Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Views, Food & Oddness

Tokyo is not a to-see city, it is a to-be city - but the thing-list still helps. The experiences below mix the views, the shrines, the food shows and the oddities that make Tokyo unlike anywhere else.

The views

• Tokyo Skytree and Shibuya Sky for the two best viewpoints - book Shibuya Sky at sunset
• The free Metropolitan Government Building observatory in Shinjuku
• Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba at night for the skyscraper-on-water wide

The shrines and temples

• Senso-ji in Asakusa: Tokyo's most storied temple, best at first light
• Meiji Shrine: a forest in the middle of the city, quiet whatever the crowds
• The Yanesen area (Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi): old Tokyo lanes and cat streets

The food shows

• A standing counter ramen for the 12-minute Japanese lunch
• Tsukiji's outer market in the morning for the freshest everything
• Izakaya-hopping in Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho after dark
• Sushi at the counter over sushi at the counter: the quality gap is real and worth it

The odd Tokyo

• teamLab Planets or Borderless for the digital-art bath
• A maid cafe or themed cafe for pure Tokyo strangeness
• Mega-donquijote at midnight for the true neon retail
• The fish auction tour at Toyosu for the 3am variety

Experiences we feature in Tokyo

Day Trips

Mount Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo

Full day

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