Tokyo Things to Do

Kabukicho is an adult entertainment district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, well known for its hostess bars, massage parlors and hole-in-the-wall peep shows, where Japanese salary-men can indulge in their ultimate fantasy or fetish.

Pescetarians (fish eaters) will have no trouble dining out in Tokyo or Japan but for true vegetarians and vegans, finding a meal free of fish extract (bonito), the main non-vegetarian addition to an otherwise vegetarian dish, can be tricky.

There are dozens of excellent shopping districts in Tokyo – each offering a slightly different ‘flavour’. Here’s our quick guide to the biggest and the best

I decided an overview tour of the city would be my best bet. Viator has several Tokyo overview tours: a morning sightseeing tour, a Tokyo Tower/Tea Ceremony/River Cruise day tour, and what they call a panoramic Tokyo day tour. Because we had just a few days in Tokyo, I decided the panoramic day tour was best because it visited several of the attractions I wanted to see, including some that were quite far apart, thus giving me more freedom on my other days to explore the more central sights.

In a city like Tokyo where space is at a premium, Capsule Hotels are a popular option for cash-strapped travelers and local salary men and women who miss the last train home.

At first glance, Tokyo isn’t the most child-friendly destination, but when you’re looking for a place to take the kids for a day, you’ll find several amusement parks in and around Tokyo. Unlike in the United States, some of Tokyo’s amusement parks are completely indoors, making them perfect options for a rainy day.

Shimbashi is a business district in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, with small, hole-in-the-wall bars and restaurants frequented by salary men and women. Sandwiched between Ginza and Shiodome, Shimbashi is famous for its tiny eateries jammed under the railway tracks and it buzzes day and night on weekdays as workers scurry to and from work, meetings and Yakitori bars.

So you have just one day in Tokyo and want to see as many iconic sights and have a many unique Tokyo experiences as possible? Better fasten your seat belt.

A boat cruise on Tokyo’s Sumida River will give you a chance to breathe again and see the city in a different light. Cruises are also a popular way to see and navigate your way between several of Tokyo’s main attractions, most notably Asakusa and Sensoji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Hama Rikyu Japanese Gardens and Odaiba (in Tokyo Bay).

On a trip around Asia and Australia, Asha and Brock’s first stop is Tokyo, where they spent a week exploring this fascinating city.