. Ginza

Ginza is a world famous shopping district home to ultramodern shopping malls, luxury boutiques, and high-end department stores. This is THE place to go if you enjoy shopping.

Most of the popular malls in Ginza are located along the vibrant Chuo-dori street. These include Wako, Ginza Six, UNIQLO Ginza and Barneys New York Ginza.

Chuo-dori is even closed to road traffic every weekend between 12pm and 5pm, transforming into a fully pedestrianised shopping zone!

20. Tsukiji Market

Tsukiji Outer Market (築地場外市場) is a vibrant market with many shops selling local produce, fresh seafood, dried goods, kitchen knives, and more.

However, the main reason we visited was to check out all the delicious food at Tsukiji Outer Market!

My favourite food was probably the Tamago (Japanese sweet egg omelette) from Tsukiji Yamachō. The stall had a very long queue, but it was worth the wait! The tamago had a savoury-sweet taste and soft custard-like texture that seemed to melt in my mouth.

The Horumon-don (Stewed Entrails Rice) from Kitsuneya was pretty good too. The savoury miso-flavoured entrails were perfect for eating with the steaming hot Japanese rice.

Note that the Tsukiji “Inner” Market was once beside this market, but it relocated to Toyosu in October 2018 and reopened as “Toyosu Market”.

Tsukiji Outer Market
Directions: 4-minute walk from Tsukiji Shijo Station
Address: 4 Chome-16-2 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Opening Hours: 5am to 1pm (the best time to visit is between 7am and 11am). Closed on Sundays and PH. Some shops are closed on Wednesdays.

21. Odaiba (Family-Friendly)

Can you spot the Statue of Liberty replica?

Odaiba is an entertainment and shopping hub with various tourist attractions, big chain hotels and large shopping complexes. It is a great place to visit if you are travelling with young children. To get here, simply take the train to Daiba Station.

There are plenty of family-friendly malls here, such as VenusFort, Aqua City, Diver City, and DECKS Tokyo Beach (home to an indoor theme park and Trick Art Museum).

The main photo ops here are the life-size Gundam statue outside Diver City, the Statue of Liberty replica at Odaiba Seaside Park, and the large Rainbow Bridge (covered with colourful lights at night).

22. Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari

Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari is a famous onsen theme park designed to simulate Japan’s Edo period 400 years ago. It is one of our favourite places in Tokyo!

This amazing place is home to spacious hot springs, festival games, a serene Japanese garden, a spa centre, delicious food, napping rooms, and even a capsule hotel!

Note that people with tattoos are not allowed in the complex. I have two tattoos on my shoulders but they were covered by my yukata most of the time. Inside the onsen, the few young Japanese around me did not seem to mind, but I have heard that elderly locals are more bothered.

Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari
Directions: 5-minute walk from Telecom Center Station
Address: 2 Chome-6-3 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
Website: daiba.ooedoonsen.jp/en
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 9am (the next day). Last entry at 7am.*
*Closed once a month after 11pm for maintenance

Day Trips

23. Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea is a huge Disney theme park located just outside Tokyo. It is the only Disney park in the world with a nautical theme.

Compared to the adjacent Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea has a bigger selection of restaurants. It also serves alcoholic beverages, which are not available at Disneyland.

DisneySea is considered by some to be the best Disney theme park in the world due to its amazing rides and attractions, wide variety of restaurants, super courteous visitors, and impressive Japanese efficiency.

The wife and I had a FANTASTIC day here! Our favourite ride was definitely Toy Story Mania – it was super fun to shoot at the 3D objects while zipping around in the vehicles!

And of course, we also indulged in plenty of delicious food at DisneySea. Popcorn is a huge deal in the theme park, and we managed to try the “Garlic Shrimp” flavour popcorns which were quite delicious.

Tokyo DisneySea
Website: www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tds
Address: 1-13 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0031, Japan

24. Kawaguchiko

Lake Kawaguchi (also known as “Kawaguchiko”) is a large beautiful lake near Mount Fuji. It is a super popular tourist attraction with plenty of fun things to see, do and eat.

I had a wonderful day trip here! Other than stunning views of Mount Fuji, Kawaguchiko is also home to iconic attractions like the Chureito Pagoda, Oishi Park, Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace, Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, and more.

One of my favourite attractions was the Chureito Pagoda, a five-storey pagoda that is part of the Arakura Sengen Shrine.

The observation deck beside the pagoda offers amazing views of Mount Fuji and the entire Fujiyoshida City. I spent about 15 minutes here taking plenty of beautiful pictures.

25. Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu

Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu is a large premium outlet mall that offers daily discounts of 30% to 60% (up to 80% during sales periods). It is easily accessible from Tokyo – you just need to take a 45-minute bus ride from Tokyo Station.

My favourite shop was the Nike Factory Store, which was huge and also carried many trendy Japan-exclusive apparel.

However, the mall has a very limited number of international luxury brands. It is more suitable for people who are interested in Japanese or unique brands. You can check out the Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu directory to see what brands are available.

Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu
Directions: 45-minute bus ride from Tokyo Station
Address: 3 Chome-1-1 Kanedahigashi, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0009, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 8pm

This article is part of our super awesome Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide For First Timers. Everything you need to know about Tokyo is just a click away!