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You know how it goes. You’ve had plans to visit Tokyo for years, but things keep getting in the way. Maybe it’s bills or work stuff. You could have family or a significant other that wants to vacation somewhere a bit more conventional. Sometimes you wonder, is Tokyo even worth visiting?
Tokyo is absolutely worth seeing at least once in your life, although I think you’ll soon fall in love with it and want to go back again and again. Here are 10 places and activities to help you decide once and for all that Tokyo is so worth it:
- Seeing the Tokyo Skytree
- Witnessing the cherry blossoms bloom
- Watching a live sumo match
- Drinking in the rich nightlife
- Dining at some of the best restaurants in the world
- Paying respects at the Meiji Jinju Shrine and countless others
- Experiencing the efficiency of the bullet train firsthand
- Passing through Shibuya Crossing
- Taking in natural landmarks
- Visiting a themed café
In this article, I’ll elaborate on everything in the above list. That’ll prove that not only should you visit Tokyo, but you very well might want to draw up an itinerary ASAP!
1. The Tokyo Skytree
If you’re anywhere near it, it’s impossible to miss the Tokyo Skytree. That’s because it’s more than 2,000 feet tall. That makes it not only the biggest building in Tokyo, but one of the most sprawling towers you’ll find on the planet.
I’ve written about the Tokyo Skytree countless times on this blog; here’s one such post. While it’s technically a broadcasting tower, the Skytree continues to get used for so much more than that. For one, it’s an awe-inspiring observation deck. Trust me when I say there are few comparable views in the entire world than seeing Tokyo from the heights of the Skytree. You get 360-degree views of the city. Some of the Skytree even has glass flooring that lets you glimpse all the way to the bottom. Don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights!
The Skytree has its fair share of shops and restaurants to draw in crowds. Depending on where you go, you can sit at a table overlooking the busyness of Tokyo city streets by day. If you can, try to come back at night, because the views are even more breathtaking then. Tokyo lights up like a Christmas tree after the sun sets, and you’ll get a bird’s eye view into the whole thing.
2. Cherry Blossom Festivals and Viewing Events
Japan is known for its cherry blossoms, that’s for sure, and few cities take these flowers as seriously as Tokyo. In around late February or March through April and even early May (that was for 2019; it can vary from season to season), Tokyo residents will gather in large droves to lay down tatami mats at parks around the city and watch those pretty pink petals dance.
It’s about more than just flower-gazing, so if that’s not entirely your cup of tea, don’t worry. I don’t want to skip over just how wondrous it is to witness the cherry blossoms fall, though. The trees that grow these lovely flowers are sometimes hundreds of years old. The cherry blossoms seem to envelop everything and everyone in the parks, covering the grass in a blanket of pink.
Okay, so what else can you do at these cherry blossom festivals? Well, go boating for one. That’s a very popular activity at parks like Kitanomaru Park in Chiyoda and Ueno Park. The cherry blossoms litter the water, tinging it pink. It’s a super romantic activity if you’re in a couple.
Otherwise, you can enjoy food like takoyaki, Tokyo’s much-beloved chocolate bananas, okonomiyaki, yatai, and other festival eats and drinks.
3. Live Sumo Matches
You may love American sports, but there’s nothing like a live sumo match in Tokyo. The strength, power, and athleticism the sumo wrestlers possess are unmatched. Plus, in seeing a sumo match, you get to visit one of the most renowned venues in all of Tokyo, the Ryogoku Kokugikan. It’s no surprise this arena was once known as Ryogoku Sumo Hall.
Now, the sumo tournaments happen at very specific times each year, but there are sumo exhibitions in between. You may even get the chance to watch in on a sumo practice, which happens in the morning. If you have your heart set on the tournaments, the first one occurs in January, then in March, May, July, September, and the last one of the year in November. Make sure you plan your trip to Tokyo on those months for the most sumo fun.
You can either sit in stadium seats or on floor cushions, and I suggest you do the latter. It will give you that authentic Japanese experience you’re traveling to Tokyo for. Plus, you can sit a lot closer than you can with the arena chairs. You’ll be right outside of the ring!
