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When you visit the incredible country of Japan there is a high chance your journey will include exploring the most populated city in the world! With that being said there is so much to do in this large modern city, so I have listed the top 12 activities you need to do on your visit to Tokyo Japan!
#1 Visit a Pokémon café
I don't know about you but one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Japan was to experience their love of Pokémon. Not only does Tokyo have countless Pokémon stores for you to obtain a cute souvenir from but t is also home to one of the only Pokémon cafe's in the world! This cutely decorated café serves Pokémon related food and even has a dancing Pikachu performance that happens throughout the day!
With that all being said it should come as no surprise that this is a very popular activity for tourist and locals to experience. So do not make the same mistake we did and expect to just turn up and get a seat as they are almost fully booked for months in advance. Click the button below to book in a reservation!
#2 Team Labs Planet
Now I am sure you all have heard of this famous visual art science like museum where you feel as if you are transported into a different world. It is for sure a must do when in Tokyo and even after visiting countless other similar experiences, this still stands well clear as the best one we have visited! So get your cameras ready because you are for sure going to capture some extraordinary photos! Click here to view booking options!
#3 Have a drink at a Secret Bar
One of the activities I was most looking forward to doing in Tokyo was discovering a Secret bar. There's something so exciting about opening a secret passage that on the outside may look like a normal vending machine but then finding out it opens up to a cool and stylish bar.
Now I am going to let you in on a little secret which I hope is something you did not assume already but these secret bars require bookings! To me this was a bit disappointing to find out as it takes away from the whole experience of it being a "secret" bar. So when we had found a secret bar without having a booking, the staff did not allow us to go inside, not even just to look :( So I would definitely recommend researching on google for secret bars and booking in advance but trying to avoid what the "secret" is beforehand.
However if researching all that sounds tiring, then I will recommend the best one to go to in my opinion which is Janai Coffee. I wont spoil the secret but there's a cool password like entry you need to discover on their website to gain access. An added "cool" factor is that upon leaving, you actually receive a free coffee, so to the public on the street it seems as if you were at a normal old coffee shop instead of sipping cocktails at their secret bar.
#4 Enjoy the Magic at DisneyLand and DisneSea
Now if you're a Disney lover like Bree and I then a visit to Tokyo's Disneyland and DisneySea is a must! They are one of the busiest parks in the world so be prepared to wait in some queues of up to 3 hours! I would highly recommend spending 2 days at each park if you have the time (and money), click here to view booking options. However if you only have the time to visit one and are unsure on which park to choose, then have a read of my Disneyland vs Disneysea blog! Here I go through the pros and cons on each park to help you decide which one is best for you to visit.
#5 Spend time at an Otter Café
When we heard Tokyo had a café where we could pat and cuddle with our favourite animal, we had to go! You can pay 800 yen for a 30 minute or 12oo yen (1300 on weekends) for a 1 hour session where you get to spend time patting, feeding and playing with these adorable creatures. The one we went to was called "Usa Café Mimi" located in the district of Toshima!
Do note that most animal cafe's require bookings which can only be done in person on the day. However for the otter café we went to, we didn't have to wait at all which could be due to the fact that we were there an hour before close. So keep that in mind if you plan on attending :)
#6 Day trip to Mt Fuji and Fuji Q Highlands Theme Park
A trip to Tokyo isn't complete without visiting the famous volcano in Mt Fuji and while you're there, a visit to one of our favourite theme parks is a must do! Fuji Q Highlands is a park of record breaking roller coasters, from Takabisha, with the steepest drop in the world, to former giants like Fujiyama. Personal favourite was Eejanaika, which is easily the most intense roller coaster we've ever ridden. The main thing to note with this park is that their operations are super slow, meaning you will be waiting a long time to ride no matter how busy the park is. Even if you're spending the full day at the park, try to prioritise the rides you like the look of the most, or consider purchasing express passes. Express passes at Fuji Q are sold per ride and you can purchase them at the vending machines, which are located at the entrance to the major rides. They're allocated on a time slot system, so they will sell out during the early afternoon.
Now visiting both Mt Fuji and Fuji Q can be done on 2 separate day trips but if you are stuck for time, you can spend a half day at each. We opted for the half day option but not by choice... we forgot what day we booked the Mt Fuji tour so we had to come up with a plan B lol.
We had booked in a tour that included transport to and from Fuji Q from Tokyo so Bree and I decided to spend the first half of the day at the Theme park and then made our way to the Mt Fuji viewpoint via the Panoramic Ropeway. FOr more information ont he Fuji Q tour we booked click here!
NOTE: you can re-enter the park on the same day, just make sure you let the staff know and get a stamp upon exit.
