Top things to do in Tokyo

By MiNDFOOD

Top things to do in Tokyo
Tokyo bound? Here's our guide of things to do in Tokyo to ensure you get the most out of this frenetic, fabulous Japanese city.

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Tokyo or places to visit, from classic tourist attractions trendy spots, check out our guide courtesy of Air New Zealand.

Shop until you drop

It doesn’t matter if your budget is big or small: Tokyo is a shopping mecca. If you’re looking to splurge, Tokyo’s recently opened 13-storey Ginza Six is sure to tick all the boxes. Dior’s five-storey boutique is in good company with the likes of Saint Laurent, CoSTUME NATIONAL and Valentino – but we would argue it’s all worth every penny. Not just for the fashionistas of the world, Ginza Six’s dedicated beauty floor is a make-up and skincare connoisseur’s dream come true.

Just outside this plush mall, you’ll discover some of Tokyo’s best high-street shopping. Popular chain stores, including Japanese-born UNIQLO, line the streets. Stationery lovers should make a beeline for G.Itoya; this multi-level emporium offers everything from made-on-the-spot notebooks to the most exquisite selection of papers and pens. Harajuku’s Takeshita Street is your best bet for quirky fashion and fun take-home souvenirs.

Things to do in Tokyo: Ginza 6
Ginza 6.

Quirky things to do in Tokyo

It’s no secret that Tokyo is home to the peculiar, and the company of all kinds of creatures can be enjoyed inside Tokyo’s popular animal cafes. Find feline friends inside a cat cafe, slither up next to a serpent at Tokyo Snake Centre or perch among the owls in a bird cafe. Allergic to cats and not fond of slithering snakes? Ninjas, vampires and robots might be more up your alley. Tokyo is packed with the most unimaginable themed restaurants: lasers and dancers come to life at Shinjuku’s Robot Cafe while kawaii-dressed waitstaff serves up rainbow-coloured edible treats at family-friendly Kawaii Monster cafe.

Be sure to try a few sweet treats from our ultimate Japanese dessert bucket list.

Sing your heart out

No night out in Tokyo would be complete without your own Lost in Translation moment in one of the sprawling city’s infamous karaoke joints. It’s not hard to stumble upon somewhere to give your vocal chords a good flexing: karaoke spots are scattered throughout the city. Keep your eyes out for popular chains such as Big Echo. Don’t be shy either as bashful songbirds will enjoy flexing their vocal chords in a private room.

Things to do in Tokyo: Hamarikyu Garden's tea house
Hamarikyu Garden’s tea house.

Slow things down a notch

For a city that can be quite an assault on the senses, serene spots are surprisingly easy to stumble upon. Tokyo’s abundance of verdant public gardens offer a moment of respite from the neon lights and hustle and bustle, coming alive with pops pink during cherry blossom season

If a traditional tea ritual is one of the things to do in Tokyo on your bucket list, it’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed. While tea houses can be found throughout the city, Hamarikyu Garden‘s tea house offers a low-key experience at the fraction of the cost. Tokyo’s numerous skyscrapers offer breathtaking vantage points to watch the sunset, but Odaiba Seaside Park – a small man-made island in Tokyo Bay – is the best spot to unwind at the end of the day as the Rainbow Bridge lights up for the evening.

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