14 Things to Do in Tokyo

Hey guys! I’m back from Japan and working hard away at editing my vlogs and writing my blog posts to share with you guys my experiences in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Mount Fuji!

Yes, I listened to this song on the plane when I was a couple hours out from Japan… couldn’t stop singing this to myself during my trip!

Honestly… Japan was different than I thought it would be, and especially Tokyo.

 For the past few years, whenever I’d ask someone about Tokyo who had been there already, I’d exclaim to them, 

“I ask this to everyone, and they all say yes, that Tokyo is like Manhattan on steroids… and how could you NOT be enticed, by that??!!?”

But the truth is… I don’t think it’s like Manhattan… at all.

 New York has incessant stimulation everywhere, whereas Tokyo… for the most part, is just a massive, lackluster, sterile, business city. 

 New York is a very simple grid, and Manhattan itself is tiny. Whereas Tokyo… is beyond HUGE…

View from the Tokyo Skytree; January 2020.

I couldn’t get over how big the city was. Of all the major cities around the world that I’ve been to: London, Paris, Sydney, Los Angeles, New York… this is hands down the biggest.

View of Tokyo from the Bunkyo Civic Center.

On the topic of Tokyo being much bigger than I expected it to be: you have to walk 2 kilometers (like, 0.7 miles) within their metro stations just to switch trains. Everything in Tokyo is far away. Tourist sites, for me, were at least a 20 to 30 minute train ride away – and that’s not included the extra time that it took me to get places when I got lost with the confusing signs in the metro and the lack of fluent English everywhere. 

P.S. – I’m not saying that the Japanese should speak English, I’m just saying that I was surprised that it wasn’t as prevalent as I expected it to be. I guess I’ve been spoiled in my travels throughout Europe, but that’s what was part of making this trip such a great experience: it was a true culture shock for me. 

The Japanese are very reserved and modest. Whenever I would check out of a hotel, they would respectfully take the key and give me a hand gesture to signify that they did not want to invade my personal space or privacy. They seemed to be very scared to disrespect others, which as an American, was something I was very new to. 

Also, you know those masks that people wear to prevent from getting sick? I kid you not when I say that 50% of the people in Tokyo are wearing them at all times. Sometimes, they aren’t wearing one, and then put one on before they leave the train.

 I’m never going to forget, when I was standing on a busy train (sticking out like a sore thumb, being the only American/non-Asian person for miles…), that a boy undid his mask to peek inside it, and picked out little tiny rounds of cotton or other debris that had fallen into it.

Japan is very perplexing, as in… a lot of things seem futuristic and forward (i.e., like their always-heated toilets that play music, commercials playing on price tags, and their ‘touch to open’ doors), it also wasn’t nearly as futuristic as I expected it to be.

It’s a mix of modern and traditional, with very little in between… it’s very interesting, to say the least.

Sometimes, the toilets are embedded into the ground (kind of like an outhouse) with no soap at the sinks. There are no trashcans, and people are expected to carry their trash back to their own homes. Somehow, the cities are very clean (though, not Perth level, clean…) despite there not being any public trash cans. 

Oh, and all of Japan, no matter what you do or where you go: smells like fish – and being vegetarian/vegan there isn’t impossible, but definitely isn’t easy. 

With all that said, even though Tokyo wasn’t the Manhattan 2.0 of my dreams, there are still some great things to do there.

Here are 14 things that you should do while you’re in Tokyo:

1.     See the Senso-ji Temple

Honestly, Senso-ji Temple was disappointing to me in comparison to the ones we saw in Kyoto, but this is still worth checking out if you’ve never been to Tokyo. 

Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, Japan.

2.     Souvenir Shop in the Asakusa Area 

Asakusa Area in Tokyo, Japan in January 2020.

Flooded with tourists with a strong aroma of smoke, fish, and other foreign smells in the air – I must admit, my friends and I were immediately successful in souvenir shopping here.

Exploring the Asakusa area in Tokyo, Japan in January 2020.

3.     Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for Free City Views…

The wait was only 30 minutes when we got there at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I imagine if you come earlier, the line wouldn’t be long at all. 

View from the Tokyo Government Metropolitan Building in January 2020.

If you’re on a budget, and still want to feel how big Tokyo is, this is a great place to go.

4.     … And Also, the Bunkyo Civic Center…

 … for, in my opinion, an even better view of the city, because this one has the infamous Tokyo Skytree in it. 

View of Tokyo from the Bunkyo Civic Center in January 2020.

If I’m going to recommend one free city view to you over the other, it would be the 25th floor at Bunkyo Civic Center.

View of Tokyo from the Bunkyo Civic Center in January 2020.

 There were maybe one or two other tourists here. I wrote it down in my phone sometime two years ago, and forgot that I had ever put it there… but boy, am I glad that my nineteen-year-old self was obsessed with Japan in the Spring of ’18.

It’s very quiet up there, even a piano where they welcome you to play. I almost did, but didn’t want to disrupt the Japanese and their quiet nature! 