To get to the Panoramic Ropeway we first exited the park and caught the train from the nearby station "Fujikyu-Highland" to "Kawaguchiko station". Upon arrival you will notice a lot of buses each taking you a different route around the Mt.Fuji area. A few take you near the entry for the Panoramic Ropeway (use google maps to know which ones) however we found this to confusing and the lines to get on the buses were quite long. So we opted to walk about 15 minutes to the Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway which was very scenic especially during cherry blossom season.
Once you have arrived you will need to queue to purchase tickets for the gondola ride which may stretch as far as the footpath. So don't be alarmed if this is the case like it was for us as the line moves fairly quick and we only waited about 30 minutes! Once you've got your tickets, you take the ride up to an amazing viewpoint and witness the beauty of Mt Fuji!
#7 Have a coffee at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Probably one of the most instagramable Starbucks I have ever been to. This 4 story building features some delicious and well decorated food and drinks that you can't help but take a photo of. From Cherry blossom themed teas to delicious matcha cakes, this place is a must visit for all coffee, tea and Starbucks lovers.
#8 See the city from Tokyo Tower
One of the Icons of Tokyo, this 333 meter tall tower is a must visit to see an incredible view of the city. The tower also looks incredible both day and night so I would definitely recommend visiting around sunset to see it during both times. The tower also includes many great restaurants and souvenir stores on the lower floors so be sure to check them out as well!
#9 Visit Shibuya sky
You've probably heard of the "Shibuya Scramble" the worlds busiest pedestrian crossing. It is definitely a somewhat scary experience when trying to cross especially when you have people stopping to take photos in the middle of it, which is something we definitely didn't do.... Anyway, if you're like us and wanted to see what the chaos looks like from above then visiting the Shibuya Sky is a must. This is another activity we unfortunately missed due to needing a reservation in advance. However the views look incredible so I would highly recommend booking around sunset time to get the most of of it!
If you do find yourself in the same situation as us or want a cheaper alternative. There is a viewpoint called "Mag's Park Rooftop Shibuya Crossing" which is located on the top floor of a shopping mall called "MAGNET by Shibuya109". Here you have a clear view of the crossing and only requires the purchase of a drink as entry!
#10 Day trip to the Cup Noodle Museum
If you're like us and have travelled on a budget before, then cup of noodles is something you come accustomed to eating on a regular basis. We are someone who loves eating this travel saviour so when I heard of a museum where you get to make your very own cup of noodles, we had to be there! Now as with most other activities we have mentioned already on this list, it requires a booking but of course you can't book online so you need to get there early to secure a timeslot. This unfortunately was something we found out upon arrival and oh my god everyone must seriously love cup of noodles because the sessions for the day were already all sold out by 12pm! But that disappointment wasn't going to stop us from creating our custom noodle cup so we went back early the next day. Therefore, if you want to avoid the mistake we made then I would recommend getting there right as they open!
Extra activity: If you'd like for your trip to Yokohama a little more worth while then why not visit Cosmo world. This theme park is located right next door to the museum and offers many attractions included a giant clock faced Ferris Wheel which was once the biggest in the world!
For more information click here!
#11 Have fun at Joypolis
Joypolis is an indoor amusement park which features 21 thrilling rides across 3 levels. We spent a lot of time here doing many different styled attractions such as roller coasters, VR games, 3D theaters, arcade games and more! Some of our favourites include the "Gekion Live coaster", "Storm G" and "Attack on Titan". The Gekion Live coaster is quite unique in that it is a completely indoor spinning roller coaster (it even goes upside down once!). It's almost a combination of Guitar Hero + roller coaster, having to hit buttons on your harness that match up with the interactive screens around the ride. If that wasn't enough to convince you, the place also urinals with a fun mini game attached in the men's bathroom for some added fun!
For more information click here!
#12 Go to the Unko Poop Museum
Yes you read that correctly, somehow Japan turned the excretion of poop into a cute and playful museum like attraction. You first need to use the "toilet" and retrieve your own poop and then place it on a stick... after that you then make your way through many colourful areas to take photos with your new poop friend. There's also poop like arcade games that you can play along with a souvenir shop if you fancied buying you or your friends some poop like merchandise! It's an experience that you would not find anywhere else but Japan so I would recommend for you to check it out and have some fun! You also get to take your new poop stick friend home, how good!
Summary
So that's it! That's our 12 recommendations in Tokyo, I hope this has helped you with gaining some ideas on things to do in this bustling city! If there's anything else you'd like us to cover or want to ask us something about the activities listed, feel free to send us an inquiry or leave us a comment below.
Happy Travels
Bree & Aiden
Strapped for time and only have a day to spend at the Tokyo Disney Resort? Check out our blog post for our thoughts on which one to visit.
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