Tokyo had been on my bucketlist for the longest time and I finally got to visit in November 2023 (I’ve owned a Japan guidebook since 2017 😄). The biggest city in the world has so many varied things to do that really you need a whole week at least to scratch the surface and even more to uncover hidden gems and take lots of day trips. This is by far the biggest city I’ve visited and nothing quite prepared me for how vast and massive it really is. In this post, I’m going to share 15 of the best ways to spend a weekend in the city especially if this is your first time. Get ready for bright lights, packed trains, delicious food and historic architecture rubbing shoulders with soaring skyscrapers.
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
Get Your Guide App
1. Sensō-ji
First up is the stunning temple complex of Sensō-ji in the Asakusa area. Asakusa is known as one of the more historical areas of the city with streets and independent craft stalls that nod to Tokyo’s past. At the heart of Asakusa is Sensō-ji. The Buddhist temple is the oldest in the city although, whilst it was founded in 628, the current building is much more modern as it had to be rebuilt after it was destroyed in the Second World War.
Generally, you’ll arrive from Asakusa Station and so walk towards the main temple underneath Kaminari-mon (the Thunder Gate) and then along Nakamise shopping street. Along Nakamise you can buy snacks and souvenirs and there are some pretty streets that lead off Nakamise as well. As you near the main temple, you’ll see the Sake barrels to your left, head under The Hozo-mon gate and see the Five-Storied Pagoda. Everything here is a fabulous crimson colour and it’s one of the most popular places to visit and photograph in Tokyo. Arrive here early to beat the crowds or come later in the evening to see the temple lights.
Top Tip – Data Roaming
If you’re visiting Japan from overseas then getting online with an eSIM from Holafly is such a game changer. No swapping SIMs. No complicated data roaming. Lots of choice. If your phone is compatible, just download the eSIM and get going!
Holafly
2. Ueno Park
Around half an hour walk from Sensō-ji you will find Ueno Park. The park is full of things to do. If you want to get active then it’s a great spot for a stroll amongst the greenery or you can hire a pedalo for some fun on the lake. If you’re interested in art and history then Ueno Park has six museums and galleries to visit. There’s only one science museum in Japan and you can find it here – National Museum of Nature and Science. For art, visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Museum of Western Art, the Ueno Royal Museum and the beautiful Tokyo National Museum. The Tokyo National Museum is also a great place to see historical artefacts. Unfortunately the Shitamachi Museum is currently closed until end 2024 but when this reopens it’s a great place to learn about Tokyo’s social history.
There is also a zoo in the park (Ueno Zoological Gardens), however we didn’t visit and I’m not certain that I would recommend this is somewhere you should visit. The reviews I see suggest that, whilst there are gorgeous giant pandas to see, many of the animals don’t have the best environment to live.
3. Sunset from Tokyo Skytree
Get a bird’s eye view of the city at the Tokyo Skytree. It has a rather iconic structure which soars up above the city and is recognisable all over Tokyo. At 634m high, the Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan and the tallest tower in the world so making a trip up to the observation deck where you can see across Tokyo’s cityscape is a great way to see how vast the city is and you can see it stretch on for miles. If you visit on a clear day you can possibly capture Mt Fuji in the distance. Plan your visit to coincide with sunset and you’ll hopefully get an epic sky background to go alongside the skyscrapers.
4. teamLab Planets
teamLab has become one of the top places to visit in Tokyo with its unusual immersive art gallery spaces. teamLab Borderless was the original gallery although this is currently closed as it relocates so at the moment teamLab Planets is the only one to visit. It’s become so popular that you definitely need to book in advance to ensure you can go. During the week is your best bet if that’s an option and don’t wait until the day before to get the most choice of times to enter.
At teamLab Planets there are various rooms that you travel through and step into the artwork so that the space changes with every visit that’s in the room beside you. The iconic rooms are The Infinite Crystal Universe and the Floating Flower Garden but there are others to enjoy as well. The whole experience takes around 60 minutes depending on how long you spend in each room. Make sure you wear something that can be rolled up as there are a couple of spaces that contain water and a number of rooms contain floor mirrors so a skirt / dress without tights is probably best avoided!
5. Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya is perhaps the most famous area of Tokyo and that’s due to one specific traffic crossing. The Shibuya Crossing is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world with up to 2,500 people crossing in one go at peak time. Shibuya is a popular business district as well as being filled with trendy shops, eateries and nightlife which make it bustling with locals and tourists alike. Get ready for the lights to change and make your way through the throngs of people crossing over on their way to their next destination. Another great way to experience the scramble is to see it from above. The Starbucks used to be the most recommended place to watch from but it’s currently closed. Shibuya Sky has an epic view and costs max 2500 Yen. If you can snag a window seat at the L’Occitane Cafe then you can enjoy your coffee with a view of the scramble. From Mark City you’ll get a free view although it’s not very high and a little far away.
Whilst you’re here, make sure you pay your respects to the statue of Hachiko and wait in line to take his photo. Hachiko is known as the most loyal dog in Japan as he would wait at the entrance to the station for his owner to return from his commute and continued to do so every day for nine years after his owner had passed.
6. Harajuku
Harajuku has long been known as the quirky, vibrant hang out and fashion hotspot for Tokyo’s trendy youth. Here, the fashion can be anything from vintage to bold colours to outlandish cosplay. Come at a weekend for your best chance to spot the unusual fashion choices. Stroll along Takeshita Street to find the most intriguing shops as well as cute crepe shops to photograph and dog, cat and an other cafe… Head to Cat Street for more minimalist and boutique fashion choices as well as sleek cafes and restaurants.
7. Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park is just across the road to the west of Harajuku Station and it’s an excellent people watching location. We visited on a bank holiday weekend so it was packed with people enjoying the late autumn sunny weather. Its proximity to Harajuku means this is another place you’ll likely see not only quirky outfits on people but also on animals. In Japan, dogs are frequently wearing clothings so you’ll see the latest doggy fashion trends being modelled in the park. We even spotted a rabbit being taken for its walk. Yoyogi was lovely with the autumn trees turning and it’s supposed to be a good spot to see the cherry blossoms in spring as well.
8. Meiji Jingu
Between Yoyogi Park and Harajuku Station you’ll find Meiji Jingu shrine. Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine and is relatively modern only being established in 1920. Unfortunately it was damaged in World War II but restored in 1958 so you can enjoy its beauty again today. The route to the shrine is shrouded in the forest and you suddenly feel a million miles away from the bustle of Tokyo that lies just beyond the forests boundary. Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine and is relatively modern only being established in 1920. Unfortunately it was damaged in World War II but restored in 1958 so you can enjoy its beauty again today.
Keep your eyes peeled for the row of fabulously painted Sake Barrels. As part of the Shinto belief, sake (rice wine) brings people closer to the gods. The barrels would have been given to the shrine by local Japanese sake brewers for the sake to be used at special ceremonies and festivities, the barrels can then be used as a lovely decoration in the park. You may also be lucky enough (like we were) to see a Shinto wedding taking place. It was very interesting to witness this part of Japanese Shinto culture.
9. Golden Gai
Step back in time and away from the glitzy bright lights of Shinjuku and wind your way through the back alleys of Golden Gai. It may look a little grubby on the surface (that’s because it remains pretty unchanged compared to how it would have been in the 1950s) but beneath the surface you’ll find over two hundred tiny bars squeezed into these six narrow alleys.
There are so many to choose from so take your time as you find your favourite or do some bar hopping to try a few. Some of the bars here are for locals only and this is usually apparent from signs on the outside. Others have high cover charges so are best avoided unless you’re happy to pay the extra cash. If you come earlier in the evening then you’ll have a better chance of finding a spot more easily as some of the bars really do only have 7 or 8 seats! Unfortunately I didn’t make a note of the bar that we went to but it was very friendly!
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
Get Your Guide App
10. Omoide Yokocho
Omoide Yokocho (aka Piss Alley…) has a similar vibe to Golden Gai in terms of its location, narrow alleyway and lit up lanterns. Where you head to Golden Gai for drinks, Omoide Yokocho is best known for its street food and specifically for yakitori. The smell of the barbecues hits you as soon as you step into the alley and the lamps lighting up the smiling faces of the diners and revellers. We didn’t stop to eat here as my mum is a coeliac which means street food can be a bit of a risk but it’s recco’d on most posts and guidebooks to have a bite to eat here.