P.S. – even given how packed Tokyo is, just like Perth, it’s somehow very quiet…

5.     Walk Shibuya Crossing & Discover Shibuya City 

Now, this is the famous part that you definitely don’t want to miss out on. 

Exploring Shibuya City with friends in Tokyo, Japan in January 2020.

 Crossing Shibuya Crossing was surreal to me. If there’s a place in Tokyo that does remind me of Manhattan, it’s this place – with the similar big ads and lights blaring all over you. 

This was the only part of Tokyo that reminded me of Manhattan.

6.     Shop at Their 7 Eleven

 For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why Japan was so big on 7 Eleven… but they are. I went in there to buy salted rice balls, tofu, and veggies for a meal one time. They have a lot of quick snacks that are actually pretty good given their cheap price.

 They also have a chain store called ‘FamilyMart’ that seems to be very similar. 

7.     Eat at Mr. Farmer

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, or are just looking for a break from the meat-filled meals of Japan, then this is a great place to go. 

 I took two very non-vegan friends with me, and they had chicken burgers – there were options for everyone. 

Trying Japanese Sweet Potatoes in a Vegan Cheesecake at Mr. Farmer in Tokyo, Japan!

P.S. – even on the plane to and from Japan, they give you these little cleansing wipes to use before each meal. I miss them so much. I stole so many of them from all the places I went to in Japan and stuck them in my backpack for my future travels xD

8.     Take Pictures at Tokyo Tower 

 I mean… did you even really go to Tokyo if you don’t do this?

At the Tokyo Tower at night in January 2020.

P.S. – We learned from two friends this night that, apparently, taking pictures upside down is a real trick to getting the frame you want inside of the shot!

9.     Chill with Friends at Tokyo Bay 

 We took a stroll here at night. This reminded me a little bit of Brisbane’s view at night. Not out of this world amazing, but if you’re around, and it’s already night – it’s worth walking by.

View from Tokyo Bay at night in January 2020.

10.  Go Up the Tokyo Skytree

 Of all the different observation decks I went to in Tokyo, this was the only one that really encapsulated the feeling of just how overwhelming Tokyo really is. 

Looking at this view is when I realized just how unbelievably massive Tokyo really is.

 It wasn’t too bad of a price. I paid for the 2100 yen one. They will offer you a ticket to go all the way up to the top for around 3500 yen, but I’ll tell you – it’s not necessary. Take the cheaper ticket, I promise – you’ll still get what you came for.

View of the Sumida River from the Tokyo Skytree.

11.  Get Lost on their Metro 

 Like I explained earlier, Tokyo’s metro is… an experience.

Navigating myself in the Tokyo metro in Japan in January 2020.

It reminds me a lot of other metros that I’ve taken in Europe – especially the ones in Paris and Spain. It’s not quite as easy, because like I said, everything in Tokyo is BIG and far… and, there’s Japanese that (unless you know Japanese) you won’t understand. 

Sometimes the signs point going downwards, but they’re really around the corner. It just… gets confusing, and the people inside the metro/subway (which by the way – are two separate train companies, you’ll have to buy tickets for each if you want to use their subway line!) don’t speak English.

Riding the metro in Tokyo, Japan in January 2020.

 Nevertheless, I don’t think I would’ve gotten as good of a glimpse of the Japanese culture or a feel for Tokyo like I did if I hadn’t taken their public transportation.

 Therefore – I really recommend you do the same, at least once, during your time in Tokyo.

 12.  Relax in Rikugi-en Gardens

This was another thing that I had written down in my phone two years ago when I was dreaming about Tokyo… and I am so glad that I did.

Rikugi-en Garden in Tokyo, Japan in January 2020.

I had my nice European moment here of writing, relaxing, and taking my la siesta. 

 It only costs around 300 yen (around $3 USD) to go inside, and I really think it’s worth it. It’s mostly locals, and the trees and scenery will really make you feel like you’re in Asia. 

13. Find the Meiji-jingu Shrines in Yoyogi Park

 The actual park is very large and reminds me of Regent’s Park in London. I’m not too into history, but I did take a quick stroll through this shrine area and I think you should do it during your first time in Tokyo, too.

Exploring Meiji-jingu in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, Japan.

 14. Explore Tokyo’s Little Europe – Jiyugaoka 

Guys… I think this was my favorite thing that I did in Tokyo. Perhaps even more than Shibuya. 

We all know I’m a sucker for anything European like. This area does in fact remind me of European cities: the cute little trinket shops, narrower streets, lit up plazas…

Exploring Jiyugaoka in Tokyo, Japan in January 2020.

… I couldn’t recommend exploring Jiyugaoka more. 

 And there you have it guys! Those are all the things that I did in Tokyo!

 Don’t feel like this post was enough? Click below to watch my Tokyo vlogs!

I hope this article helped you decide what to do during your next trip to Tokyo! To read more about Japan and what to do in other cities in Japan, click here.