There are virtually hundreds, if not thousands of things to do in Tokyo, so whatever selection we present here is relatively random. We are trying to combine the loud and shrill with the calm here. We hope you enjoy our suggestions!
Super Potato in Akihabara
Super Potato is a popular retro video game store located in Akihabara, Tokyo. The store specializes in vintage and classic video games, consoles, and related merchandise. It's a haven for gaming enthusiasts and collectors looking to explore and purchase nostalgic items from the golden era of video gaming.
Super Potato offers a wide range of retro games and consoles, including those from iconic systems from the 1980s and 1990s like Nintendo, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. The store carries both new and used items, providing visitors with an opportunity to find rare and discontinued games that may be challenging to find elsewhere. On the 5th floor, you can play old coin-operated arcade machines.
The store has become a landmark in Akihabara, a district known for its vibrant electronic and otaku culture. Super Potato's retro gaming atmosphere, extensive collection, and nostalgic appeal make it a must-visit destination for gamers looking to relive the classics or add to their video game collections.
Kawasaki Robostage
Kawasaki Robostage is a small, but free visitor attraction in Odaiba, showcasing the skills of the Kawasaki robots.
There is a Virtual Reality ride through a manifacturing plant, a robot that draws portraits of visitors and some other robot demonstrations. You can combine a visit of the Kawasaki Robostage with other attractions of Odaiba.
The Ghibli Clock in Shiodome and the Ghibli Museum
In the futuristic area of Shiodome in central Tokyo, you can experience the Nitele Big Clock, also known as the Ghibli Clock.
The clock was designed by Ghibli creator Hayao Miyazaki and built by Kunio Shachimaru. Shachimaru is also the creator of the big Robot Soldier on top of the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. It is a 10 meters high and 18 meters wide Cuckoo Clock, which has a "show" with animated characters appearing several times per day. Three minutes before each show there is an ever changing "surprise".
Studio Ghibli fans should also visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. The tickets should be booked well in advance and are only available over their website or at the ticket vending machines at convenience stores, and you have to set a day and time you want to go, which cannot be changed.
Kiyosumi Garden
Originally the residence of an Edo merchant, Kiyosumi Garden turned into a garden in the Meiji Period and opened to the public in 1932.
While the garden itself offers a stunning landscape, the landscape stones set around the garden are the true highlight. They were acquired from all over Japan and are thought of as very valuable.
Unfortunately, the teahouse in the garden is currently closed, but the nearby memorial hall for Emperor Taisho called Taisho Kinenkan located near the garden entrance can be visited and is a great place for history lovers.
Yumori no Sato
Most people believe that there are no real onsen hot springs in Tokyo, but this is not true. There are several onsens in and around Tokyo, and even a kind of hot spring unique to Tokyo: Kuroyu or "black water onsens". As the name suggests, the kuroyu water is pitch black to brownish.
Kuroyu is black due to humic acid. Humic acid is a substance that forms during the decaying process of organic matter, such as plants and trees. It offers many skin benefits such as relieving dryness and itchiness of the skin. Some people even believe it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Yumori no Sato is a black water onsen located in Chofu in Tokyo. It offers natural stone and wood baths as well as sensory baths with light and sound. It can be reached by a shuttle bus or within a 20-minute walk from Keio Line Chofu Station.
Shinjuku Gyoen and Hanazono Shrine
Shinjuku is known for its buzzing nightlife as well as being a good place for shopping. However, there is another side to this lively part of Tokyo. Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo's most popular parks located just a short walk away from Shinjuku station.
The park is comprised of three different types of gardens: a traditional Japanese landscape garden; featuring large ponds dotted with islands and bridges, a French garden, and an English landscape garden. It is a true nature oasis filled with many different trees and plants including a couple of hundred cherry blossom and Japanese maple trees. Therefore, it is especially popular in spring and autumn.
Another tranquil spot close to Shinjuku Gyoen is the Hanazono shrine. It is believed to be guarding the area as well as its inhabitants, merchants, craftsmen, and artists. The shrine is slightly hidden behind Shinjuku’s high buildings and busy streets, but it is well worth searching for.
Several festivals are being held on the shrine grounds throughout the year, so make sure to look up if you might be able to catch one of them.
Gotokuji Temple
Gotokuji Temple is famous for being filled with an array of Maneki Neko of all shapes and sizes. These are offerings from visitors, as the site is believed to be the origin of the famous feline mascot.
Legend has it that in the 17th century, a poor monk lived on the site with his pet cat. A samurai lord traveled the region during a storm and sought shelter under a large tree near the temple. While waiting, he witnessed the cat waving to him with one paw from inside the temple. When he inspected the curious sight closer, the tree was struck by lightning and completely destroyed.
