100 Things to Do in Tokyo Japan, a Bucket List City

FOMO is real! Do you worry about overlooking something incredible when travel planning? If so, then you’re in luck because this curated list of 100 things to do in Tokyo will ensure you create an unforgettable and personalized vacation. You will find landmarks, attractions, museums, outdoor activities, beaches, where to eat and shop, and where to get the perfect photos for lasting memories. Don’t skip the Plan Your Trip section for when to go, how long to stay, what to pack, how much to budget, where to stay, and how to get around. It’s all here, keep reading for 100 Things to Do in Tokyo Japan.

100 Unforgettable Things to Do in Tokyo Japan

Top 5 Things to Do in Tokyo

• Walk through the Shibuya Crossing and watch the 3D billboards
• Visit the Sensoji Temple and Nakamise shopping street
• See the Imperial Palace from the Nijubashi Bridge
• Check out the neon lights in Kabukicho Ichiban-gai
• Enjoy dinner at an Izakaya in Omoide Yokocho

Must Do Attractions and Activities in Tokyo

• Watch a traditional show at Kabukiza Theatre
• Take a guided tour of the Imperial Palace
• Catch a sumo match at the Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena
• Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at Masudaya or Hamarikyu Gardens
• Learn the practice of tameshigiri at the Samurai Sword Cutting Experience
• Attend a Japanese baseball game, check the Yomiuri Giants or Yakult Swallows schedule
• Relax at Tokyo Somei Onsen Sakura or Saya no Yudokoro
• Visit Kabukicho, Tokyo’s red-light district
• Take a Bento class to learn how to make bento boxes at home
• Spend the day at Disneyland Tokyo

Best Museums in Tokyo

• Learn about Japan’s prefectures at the D47 Museum
• Browse works of Rubens, Pollock, Rodin, and Monet at the National Museum of Western Art
• Step into a world of polka dots at the Yayoi Kusama Museum
• Learn about robot science and talk to the humanoid robot Asimo at Miraikan
• Check out the immersive digital art displays at teamLab Planets Tokyo
• Visit the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and Museum
• Learn about the cultural heritage of Japan at the Tokyo National Museum
• See the Meiji period exhibits at the Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
• Step into the world of anime at the Ghibli Museum
• View the contemporary exhibits of manga, anime, fashion, and design at the Mori Art Museum
• Throw ninja stars and wear samurai armor at the Tokyo Samurai Ninja Museum
• Explore the exhibits at the Sumo Museum
• Check out the unusual goldfish exhibits at the Art Aquarium Museum
• Browse 19th-century Japanese art at the Nezu Museum
• See the Kamikaze plane at the Yushukan Museum
• Try all 9 different types of Ramen at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
• cup noodle museum
• Emerge yourself in the world of sake at the Edo-Tokyo Sake Museum

Tokyo Shrines and Temples

• Visit Tokyo’s oldest temple, the Sensoji Temple
• Walk through a city forest to the Meiji Jingu shrine
• Purchase a maneki-neko cat at the Gotokuji Temple and make a wish
• Walk under Hie Shrine’s red torii gates
• See the hanging flower gardens at the Kameido Tenjin Shrine
• Enjoy the azalea garden at the Nezu Shrine
• See the Starlight Garden Illumination at Zōjō-ji Temple, in winter months

Outdoor Activities in Tokyo

• Explore the Japanese garden Rikugien Gardens
• Picnic next to the pond in Hamarikyu Gardens
• Stroll through the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Watch the street performers in Yoyogi Park
• Cruise Tokyo Bay on a Yakatabune Harumiya (barge)
• Enjoy skyline views on a Sumida River Cruise
• Experience forest bathing at Okutama
• Relax at Tokyo Somei Onsen Sakura

