What are the best things to see and do in Tokyo?
Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world — and with that comes a lot to see and do. Here are Forbes Travel Guide editors’ musts for your next visit to Japan’s capital city:
1. Visit Tsukiji Fish Market. If you’re an early-riser — or jetlagged from the long flight — head to Tsukiji Fish Market, the world’s largest and busiest wholesale fish and seafood market right in central Tokyo. The live maguro (tuna) auction starts at 5 a.m., and for safety, the market only allows 120 visitors a day to watch it on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no guided tours for visitors, still, you can wander around the fish market packed with hundreds of stalls selling everything from live lobsters to baby eels and every kind of edible sea creature imaginable. Business starts to wind down by 9 a.m. The outer market called Jogai Shijo — meaning “food town” — is worth visiting, too. There are hundreds of wholesale and retail shops located outside the market, selling prepared Japanese traditional foods like excellent sushi and ramen noodles, kitchen tools, fresh vegetables, dried fish and more.
2. Explore Ginza. This area — now a shopping mecca — was once a Western quarter with two-story brick homes with balconies, the nation’s first sidewalks, gaslights, telephone poles and horse-drawn carriages. These days it’s the place to find the latest and greatest from high-end retailers like Louis Vuitton and Gucci to trendy UNIQLO and H&M. Ginza has Tokyo’s largest concentration of department stores, upscale boutiques, specialty shops, trendy coffee shops and restaurants, lively bars and pricey hotels.
3. See Shibuya Crossing. It’s not everyday you’re told to visit a crosswalk. But this scramble crossing just outside the Shibuya Station is one of the busiest in the world — and a destination itself. Considered the Times Square of Tokyo, this intersection is riddled with huge buildings adorned with jumbo screens, blaring advertising and J-Pop music. When the lights turn red, pedestrians hit the intersection in all directions. For the best view, grab a latte at Starbucks on the second floor of the Tsutaya building, which overlooks the crossing. The area itself is worth exploring, as it's a lively shopping and nightlife district. And while you’re at the Shibuya Station, stop by the statue of Hachiko, a faithful dog that waited for his owner here even after the man’s death.
4. Tour Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Spanning 150 acres, this national garden is one of Tokyo’s largest parks on the former estate of the powerful Naito family of feudal lords. You’ll see more than 20,000 trees; none is so lovely as the 1,500 sakura (cherry blossom) trees that bloom from late March to early April. Its wide, open spaces make this a perfect spot for hanami, or the viewing of cherry blossoms. Walk along the paths that wind past ponds with water lilies and over bridges. It’s a nice reprieve from the bustling city just outside.
5. Stroll on Takeshita Street, Harajuku. This pedestrian-only street in the trendy Harajuku in the Shibuya Ward is a haven for teens, especially those into Japanese fashion. (The area was popularized by Gwen Stefani’s hit, “Harajuku Girls.”) This street is lined with crepe stands and funky boutiques selling some of the city’s craziest and garish looks, many of them worn by the teens shopping here. Shops here are lower-end than the upscale shopping just a street over at Omotesando, a broad, tree-lined avenue dotted with chic boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
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23 hours agoMelinda Joe answered the question:
What is Tokyo’s dining scene like?
Tokyo’s dining scene is deliciously diverse. Obviously, you can’t go wrong with Japanese food, but in the last couple of decades, international cuisine has also flourished. World-class French haute cuisine? We’ve got it in spades. Tunisian brik? No problem. Nepalese curry? There’s a great place in every neighborhood. The only thing missing is real Mexican food (the city could also use more New-York-style delis and affordable, authentic Chinese food, but nobody’s perfect).
Although you can spend a fortune on eating here -- dinner for two at a top-tier kaiseki restaurant like Koju can cost about Y100,000 ($1000) -- it is in fact possible to eat well and inexpensively. One trick: hit the high-end places at lunchtime, on weekdays. Most regular restaurants offer simple lunch sets starting at Y1,000 or Y1,200. Sushi restaurant Matsue in Ebisu serves a fresh and satisfying chirashi-don (raw, sliced fish on rice) for around Y1,500 at lunch, while dinner will run you closer to Y15,000. If you’re willing to spend more, you can eat like a king, even at fine-dining temples like Quintessence. Sure, you’ll end up paying around Y8,900, but that’s a bargain when you consider the fact that dinner costs more than double that, not including the wine you will inevitably order (the menu boasts over 600 varieties). -
3 days agoMelinda Joe answered the question:
What are the best bars in Tokyo?
Sake fans are spoiled for choice in Tokyo. If you’re new to nihonshu, as it’s called in Japan (the word sake actually refers to any alcoholic beverage), the one of the best places to get an introduction is at the Meishu Center in Hamamatsucho, a retail shop/standing bar hybrid which offers three-glass tasting flights starting at Y500.
