Tokyo Bucket List
Tokyo blew my mind! An ancient shrine and a seven-story arcade right next to it. I had a bowl of ramen at 2 a.m. that changed my life. Those trains are so precise! This city should not make sense, but it does, better than any other city.
Why Tokyo belongs on your bucket list
With more Michelin stars than any other city in the world (that's not subjective—it's math), you'd assume that a meal from a 7-Eleven might be the best you can get within city limits. And you wouldn't be far from the truth. The egg sandwiches from the convenience store are not just good, they're ridiculously delicious. Beyond the food obsession, this city is a series of contradictions heaped on top of one another. Tiny, whisper-quiet Shinto shrines tucked into forests so deep and silent, you'll swear you've wandered outside a city of 14 million. Then, turn a corner. Six-story arcades alive with sound and lights.
When to go
The cherry blossoms bloom from late March through mid-April. It is a beautiful time but it is also peak tourist season in Tokyo. Hotels will be booked out months in advance and at their most expensive. Come in May, it's warm, the parks are still green, and there's no one here. It's magical. The same goes for late October and November, when the foliage turns red and gold and Meiji Jingu Gaien and Shinjuku Gyoen are the places to be. June and July are rainy and muggy and August is straight-up oppressive. Avoid. Winter is our favorite time in Tokyo. It's dry, cool, and clear so when you do get the occasional face-slapper of a snowstorm, it's a special event. The rest of the time Mt. Fuji is visible from the city on crisp mornings. We love it.
Must-visit places in Tokyo
Senso-ji Temple
That massive red lantern at Kaminarimon gate? Yup, you've seen it in every single Tokyo pic that's ever been taken. But if you walk beyond the crowds streaming through the gate and wander down Nakamise-dori, you'll find total bliss (or at least the most delicious fresh senbei crackers and hot melon pan). By all means, do the incense-y main hall thing. Then pop on back down to the temple before 7 a.m. – it's open 24/7 – and watch the sun come up over Sensō-ji.
Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky
3300 people flood the intersection with every light change. They don’t bump into each other. They don’t make eye contact, for the most part. Insane – see for yourself from the Starbucks vantage point directly overhead. Or pour into the flow and cross through the chaos. Open-air heights and 360 golden views, though? Shibuya Sky on top of Scramble Square. With night fall. Coolest. Shit. Ever.
Tsukiji Outer Market
While the fish market has moved to Toyosu, the outer market is very much still in business. And you’ll be glad it is. Every stall does one thing, and they've been doing it perfectly for decades. Tamagoyaki (sweet omelette on a stick), uni that’s so fresh it melts in your mouth, tuna skewers cooked in front of you. Arrive by 8 a.m. at the latest for the best selection. The lanes are so narrow that they smell of the sea and charcoal, and you’ll want to eat at every single stall.
Meiji Shrine
How is it that 170 acres of old-growth forest exists smack in the middle of one of the world's largest metropolises? Pass through the giant torii gate and the madness of Harajuku simply... vanishes. The crunch of gravel underfoot is about all you hear. Write a prayer on a wooden ema plaque. If you're lucky, you'll even come upon a Shinto wedding procession - the white kimonos against the deep green of the trees is an almost surreal sight. The iris garden is open in June, and worth the visit.
Shinjuku Golden Gai
Imagine this: six alleys filled with 200+ bars, and the majority of them seat fewer than ten. You're practically sitting on top of the owner, who's either a former jazz musician, a has-been punk rocker, or just a whiskey aficionado. Each bar has its unique charm. There may or may not be a cover charge (about 500-1000 yen), but that's the price of the conversation/ambiance, and you're not here for the drinks anyway. Aim to arrive around 9 p.m. You won't be leaving soon.
Harajuku & Takeshita Street
Takeshita Street can be overwhelming with all the teen fashion, crepe vendors, costume stores, and general noise. However, if you walk one block over onto Cat Street or Omotesando, it's super high-end fashion, with stores and buildings by Tadao Ando and Kengo Kuma that are worth a trip to Tokyo just by themselves, and quiet cafes with people sitting and looking like they know what's up. Two streets apart. Worlds apart. That's Tokyo.
Tokyo Skytree
Standing at a height of 634 meters, this is the tallest tower in the world. When the weather is nice, you will have a fantastic view of Mount Fuji and it looks surreal. The Tembo Galleria is at 450 meters and the glass spiral walkway makes you feel like you are floating over the city. It is recommended to visit in the evening to enjoy the breathtaking view of Tokyo slowly lighting up with blocks of light. The Solamachi mall at the base has nice food halls for a meal after.
TeamLab Borderless
There is no map. There is no route. Just progress to the space where torrents of light welcome you, flowers wilt at your feet, and galaxies shift in response to you. You are not experiencing the art. You ARE the art. And each moment it is different as the images move and meld before you. The Azabudai Hills location is the most popular and goes fast, time-entry tickets for future dates. Not available the day of.
Ghibli Museum
Miyazaki wanted visitors to feel lost in the museum, and that's exactly what happens. The architecture is all winding passages and hidden corners, just as in Howl's Moving Castle or Spirited Away. They show exclusive short films in a cinema you can't enter if you're just a minute late (seriously). The Roof-Top Garden is home to the life-sized Robot Soldier from Laputa, and grown adults get teary seeing it. It's tiny, magical, and incredibly special.
Akihabara Electric Town
Even if you're not into anime, Akihabara is fascinating just to experience the sheer obsession. Multi-story electronics stores, retro arcades with games from the 80s, manga stores floor-to-ceiling, maid cafes on top of ramen shops. Super Potato if you're into retro gaming. Mandarake for manga you won't see anywhere else. Radio Kaikan for figures. Do it at night when the neon's at full tilt.
Tokyo insider tips
- IC card: Take a Suica or Pasmo card at any station. You can use it on all trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines, and so on. You'll use it 50 times a day.
- Convenience stores: Let me tell you a secret: 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart are not what you think. The onigiri is just right. The egg sandwiches are bizarrely life-altering. Fried chicken for less than 300 yen. Eat there without embarrassment.
- Cash: Cash is king in Japan. Many restaurants and small businesses don't accept credit cards. Keep at least 10,000 yen on you. 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards – they're your new best friends.
- Quiet cars: No phone calls on trains. Ever. The first and last cars are quiet cars. Don't make me explain why you shouldn't disturb the peace. You'll get the stink-eye, and that'll cut glass.
- Queuing: If you see a line outside a ramen shop, get in line. Tokyo lines are not to be messed with. They move quickly, and line-cutting will bring you actual social terror. Just wait. It's always worth it.
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