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.

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.

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).

If, after a few days in Tokyo, you are yearning to get back to nature but don’t want to travel out of the city, you should consider a visit to The Institute for Nature Study.

If Kyoto and Nara seem a bit too far away, then pay a visit to Kamakura, a coastal town less than an hour south of Tokyo. During summer you can play on the sandy beaches or take refuge on the shaded hiking trails in the surrounding hills.

Each spring, Tokyo gets adorned in pink as the city’s cherry trees begin to bloom. Locals and tourists flock to the parks and green spaces to participate in the Japanese pastime of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. Typically, the blossoms peak during mid-April, with hanami possible anytime from late March through the end of April.

The Lake Ashi area is also known for its hot springs, spa resorts and pleasure cruises plus a number of nearby attractions that make the most of Hakone’s impressive volcanic landscape.

Ippan Sanga is a time for citizens to exchange New Year’s greetings and see the Imperial Family, who make several appearances throughout the day to wave to the public from a palace balcony facing the East Garden.