1. Hiroo Residential Area
If you fancy trendy spots like Shibuya and Harajuku but hope for fewer crowds, Hiroo is an excellent choice. Nestled near Shibuya and Ebisu, it boasts a more relaxed and refined atmosphere. It's a fantastic area to explore Tokyo's latest culinary culture as many upscale venues concentrate here, including trendy cafes and restaurants serving fashionable and health-conscious dishes.
Following the Meiji Restoration, royalty and aristocrats from famous samurai families took residence in Hiroo. With such renowned historical residents, it's no wonder Hiroo has become the affluent residential area it's known as today. Since the late Edo period, due to its geographical location, many foreign embassies were established around the Hiroo area. This has led to the current blend of international atmosphere and sophistication seen in Hiroo.
While Hiroo enjoys a convenient location near the commercial and business districts of Roppongi, Roppongi Hills, Azabujuban, Ebisu, and Omotesando, it still maintains a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere with urban greenery. Travelers can find a plethora of upscale cafes and restaurants throughout the entire Hiroo area. Alongside large apartment complexes like Hiroo Garden Hills and Hiroo Garden Forest, Hiroo also features luxurious low-rise apartments and spacious detached houses suitable for foreigners.


2. TeamLab Borderless
A magical combination of color, light, and sound, TeamLab Borderless in Tokyo is the world's first Digital Art Museum. From a mesmerizing crystal world to digitally cascading waterfalls and an extraordinary lantern room, a visit to TeamLab Borderless is a highlight of Tokyo. After an exciting visit to this fantastic digital art museum in Tokyo, visitors all want to share their experience at TeamLab Borderless to the fullest!
The borderless digital art museum TeamLab is a permanent exhibition in the Mori Building in Odaiba, Tokyo. The museum is the audio-visual creation of the TeamLab art group consisting of animators, programmers, architects, mathematicians, and designers.
The TeamLab Borderless museum is a truly unique audio-visual experience unlike anywhere else in the world. Using over 500 computers and 470 projectors in a specially designed space, the museum is a place to wander and explore in an immersive experience. Stunning art and clever use of specially designed rooms make this one of the most wonderful things to do in Tokyo and certainly not to be missed.


3. Tsukiji Honganji Temple
Tsukiji Hongwanji is a Buddhist temple belonging to the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha sect, also known as Shin Buddhism, founded by the monk Shinran (1173-1263) with its head temple being Hongwanji (Nishi Hongwanji) in Kyoto. The temple was initially built near Asakusa but was destroyed by a fire in 1657 and reconstructed at its current location in 1679.
At that time, the area where Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple stands today was a sea. Followers of the temple and others undertook a land reclamation project and rebuilt the temple on new land. In 1923, the temple was again ravaged by fire due to the Great Kanto earthquake, and by 1934, the current Hondo (main hall) was rebuilt according to the design by the renowned architect Ito Chuta.
In 2014, the main hall of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, the main gate, north gate, south gate, and stone walls were designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. 'Tsukiji' means 'reclaimed land' and signifies the origin of the site on which the temple stands. Notably, there is a Japanese-style cafe called 'Tsumugi' inside the temple, serving delicious and fashionable Japanese cuisine.


4. VR Park Tokyo
Virtual reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create simulated environments. VR places users into a three-dimensional experience. Rather than viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with the 3D world. Simulating the human senses - all five of them turns the computer into a gateway to a new world. The only limit to an awesome VR experience is the computing power and availability of content.
Tokyo hosts numerous entertainment venues including amusement parks and captivating attractions. VR is one of the most notable arrivals in recent years and has become the most exciting entertainment tool globally. There are several spots in Tokyo where you can experience this cutting-edge technology. The largest VR entertainment venue is located in Ikebukuro area, where you can find over 10 VR activities including Mario Kart, Evangelion, and Dragon Quest.
VR Park Tokyo opened in the Shibuya area of Tokyo in December 2016. This space offers a total of seven different VR experiences, some of which are exclusive content only available at this location. The entrance fee is 2,900 yen/person if booked in advance and 3,200 yen otherwise. Upon arrival, you'll have 80 minutes to freely experience various VR adventures, each with its themed area per person! This makes VR Park Tokyo akin to a small amusement park!


5. Yayoi Kusama Museum
5. Yayoi Kusama Museum


6. Nightlife in Shinjuku
Shinjuku nightlife is the main activity in Tokyo. There are too many nightlife entertainment districts around Shinjuku Station. The top 3 nightlife entertainment districts in Shinjuku include Karaoke, Pachinko (Japanese pinball), themed robot restaurants, eateries, nightclubs, love hotel waitress bars, pink bars, as well as numerous restaurants and bars. Shinjuku, on the western fringe of Tokyo, is a city within a city that truly never sleeps. Shinjuku is the contemporary heart of Japan's bustling capital.
Shinjuku is divided into Higashi (East) and Nishi (West) Shinjuku by train lines running through Shinjuku Station on the Yamanote Line. Nishi Shinjuku in particular exudes wealth and power with its towering skyscrapers. Among them is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, a grandiose two-tiered structure, or 'Tocho', designed by legendary architect Kenzo Tange and home to over 13,000 city administrative workers during the day.
Kabukicho is a red-light district north of Yasukuni-dori Avenue, east of Seibu Shinjuku Station and can be reached from Kabukicho Intersection or Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae (Shinjuku Ward Office). Kabukicho is famous for its thousands of hostess bars, pink bars, eateries, and countless love hotels. Many adult services are provided not accessible to foreigners unless you go with a Japanese girl.