Where to Eat in Tokyo

• Order a meal from a vending machine
• Collect Kit Kat flavors from a convenience store (there’s 200+)
• Eat omakase sushi at Sushi Tokyo Ten
• Grill your own wagyu beef at Yakiniku Champion Ebisu Honten
• Eat carbonara udon at Shin Udon
• Binge on street food in Harajuku
• Satisfy your sweet tooth with a parfait at Parfaiteria Bel
• Have lunch at Uogashi Nihon-ichi Shibuya Dogenzaka, a standing sushi bar
• Eat authentic ramen at Ichiran Ramen, Shibuya
• Get served by a robot at Dawn Avatar Robot Café
• Enjoy dinner and drinks in the Sankaku Chitai or Omoide Yokocho alleyways
• Try Flipper’s famous melt in your mouth pancakes
• Eat sushi at the outer market of the Tsukiji Fish Market
• Head to Tokyo Ramen Street under the Tokyo Station to taste several ramen varieties
• Eat fugu (blowfish), the world’s most poisonous fish, at Makino
• Stop by the Pokémon Café for Pokémon shaped sweets
• Take a Sushi or Wagashi Sweets making class
• Make a reservation at one of Tokyo’s Michelin Star Restaurants
• Have dinner with a concept show at the Samurai Restaurant or Vampire Cafe
• Enjoy afternoon tea at Alice in Wonderland Cafe
• Catch your dinner at Zauo Fishing Restaurant
• Have a snack in a maid café: Magical Lollipop, Like a Doll, Rabbit Castle, or RONRON
• Eat conveyor belt sushi at Katsumidori Seibu Shibuya
• Eat curry delivered by model-train at Curry Station Niagara
• Enjoy afternoon tea at Haute Couture Cafe

Visit an Animal Café

• Cat Cafe Mocha Lounge (Shinjuku)
• MiPig Cafe (micro pig café)
• Chiku Chiku Cafe (hedgehog cafe)
• Cafe Hoot Hoot (owl café)
• Owls Cafe OZ
• Capyneko Capybara Café (cat café with one capybara)
• Ra.a.g.f. (Rabbit and Grow Fat) (bunny café)
• Penguin Dining Cafe & Bar
• Harajuku Mame-Shiba Café (Mame Shiba Inu dogs)
• Ikemofu Animal Room Experience (otters)
• Kotori Café (parrots and cockatoos)
• Hachu Café (reptiles)
• Tokyo Snake Center

Tokyo Nightlife: Pubs, Cocktails and Nightclubs

• Hop the 280+ tiny bars in the Shinjuku Golden Gai alleyways
• Head to Bar Benfiddich for one of a kind craft cocktails
• Listen to live music at the Ruby Room
• Dance the night away in a nightclub in Roppongi
• Sing your heart out at Karaoke Kan, ask for room 601 where Lost in Translation was filmed
• Stop by Akihabara’s Tokyo Leisureland for 5 floors and 100+ arcade games
• Sample Japanese craft beers at iBrew Shimbashi or the Museum of Yebisu Beer
• Enjoy a sake brewery tour
• Have your own Lost in Translation moment at the Park Hyatt’s New York Bar

Where to Shop in Tokyo

• Do some high-end shopping in Ginza
• Find out what the hype is about at Muji Ginza
• Shop in Japan’s first department store, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi
• Browse for the current trends on Takeshita Street
• Purchase a personalized Japanese knife at Kappabashi
• Purchase anime and manga figures in Akihabara
• Stock up on Japanese products at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza or Shibuya 109
• Shop for traditional Japanese souvenirs at Nakamise Shopping Street
• Spend some time in an old Tokyo neighborhood and do souvenir shopping on Yanaka Ginza Street
• Browse the open-air stalls on Ameyoko Shopping Street
• Find unique gifts on Tokyo Character Street (Pokemon, Hello Kitty, and so much more)
• Head over to Cat Street for all purchases related to cats
• Do some high-end shopping on Omotesando in Shibuya City or Ginza
• Browse the electronics and gadgets in the Akihabara District

Instagrammable Places in Tokyo: Lookouts, View Points and Selfies

• Take in the city skyline from the Metropolitan Government Building observation deck, Tokyo City View, Skytree, Mori Tower Observatory, or Tokyo Tower
• Photograph the famous Shibuya crossing from above at Shibuya Sky
• Photograph the iconic Tokyo Tower, Nakagin Capsule Tower
• Check out the animated 3D billboards at Shibuya Station, Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Scramble Square, and Shibuya Hikarie
• Try on a Kimono and play dress up at The Yard
• Snap photos of the artistic manhole covers
• Photograph the 700-kilogram lantern at Kaminarimon Gate
• Snap a selfie in a purikura (selfie vending machine)
• Photograph the Rainbow Bridge from Daiba Park or the Fuji TV Building Observation Deck at night
• Take a photo of the iconic Godzilla head at Hotel Gramercy Shinjuku

Tokyo Special Events

Note: Be Sure to check the Tokyo Japan Board of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events and what’s happening this weekend.

Best Places to View the Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

The best places to see the cherry blossoms in bloom in Tokyo are: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (1500 trees), Meguro River Cherry Blossoms Promenade (800 trees), Ueno Park (1000 trees), Sumida River (510 trees), Inokashira Park (500 trees), Chidorigafuchi moat (260 trees), and Imperial Palace (200 trees).

