Top things to do in Tokyo | Unusual Tokyo experiences

Tokyo is an amazing mix of ancient as well as modern living having all the vibrancy a futuristic developed city must have. It is a typical metropolitan city with its neon lighted streets, ever changing fashion, delicious food and unparalleled mass transit system. To come down to 15 things to do in Tokyo was difficult because there are literally a million suggestions.

An extremely crowded city which can be suddenly quiet at times, has an unexpected traditional side that makes it one of the most charming cities in the world. Tokyo is definitely one of those top places in every traveler’s bucket list. Since there is so much to see, do and experience this guide will tell you about the top 15 things to do in Tokyo for the ultimate experience. If you are first time visitor to Tokyo and unsure what to expect, here’s a guide to clear your doubts.

Top Things to do in Tokyo

Admire the plastic food display in Tokyo

As soon as you land at the airport, you will start observing the food display. I was intrigued and went close enough and thought ‘wow, they make these every day just for the display’. I was corrected by a fellow colleague who convinced me that it is actually made of plastic. I had to touch one of the displays to believe it. I however got used to it. I actually loved the idea of such a display as you know what you are going to eat. Hence I had to feature it in my things to do in Tokyo list.

Photograph the Tokyo tower

Situated in the business area Shimbashi, you cannot miss the orangish-golden glistening tower. Photograph it from your hotel, nearby walk bridges or under the tower. You can climb up the tower to get a bird’s eye view of Tokyo. Going up the tower has entry fees and I decided against it. For me, it was definitely one of the top 15 things to do in Tokyo.

Visit Tokyo Disneyland and be a part of the Disney parade

I just had to feature Tokyo Disneyland in the most popular things to do in Tokyo. How can anyone miss this childhood bucket list while in Tokyo? Yes, visitors will be spoiled for choice between Disneyland and Disney sea but visit one or both if time permits.

Since I was on a business trip to Tokyo, I only had an evening to spare. Thankfully there was an evening pass available and not a huge queue. I took the 6 pm to 10 pm pass and was able to tick off some of the popular rides and even the evening Disney parade. If you have a day, here is how to optimize the Tokyo Disneyland visit.

Visit Sensō-ji shrine

Tokyo’s most visited temple enshrines a golden image of Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) and is reportedly the most widely visited spiritual site in the world with over 30 million visitors annually. Be blessed by visiting this temple and drink water from one of its fountains (there is a particular way to do it and there are instructions for you to follow). You may also make an offering by drawing a wooden stick from the box, and pick up a fortune-telling paper strip in the drawer that bears the number indicated on your stick. If your fortune is good, you can keep it; but if it’s bad, it is custom to tie the strip of paper to one of the wires on the temple grounds so the bad omen will stay there and not stick to you.

Go Souvenir shopping

Well, you have to do this to take home gifts for friends and family. A shopping street called Nakamise leading to Sensō-ji temple will fulfill all your souvenir demands. From refrigerator magnets to keychains, Japanese dolls, chopsticks, fans, kimonos, and even Japanese confetti and cookies everything is available here. Carry big bags, I tell you!

Visit the Odaiba beach

Odaiba is a waterfront area built on reclaimed land in the Tokyo Bay area where you can gaze on both – hearth of the city and ocean while you dine and shop; overlooking the rainbow bridge, the statue of liberty, and Tokyo TV tower. This is definitely one of the amazing 15 things to do in Tokyo and you should not miss it.

Experience Tokyo Food

Visitors are certainly spoilt for choice with the variety of food available. Since I am a vegetarian I got some amazing veg food with local drinks. I had sticky rice, fresh raw vegetables with 9 types of sauce, Japanese tofu soup, veg sushi, fried vegetables, sake, and the unending supply of green tea.

Talking about food, Tokyo has some of the most unique themed cafes and they are must-try, some for the decor, some for the overdose of cartoon, and some for its delicious food.

Shop till you drop at Ginza street

Ginza is definitely one of the must visit places in Tokyo. Ginza is a market for luxury goods and reportedly the best to shop in Japan. Ginza is also of interest for its architecture, dining, tea rooms, entertainment, and attractions. The area glitters with lights and if you are up for high lifestyle shops you can shop from any brand in the world you want whether fashion, cars, or diamonds. There are of course affordable shopping options too or just window shopping!

Photograph the Cherry Blossom

The cherry blossom (also known as sakura) is Japan’s popular symbol. The flower holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture which makes it special for the locals as well as the tourist who especially travel in spring to see them bloom. White or pale pink, sometimes dark pink or yellow, there are over a hundred varieties of cherry trees.

There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a few days in spring. The seasonal spectacle is celebrated with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the trees.

Japan celebrates the Cherry Blossom festival every year. Depending upon the weather conditions the dates are announced and tourists can plan their visit accordingly. Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Fukuoka is where the festival takes place.

Since I visited Japan in November, I only managed to click the cherry blossoms embossed on these manholes.

