Top 10 things to do in Tokyo

The top 10 things to do in Tokyo are about as hard to pinpoint as finding a needle in a haystack! Tokyo’s offerings are as diverse and eclectic and varied and numerous as you can imagine in any large city, times TEN. Tokyo is enormous, and a bit overwhelming, with roughly 12 million people in 23 Wards (like neighborhoods) spread out over 845 square miles (compare that to New York City which is 468 square miles and roughly 9 million people. Check out my past blog post on top things to do with 6 hours in NYC). Every Ward in Tokyo is like it’s own little city, offering so much jammed into one place that it may seem impossible to choose if you have a short time to spend in the city. But don’t let the size of Tokyo deter you! Travel and Leisure just named Japan as the 2019 Destination of the Year! And let me tell you, I totally agree. I only spent 6 short days in Japan, and of those, 3 of them were in Kyoto, so I only had 3 days to spend accomplishing my top things to do in Tokyo. And this was just enough to give me a taste and tell me I definitely want to go back.

So if you are only visiting Tokyo for a short time frame, as I did, here are my suggestions for the Top 10 things to do in Tokyo.

First ask yourself what is most important to you in terms of seeing Tokyo. Are you interested in traditions and culture? Nightlife? Food? Iconic scenes? For me, the answer to all of these was YES : )

Based on that knowledge, and a little bit of research ahead (try a Lonely Planet Guide to Japan)  I was able to finalize a very cool list. Read on below for my Top 10 things to do in Tokyo.

Quick List First, details and more photos below!

ONE: Lounge at a Cat Cafe.
TWO: Walk Shibuya Crossing.
THREE: Visit the Toyosu Fish Market for Sushi.
FOUR: Eat lots of noodles.
FIVE: People Watch.
SIX: Catch the View (and a drink) from the Park Hyatt Toyko’s New York Bar (and pretend you’re Lost in Translation).
SEVEN: Gaze up at Tokyo Tower from below.
EIGHT: Meander in Asakusa and visit the Sensoji Temple.
NINE: Visit Tokyo DisneySea.
TEN: Stop and Soak it all in.

For much more info than I could ever give you, check out the site Japan Guide for a great list of attractions in Tokyo, divided by neighborhood or buy a Lonely Planet Guidebook to take with you on the plane.

ONE: Lounge at a Cat Cafe.
You might wonder why this is number one on my list of top 10 things to do in Tokyo. I am a cat person, that’s part of it. But in 2016 when I visited Tokyo, the concept of a cat cafe was so unique that I just HAD to go. Like, could not leave Tokyo without going. Now, for those who prefer more exotic excursions, there are Owl Cafes, and Robot Cafes, and all manner of really interesting (and maybe a bit odd) ways you can spend an hour. The Cat Cafe I went to – Hapineko – was in Shibuya but has since closed its doors, but it was a such a fascinating experience. There were tons of rules, to include how you entered and exited the room, how you interacted with the cats (the ones in sweaters (yes really) were on break and were not to be petted), you had to buy something to drink, coffee or tea, or other beverage (this cafe only had drinks, and they were from Keurig-like machines but other cafes serve full on meals), you had to remove your shoes, wash your hand, wear slippers, and you were only allowed in for a prescribed and pre-paid amount of time. It was a super quiet environment, and really relaxing, once you got over the rules! I would absolutely go to one again!

TWO: Walk Shibuya Crossing.
This is one of those iconic Tokyo locales. A street filled with cars zooming from 6 different directions, crosswalks that allow pedestrians to spill out en masse into the center of the street and then as quickly as it happens, it’s over. I went at night to get some action shots with the neon lights and billboard aglow, and then retired to a Starbucks that overlooked the entire thing from above.

Check out this fun video I took of the crossing!

