Best Tokyo Things to Do by Neighborhoods

When we arrived in Tokyo, we were greeted by its head-spinning cityscape and the overwhelming fusion of modern and traditional. Quite the contrast to the slow-paced, temple-forward Kyoto.

In Tokyo, you'll find everything from ancient temples to futuristic architecture, themed restaurants, and billboards that can give Times Square a run for its money. And a ton of quirky fun. Think arcades, themed cafes, and cosplay. It’s fair to say that Tokyo is a playground for all interests and ages.

For one of the world's most captivating cities and the number one Japan bucket list destination, there are endless unique things to do in Tokyo. We organized this Tokyo travel guide by areas to visit in Tokyo, to help you save travel time and see the best of the city. We also threw in a few unmissable day trips from Tokyo. Only one thing is required from you: BYO magic marker. Let’s get into it!

Best Areas to Visit in Tokyo & Attractions

Sumida City

We always start our trips by getting our bearings from a high vantage point, so our first port of call was Tokyo Skytree, Japan's tallest tower, standing at 2,080 feet. Overlooking Tokyo from its two decks, Tembo Deck with a glass floor and Tembo Gallery with 360-degree views, helps to grasp the scale of the city. If the sky is clear, you can see Mount Fuji peeking on the horizon, but consider yourself lucky if that happens. Of course, the tower is more than just views. It’s a Japanese cultural beacon housing green tea shops, chef’s knives, Hello Kitty souvenirs, and more.

Back at ground level, take a scenic walk in Sumida Park, which runs along the banks of the Sumida River. The park is lined with over 500 cherry trees, so Sumida Park is one of the best places in Tokyo to partake in the hanami—the Japanese tradition of viewing blossoming flowers.

Asakusa

Sumida’s river views transition to Asakusa – the historic district that served as an entertainment hub during the Edo Period. Here you’ll find the most popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. The top of the list is reserved for the 7th century Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, parts of which were reconstructed after WWII. The five-story pagoda, Thunder Gate, and 656-foot-long shopping street Nakamise that connects it to the second gate are the other must-see Tokyo attractions in the area. With vibrant reds and giant lanterns, the temple is stunning through and through and worth visiting despite the thick crowds.

Be sure to also venture into Asakusa Shrine, located right next to Senso-ji. This shrine is also one of Tokyo’s oldest, but, unlike its neighbor, it was unscathed by the bombings of WWII, so the structures are original. Two lion-dogs guard the shrine’s entry, warding off evil, and two more “married lion-dogs” are huddled under an umbrella, accepting prayers for a happy marriage and love. You’ll notice the mouth of one of the statues is open as if in a smile while the other one is shut. At first glance, it seems a clever representation of the saying “happy wife, happy life." But no, one lion-dog pronounces the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet ‘a’, and the other the last letter - ‘n’ pronounced with a closed mouth. That represents ‘om’ – the beginning and end of things.

Akihabara

Aptly called the ‘electric district of Tokyo,' Akihabara is known for electronics, anime, and manga. And it’s brimming with fun things to do in Tokyo. The best time to visit this area is on Sunday afternoons when Chuo Dori Street is closed to traffic. This may also be the worst time if you don’t like crowds, but that’s your opportunity to dive into Tokyo’s otaku culture, which refers to being consumed by your interests like anime, manga, and video games.

Pop into a maid café where waitresses dress up and act like anime characters. At @Home Café, the waitresses are multilingual and the experience is very kawaii (cute). Spend some time browsing the overwhelming selection of candy at Don Quijote and stock up on every flavor of Kit-Kat under the sun for your loved ones. Do you have a stationary fan or a gamer back home? Akihabara is the spot to pick out a gift for them.

Feeling nostalgic? Try your hand at some arcade games that know no age limit in Tokyo. Before you go, commemorate this day by jumping into a Purikura photo booth at the GiGO Building. These photo booths resemble a professional mini studio, and photos are decorated to the extreme. Pose, decorate, and slip them into your wallet. It’s kitsch, it’s fun, and a perfect souvenir.

Hot Tip: Want to max out on kawaii-ness? Head to Takeshita Street in Harajuku – the hub of fashion, eclectic style, and photogenic food to match.

Chiyoda

Chiyoda marks the center of Tokyo. The area is mainly known for the Imperial Palace, which is off-limits to the public since it’s the residence of Japan’s current imperial family. As you wander around the spectacular grounds, though, it’s incredible that only a moat separates you from one of the world’s longest-lasting empires. Contemplate that thought as you stroll through the East Gardens nearby.