4. Tokyo Nightlife
Tokyo truly comes alive at night, so if you’re an adult looking for a thrill or at least something to drink, then make sure you don’t retire to your hotel every night of your stay. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on all the excitement.
What kind of nightlife can you expect in Tokyo? You really have endless options. I’ll go over them for you now:
- See the Tokyo Skytree or another observation deck by night, as, like I said, these offer spectacular views of Tokyo by dark.
- Attend a magic show and enjoy some booze at the same time at the Magic Show Bar.
- Sing your heart out at a karaoke bar.
- Go for a night cruise along Tokyo Bay.
- Check out a baseball game, such as at the Tokyo Dome, where you can see teams like the Yakult Swallows and Yomiuri Giants play.
- Go pub crawling, which is known as Izakaya hopping in Japan.
- Enjoy some clubbing in Shibuya and Roppongi especially.
As the above list tells you, there’s no shortage of options for enjoying Tokyo once the sun goes down. Try one or try them all, but you’ll never be bored on your trip, I can promise you that!
5. Tokyo Restaurants
You have to eat, and you have a multitude of choices in Tokyo. No matter what kind of budget you set, I’m certain you can find quality meals. Bento boxes and ramen await those who need cheap fuel. I recommend you try places like Taiyaki Wakaba (a dessert place), Al Dente Shinjuku (and Italian joint), Nakajima, Manneken, Tsuta, Harajuku Gyozaro, or Yamabe Okachimachi if you want meals that are inexpensive.
You don’t even necessarily have to eat Japanese food if you don’t want to. Lots of chain restaurants have migrated to Japan, among them McDonald’s, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Red Lobster, TGI Friday’s, Hard Rock Café, Domino’s, Wendy’s, Subway, KFC, and Burger King. You can get a taste of home in Japan anytime, although the menu probably won’t look exactly like it does back on American soil.
Even if you don’t particularly like fast food but you’re still feeling homesick, there’s more than just Japanese cuisine in Tokyo. From Italian (like Dente Shinjuku) to French, Chinese, and even American dishes, you can eat what you like.
You might find that a bit of waste though considering Tokyo has some of the best restaurants in the universe. That’s not a personal opinion, either. The city has eateries with more Michelin stars than any other worldwide. These include such establishments as Kanda, Ramen Yamadaya, Joel Robuchon Restaurant, Ginza Kojyu, Sushi Yoshitake, Quintessence, Nihonryori RyuGin, and Ishiwaka.
Obviously, you’re going to pay more to eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant than anywhere else, so you probably won’t get to eat at all those places during your stay. (That’s not even the full list.) That only gives you another reason to come back to Tokyo, so you can experience more of the food.
6. Meiji Jinju Shrine and Many Others
Shrines are a common part of Tokyo culture, and you’re likely to run into one just about anywhere. The Meiji Jinju Shrine has a reputation as one of the better-known shrines around the city, but it’s far, far from the only one. Some others of note include:
- Atago Shrine
- Tomioka Hachiman Shrine
- Tsukiji Hongwanji Shrine
- Nogi Shrine
- Zojoji Temple
- Hanazono Jinja Shrine
- Tenno-ji
- Nezu Shrine
- Hie Shrine
- Senso-ji
- Kana Shrine
- Yasukuni Shrine
Even though you’re visiting from another country, you’re more than welcome to pay your respects at any of these shrines. Most of the time, this process will begin before the torii gates or the entrance to the shrine. You’ll likely have to purify yourself with water, then ring a bell, and maybe present your own symbolic offering.
The shrines, besides being inspirational and gorgeous wonders, have more to offer than looks and history. Many shrines have parks attached or nearby. Others boast museums, and Ueno Park even has a zoo on its grounds. There’s food and entertainment as well, so plan to stay for a few hours at least.
7. Riding the Shinkansen
If you take public transportation every day, especially a train, then you probably have some complaints. For one, you feel the train just goes too slowly. Well, wait until you ride the shinkansen or bullet train. Your entire world is about to get rocked.