THREE: Visit the Toyosu Fish Market for Sushi.
When I was in Tokyo, the Tsukiji Fish Market was still open. As of October 2018 the Tsukiji market is closed and has moved to a new location – the Toyosu Fish Market. You can still do the same activities – watch the vendors selling fish wholesale, people watch and eat fresh Sushi from food stalls, only in a newer venue. The older Tsukiji market was a cultural excursion for sure, with buildings from the 1930s, colorful murals on walls and shop windows, close quarters and small crowded streets packet with vendors, but I kinda loved it for all those reasons. I didn’t get to see the actual wholesale fish flinging as it was closed by the time I got there, but I did have some pretty good sushi from Tsukiji Sushiko, one of the many restaurants in the old fish market. I am not sure if they are still there or have moved to the newer locale but check them out!

FOUR: Eat lots of noodles.
One of the more overwhelming things about Tokyo for me was finding a place to eat. The options were numerous, but the ratings (unless you wanted to spend a fortune) were all over the place. Despite my foodie tendencies, I have to say I didn’t put a ton of forethought into where to eat, and as a result I was just not wowed with most of my experiences. But considering how very unique the adventure was, I was willing to simply let it be what it was – a cultural exploration with minimal planning and surprises around every corner. The sushi restaurant at the fish market was a random choice based on what was open and didn’t have a long wait. It was good, but not as great as I wanted it to be for, you know, Sushi, in Japan! Honestly I feel like I’ve had better sushi in San Diego (I know, crazy, right?). But I am sure there are some who would argue this point.

One sit down Udon restaurant that I really enjoyed was Tsuru Ton Tan a late night whim that I happened upon and just liked the look of. The dishes were flavorful, and it felt authentic to take off my shoes and sit on the floor. On the whole, I will say anything I tried with noodles was spot-on. From Ramen to Udon to Soba. Japan is the place to do these dishes, and they do them right.

FIVE: People Watch.
This one is my favorite. No agenda, no plan, just wander around and see what you see. I love street photography in foreign countries especially. I take tons of photos of signs in other languages (with of course no idea what they say) and even more photos of the locals going about their everyday lives. It’s the photojournalist in me.

SIX: Catch the View (and a drink) from the Park Hyatt Toyko’s New York Bar (and pretend you’re Lost in Translation).
If you’ve seen the movie, you know the spot. And if you visit the spot, you’ll feel like you’re in the movie. It’s a beautiful bar with a stunning view of Tokyo, best, I think, at night. Regular live music, good drinks (though, yes, expensive) and heated toilet seats made for a fantastic evening diversion. If you’re feeling like a baller, stay at the hotel so you can stumble back to your room.

SEVEN:  Gaze up at Tokyo Tower from below.
I went at night, which was pretty spectacular. But night or day, this 1,092 ft tall building is such an eye-catching structure, strangely modeled after the Eiffel Tower but apparently just a shade taller. By day you can go up in the tower and see out over the city.

EIGHT: Meander in Asakusa and visit the Sensoji Temple.
This visually stimulating portion of Tokyo had so much to offer – large and small temples, remote miniature gardens and green spaces tucked off the main thoroughfare, tall gated entries, crowded people watching, colorful paintings on storefronts, indoor and outdoor shopping, and some beautiful bridges leading into and out of the area. I spent half a day walking around this part of the city and bought a beautiful glass bracelet that I wear a ton from Senbon one of the many custom shops.

NINE: Visit Tokyo DisneySea.
If you are a Disney fan, it’s fun to check another country off the list. If you have time, visit both parks, but if you have a shortened schedule, I suggest DisneySea as it’s more unique. Be sure to try the multiple flavors of popcorn they offer in the park and maybe consider practicing osoroi code (the Japanese practice of dressing alike) so you can blend in (matching clothes among groups and couples is a trend in Japan).

TEN: Stop and Soak it all in.
This one is pretty generic, but some of my favorite images come from aimless unplanned long walks with no destination in mind and from pausing and just absorbing the place I am in. For me, it’s important to mindfully stop go-go-going and doing and really revel in the fact that I’m standing in a land so far from home, among people so different and so culturally unique, on soil that has a history that is rooted in memory, known only to me by words I’ve read in history books. That is why I travel.