If you’re ready to get more serious, head to Kuri in Ginza (or their newer standing bar in Shimbashi) for six-glass tasting flights. Shinjuku Moto Stand has a weekly changing menu of brews from small, boutique producers.
Although a lot of premium sake is meant to be drunk chilled, some varieties take well to heat. Check out hole-in-the-wall Fukube in Nihonbashi -- a very Tokyo experience. But note that they don’t serve cold sake. At all. In Shinjuku, there’s Kokoromusubi, a cozy, welcoming izakaya (sake pub) that takes great care in warming their brews.
For sake and fresh fish, go to Ippo in Ebisu or Azabu Juban (their list is written in English and Japanese). Aburaya in Roppongi is fantastically old school and has a great sake selection. Shokkan in Shibuya is more upscale with a well-edited sake list and contemporary izakaya fare. -
On May 17Sandra Barron answered the question:
What is the best way to haggle in Tokyo?
The short answer is: you don’t. Haggling is not part of daily life in Tokyo. The price on the menu or on the artfully hand-lettered tag is the price you pay.
There is one exception I can think of: flea markets. Flea markets and antique markets are wonderful places to explore on weekends. Many local temples have them on a specific weekend each month. Check local English listings or ask at your hotel. These are a great place to find everything from Japanese toys, cameras and electronics from the 80’s to antique silk, scrolls and ceramics. And more. So much more. Things you never imagined existed and whose purpose you can only guess at are neatly laid out on tarps, and used clothing in pristine condition is hung from rolling racks or the sides of minivans. Sure, there’s plenty of junk, but there are also treasures to be found. And when you find something you like, it never hurts to ask for a little bit of a mark-down. Respect (as always) is key in this interaction. After the proprietor says the price, smile and say, “Sukoshi makete kuremasen ka?” (“Could you please reduce the price a little?”) They may round the price down or throw in an additional item at the same price, but they won’t play games about it. Don’t walk away expecting them to call after you and halve the price on the spot - usually, the original price will be fairly close to the final price. Whether the price cut you get is small or large (and you just may get a great bargain toward the end of the day), be sure to express your gratitude. Stay calm and friendly, and you just might walk away with a one-of-a-kind souvenir at a price you love. -
On May 16Sandra Barron answered the question:
The Tokyo Metro is a modern wonder of efficiency. It has some of the most-trafficked train stations in the world - by some estimates, Shinjuku station ushers through over 3 million people per day. At the same time, trains are almost always on time; conductors make repeated announcements apologizing when a busy subway is running one or two minutes late.
Don't be intimidated, though. Despite the sheer number of trains and volume of people, Tokyo’s subway and train system is surprisingly simple to navigate. Though there are technically three different train systems in Tokyo, you can ride all of them seamlessly with a single card, which you can buy as soon as you arrive and recharge with cash at a machine in any station. Simply tap the card at the turnstile on your way in and out. All station signage in the city will have English as well as Japanese.
One trick for making your trip as simple as possible is to know your exits. Zoom in on the map of your destination until you see small exit numbers appear around the station. (Paper maps and the large color maps inside the train station will have the exits marked, too.) Bright yellow signs within the stations will point the way to each numbered exit. Stations are sometimes so vast that going out the right exit can mean the difference between ascending to street level right at (or even inside) your destination or walking a quarter of a mile on a busy street to find what you’re looking for. -
On May 16Sandra Barron answered the question:
Where can you get the best view of Tokyo?
The most in-demand place to take in the view right now is Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world. The futuristic glass tower and the shopping area surrounding it turn a year old in May 2013. The complex can see more than a million visitors over holiday periods. Plan to reserve your tickets in advance for busy days!
Before the Skytree replaced it as a broadcast beacon, the orange and white Tokyo Tower had been the tourist tower of choice since it opened in 1958. The attractions in the lower floors, including a wax museum, could be described as a bit retro. Unlike the Skytree, you have the option of walking up the 531 steps to the top, and getting a certificate to prove it.
Right in the middle of the Shinjuku “skyscraper district” is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, known in Japanese as the Tocho, or City Hall. The observation deck is free. There are signs in Shinjuku station to point you in the right direction - but if you get lost outside, just look for the building’s distinctive double towers. There is tourist information in several languages in the elevator lobby. There is also a cafe at the top that sometimes has live piano music.
The best option for getting a dose of culture with your view is the open-air roofdeck of the Mori Tower in Roppongi. The ticket includes admission to the Mori Art Museum a few floors below, which hosts contemporary art shows by well known international and Japanese artists. At the top, staff will snap a digital souvenir picture of you that you can purchase on your way out, and they will also happily take your picture for your with your own camera or cellphone for free. -
On May 14Sandra Barron answered the question:
What are the best bars in Tokyo?
