Part of our Japan guide.
Tokyo rewards visitors with a mix of ancient temples, neon-lit crossings, and food experiences found nowhere else. This guide gathers 13 places and guides from our Tokyo coverage into one page.
Related travel guides: Tokyo At Night: Where To Go & What To Do and Things To Do In Asia.
10 Best Things To Do In Tokyo, Japan
Start at the Meiji Shrine, a quiet forested sanctuary steps from Harajuku. Then cross to the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo's oldest temple, where the approach is lined with street-food stalls. Book timed entry to the Shibuya Sky observation deck for sunset. Add a walk through the teamLab Planets digital art museum, but buy tickets weeks ahead. The gardens of the Imperial Palace offer a free, guided tour in English on weekdays. End your day in Shinjuku's Golden Gai, a maze of tiny bars that holds just a few seats each.
What To Do For Stopover In Tokyo, Japan
Even a short stopover lets you taste Tokyo's blend of old and new. If you have six to eight hours, take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station, then walk to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. For a faster option, stay near Shinagawa and visit the Sengakuji Temple, where the 47 ronin are buried. With a longer layover of 10 hours or more, head to Yokohama's Minato Mirai waterfront. Factor in 90 minutes for customs and immigration on arrival, and another hour to clear security on departure.
Japanese Food, Unagi: Why You Must Try Some In Tokyo
Unagi, or freshwater eel, is a Tokyo specialty that shows the city's precision in grilling. Chefs split the eel, skewer it, and baste it with a sweet soy glaze over charcoal, a technique called kabayaki. The dish is served over rice in a lacquered box called unadon, or with broth for a lighter version called unajū. Try it at a long-running spot like Nodaiwa, which has been open since the 1850s, or at a casual counter in Asakusa. Expect to pay around 3,000 to 5,000 yen for a set meal.
The Best Of What To Do In Tokyo, Japan
In the morning, visit the Tsukiji Outer Market for fresh sushi and tamagoyaki. By noon, ride the Yamanote Line to Shibuya and watch the scramble crossing from the Starbucks on the second floor. In the afternoon, explore the teamLab Planets museum in Toyosu, where you walk through water and digital art. For dinner, head to Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku, a narrow alley of tiny yakitori stalls. Cap the night at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's free observation deck for a 360-degree view.
Getting Connected In Tokyo
Staying online in Tokyo is straightforward if you plan ahead. Reserve a pocket Wi-Fi router online and pick it up at Narita or Haneda airport; costs start around 1,000 yen per day for unlimited data. Alternatively, buy a prepaid SIM card from providers like Sakura Mobile or IIJmio, which offer data-only plans for 2,000 to 3,000 yen for a week. Free Wi-Fi is available at most convenience stores, major stations, and the Tokyo Metro app. Download Google Maps offline or use the Japan Travel app, which works without a data connection. Most budget and mid-range hotels include free Wi-Fi, but speeds vary.
Exploring The Famous Shibuya Crossing And Dancing Robots In Tokyo, Japan
Shibuya Crossing is the world's busiest pedestrian scramble, with up to 2,500 people crossing at once during peak times. Stand at the Hachiko exit, wait for the light to turn green, and you'll be swept into a coordinated wave of movement. For a quieter view, go to the second floor of the Shibuya Tsutaya bookstore or the Starbucks across the street. Nearby, the QFRONT building has a café with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the crossing. While you're in the area, look for the dancing robot shows outside the Shibuya 109 building on weekends, where performers in metallic costumes move to electronic music. These robots are a throwback to Tokyo's 1980s techno-optimism, and they still draw crowds today.
Visiting Kawaii Monster Cafe In Tokyo
The Kawaii Monster Cafe in Harajuku is a themed restaurant designed by artist Sebastian Masuda. The cafe is divided into four color-coded zones: the Mushroom Disco, the Bar Experiment, the Mel-Tea Room, and the Milk Stand. Each zone has its own giant sculptures and neon lights, and the staff wear elaborate costumes. The food is colorful and photogenic, but the main draw is the hourly live shows with dancing performers. Expect to pay a cover charge of around 500 yen plus the cost of a set meal, which runs 1,500 to 2,500 yen. Book ahead online, as walk-ins often face a long wait.
Which Hostel To Stay In Tokyo
Choosing a hostel in Tokyo depends on your location and budget. For a central base, look at Sakura Hostel Asakusa, which offers capsule-style beds from 3,000 yen per night and has a rooftop view of the Sumida River. If you want a social vibe, Unplan Kagurazaka has a bar and free events, with dorms from 3,500 yen. For a quieter stay, the Khaosan Tokyo Origami in Asakusa offers private rooms with shared kitchen access. All of these hostels have lockers, laundry facilities, and English-speaking staff. Book at least two weeks in advance for summer and cherry-blossom season, as dorms sell out quickly.
What To Do If You Have A Layover In Tokyo
If you have a layover at Narita, you can take a short trip into the city. The Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in about 60 minutes, and the Skyliner from Narita to Nippori takes 36 minutes. For a 5-hour layover, stay near the airport and visit the Naritasan Shrine, a 10-minute walk from Narita Station. For a 10-hour layover, take the Skyliner to Ueno, see the park and the Ameya-Yokocho market, and grab a bowl of ramen. Plan for 90 minutes to clear immigration on arrival and another hour for security on departure. If you have a longer layover at Haneda, the monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in 20 minutes, from where you can transfer to the Yamanote Line for central Tokyo.
8 Hidden Gems: Temples And Shrines You Can't Miss In Tokyo
Beyond the famous Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji, Tokyo hides dozens of lesser-known temples. Start with Nezu Shrine in Yanaka, which has a tunnel of red torii gates and a hillside of azaleas. Then walk to the nearby Tennoji Temple, which has a five-story pagoda and a quiet cemetery. In the west, visit the Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya, where thousands of maneki-neko (lucky cat) statues are left as offerings. The Higo-Hosokawa Gardens in Minami-cho offer a traditional tea house and a koi pond. Do not miss the Nezu Museum in Aoyama, which has a garden with a 300-year-old azalea hedge. These spots are usually empty on weekdays.
How To Take A Mount Takao Day Trip From Tokyo
Mount Takao is an easy day trip, just 50 minutes by train from Shinjuku Station on the Keio Line. The summit is 599 meters high, and you can hike up in about 90 minutes or take the cable car and chairlift for part of the way. The main trail, Trail 1, passes the Takaosan Yakuoin Temple, a Buddhist temple founded in 744 AD. At the summit, you can see Mount Fuji on clear days, and the area has several restaurants serving soba noodles and grilled mochi. For a quieter route, take Trail 2, which winds through a cedar forest and passes a small waterfall. Round-trip train fare is about 1,000 yen, and the cable car costs 950 yen one way.
Splurging On The Right Things In Tokyo
When you want to spend, focus on experiences rather than things. Book a counter seat at a high-end sushi restaurant in Ginza, where a 10-piece omakase costs 10,000 to 20,000 yen. For a splurge with a view, have cocktails at the New York Bar on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt, where the movie "Lost in Translation" was filmed. A private tea ceremony in a traditional teahouse in Asakusa runs about 5,000 yen per person. For shopping, visit the Ginza Six department store for luxury brands and the art installation on the rooftop. If you want a unique souvenir, commission a custom-made Japanese sword from a licensed smith in Kappabashi; prices start around 50,000 yen. Spend on these once-in-a-lifetime moments, and save your money for street food and transit passes.
