10 Things You MUST TRY in Tokyo, Japan
- Andrew Jung
- Jan 9, 2019
- 5 min read
Tokyo is a beautifully big city with experiences for every type of person.
For the foodies out there, there are plenty of amazing restaurants to stimulate your senses.
For the culture enthused wanderers, there are a vast array of temples and shrines that will make you feel closer to finding your inner spirit.
And for you otaku, you can find the promised land at Akiba.
But whether you're traveling for the food, the culture, or the sweet sweet anime goodies. There are a few things you absolutely can't miss on your trip to Tokyo.
Number 1: Ichiran Ramen
As many of you are probably aware by now, I love Ichiran Ramen.
But it's not just my love for it that made it get on the this list, it's the entire dining experience. Ichiran is certainly something you can't experience anywhere else. You can find my review of Ichiran on my blog, so I won't go into too much detail here.
Just try it, okay? Seriously. Just do it.
You can find them all throughout the country, so I won't put an address here.
Number 2: Maid Cafe
So you're probably in one of two categories on this one:
HECK YEAH
HARD PASS
But believe me, even if this isn't your cup of tea you need to try it out! It's just such a fun experience for everyone and the staff at these establishments are always super friendly.
The food can be a hit or miss in terms of taste, but come on look at this!
Can you say, Instagram?
Address: 3 Chome-16-17 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
Hours of Operation: 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Number 3: Meiji Shrine
The meiji shrine is a vast 170 acres of forest, and is situated right in Tokyo! There are so many beautiful buildings to explore and discover here, you will no doubt feel like you've been transported back in time.
As soon as you step through the torii (gates), you're no longer in a bustling metropolis, you're in a serene and spiritual land.
Granted, you're surrounded by hordes of tourist equipped with modern technology, but I think you get the idea.
Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-8557, Japan
Hours of Operation: Sunrise - Sunset
Number 4: Sakura (Seasonal)
From Mid-March to Mid-April, you can find beautiful Sakura trees like this one in bloom all throughout Japan.
If you're from the Washington D.C. area like me, you know that cherry blossom season is super crazy.
But in Japan, it gets even crazier! Tourists from all over the world travel to Japan during this season and for good reason too.
There are tons of amazing photo spots all throughout Tokyo, but to top it all off many attractions and restaurants will offer seasonal sakura menu items!
But be sure to plan ahead, as ticket prices for airfare and prices for hotels typically go up substantially around this time. If you want to know how to travel on a budget, be sure to join our mailing list to find out when I post my next article on the topic!
Back to the list.
Number 5: Tokyo Disney Sea
Tokyo Disney Sea isn't just for Disney fans. It's for everyone. Disney Sea is a special park that is only in Japan, and has a very "Epcot" feel to it.
Everything about the park really makes you feel like you've been transported to a different country.
My favorite thing at the park was the gondola ride. Even though it was in Japanese, I still had a great time getting ferried around in a little boat.
The food is awesome too, with special flavors of popcorn scattered throughout the park.
Disney Sea is great for those of you that love taking photos.
Get your Instagram on!
Address: 1-13 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture 279-0031, Japan
Hours of Operation: 8:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Number 6: Hedgehog Cafe
You've heard of dog cafes. You've heard of cat cafes.
But have you heard of Hedgehog Cafes?
The hedgehog cafe in Tokyo is a delightful twist on the normal animal cafe experience. The price is a bit expensive, but well worth every penny.
You'll get your own hedgehog to play with feed and take cute pictures of, so don't worry about not being able to interact with them.
All of the hedgehogs are well taken care of by loving and caring staff, so you don't need to feel bad about them either.
They also offer hedgehogs you can purchase as your pet, which may be a good option for you if you live in Tokyo!
Address: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−13−21 シャンゼール原宿２号館
Hours of Operation: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Number 7: Ghibli Museum
No trip to Japan is complete without visiting the world renowned Ghibli Museum.
For those of you that don't know, Studio Ghibli is an animation studio located in Japan that is responsible for critically acclaimed films such as, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and many more.
The museum tickets are inexpensive at around 10 USD per ticket, but getting them is a little difficult. They sell out quickly, so getting them during your trip isn't guaranteed.
So, if you pay a premium you can get secured tickets for your trip through various travel agencies like JTB or Voyagin.
Either way, the museum offers a variety of exhibits, that make you feel like you're in a ghibli film.
And, they show short films that are only available to the public at the museum! So it's well worth your time.
Address: 1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0013, Japan
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Number 8: Tokyo Tower
If you want to get a great view of the city, or just like going up really tall buildings, Tokyo Tower is a must for your first trip to Japan.
Standing at a whopping 1,092 feet, the tower has more to offer than just an awesome view.
For you anime fans, there's the One Piece Museum inside the tower.
And, they have plenty of great food options on the ground floor.
Address: 4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan
Hours of Operation: 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Number 9: Sushi
All throughout Japan, you can find amazing and delicious sushi. Yes, you may have had sushi before, but trust me it is an entirely different experience in japan.
Of course, the best places to get sushi are near the water, where the fish is super fresh.
My favorite places to go are in Tsukiji Market, but you can get great sushi inside the city as well.
Be sure to try out a conveyer belt sushi while you're at it!
A great place to go is Genki Sushi in Shibuya. Which, isn't picture above but I think you all get the idea.
Address: 24-8 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0042, Japan
Hours of Operation: Weekdays 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM and Weekends 10:30 AM - 12:00 AM
Number 10: Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko Statue
The story of Hachiko is quite sad, so I won't get to into it. But, it's still one of the prime photo opportunities in Japan.
Although the crossing in Shibuya can get crazy at night, try to get there in the morning when it's less busy to get your awesome profile pic!
The best spot to view the madness would be the Starbucks at the crossing, but you can alternatively visit a lot of the other coffee shops and bakeries surrounding the crossing.
Don't miss out on your chance to be part of the world famous Shibuya crossing!
Address: 1 Chome-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan
Hours of Operation: N/A
PHEW!~
That was a long post, but I had tons of fun writing it. I hope my list helps you out. Let me know how your trip goes, and if there's anything that should go on this list instead.
Happy travels!
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