Experience the traditional Japanese tea ceremony

Experiencing this tradition was one of the main highlights of my trip as it was so touching and rich. The Japanese tea ceremony is a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea, generally served with Japanese confetti so as to balance the bitter taste of the tea. Preparing tea in this ceremony means pouring everyone’s attention into the predefined movements and the whole process is not about drinking tea but is about aesthetics – preparing a bowl of tea from one’s heart and placement of tea utensils at right angles. This is called ceremony for a reason – it makes you feel special and part of something important.

Experience Tokyo Waterways

Tokyo’s waterways have few takers but according to me, one must ride the waterways at least once. The options are aplenty – from the water bus to cruise ships, from party boats to Himika there is one for everyone.

The water bus is the most common way to experience the waterways, also affordable. It is a boat ride from Odaiba to Asakusa to experience the change from fast-paced city life to a slow old life. Watch the city from the river ride overlooking some beautiful and weird buildings. It covers all city landmarks such as Tokyo Skytree, Rainbow Bridge, and Asahi Group Headquarters Building.

Yakatabune or the party boats are unique to Japan and a lovely reminder of the olden days with the lighting of traditional paper lanterns. These boats are available for private rental and shared tours.

Dinner cruise ships set sail along the Sumida River and out to Tokyo Bay for views of the glittering skyline. There are a variety of cruises and operators, but dinner cruises tend to be popular and will need to be reserved in advance.

Walk across the small alleys in the centre of old Tokyo

Discover what these alleys have to offer and the way they display it. I personally love discovering any new place on foot. It is great to get a local flavor, engage in a dialogue with a local, try some food stuff, find a cheap bargain on accessories or simply photograph something interesting.

Buy a beverage from the Vending machines

Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita with a reported 5.1 million vending machines. This is exactly why it is called the vending machine heaven.

The authorities want everybody to be well hydrated and have overdone installing the vending machines every few meters. There are vending machines in Tokyo for everything you can imagine – from dried fish to fermented soybeans, from fresh fruits to ready-to-eat noodles, from popcorn to milk, Tokyo has it all. There are vending machines for bizarre things selling idol photographs – dedicated to Japan’s popular idol bands Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka46 as well vending machines selling umbrellas.

Look out for the expiry date as these beverages are also put up on 50% or 80% discounts before 2-3 days of expiry.

Use the ultra-modern toilets of Tokyo

This has to be one of the bizarre experiences in Tokyo! After using a toilet when you want to flush, it takes a few seconds to understand the signs on the panel, and then you realize the instructions are in English and Braille as well.  Welcome to the world of ultra-modern toilets of Japan!

I was never surprised in my life to use the various functions of a simple toilet. There are many buttons each with a great utility, promising to give a wonderful experience. Yes, using a toilet in Tokyo is no less than a memorable experience. Tokyo wants its visitors to experience luxury even in public toilets!

To start off, most toilet seats warm up as soon as you sit on them.  A panel installed near the seat called ‘washlet’ or ‘control panel’ has functions to clean you up after you are done with the business. And you don’t need toilet paper – how sustainable!  Users can choose the pressure and the temperature of water to clean them up.  Users can even mask any unwanted noise with a flushing sound.

Once you are clean, get up and an automatic sensor will flush everything for you. Sometimes there would be a hand sensor and if you take your hand near it, it will flush. Each toilet is unique in Japan.

Shop for delicacies at the Narita airport

Before bidding goodbye to this amazingly awesome place, it is important to stock on the yummy treats to carry back home. This is a massively difficult task, especially because there are way too many good options for souvenir shopping at Narita airport. So what to buy at Narita Airport?

Tokyo Banana is the must-buy souvenir in Tokyo. It is a dessert which is a fluffy cake filled with banana custard cream and shaped like a banana.  I tried to source these in the Senso-ji market but I did not find them. Narita airport has a huge shop dedicated to the Banana Tokyo goodies. Its popularity is apparent because of the huge queue in the shop.  I picked up the classic Tokyo Banana while it is available in many flavors and prints such as flowers and leopard.

Kit-kat in Japan is available in over a hundred flavors. If you are game to try some of the most bizarre flavors it is all available at Narita airport. Durian, Wasabi, and Edamame are some of the unusually flavored kit kats available.

Other chocolates which are must buy from Tokyo include Pocky (in these flavors: Kyoto Uji Matcha, Hokkaido Yubari Melon and Shunshu Kyoho Grapes), GODIVA Souvenir Biscuit Japan and ROYCE’ Chocolates.

Sustainable tips for Things to do in Tokyo

•  Tokyo is extremely disciplined hence you have to respect their laws. Always segregate your waste. Look for an illustration/creative in case the text is in Japanese.
• Be courteous – always greet and say thank you to every possible person – shopkeepers, taxi drivers, hotel staff, restaurants, etc.
• Use public transport: Everybody uses it so you must too. It is a cheap way to get around, there are people who can help you to get tickets from machines and frequency is good to get around anywhere in Tokyo.
• Eat Local: There are all kinds of varieties of Japanese food available – veg, nonveg, and vegan.
• Do not give tips at a restaurant: Staff takes it as an insult. Yes, it is true.

Disclaimer – This post may contain affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running. For more details please read my Privacy Policy.

Pin this post!