7. Live Sumo Wrestling
Sumo wrestling is a Japanese style of wrestling and the national sport of Japan. This sport has its origins in ancient times, considered as a performance for entertaining the Shinto deities. Many religious-based rituals, such as the symbolic purification of the ring with salt, are still observed to this day. According to Japanese tradition, only men pursue this sport professionally.
The governing body of professional sumo wrestling is called the Japan Sumo Association. There are six professional sumo tournaments held annually: three in Tokyo in January, May, and September, and one in Osaka in March, Nagoya in July, and in Fukuoka in November. Each tournament lasts for 15 days, during which wrestlers compete one bout per day except for lower-ranked wrestlers who compete fewer bouts.
If you happen to be in Japan at the right time of the year, you can attend live matches of major sumo wrestling tournaments. And the best way for you to watch sumo wrestling live is to purchase tickets to attend a sumo tournament. Tickets are sold every day of the 15-day tournaments. They can be purchased in advance through official providers or ticketing websites. Additionally, you can buy them at convenience stores with some Japanese language skills or at the stadiums.


8. Inokashira Park
Inokashira Park is beloved by locals for providing a lush green space, with plenty of recreational amenities, shrines, and a pond. Inokashira Pond lies at the heart of the park, where you can rent rowboats. In spring, it's surrounded by cherry blossoms, and the fleeting season of pink and white petals is a perfect time for picnics under the blossoms. The park's rustic history is reflected in its abundance of greenery, and it's also home to a zoo (main park) and an aquarium (adjacent park).
Inokashira Park was established in 1918, essentially as an imperial gift to the people of Japan. The pond in Inokashira Park was the first water source for Edo city - which is now Tokyo. One of the city's most utilized green spaces, the park is particularly delightful during cherry blossom viewing (hanami) and autumn leaf-peeping (momijigari) season. Inokashira also hosts the famous Ghibli Museum, dedicated to Japanese animation films.
Inokashira Park is a fitting choice for international travelers visiting Tokyo, renting a rowboat, or visiting the zoo, aquarium, or Ghibli Museum. Inokashira Park is an ideal spot for first-time visitors to Tokyo, especially those visiting the Ghibli Museum. Travelers often explore Inokashira Park before or after visiting the Ghibli Museum, showcasing products of the famed Japanese animation film studio, Studio Ghibli.


9. Character Cafes
Character cafes are among the top attractions in Japan today. They are specially themed cafes collaborating with famous characters, games, movies, etc., serving food and drinks adorned with super cute themes as well as offering special merchandise collections. Particularly in Tokyo, there are character cafes like Pokemon, Snoopy, ... extremely popular.
Most character cafes in Japan only open for limited periods to promote special events, newly released movies, games, etc., however, there are some character cafes that are open permanently and tourists can visit them and enjoy character-themed menus anytime throughout the year. Famous character cafes include:
- Pokemon Cafe located at Pokemon Center Tokyo DX & Pokemon Cafe, 5th Floor East Building of Nihonbashi Takashimaya Department Store, Tokyo. Tokyo.
- Cinnamoroll Cafe is a character cafe collaborated with the famous Sanrio character, Cinnamoroll.
- Moomin Cafe: Moomin and his friends are some of the world's most famous characters, and there are currently three Moomin-themed cafes in Japan.
- Pompompurin Cafe: featuring the famous and adorable Sanrio character, Pompompurin. Currently, there are 4 themed cafes nationwide: Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka.


10. Tsukishima Monja Street
Have you ever heard of “Monjayaki”? This is the most popular local dish in Tokyo, similar to Okonomiyaki but quite different. While most people are familiar with the long-loved okonomiyaki in Kansai, its Kanto cousin, “monjayaki,” is equally delicious (although a bit more sloppy). And there’s a whole street named Tsukishima Monja dedicated to proving just that!
If you visit Tokyo, Monjayaki is something you definitely should try! The dish may look weird and unappetizing at first glance, but trust me, it tastes much better than it looks! And when you try Monjayaki, be sure to visit the Tsukishima area in Tokyo, dubbed the Holy Land of Monjayaki! Monjayaki is a hot, liquid dish. It’s made with a thin batter of flour and dashi (a Japanese stock).
Many Monjayaki restaurants can be found in the Tsukishima area, and there’s a street called “Monja Street,” home to over 70 Monjayaki restaurants. The street has attracted tourists and Tokyo locals alike over the years, and it’s usually bustling during lunch and dinner hours. Nowadays, many restaurants on Monja Street have English menus and some have English-speaking staff. You can reach the street from Exit 7 of Tsukishima Station.