Romantic Things to Do in Tokyo

Couples wanting a special night may enjoy an evening cruise in Tokyo Bay or rent a private onsen. Tokyo is full of romantic restaurants and great rooftop bars. Consider a reservation at the New York Grill in the Park Hyatt.

Things to Do in Tokyo with Young Children

Disneyland, DisneySea, Legoland, Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty), toy shopping at Kiddy Land or Tokyo Character Street, dressing up at a cosplay shop, and the National Museum of Nature and Science are a few of the best things to do with young children in Tokyo.

Things to do in Tokyo with Young Adults

Young adults will enjoy the amusement rides at Tokyo Dome City or FujiQ Highland, Tokyo Joypolis video game theme park, the pandas at the Ueno Zoo, a Manga drawing class, or a Mario Brothers go kart tour through Akihabara.

Day Trip Options from Tokyo

• See Keagan Falls in Nikko National Park and visit the UNESCO shrines
• Visit Daibutsu (the Great Buddha) in Kamakura
• Spend a day exploring Kawagoe, a preserved Edo-era town
• Check out a few of the bonsai gardens in the Omiya Bonsai Village
• Relax in a private onsen in Kusatsu
• Watch the snow monkeys at Jigokudani Yaen Koen
• Relax in a hot spring and take in views of Mt Fuji in Hakone

Plan your Trip to Tokyo Japan

How Many Days in Tokyo Is Enough

3 days in Tokyo Japan is enough to experience the city. Add extra days if you plan to attend a special event or wish to take a day trip.

Is Tokyo Safe for Solo Travelers

According to Travel Safe Abroad, the overall risk of travel in Tokyo Japan is safe. The city’s rating score is 80/100. Check their website for more information.

Best Time to Visit Tokyo

The best time to visit Japan is during spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). Temperatures are warm and both are dry seasons. Spring brings cherry blossom season and is one of the most popular times to visit Japan. Temperatures range from 50- 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The cherry blossom bloom usually occurs in the last week of March and the first week of April. Check the cherry blossom forecast here. Expect high prices and crowds; be sure to book hotels early.

Visit from September to November to witness Japan’s fall foliage, or Momiji (red maple leaves). The rainy season is from early June to mid-July. Expect extreme heat and humidity in July and August. Shoulder season is late May to early June and late November to early December. The off-season is mid-January and March, prices are lower and there will be fewer crowds.

How to Get to Tokyo

Several airlines fly nonstop from the US to Tokyo. A nonstop flight from LAX to Tokyo is 12 hours; nonstop JKF to Tokyo is 14.5 hours. Prepare for your flight!

Arrive at Haneda Airport and transfer to your hotel. The Tokyo Monorail connects Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station in 13-18 minutes, costing 500 yen. Transfer to JR lines here, the JR Pass is now valid. Read more about the JR Pass in my Complete Japan Travel Guide.

How to Get Around Tokyo

Tokyo is a maze of rail and subway lines. It is best to carefully plan your itinerary and group attractions by train line. Good news, I have already done that!  Check out my Tokyo itinerary.

Where to Stay in Tokyo

I stayed at Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo. The property was affordable, near train lines, lots of restaurants, and within walking distance of the Imperial Palace.

What Should I Budget for Tokyo

According to Budget My Trip, the daily cost of travel is $160 per person. Travelers reported spending $39 (¥5,734) on meals, $18 (¥2,667) on local transportation, and $158 (¥23,446) on hotels. As always, the cost is based on your travel style. Check their website for more information.

What Should I Pack for Tokyo

The Japanese take care of their appearance. Pack a smart casual wardrobe with fashions similar to New York, London, or Paris. Japan experiences four seasons, in general pack for the season. Spring and fall are unpredictable. Pack an umbrella, raincoat, jacket, and scarf. Wear slip-on shoes, you will be removing them often when visiting temples. Bare feet are considered impolite, pack extra socks for when you must remove your shoes. Although Japan’s temples do not require a specific dress code, dress respectfully.

Visiting More Cities in Japan?

Check out my Japan Travel Guide with links to must see destinations and itineraries!

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Booking Resources for Tokyo Japan

Book Your Accommodation in Tokyo Now

Search Booking.com and VRBO in one place to find the perfect property!

Japan Travel Guide Books

Pick up a Tokyo Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.

Tokyo Attractions and Day Tours

The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.

Travel Essentials

Need a universal travel adaptor, power bank charger, or packing cubes? Save time at my Amazon shop and have travel essentials delivered to your home. 

Enjoy your time out of the office!