Visit Senso-ji TempleMust-See SightsTokyo's oldest temple in Asakusa, with the Kaminarimon gate, a long covered shopping street and the main hall. Free to enter, busy most of the day — go before 9am for the cleanest photos.0 Add to listVisit Senso-ji TempleMust-See SightsTokyo's oldest temple in Asakusa, with the Kaminarimon gate, a long covered shopping street and the main hall. Free to enter, busy most of the day — go before 9am for the cleanest photos.0 Add to list
Cross the Shibuya ScrambleMust-See SightsThe Shibuya Scramble crossing runs in all directions simultaneously when the lights change. Stand in the middle of it once just to do it. The overhead view from the Starbucks or the Scramble Square observation floor is worth it too.0 Add to listCross the Shibuya ScrambleMust-See SightsThe Shibuya Scramble crossing runs in all directions simultaneously when the lights change. Stand in the middle of it once just to do it. The overhead view from the Starbucks or the Scramble Square observation floor is worth it too.0 Add to list
Go up Tokyo SkytreeMust-See SightsPaidAt 634 meters, Tokyo Skytree has two ticketed observation decks with views over the whole city on clear days. Worth going for the views; book tickets online to avoid the queues at the bottom.0 Add to listGo up Tokyo SkytreeMust-See SightsPaidAt 634 meters, Tokyo Skytree has two ticketed observation decks with views over the whole city on clear days. Worth going for the views; book tickets online to avoid the queues at the bottom.0 Add to list
Walk to Meiji Jingu ShrineMust-See SightsA large Shinto shrine inside a forest in the middle of Harajuku. Free to enter the main approach and shrine grounds. Quiet and shaded — a good contrast to the Harajuku streets just outside.0 Add to listWalk to Meiji Jingu ShrineMust-See SightsA large Shinto shrine inside a forest in the middle of Harajuku. Free to enter the main approach and shrine grounds. Quiet and shaded — a good contrast to the Harajuku streets just outside.0 Add to list
See the Imperial PalaceMust-See SightsThe palace grounds are mostly closed to the public but the East Gardens are free to visit on most days. The moat, stone walls and Nijubashi bridge are worth a short walk. Check the garden opening schedule before going.0 Add to listSee the Imperial PalaceMust-See SightsThe palace grounds are mostly closed to the public but the East Gardens are free to visit on most days. The moat, stone walls and Nijubashi bridge are worth a short walk. Check the garden opening schedule before going.0 Add to list
Visit Tokyo TowerMust-See SightsPaidThe red-and-white tower is a central Tokyo landmark modeled loosely on the Eiffel Tower. The observation deck is ticketed and decent, though Skytree has the better view. Worth a photo from outside regardless.0 Add to listVisit Tokyo TowerMust-See SightsPaidThe red-and-white tower is a central Tokyo landmark modeled loosely on the Eiffel Tower. The observation deck is ticketed and decent, though Skytree has the better view. Worth a photo from outside regardless.0 Add to list
Eat through Tsukiji Outer MarketMust-See SightsThe outer market at Tsukiji is a narrow grid of stalls selling fresh sushi, tamagoyaki, oysters and street snacks. The inner wholesale market moved to Toyosu, but the outer lanes are still worth a morning walk. Goes quickly — most vendors pack up by midday.0 Add to listEat through Tsukiji Outer MarketMust-See SightsThe outer market at Tsukiji is a narrow grid of stalls selling fresh sushi, tamagoyaki, oysters and street snacks. The inner wholesale market moved to Toyosu, but the outer lanes are still worth a morning walk. Goes quickly — most vendors pack up by midday.0 Add to list
Explore a teamLab digital art museumMust-See SightsPaidTeamLab runs several digital art spaces in Tokyo — the Planets location in Toyosu and the Borderless space in Azabudai Hills are the main ones. Both are ticketed and popular; book in advance, especially on weekends.0 Add to listExplore a teamLab digital art museumMust-See SightsPaidTeamLab runs several digital art spaces in Tokyo — the Planets location in Toyosu and the Borderless space in Azabudai Hills are the main ones. Both are ticketed and popular; book in advance, especially on weekends.0 Add to list
