Paul (Poison Fish) Manjyu Woodman

50 Things To Do In Tokyo Tokyo is a city that rewards curiosity. Its famous landmarks are only one part of the experience. Beyond the major temples, observation decks and shopping districts is a city of tiny coffee shops, neighbourhood bars, specialist stores, hidden streets, museums, arcades, markets and restaurants. One minute you can be surrounded by millions of people and skyscrapers, and the next you can find yourself walking along a quiet residential lane lined with traditional houses. There is also no single way to experience Tokyo. Art lovers can spend hours exploring museums and galleries, food lovers can work their way through neighbourhood restaurants and markets, while shoppers can lose an entire day in department stores, vintage shops and specialist boutiques. The city also offers plenty for visitors interested in Japanese history, pop culture, sport, nightlife and everyday life. Here are 50 experiences that showcase different sides of Tokyo, from some of its best-known attractions to places and activities that reveal the city’s more unusual character. 1. Step Into The Warped World Of Yayoi Kusama Yayoi Kusama is one of Japan’s most internationally recognised contemporary artists, famous for her polka dots, pumpkins, mirrors and immersive installations. Experiencing her work in Tokyo provides an opportunity to see how her distinctive visual language operates beyond photographs and reproductions. Kusama’s installations can make ordinary ideas of space and perspective feel completely different. Rooms filled with mirrors, lights or repeated patterns can appear almost endless, creating an experience that is as much about being inside the artwork as looking at it. For anyone interested in contemporary Japanese art, a Kusama exhibition is an experience worth building into a Tokyo itinerary when one is available. 2. Time Travel Through Yanaka Ginza Yanaka Ginza offers a very different atmosphere from the neon-heavy image of Tokyo. The shopping street runs through an older part of the city and has retained a neighbourhood feel that reflects an earlier version of Tokyo. Small food shops, traditional businesses and local stores line the street, making it an enjoyable place to wander without a strict plan. The surrounding Yanaka area is also known for its temples, narrow streets and older architecture. A visit here demonstrates that Tokyo is not simply a city of modern towers and technology. 3. Lose Hours Inside T-Site Daikanyama Daikanyama is one of Tokyo’s more stylish neighbourhoods, and T-Site has become one of its best-known destinations. The complex is centred around Tsutaya Books and combines books, magazines, design, music, cafes and carefully selected lifestyle products. It is the kind of place where browsing can easily turn into an afternoon. Rather than functioning simply as a conventional bookshop, T-Site encourages visitors to explore different interests and collections. Even people who are not planning to buy anything can enjoy its architecture and relaxed atmosphere. 4. People-Watch At Yoyogi Park Yoyogi Park is one of the easiest places in central Tokyo to escape the density of the surrounding city. Its open spaces attract joggers, musicians, dancers, families, groups of friends and people simply looking for somewhere to sit. The park can be particularly interesting on weekends, when different groups gather for performances, rehearsals and social activities. Rather than treating the park as merely another green space, spend some time watching the people around you. It is an uncomplicated way to see another side of Tokyo’s everyday culture. 5. Embrace The Tranquility Of Meiji Shrine Just a short distance from the busy streets around Harajuku and Omotesando, Meiji Shrine sits within a large forested area. The contrast between the surrounding city and the shrine grounds is one of its most striking features. Visitors enter through large torii gates and follow paths through the trees before reaching the shrine buildings. The experience is deliberately slower than much of central Tokyo. Whether visiting for religious reasons or simply to appreciate the setting, the shrine provides a chance to experience one of the city’s most important Shinto sites in a peaceful environment. 6. See A Show At Kabuki Ginza Kabuki is one of Japan’s most distinctive traditional theatrical forms, combining elaborate costumes, stylised movement, music and dramatic storytelling. Tokyo’s Ginza district is home to Kabukiza, the city’s most famous kabuki theatre. A full performance can last several hours, but visitors who are unfamiliar with kabuki do not necessarily have to commit to an entire programme. Single-act tickets have traditionally provided a way for visitors to experience part of a performance. Even the theatre itself is worth seeing, with its striking architecture providing a dramatic contrast with modern Ginza. 7. Discover How Seriously Tokyo Takes Shopping At Ginza Six Ginza is synonymous with sophisticated shopping, and Ginza Six represents the district’s modern luxury side. The large complex contains fashion, beauty, food, art and lifestyle brands in an environment designed to be as much about presentation as shopping. Even if luxury goods are outside your budget, the building can still be interesting to explore. Window displays, restaurants, exhibitions and public spaces provide plenty to see, while Ginza’s surrounding streets offer everything from historic department stores to specialist retailers. 8. Smell The Fish At Toyosu Market Toyosu Market became Tokyo’s principal wholesale fish market after the relocation of the famous Tsukiji inner market. The modern facility is substantially different from the older market, but it remains an important part of Tokyo’s food infrastructure. Visitors can observe parts of the wholesale operation from designated viewing areas and explore the surrounding shops and restaurants. Seafood is obviously central to the experience, but the market also provides an insight into the enormous logistics required to supply food to a city of Tokyo’s size. 9. Party In Nichome Shinjuku’s Ni-chome district is internationally known as the centre of Tokyo’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. Its narrow streets contain a large concentration of small bars and clubs, many of which are intimate spaces with only a handful of seats. The character of Ni-chome comes partly from its diversity. Different venues cater to different communities and interests, so exploring the area is less