Travel Guide: 15 Things every first-time visitor to Tokyo must do

Angela Goh 14 Mar 2017

1/15
Hike up Mount Takao for awesome views
Only about an hour’s train journey from central Tokyo, Takaosan (or Mount Takao) offers visitors a beautiful hiking experience that is entirely worth the splendid views. Many of the hiking trails are paved, making things much easier for families undertaking the climb. For those inclined to take shortcuts, there is a cable car that brings you halfway up the top, and once you reach the summit, you might be able to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji on clear days.
2/15
Shop till you drop in Ginza
Ginza is where you want to be if you’re on the prowl for luxury goods and high-end fashion. With giant department stores and impressive brands on show, the clean and wide streets of Ginza will make any shopaholic want to spend the entire day going in and out of all the stores. Oh, and yes, there’s a very impressive 12-floor UNIQLO store there, too.
3/15
Visit Sensō-ji Temple
Also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, Sensō-ji is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple and is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Asakusa district. The long shopping street leading up to the temple offers a variety of local snacks and souvenirs, and has been a mainstay at the site for centuries.
4/15
Visit a cat/dog/rabbit/owl cafe
Japan is pretty famous for its cute animal cafes. While cat cafes and dog cafes are becoming increasingly common around the world, Japan is forever coming up with new and impossibly zany ideas on the next kawaii creature to feature in a cafe setting. Rabbit cafes are a big hit in Tokyo, and bird cafes (including owl cafes - how awesome is that?) are becoming popular.
5/15
Observe the teeming Shibuya Crossing
If you’re thinking of stopping by Shibuya, you can’t miss the Shibuya Crossing in action. Famously alleged to be the world’s most busiest intersection, the crossing is an iconic representation of Tokyo’s bustling environment. Get the camera out and snap a few glorious images of this crossing at night, with the neon-lit surroundings glowing bright.
6/15
Marvel at the view from atop Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is a whopping 332.9 metres, which makes it the second-tallest structure in the country. As a communications tower, it also has two observation decks that provide unrivaled views of the glittering city below. The best time to go up the tower, in our opinion, is at night, when you get to see all of Tokyo lit up magnificently. The small admission fee is worth the sprawling view, trust us.
7/15
Head up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Yet another building in Tokyo with a great observation deck, this one graces you with elevated views of Shinjuku and beyond, 202 metres above ground. Unlike other observations decks like Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree, this one allows you to go up free of charge.
8/15
Go on a day trip to zen-like Kamakura
Kamakura is a small coastal town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. Home to an impressive number of temples, shrines and historical monuments, it makes a good day trip destination if you’re interested in Kamakura’s beautiful architectural heritage. By train, it takes about an hour to get from Tokyo Station to Kamakura Station, or about 30 minutes if you’re leaving from Yokohama Station.
9/15
Try authentic izakaya food
Often intimately small and cramped, a true izakaya in Tokyo is often smoky and crowded and noisy. Serving up scrumptious bar snacks and finger foods like grilled meat skewers and succulent karaage chicken morsels, alongside beers and spirits, the izakaya scene in Tokyo is the real deal.
10/15
Visit Ueno Zoo
Ueno Zoo, located within the spacious Ueno Park, is Japan’s very first zoological garden. The zoo grants admission for just 600 yen, which is very reasonable. Its most popular residents are the giant pandas. Ueno Park also houses many museums like the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Science Museum, and National Museum for Western Art.
11/15
Explore Yoyogi Park and Meiji-jingu
Nestled within the gigantic Yoyogi Park (walking distance from Harajuku Station) sits one of Japan’s most popular shrines: Meiji-jingu. The Shinto shrine, dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shōken, sees millions of visitors each year. Its entrance is marked by a giant torii gate and the beautiful forested grounds of the park. Definitely a place to visit for those looking for a brief respite from the surrounding city.
12/15
Visit the Sumida Aquarium at Tokyo Skytree
From freshwater fish to deep sea jellyfish to playful penguins, this aquarium, located at the grand Tokyo Skytree, makes for a great date spot if you’re visiting with your beau. And after, you can head up the Skytree to check out the heart-stopping view of Tokyo below.
13/15
Enjoy the freshest sashimi at Tsukiji Fish Market
The fish market opens ridiculously early in the morning, so if you can’t catch all the action then, you might be happy to settle for a quick lunch at the many little Tsukiji food spots that serve an abundance of fresh seafood options. And when we say ‘fresh’, we mean it.
14/15
Visit Kawagoe
Head 30 minutes out of the busy commercial districts to Kawagoe’s Warehouse District, a charming little city reminiscent of the Edo period. Of particular interest is Kurazukuri street, lined with clay-walled warehouses, and Confectionery Row, also known as “Candy Lane”, a small backstreet alley lined with stores selling old-fashioned sweets and snacks.
15/15
Take a trip to Tokyo’s neighbouring city: Yokohama
Located just 30 minutes south of Tokyo is Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city. Popular with expats, Yokohama retains a slight international zest with one of the world’s largest Chinatowns being a main attraction. Noodle lovers will delight in not one, but two museums dedicated to ramen and cup noodles, both with stalls selling ramen from all around Japan. Yokohama is the perfect place for a day trip to experience a quieter, yet just as energetic city.

Setting your sights on Tokyo? This is your ultimate must-do list for a memorable visit!

Tokyo is often seen as a crazy city, full of fast-paced grandeur, neon-lit signboards, polite-yet-efficient service, and a zany population with a penchant for cute things and technology. On the face of it, this might be true, but there are other sides to Tokyo that might surprise you. So, if you’re ready to embark on your journey to this incredible place and would like nothing more than to have a trip you won’t soon forget, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a great list of must-dos for every first-time visitor – including visiting the 12-floor UNIQLO store in Ginza and making friends at a rabbit or owl cafe!

Oh, and even if this isn’t your first exploration of Tokyo, we’re sure our list still covers a handful of things you hadn’t thought to do before. Our advice: don’t leave home without this guide!

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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