Stand Among Thousands of Lucky Cats at GotokujiFun Side QuestsGotokuji temple in Setagaya is where the maneki-neko beckoning cat legend is said to originate. Hundreds of small white cat figurines are left by visitors along the shrine steps. About 30 minutes from Shibuya — worth the detour if you have an afternoon free.0 Add to listStand Among Thousands of Lucky Cats at GotokujiFun Side QuestsGotokuji temple in Setagaya is where the maneki-neko beckoning cat legend is said to originate. Hundreds of small white cat figurines are left by visitors along the shrine steps. About 30 minutes from Shibuya — worth the detour if you have an afternoon free.0 Add to list
Squeeze Into Drunkard's AlleyFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsNonbei Yokocho ('Drunkard's Alley') is a narrow lane under the Shibuya train tracks packed with tiny bars, each seating maybe six people. Show up early evening, pick a bar with a free counter stool, and order a highball. Low-key and genuinely local-feeling.0 Add to listSqueeze Into Drunkard's AlleyFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsNonbei Yokocho ('Drunkard's Alley') is a narrow lane under the Shibuya train tracks packed with tiny bars, each seating maybe six people. Show up early evening, pick a bar with a free counter stool, and order a highball. Low-key and genuinely local-feeling.0 Add to list
Eat a Cat-Tail Doughnut in YanakaLocal FoodIn the old Yanaka neighborhood, a few bakeries sell doughnuts shaped like a cat's curled tail. Yanaka is one of the few parts of Tokyo that still feels pre-war — low buildings, quiet streets, worth an hour of wandering.0 Add to listEat a Cat-Tail Doughnut in YanakaLocal FoodIn the old Yanaka neighborhood, a few bakeries sell doughnuts shaped like a cat's curled tail. Yanaka is one of the few parts of Tokyo that still feels pre-war — low buildings, quiet streets, worth an hour of wandering.0 Add to list
Work the Gachapon Machines at AkihabaraFun Side QuestsAkihabara has floors of gachapon (capsule toy) machines with hundreds of categories — miniature food, tiny animals, strange objects. Feed in 300-500 yen coins and see what you get. Accept that whatever comes out is exactly what you needed.0 Add to listWork the Gachapon Machines at AkihabaraFun Side QuestsAkihabara has floors of gachapon (capsule toy) machines with hundreds of categories — miniature food, tiny animals, strange objects. Feed in 300-500 yen coins and see what you get. Accept that whatever comes out is exactly what you needed.0 Add to list
Buy the 13-Degree Banana from Shibuya's Vending MachineFun Side QuestsThere's a Dole banana vending machine near the Hanzomon line exit at Shibuya Station that sells individual bananas chilled to 13 degrees. Buy one. It's a banana. It's also somehow a whole experience.0 Add to listBuy the 13-Degree Banana from Shibuya's Vending MachineFun Side QuestsThere's a Dole banana vending machine near the Hanzomon line exit at Shibuya Station that sells individual bananas chilled to 13 degrees. Buy one. It's a banana. It's also somehow a whole experience.0 Add to list
Get Your Photo Taken in a Purikura BoothFun Side QuestsPurikura photo booths enlarge your eyes, smooth your skin and let you draw all over the prints. There are clusters of them in game centers near Takeshita Street in Harajuku. Cram in with your group and let the machine do what it does.0 Add to listGet Your Photo Taken in a Purikura BoothFun Side QuestsPurikura photo booths enlarge your eyes, smooth your skin and let you draw all over the prints. There are clusters of them in game centers near Takeshita Street in Harajuku. Cram in with your group and let the machine do what it does.0 Add to list
Meet the 8-Metre Tapeworm at the Parasite MuseumFun Side QuestsThe Meguro Parasitological Museum is a free, genuinely unsettling small museum with a tapeworm over 8 meters long in a display case. Takes about 30 minutes. The gift shop sells tapeworm scarves and other items you will question buying.0 Add to listMeet the 8-Metre Tapeworm at the Parasite MuseumFun Side QuestsThe Meguro Parasitological Museum is a free, genuinely unsettling small museum with a tapeworm over 8 meters long in a display case. Takes about 30 minutes. The gift shop sells tapeworm scarves and other items you will question buying.0 Add to list
Stroll Togoshi Ginza and Eat a Butcher's CroquetteFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsTogoshi Ginza is supposedly the longest shopping street in Tokyo — local butchers, bakeries and small shops with almost no tourists. Buy a croquette from a meat shop and eat it walking. A real neighborhood errand strip, not a tourist area.0 Add to listStroll Togoshi Ginza and Eat a Butcher's CroquetteFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsTogoshi Ginza is supposedly the longest shopping street in Tokyo — local butchers, bakeries and small shops with almost no tourists. Buy a croquette from a meat shop and eat it walking. A real neighborhood errand strip, not a tourist area.0 Add to list