Tokyo's bartenders are famous for elevating the art of the classic cocktail to new levels of icy perfection. Experience the unbelievable attention to detail, with precision in every element from the bartenders’ bowties to the rythm of their trademark shakes, at Ginza mainstays like Bar High Five, Star Bar, and Orion. In the domain of these award-winning bartenders, understated old-world elegance and manners are the rule.
A new breed of cocktail connoisseurs are mapping out fresh territory with more experimental approaches. Key among them right now is Gen Yamamoto and his flights of muddled fruit drinks at the bar that bears his name. Fuglen is bringing a twist of Scandinavian novelty to the scene.
At last, locally brewed craft beers are rising to prominence next to the endless drafts of Sapporo and Asahi in Tokyo. Relatively new bars like Devil Craft in Kanda and Goodbeer Faucets in Shibuya require reservations on busy nights for their long rows of taps. Still under the radar but just as good is Watering Hole on a quieter stretch of Meiji Dori in Shinjuku.
Whiskey drinkers will feel right at home in Tokyo. Zoetrope near Shinjuku Station is a wonderful place to cap off an evening with a sip of something old and rare. The bartender is happy to help navigate the hundreds of whiskey bottles lining the wall. -
On May 7Nicholas Coldicott answered the question:
Where is the best pizza in Tokyo?
Napoli-style pizza rules in Tokyo, and though there are restaurants all over town, the four big names are Seirinkan, Savoy, L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele and Pizzeria da Isa. All serve pizzas with charred, chewy crusts and a lovely sloppy topping. The former three go traditional and serve nothing but marinara or Margherita. Seirinkan’s marinara is a masterpiece, and da Michele probably wins the Margherita crown. Da Isa, run a multi-award winning pizzaioli Hisanori Yamamoto, offers a whopping 33 varieties, though most are just an ingredient or two away from the classics. It’s wise to book seats at Seirinkan, Savoy or da Isa. If you want to eat at da Michele, the sister of the Naples’ joint featured in Eat, Pray, Love, then you’ll have to be prepared to line up.
For a completely different kind of pie, try Devilcraft, a craft beer specialist in the Kanda district. The top floor of the multi-story pub is a kitchen that turns out great Chicago-style deep dish pizzas. Devilcraft has barely had a seat spare since opening day in late 2011, so be sure to call and reserve. -
On May 7Nicholas Coldicott answered the question:
What are the best vegan restaurants in Tokyo?
Good news for herbivores: There’s been a boom in vegan-friendly restaurants in Tokyo over the past 5 years. And since dairy was never a major part of Japanese cuisine, vegetarian restaurants are usually also fully vegan. Most are casual, cafe-style eateries targeting health-conscious young women, though some offer gastronomic multi-course meals.
At the luxury end, the shojin ryori restaurants offer rarified zen-influenced cuisine. Itosho in Azabu Juban is the best place to try it. Many guidebooks also mention the Michelin-starred Daigo, but beware: the chefs there use fish stock.
Fucha ryori is a similar style of dining, but with a stronger Chinese influence. You can find that in the photogenic Bon restaurant in Iriya, northeast Tokyo.
Tokyo Station is home to T’s Tantan, a restaurant that specializes in a spicy vegan ramen with mock meat.
In the Omotesando region, both Brown Rice Cafe and Pure Cafe are fully vegan. The former serves Japanese-style meals, the latter offers multi-ethnic soups, salads and tapas. The Eat More Greens cafe in Azabu Juban is a spacious vegan cafe with a terrace that makes it ideal for summer evenings.
Falafel stores have been popping up recently. The best of the bunch is Kuumba du Falafel, near Shibuya, though Los Barbados in the same district also makes a great meze with falafel and vegan kibbeh (and offers about a dozen other vegan dishes, clearly marked with a green leaf).
And if you’re elsewhere, check www.vege-navi.jp for a comprehensive guide. -
On April 30Nicholas Coldicott answered the question:
What are the best water activities in Tokyo?
It depends whether you want to relax or play. For relaxing, you’ll want an onsen. Tokyo’s best genuine hot spring is 15 minutes west of Shibuya in Futako Tamagawa. It goes by the official name Sanga-no-yu and the semi-official name Seta Onsen. It’s a large complex of baths, some indoor, some outdoor, some exclusively for male or female guests, and two communal baths (swimwear essential for those.) Posters on the wall list all the purported health benefits of the various minerals in the water, but it’s probably just the deep relaxation that does you the most good.
