One of the best things to do in Tokyo when you visit: try experiencing an izakaya, a traditional Japanese restaurant, at least once.

For example, some of the izakaya alleys that bring you into a timeslip into Japan from 50 years can be found in Shinjuku and Shibuya.

A three-minute walk away from Shinjuku station is “Shinjuku Nishiguchi Omoide Yokochō”, an alley which sprang up after the second world war, and shadows of that time period continue to linger there to this day.

Moving on, “Nonbei Yokochō” in Shibuya is also about three-minutes from Shibuya station by foot, and is a deep spot for the retro izakaya restaurants squeezed together side-by-side.

Sumo wrestling is one of Japan’s traditional sports with over 1500 years of history. Seeing a match is one of the best things to do in Tokyo. Of the six main sumo wrestling tournaments held throughout Japan every year, the tournaments held in January, May, and September are held in Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Considered the holy ground of sumo, countless numbers of major matches are held here. You can get up close with the culture and techniques of sumo that have been handed down since ancient times.

It’s recommended to watch your first match while seated in “Masuseki” seats, where you can enjoy food while watching. If you intend to watch a match, it’s best to check the details beforehand.

Tokyo is also where the latest in art gathers. Amongst these are the digital art museums breaking boundaries, created by the art group teamLab, which have been incredibly popular since opening.

At “teamLab Borderless” in Odaiba, it aims to create a world without borders, where new art is created. Besides this, “teamLab Planets Tokyo DMM” in Toyosu is a space where the line between the art piece and the real world is blurred, for an immersive art experience.

Japan's unique pop culture has drawn eyes from all over the world in recent years. At "Kawaii Monster Café Harajuku", where you can experience it first hand, you can enjoy visually-impactful food items.

The Art Director, Masuda Sebastian, designed the shop interior to spread "Harajuku Kawaii Culture" to the world, turning Harajuku's colorful and crazy streets into visual art, such as monsters.

Buddhism in Japan has a long history, and there are numerous temples as a result. Many of them are structures with hundreds of years of history.

Amongst these temples, one temple you have to visit while in Tokyo is "Sensoji", in Asakusa. Built in 628, it is the oldest temple in Tokyo, and it's a great spot to enjoy the culture of Edo in the surrounding area.

From the symbol of Asakusa, the Kaminarimon gate, the path, or "Sando", which leads to the temple has numerous food and souvenir shops lined up, and it's an enjoyable place where you can see many things while walking.

Similar to the Buddhist temples, there are also numerous Shinto shrines with hundreds of years of history. One of these is one of the most important even amongst the famous shrines of Tokyo, "Meiji Jingū", which is right next to Harajuku.

A shrine where the deified Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are enshrined, the grounds stretch over 700,000 square meters, and has a lush forest with over 100,000 trees offered from all over the country, where you can enjoy all four seasons surrounded by nature.

During Hatsumōde, the first shrine visit of the year from Janaury 1st to 3rd, the shrine typically welcomes the largest number of people every year in Japan, with over 3 million worshippers coming to visit.

"Shukubō" is the practice for worshippers of shrines or monks visiting temples to stay within the grounds, and now, an increasing number of regular holiday-goers, including foreign visitors, are allowed to stay as well.

One draw of Shukubō is the chance to experience the duties and training of the worshippers and monks, and to try Zazen, a type of meditation. In Tokyo, Musashi Mitake Shrine on Mt. Mitake in Ōme-shi has a temple village with about 20 temple stay experiences on offer.

Amongst these, the stay at "Komadori Sanso" offers a waterfall training experience too, and the splendid views are a great draw as well.

Right in front of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing is the shopping mall, "Magnet by Shibuya109".

At the "Mag’s Park” on the roof of the building is the observatory “Crossing View,” a hole-in-the-wall spot where you can get a dynamic view of the scramble crossing.

A photography service, “Crossing Photo,” where you can get photos taken from a high angle with the scramble crossing as your backdrop is available too (1,000 yen; temporarily unavailable as of October 2020), and we recommend making great memories using this service.

Be it fashion or gourmet food, Harajuku, at the forefront of trends, is a place where shops in trend and fashionable people gather in droves.

Shopping malls are dotted throughout the street, drawing your eyes everywhere. Amongst these is the well-known beauty and cosmetics website in Japan, “@cosme,” with its physical shop, “@cosme Tokyo,” which has over 200 brands and 20,000 products available, and is an enjoyable place to just take a look around too.

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy fresh seafood in Tokyo, Toyosu and Tsukiji are the places to go. In 2018, the wholesale market was moved from Tsukiji to Toyosu.

Now, auctions for tuna and wholesale of fish are conducted in Toyosu. In addition to this, the restaurants and shops within Tsukiji's market area were also moved to Toyosu.

Right now, the area outside the market area of Tsukiji continues to operate the same way to this day, with numerous restaurants continuing to serve up fresh seafood. Be it enjoying the atmosphere of times foregone, or watching the auctions at Toyosu, you can pick the location that aligns with your goals.

