15 Things We Did in Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, one of the world’s top 10 busiest capitals, and a city that perfectly mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. We had three days to explore this beautiful city, and here are 14 things we chose to see and do!

Asakusa

Asakusa is a historic neighborhood located in Taitō, Tokyo and a very popular tourist destination. Asakusa is known for its traditional craft shops and street-food stalls along Nakamise Street near the iconic Sensō-ji Temple, a Buddhist template built in the 7^th century, and its imposing Kaminarimon Gate.

We spent a full morning exploring the Nakamise Shopping Street and Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street, a covered shopping arcade nearby.

My favourite stall, besides the yummy desserts, was this one where you pay ¥1000 for a lucky fortune and every fortune is a winner. You win a doggy plush in the size corresponding with the number on your fortune. I tried my luck first and got the smallest size (no. 4). Radwin went next and got the second largest (no. 2)!

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

A trip to Japan is not complete without seeing or experiencing the iconic Scramble Crossing in Shibuya, a major financial, commercial shopping and entertainment ward in the Tokyo Metropolis. Shibuya Crossing is the world's busiest pedestrian crossing with an estimated 1,000 to 3,000 people crossing this intersection every two minutes!

Shibuya Sky

Shibuya Sky, an open-air observatory deck at 229 metres, offers breathtaking views of Tokyo and a bird’s eye view of pedestrians scrambling across the intersection below like little ants. We had full intentions of visiting Shibuya Sky but tickets were completely sold out for the days we were in Tokyo.

Photo courtesy of Shibuya Sky

Claw Machine Arcades

Located behind the main Hachiko Square intersection in Shibuya is Center Gai, an equally busy pedestrian zone in lined with stores, boutiques and game centres. We had tons of fun trying out several claw machine arcades here and elsewhere as they are in abundance.

Don’t be surprised if you come across smaller standalone claw machines in shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, and even on the streets.

All You Can Eat Wagyu

Yakiniku, a style of dining that refers to “grilled meat” cuisine, and A5-ranked Japanese wagyu, the world’s most luxurious steak, are both very popular in Japan. Naturally, we found a way to experience both together at BeBu-Ya, an all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Japan Food Guide

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is another popular ward most known for its entertainment scene. In fact, Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest railway station, handling more than two million passengers every day. There was so much to see here from shopping complexes and narrow alleyways filled with dozens of local eateries to Koreatown and Japan’s largest red light district (which we did not venture to for obvious reasons!).

Godzilla Head

The primary reason for our venture to Shinjuku was to see the life-size Godzilla, which is a bust of Godzilla on the 8^th floor terrace of Hotel Gracery. Every day from 12 pm to 8pm on the hour, Godzilla lights up, roars, and releases white smoke. We were not lucky enough to see this as we passed through at ten past the hour.

Gundam Factory Yokohama

Gundam Factory Yokohama is an entertainment complex located at Yamashita Pier in Yokohama, a city 45 minutes south of Tokyo by train. Its main feature is a moving Gundam, an 18-metre-tall pilot-operated "mech" from the Japanese animated franchise Gundam. It is the first moving mech of its type.

Radwin and I are long old-time Gundam fans so this was a must for both of us. This super cool exhibit is only available until March 31, 2024.

Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea was the main reason we planned our trip to Tokyo, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. For any Disney lover, it is a non‑negotiable stop—the kind of place that reminds you why you fell in love with the magic in the first place.

Thanks to the currently weak Japanese Yen, admission tickets were surprisingly affordable compared to other Disney parks around the world, which made the experience feel even more special.

We spent two incredible days exploring the park, soaking in the atmosphere, and rediscovering the kind of joy that only Disney can spark.

CUPNOODLES Museum Yokohama

I did not expect to have as much fun as we did at the CUPNOODLES Museum Yokohama, an interactive education museum dedicated to the invention of instant ramen and cup noodles, and their inventor Momofuku Ando.

Our favourite activity was creating our own original Cup Noodles. For ¥500 per person, we got to design our own cups, choose our favourite of four soup base, and select four toppings from among 12 varieties. We then watched our CUPNOODLES get vacuum sealed like store-bought ones!

There were lots of other fun and quirky exhibits for everyone, including Noodles Bazaar, a food “night market” featuring eight noodle stands from eight different countries. It was the perfect break for lunch.

Ameyoko

Ameyoko is a busy market street near that runs along the railway line between Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station. The street is lined with small retail stores selling all sorts of things like seafood, fruits and vegetables, discounted clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and souvenir items alongside inexpensive restaurants and bars. Surprisingly, this is where we enjoyed an amazing Italian dinner at Friendly Dining Bar.

Tokyo Skytree Town

Tokyo Skytree Town is a modern commercial complex in the Sumida ward. The base of Tokyo Skytree is made up mainly of Tokyo Solamachi, a shopping and entertainment complex with over 300 shops and restaurants, as well as a planetarium and the Sumida Aquarium.

Its most popular attraction would be Tokyo Skytree, a television broadcasting tower and the tallest structure in Japan, second tallest in the world at 634 metres. Much to my sadness, we were also unable to secure tickets for the observation deck.

“Bullet” Train Sushi

This was a must and it had to be Kura Sushi in Oshiage near Tokyo Skytree, the world’s largest conveyer sushi restaurant. At this restaurant, you order everything through a digital screen at your table (pictures and some English provided) then wait for your food to arrive by conveyer belt.

Not only was the experience super neat, but the food was also inexpensive and delicious. The price starts at ¥132 per plate, tax included. After the meal, you can try your luck at winning exclusive capsule toys.

Convenience Store Meals

Convenience stores are in abundance in Japan and a great place for meals. No joke—we found some surprisingly delicious and fun meals at convenience stores, from breakfast and snacks all the way to dinner.

There are three major convenience stores in Japan: 7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson. We tried all three and here’s our verdict. 7-Eleven has the widest variety of cheap and yummy ready-to-eat food ranging from steamed buns (highly recommend) and sandwiches to onigiri and pastas to alcoholic beverages. We went back to 7-Eleven three mornings in a row for their steamed pork buns – it was that good! Meanwhile Family Mart serves great fried chicken while Lawson has the best selection for desserts and sweets.

Shinkansen

Japan is known for the Shinkansen, or what we English speakers call the “bullet train”. The Shinkansen is currently the world’s fastest train with a top speed of 320 km per hour and a very comfortable way to travel. We splurged and purchased tickets for the Nozomi Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka by Green Car (aka First Class).

It was one of the most comfortable trains we’ve taken. The seats were very comfortable with a generous recline. There was ample leg room to stretch out with a fold down footrest. Wi-fi was free and we were provided with a wet towel to freshen up at the start of the journey. The only downside was the lack of beverage and food, the free kind. This service was discontinued a mere month before our visit due to declining sales and labour shortages. Personally, I think the price tag warranted at least a free bottle of water and a small snack.

All in all, a busy but wonderful three days in Tokyo. I wish we had more time.

Have you been to Tokyo? What other activities would you suggest? Comment below!