The Oedo Onsen Monogatari calls itself a hot spring theme park, and that’s a pretty good description. It’s set in a dining and entertainment complex built to resemble the Edo period (1603-1868). It has two baths of volcanically heated water, and five more that are artificially warmed. It also has unusually generous opening hours: 11am-9am.
For more excitement in the water, head north from Tokyo to the adrenaline-filled town of Minakami in Gumma Prefecture. In the warmer months you can go canyoning, white-water rafting or bungee jump over a lake. See www.canyons.jp -
On April 30Nicholas Coldicott answered the question:
What is the one must-do activity when visiting Tokyo?
Once you’ve crossed off Tsukiji fish market and the Sensoji shrine, take a train to the suburb of Futako Tamagawa. Sitting almost anonymously in a residential street is a tiny temple with a big secret. Enter Tamagawa Daishi, look to your left and you’ll see some stairs leading down. Put 100 yen on the wooden tray, grab a pair of brown plastic slippers and make your way down. Almost immediately you’ll find yourself in a pitch dark corridor, feeling your way along the stone walls. It’s not for the claustrophobic. The corridor twists and turns, symbolizing a journey through buddha’s intenstines, and eventually leads you to a subterranean room. I’d tell you what’s there, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. It’s not easy to find, and it looks minor league from the outside, but it’s well worth the effort. Address: Seta 4-13-3, Setagaya-ku.
When you’ve finished at the temple, the Seta Onsen is only a couple of blocks away, or head to the nearby bar Maruume, one of the highlights of Tokyo’s cocktail scene. -
On April 29Nicholas Coldicott answered the question:
What are the best places to see kabuki in Tokyo?
The National Theater in the political heartland of Nagatacho stages periodic kabuki shows, as does the Embujo theater in Shimbashi, but there’s really only one place in Tokyo to see this traditional performance art : the Kabukiza. It’s been around in one form or another since 1889.
The current incarnation opened in April after builders spent three years razing and reconstructing. It’s now attached to a 34-story tower of shops, offices and restaurants. Kabuki’s biggest stars will be performing in a year-long series of shows to mark the reopening.
Kabuki shows can be 4 or 5 hours long, so unless you’re a die-hard fan, it’s best to buy tickets for a single act. They go on sale an hour before showtime. If you want to stay longer, you can pick up a maku-no-uchi (“between act”) bento box inside the theater.
You can rent English audio guides to explain what’s going on, though it’s easier than you might expect to follow the plots without following the words.
The Kabukiza is an easy walk from Ginza or Higashi-Ginza stations. -
On April 29Nicholas Coldicott answered the question:
Where is the best architecture in Tokyo?
There are some spectacular buildings in Ginza, where the world’s biggest luxury brands (and a few of the well-heeled budget brands) have the money to splash on architectural one-upmanship. Renzo Piano designed the Hermes store, Jun Mitsui made a wavy facade for de Beers, 2013 Pritzker Prize winner Toyo Ito riffed on jewels for the Mikimoto building, and Shigeru Ban made a truly innovative building for Swatch that uses elevators as showrooms.
The big brands are at it again on Omotesando. Look for Toyo Ito’s building for Tod’s, which gets its inspiration from the street’s elm trees, and SANAA’s Dior store. Herzog and de Meuron’s honeycomb Prada building popped up in 2003 and people have been paying more attention to the facade than the fashion ever since. And more bizarrely, Japan’s Nursing Association has a building by the late Kisho Kurokawa that now looks like a first draft of his must-see undulating glass creation for the National Art Center Tokyo in Roppongi.
Near the Art Center is one of Tadao Ando’s standout Tokyo creations: Design Sight 21_21. It appears to be just a sliver of concrete and glass in the garden of the Midtown complex, but most of the museum is buried underground.
And don’t miss the Aoyama Technical College near Shibuya. It looks like an oversized Transformer fell out of the sky and crashed onto a grey office building. -
On April 28Nicholas Coldicott answered the question:
What are the best attractions in Tokyo?
The Nezu Museum must be one of the city’s most overlooked attractions. It sits quietly behind the flashy dining and shopping streets of Aoyama, and though it’s been there for more than 60 years, it doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.
The museum houses the pre-modern Asian art collected by rail magnate Kaichirou Nezu, including a National Treasure in the form of Ogata Korin’s Irises. Just as notable is the garden, a meandering trail around ponds and tea houses.
The museum closed from 2006 to 2009 while star architect Kengo Kuma gave it a makeover. His modern Japanese design is yet another reason to put this on your itinerary.
From there, you could walk to Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the late Emperor Meiji. Walk under the towering wooden torii gate and down the tree-lined path and you’ll have so much space and quiet that you’ll scarcely believe you’re in Tokyo.
Then jump back into city life by walking to Shibuya and parking yourself in one of the local izakayas.