Ryogoku

Tokyo’s Ryogoku district lives and breathes sumo. This is where you’ll find Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan’s first stadium dedicated to its oldest sport, which dates back to the Edo period. Since 1909, Kokugikan has been rattled and rocked by wrestlers’ stomps and the cheers of over 10,000 spectators it can accommodate at a time.

If your visit to Tokyo coincides with one of three times per year (January, May, and September) when national sumo tournaments are hosted in Kokugikan, do yourself a favor and book a seat. Otherwise, at least pop into the Sumo Museum and eat at a Chanko restaurant, where you can try the same hearty hotpot meals sumo wrestlers eat. Some restaurants even offer sumo demonstrations and invite you to step into the ring dressed in a sumo suit. Sumo Chaya Terao serves up a full sumo experience with a show. If you have tickets to a real fight, pregame with a sumo-wrestler meal at Kawasaki, ranked as one of the oldest and most authentic Chanko restaurants, minus the show.

Azabudai Hills

For architecture enthusiasts and design lovers, Azabudai Hill is one of the best areas to visit in Tokyo. It opened in 2023 and quickly became a trendy neighborhood. The complex is a modern urban village brimming with art galleries, shops, green spaces, and dining venues with an emphasis on green and wellness. It’s a visual feast and guarantees to keep you trigger-happy.

One popular Tokyo attraction here is the teamLab Borderless exhibit. We’ve already been to a teamLab exhibition in Macau, but each location is so unique and captivating that we couldn’t resist going to one in Tokyo too, especially after seeing the photos online. Keep in mind that there are two different exhibits in Tokyo – Borderless and Planets, located in Koto City. Check out which exhibition intrigues you the most before you go.

Shibuya

Walking across the famous Shibuya Crossing is a rite of passage for every traveler. This intersection is the busiest in the world, with up to 3,000 people crossing simultaneously at every light change. It’s the kind of organized chaos that Tokyo is known for and the one place you’d be recommended to visit during peak hours. Despite foot traffic coming from all directions and people stopping for photos, this is a fun thing to do in Tokyo. And the electric energy is amplified by giant LED screens all around. Watching the crossing from above is another must-do. You can head up to the Starbucks overlooking the crossing or the Shibuya Scramble Square tower for bird's-eye views from the Shibuya Sky Deck.

Hot Tip: If you find insanely real LED screens fascinating, check out the 3D cat billboard in the Shinjuku area. It makes an appearance every fifteen minutes.

Day Trips from Tokyo

Gotoku-ji Temple

Better known as the Cat Temple, Gotoku-ji is located in Setagaya City about thirty minutes from central Tokyo. Whether you are a cat lover or not, this is the purrrfect day trip that guarantees to leave you smitten. Dedicated to a cat that rescued a lord from a thunderstorm, the temple is home to thousands of maneki-neko – the luck-inviting cat figurines. Chubby white cats with a lifted front paw of all sizes, even miniatures about the size of your thumbnail, cozy up in every inch of the temple.

Be sure to buy a wooden plaque, an ‘ema’, and a cat at the visitor center. Remember that magic marker we told you to bring? Use it to write your wish on the ema and hang it in Shofuku-den Hall, say a prayer over your cat, and take it home. If your wish is granted, you are supposed to bring it back and find a spot for it at the temple. We reckon that’s reason enough to hopefully return to Tokyo one day! In this neighborhood, you’ll find the cat theme is thoroughly milked, so set aside some time to stroll around, take photos, and grab cat-shaped treats.

Mount Fuji

Can you think of a more iconic day trip from Tokyo than Mount Fuji? Located a two-hour train ride from Tokyo, this volcanic peak is the highest point in Japan (12,390 feet), one of the most recognizable landmarks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a bucket list destination for many. It would be a shame to exclude it from your Japan itinerary. We were blown away by how many breathtaking places you can visit around Mount Fuji and activities like onsen baths. If you can, it’s worth staying a night or two.

Some of the most scenic attractions we recommend prioritizing are Chureito Pagoda at Arakura Sengen Shrine, the Fuji Five Lakes region at the base of the mountain with Kawaguchi Lake being the most easily accessible and the starting point for the rest. Shiraito Falls, located an hour’s drive from Kawaguchi, ranks as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. Translating to ‘threads of silk,' the name aptly describes the view to expect. If you want to cover all the lakes comfortably, we recommend renting a car. The list of fun and unique things to do in Tokyo is endless. We hope our Tokyo travel guide, organized by the best areas to visit in Tokyo, will help you make the most of your trip. Up next? Check out our guide to Kyoto or follow along.