I’ve written about the shinkansen many a time on this blog, but that’s because it’s such a standout feature of Tokyo. At their fastest, the bullet trains will go 200 miles per hour (MPH), but they have the capacity to go even quicker. In fact, in test runs, it’s become common knowledge that the trains can race along at 275, even 375 MPH. You wouldn’t ever travel that quickly on a commercial shinkansen, nor would you need to.
Tokyo has a fascinating rail network. It’s so easy to get from one part of Tokyo to another as well as many other neighboring cities in Japan through the train system. As I’ve mentioned in a previous article, most people in Tokyo and other parts of Japan travel via cab or through public transport like the shinkansen. Given the reliability and far reach of this train system, you can see why. Once you go back home, public transport just won’t be the same. It’ll feel like you’re traveling in slow motion.
8. Shibuya Crossing
Speaking of trains, Shibuya Station has a marvel not too far from it, Shibuya Crossing. This pedestrian scramble or diagonal crossing is sort of like Times Square, New York for Americans who have never gone abroad. It’s wide open, allowing for lots of foot traffic. While favorable in the US and Canada back in the 1940s, you don’t see diagonal crossings in those countries as much anymore.
That alone makes walking through Shibuya Crossing a treat. You have to depart at the Hachiko exit at Shibuya Station and then you can walk with the crowd. You’ll notice a statue of the exit’s namesake, a dog named Hachiko, as you leave.
It really does look and feel like Tokyo’s own Times Square, what with the ginormous LED advertisement billboards and surrounding businesses trying to lure you in. If the spot looks familiar to you once you get there, it’s probably because you’ve seen Shibuya Crossing in a blockbuster film. It’s appeared in Resident Evil: Retribution, Resident Evil: Afterlife, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and Lost in Translation.
9. Natural Landmarks
When you think of Japanese natural landmarks, your mind probably jumps to Mount Fuji first. That’s understandable, but that monstrous mountain is actually not in Tokyo, but Honshu. If you’re more of a nature lover, you won’t be totally at a loss for what to do around the city, though.
For example, Shinjuku Gyoen National Park has a history dating back to the 16th century. It was then that the park’s grounds were used as the base of a mansion that Lord Naito owned. You can see such blending of landscaping as English gardens, French formal gardens, and Japanese gardens in one park.
The Nippara Limestone Cave will take you about 40 minutes to get through, but don’t rush. You’ll want to witness the stalagmites and stalactites within the cave.
Lake Okutama is a manmade lake cut from the Tamagawa River. Some people refer to it as the Ogouchi Reservoir because of the nearby Ogouchi Dam. No matter which name you prefer, this lake has a lovely floating bridge you should definitely take a few minutes to cross.
If you really want to see a mountain in Tokyo, then try Mount Kumotori. This is no slouch, as the structure is more than 6,500 feet tall. You can even spot Mount Fuji from the higher peaks of Mount Kumotori as well as parts of Yamanashi and Saitama Prefectures.
10. Themed Cafés
Finally, if your itinerary isn’t completely full by now, you can always add a few themed cafés to the list. I just wrote a comprehensive guide about more than 20 of the best of the best Tokyo has to offer in terms of cafés with themes.
If you’re in the mood for the macabre, try the Vampire Café with its devilishly delicious eats or Alcatraz ER for a tasty slice of prisoner life. If you like cutesy cartoons and anime, the Straw Hat Café, Doraemon Café, Totoro Cream Puff Café, One Piece Café, and Pokémon Café ought to suit you well. There’s also the Cinnamoroll Café, Pompompurin Café, Moomin House Café, and PEANUTS Café for those who love kawaii.
Speaking of kawaii, the Kawaii Monster Café is adorable by day and sexy by night. The Gundam Café and Godzilla’s Restaurant will provide some cool vibes to make your trip unforgettable as well.
Conclusion
I may be biased, but I’d say every time, regardless of budget, Tokyo is worth visiting. No matter where your interests lie, be that eating and drinking, nightlife, sightseeing, shopping, kawaii things, or enjoying nature, there’s something for you here. Why not plan your trip and see for yourself? You definitely won’t regret it.