For those who wish to enjoy Japan’s famed wagyu beef to their heart’s content, all-you-can-eat grilled wagyu beef is the answer.

At Wagyu Tabehodai Nikuen Ueno, you can enjoy over 85 dishes for 3,980 yen (without tax), including wagyu beef, choosing only the foods that you like. From premium short rib to wagyu loin and premium beef tongue, you can enjoy premium wagyu beef at reasonable prices, and it’s a shop that has become the talk of town.

Sushi, which was first created during the Edo period, has become one of Japan’s most famous dishes loved all over the world.

In Tokyo, there are old shops that offer only counter seats and belt sushi, as well as all-you-can-eat restaurants, amongst a wide variety of shops available, and it can be a pain trying to decide which shop to try out.

For example, “Sushi Sakaba Fujiyama” in Akihabara has a popular all-you-can-eat extra-large sushi buffet with impressive sushi topped with 20-centimeter-long slices of fish. Including bluefin tuna and salmon, there are over 50 types of fish available for the 2,999 yen (without tax) buffet, and its reasonable price makes it extremely popular.

Be it international or Japanese visitors, Tokyo Tower is frequented by numerous sightseers, and it’s not just the view from Tokyo from up in the sky, but the illuminations inside that change with the seasons which make visiting the observatory deck especially enjoyable.

In September 2019, renovations on the 150-meter-tall main deck were completed. The window glass and sashes, along with the observation floor, were completely renewed. From buying original goods at the souvenir shops, to enjoying live music at “CLUB333” on the first floor of the main deck, there are now more ways to have fun there.

The newest landmark in Tokyo is the Tokyo Skytree. Standing at 634 meters tall, as of March 2016, it was the tallest free-standing radio tower in the world, and has everything from observation decks that allow you to gaze over Tokyo, to restaurants and souvenir shops.

On clear days, you can see up to 75 kilometers away, allowing you to see Mount Fuji as well. On top of this, the view of the streets of Tokyo painted red at sunset, and the night views are highly recommended.

Popular even worldwide, is one of the tenets of Japanese pop culture, the maid café. From greetings of “Welcome home, master, lady,” to the cute outfits and performances by the staff full of smiles, the food menu has a wide variety of dishes too!

Amongst all these maid cafés, “@Home Café Akihabara” is recommended for first-timers who want to try it out. The staff have all received training in English, making it great for foreign visitors.

At the crossroads of Japan is Tokyo station, and connected to the Yaesu underground central exit is “Tokyo Ramen Street,” a gourmet spot where numerous ramen shops are gathered.

The area became popular as it allows you to enjoy ramen from popular ramen shops while in transit. This gourmet street has everything from fish and pork-based broth to ramen and tsukemen, or dipping noodles, with different types of noodles, soups, and toppings, to ramen that uses vegetables exclusively, and the wide lineup available is staggering.

As there are exclusive dishes that you can only enjoy here, it’s a great place to have your first bowl of ramen in Tokyo.

To enjoy your holiday in Tokyo, you’ll want to choose the best hotels too. It goes without saying that you’ll want a place near the station, with beautiful night views of the city.

Right next to Tokyo Station is Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo, located on the top eleven floors of the 37-story-tall skyscraper “Marunouchi Trust Tower Honkan,” and because of its height, you can see the gorgeous scenery. The guestrooms have large windows, allowing you to enjoy a dynamic view.

Matcha is a traditional flavor that the Japanese have always loved. In recent years, its popularity has spread to other countries as well. In particular, the light bitterness and sweetness make for a perfect match in matcha sweets. People who have tried it find themselves captivated by the flavor of the matcha.

For example, “Suzukien Asakusa Main Shop” has its signature ice cream, the “matcha gelato,” where you can choose the matcha flavor's thickness from seven levels. Claimed to be the thickest matcha ice cream in the world is No. 7, and reviewers have described it as having an unforgettable taste.

When speaking of the two main spots for otaku in Tokyo, there is Akihabara in the east, and Ikebukuro in the west. In Ikebukuro, near the landmark “Sunshine City,” the surrounding area is full of shops with anime, cosplay, and doujinshi targeted at those of the female persuasion, earning it the nickname “Otome Road,” which translates to “Princess Road.”

Amongst these shops is “Surugaya Ikebukuro Otome-kan Supported by Meikido,” where around 130,000 new and used goods and doujinshi are on sale. Rare and limited items often make an appearance there too, and it’s recommended to make a stop there along the way.

In the Ginza area, popular even amongst foreign visitors, are not just high-end shops, but reasonably-priced brands such as Uniqlo and GU, and it’s a street with plenty of shopping available. From 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. from October to March) on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the central street is closed to traffic, turning it into a “pedestrian’s paradise.”

While enjoying this unique aspect of Japanese culture, you can buy popular souvenirs at “Ginza Six,” and enjoy bargain shopping at “Lotte Duty Free Ginza Store” at the entrance to “Tokyu Plaza Ginza.”

*This article is a re-compilation of past articles.
*Due to Covid-19, operating hours and services available may be affected. For the latest information, please check the official websites.