11. Shinjuku after dark
The best vibe of Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho is after dark so you’ll ideally already be in Shinjuku to then enjoy a walk around this area with the bright neon lights shining. Around Shinjuku (Shibuya & Akihabara are also famous for their lights) the city seems to never sleep as giant billboards and shop / hotel signs light up the streets from above. It’s pretty epic to see. Kabuchikō Ichiban-gai Street is a good spot for neon colours. This area isn’t for everyone (it’s the red light district and to be honest pretty seedy) but there are also karaoke bars and the infamous Godzilla head that sits atop Hotel Gracery. In Shinjuku you can also find lots of fun arcade game stores including the Sega store which is home to the world’s largest number of claw machines. Outside Yodobashi Camera Shinjuku you’ll find LOADS of toy capsule machines. On one hand these are very cute and it’s quite fun to try one or two, however, I’m not super thrilled by how environmentally unfriendly these capsule machines are.
12. Imperial Palace
The Tokyo Imperial Palace has been the main residence for emperors of Japan since 1868. Since it is still used the only way to visit is joining a tour which will give you access to see some restricted areas of the palace. It’s a great way to learn about Japan’s monarchical history. The Palace is set in the Kokyo Gaien National Garden which is lovely to explore by foot and to see the palace from a distance.
13. Hie Shrine
Kyoto is famous for Senbon Torii which has thousands of charming, traditional red painted torii gates leading up the mountain. What many people don’t know is there is also a lovely spot in Tokyo to capture the iconic red structures. If you’re only visiting Tokyo on your trip or if you can’t make it across to Kyoto then this is a perfect alternative. Hie Shrine is nestled in the financial district and to find the crimson gates you’ll need to find the West Entrance into the Hie Shrine. Here you’ll make your way up a flight of steep steps passing underneath the gates all the way to the top. During the day you’ll likely need to wait for your turn to take a photo. Whilst it’s not as busy as Senbon Torii in Kyoto, it is considerably smaller making it trickier to get a clear shot here. If Kyoto is already on your itinerary and you’re short of time in Tokyo then you may want to give this spot a miss.
14. Tea, Coffee & Sweet Treats
Japan has more of a tea culture (taking part in a traditional tea ceremony is a recommended activity in Japan) than a coffee culture but it is growing and there are more and more coffee shops to choose from. These are some of my coffee recommendations as well as a couple of spots to find some sweet treats:
- Unison Tailor – coffee and toast
- Think – bakery
- Double Tall Coffee – coffee
- RICEHACK – gluten free bakery
- 63°C – ice cream
- Baggage Coffee – coffee
15. Taste everything
It goes without saying that the best Japanese food you’ll eat is in Japan so use your trip to try as many things as you can. Tokyo has something to cater to every taste pallet and every budget with everything from high end kaiseki multi course menus to yummy eat on the go street food. Since many people work late and have long commutes there are also many restaurants that cater to people eating along so you don’t need to feel as awkward as in other restaurants. A great little lunch spot with delicious gyozas is Harajuku Gyozaro. CoCoICHI is a famous curry house where you can have a speedy katsu curry and order from an iPad. Ichiran Ramen is the equivalent type of restaurant for ramen. I can’t recommend anywhere for sushi because I just don’t like it (I’m already not a fish fan and particularly when seaweed is also involved 🥲). This article from Conde Nast could be a good starting point.
I mentioned earlier that my mum is a coeliac so this made it quite a lot harder for us to find places to eat for her. This is partly because, even though in theory Japan could be gluten free friendly, it’s not a widely known or understood concept so the chances of cross contamination is quite high. We specifically sought out GF restaurants. RICEHACK I mentioned above as a gluten free bakery and the owner of nearby Harry’s Sandwich Company said he could get bread from RICEHACK if he knew in advance so that’s worth knowing if you’ll be in Harajuku around lunch. Gluten Free T’s Kitchen is possibly the best dinner for gluten free as everything on the menu is coeliac. Check out the Legal Nomads for more.
Japan is also famous for its vending machines so at some point you need to stop and try something. You can find everything from ice cream to sweet potato fries and from ramen to orange juice.
I hope this has helped to plan your trip to Tokyo! If you’ve got more time then there are even more amazing things you can do in Tokyo as well as great trips you can take if you make Tokyo your base. Make sure to sign up to receive updates about new posts and follow the journey 🥰
For more travel tips in Tokyo & Japan check out my other posts!
Cat x