Explore Nakano Broadway's Vintage Manga ShopsFun Side QuestsNakano Broadway is a 1960s mall a few floors above a regular shopping center, packed with vintage manga, figurines, retro games and specialist toy shops. Bring cash and budget more time than you think — it goes deep.0 Add to listExplore Nakano Broadway's Vintage Manga ShopsFun Side QuestsNakano Broadway is a 1960s mall a few floors above a regular shopping center, packed with vintage manga, figurines, retro games and specialist toy shops. Bring cash and budget more time than you think — it goes deep.0 Add to list
Eat a Cricket from the Ameyoko Insect MachineFun Side QuestsThere are insect vending machines near Ueno's Ameyoko market selling small bags of dried crickets, beetles or scorpions. A few hundred yen for a snack that tastes like a seasoned cracker and a story worth telling.0 Add to listEat a Cricket from the Ameyoko Insect MachineFun Side QuestsThere are insect vending machines near Ueno's Ameyoko market selling small bags of dried crickets, beetles or scorpions. A few hundred yen for a snack that tastes like a seasoned cracker and a story worth telling.0 Add to list
Run the Imperial Palace Loop at DawnActiveLocal RitualsA flat 5km loop around the Imperial Palace moat that Tokyo's serious runners treat as their home circuit. Run counter-clockwise, show up around 6am on a weekday and you'll be sharing the path with a lot of salarymen in motion.0 Add to listRun the Imperial Palace Loop at DawnActiveLocal RitualsA flat 5km loop around the Imperial Palace moat that Tokyo's serious runners treat as their home circuit. Run counter-clockwise, show up around 6am on a weekday and you'll be sharing the path with a lot of salarymen in motion.0 Add to list
Find the Hidden Dirt Loop in Yoyogi ParkActiveLocal RitualsInside Yoyogi Park there's an unmarked dirt loop along the outer fence that local runners use to avoid the pavement. Slightly hilly, softer underfoot and less crowded than the main paths. Best on weekday mornings before the park fills up.0 Add to listFind the Hidden Dirt Loop in Yoyogi ParkActiveLocal RitualsInside Yoyogi Park there's an unmarked dirt loop along the outer fence that local runners use to avoid the pavement. Slightly hilly, softer underfoot and less crowded than the main paths. Best on weekday mornings before the park fills up.0 Add to list
Ride the Free Snail Monorail up Asukayama HillFun Side QuestsWith KidsAsukayama Park in Kita Ward has a tiny free monorail nicknamed Asukarugo ('snail car') that carries you up a short hill in about two minutes. At the top there are playgrounds and two retired steam trains kids can climb on. Easy outing north of central Tokyo.0 Add to listRide the Free Snail Monorail up Asukayama HillFun Side QuestsWith KidsAsukayama Park in Kita Ward has a tiny free monorail nicknamed Asukarugo ('snail car') that carries you up a short hill in about two minutes. At the top there are playgrounds and two retired steam trains kids can climb on. Easy outing north of central Tokyo.0 Add to list
Find the Giant Slide Behind Shinjuku's TowersActiveWith KidsSummerThere's a free retro playground tucked behind the Shinjuku skyscrapers with a large slide and open lawn. In summer (July-August) a splash pad opens; a staff member checks the slide temperature before it opens each day. Worth knowing about if you have kids in tow.0 Add to listFind the Giant Slide Behind Shinjuku's TowersActiveWith KidsSummerThere's a free retro playground tucked behind the Shinjuku skyscrapers with a large slide and open lawn. In summer (July-August) a splash pad opens; a staff member checks the slide temperature before it opens each day. Worth knowing about if you have kids in tow.0 Add to list
Watch Jets Land Over Jonanjima Seaside ParkActiveWith KidsJonanjima Seaside Park sits directly under Haneda Airport's flight path, with planes coming in low enough to feel close. Bring a picnic, find a spot on the grass and count the arrivals. About 30 minutes from central Tokyo by train.0 Add to listWatch Jets Land Over Jonanjima Seaside ParkActiveWith KidsJonanjima Seaside Park sits directly under Haneda Airport's flight path, with planes coming in low enough to feel close. Bring a picnic, find a spot on the grass and count the arrivals. About 30 minutes from central Tokyo by train.0 Add to list