Grateful to the cat for seemingly saving his life, the lord became a patron of the temple and rebuilt the crumbling structure in honor of the lucky cat.
If you are visiting the temple around February, make sure to stop by nearby Hanegi Park to enjoy beautiful plum blossoms.
Daiba Ichome Shopping Street
At Daiba Ichome Shopping Street, situated on the 2nd floor of the Tokyo Decks Shopping Mall in Odaiba, you can immerse yourself in the retro ambiance of a Japanese town from the 1960s. It will transport you on a stroll through time to an era that feels strangely nostalgic yet new.
The street features displays of vintage Japanese icons such as the first shinkansen, Tokyo Tower, old household items, and vintage technology. There are also vintage music and movie posters, shops selling retro goods, vintage snacks and confectionaries. You can play vintage arcade games and enjoy other forms of entertainment that were popular in Japan in the 1960s.
Kimono Shopping in Asakusa
Asakusa is a popular place to visit in Tokyo anyway, but did you know that you can take home one of Japan's most popular souvenirs for a really cheap price if you just explore the area a bit?
Asakusa is filled with Kimono second-hand shops and permanent and pop-up shops alike. You can score real kimonos starting from 2000 yen, and all the accessories start from 1000 yen each. The cheaper versions might have some flaws, but they are often not visible when worn and, in some cases, easily fixed by a dry cleaner.
Kipposhi
Besides sushi, ramen might be one of the most popular food choices for visitors to Japan. It is indeed so popular that new creations seem to appear daily, from chocolate ramen, over vegan ramen to colorful Instagram-worthy ramen.
Kipposhi is the master of one of the first Instagram-famous ramens ever: the famous blue ramen. While it is very impressive to look at, it is also very tasty.
All the colorants come from natural sources. The shop's specialty is chicken ramen, and by now, this chicken base comes dressed up in green (grape) and pink (ginger) as well.
Neco Republic
You should generally be very cautious when going to any animal café in Japan due to animal welfare issues. One of the places you can certainly go without any conscious feeling is Neco Café.
Neco Café is a cat cafe that is a perfect place for anyone who wants the cat cafe experience but wants to do something good for cats at the same time. A large part of their proceeds goes towards cat rescue, and all the cats at the cafe are animals in need of a home and are adaptable. They even have a location that concentrates on FIV+ cats or “Ringo Neko” (apple cats) as they are known in Japan. Their cafes can be found all over Tokyo as well as in other parts of Japan.
Cup Noodle Museum
One of Japan's most famous exports is cup noodles, but did you know that you can find a whole cup noodle museum close to Tokyo?
The museum is located in Yokohama, which is a 30-minute train ride away from Tokyo, and the entrance fee is 500 yen. Here you can learn about the inventor of the original cup noodles, Momofuku Ando, as well as about the history and process of making cup noodles.
One of the big charms of the cup noodle museum is creating your own cup noodles.
Tokyo Metro Museum
Ever wanted to be the driver of a subway train?
At the Tokyo Metro Museum in Edogawa you can drive in the same simulators that are used to train the subway drivers. There are also original subway cars and artefacts such as old turnstiles from 1927 when Tokyo's first metro line was built, and later times. You can see how subway tunnels are built, and you can learn about the safety measures implemented, for instance in case of earthquakes, floodings etc. The museum features interactive displays, simulations, and models that provide an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages.
Small Worlds Tokyo
"Small Worlds Tokyo" is a miniature theme park located in Ariake, Tokyo. It features highly detailed miniature replicas of famous landscapes and cities from around the world, as well as fictional scenes from anime, movies, video games, and artistic dioramas. The miniatures are crafted with great precision, and the exhibits include famous landmarks, buildings, and scenes, all at a 1/80 scale.
The park is divided into different zones, each representing a specific theme, such as "World, History, Japan, and Anime." Visitors can explore these miniature worlds and marvel at the intricate details and craftsmanship that went into creating them. "Small Worlds Tokyo" aims to provide a unique and immersive experience, allowing visitors to feel like giants in a miniature world.
What not to do in Tokyo!
It should actually go without saying, but we want to emphasize once again:
Please do not visit animal cafés, as in these places, wild animals are usually kept in inappropriate conditions and touched by visitors on a daily basis. This includes dubious owl cafés, penguin cafés, hedgehog cafés, reptile cafés, and more. Also, most cafés that keep dogs or cats for petting should be avoided due to the living and breeding conditions of the animals. The cat café run by Neko Republic is a positive exception to this.
