15 Most Fun Things to do in Tokyo Today

There is no shortage of things to do in Tokyo, and the city never stops evolving. Tokyo offers so many things to do that even a quick trip there will never cover them all. Because there are so many fun things to do in the city, you need to be explicit about the kind of fun you want to have before moving forward because there are so many options that you can end up getting lost or blowing all of your money.

While there are many things to do in Tokyo, a list of the top fun activities would allow any new or first-time tourist to acquaint themselves with the alternatives and choose the best in order to enjoy their stay in Tokyo to the fullest.

This article serves as a guide to assist you in discovering the best fun activities in Tokyo and in making decisions based on reviews and suggestions. To help you prepare for your visit, it also includes accurate and fundamental information about the locations where you can have fun in different ways.

Save this list of things to do in Tokyo to keep you entertained throughout your trip: 

Watch a Sumo Match

Sumo is taken seriously in Japan and so is one of the top sports to participate in or watch its performance when in Tokyo. It is regarded as a natural sport and has a long history. Shinto religious rituals, which were a part of the earliest sumo wrestling matches, are still carried out today; salt is used to cleanse the ring.

Only by taking a tour with a native guide who can explain all the maneuvers and the history of the Sumo tradition will you be able to ensure that you get the complete Sumo experience while in Tokyo.
If you plan to attend the early morning practices, keep in mind that the restrictions in the Sumo stable are very rigorous while the wrestlers are on tour because these morning practices are crucial training hours.

During the wrestling show, the crowds could be overwhelming and you don’t want to miss the view, purchasing your tickets in advance is advised. You can purchase tickets on Voyagin. Plan your trip carefully because sumo wrestling is conducted in Tokyo in January and May.

Ride Rollercoaster and Watch Shows at Tokyo Disney Resort

There are many family-friendly activities at the Disney Resort if you are traveling with children and seeking entertaining things to do during your vacation in Tokyo. The Disneyland and Disneysea parks are located at the property. For children of various ages, there is a lot of magic to discover. Enjoy carnival and roller coaster rides, as well as the opportunity to watch movies and attend shows. Along with other activities at the theme park, the kids will be thrilled to meet their favorite Disney characters.

Seven themed regions make up the park. Among the enjoyable activities at Tokyo Disney Resort are:

• A trip to Cinderella Castle, where you may learn about the well-known fairytale princess and, along with your kids, carry out your own adult fairytale fantasies.
• In Critter Country, ride a tall log flume.
• Watch motion pictures and other live shows.
• Visit Toontown to see Mickey Mouse and his pals.
• Investigate cutting-edge technologies in Tomorrowland.
• Take a Mississippi riverboat cruise.
• Experience Westernland’s runaway mine train, and of course
• Take adorable images at the lovely park.
• Discover the Seas’ Legend.
• Classic fairy tales can be relived in Fantasyland.
• Ride a gondola through waterways modeled by Venice.
• Watch fireworks while listening to Disney music.
• With Captain Nemo, explore the core of the planet.
• If you’re hungry, visit the World Bazaar to eat delicious food and browse the 20th-century American shops for souvenirs.

There are countless fun things to do in Tokyo Disney Resort, and you can decide what fun you want to have and how much it will cost you by looking at the daily schedule on the official website of the Tokyo Disney Resort. The option of multi-day passes is also available. To fully see this world of fairy tales and dreams from your favorite Disney programs come to life at the park, you will need a whole day or more.

The park is open all day, and both public buses and railways run close by. From downtown Tokyo, it takes only 30 minutes to get there, and there are up to 20,000 spaces for paid parking. In order to save time at the park, it is advisable to purchase the tickets online. There is a picnic spot in the park as well, although you might wish to bring your own food to cut costs. There are public bus transportation services that connect the resort to several Disney-themed hotels if you plan to stay there.

Read also: 30 Important Travel Tips For First Time Travelers

Take in Tokyo from the Tokyo Tower

The tower is a construction that was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris but is 28 feet taller (9meters). It has a height of 1092 feet (333 meters) and provides a 360-degree view of all of Tokyo. 

The skyscraper, which was constructed barely 13 years after World War II decimated Tokyo, looks to be the ideal emblem of Japan’s rising economic dominance and a great comeback. Originally designed to be a radio and television tower service, the attraction now attracts more than 150 million people each year who come to see Tokyo from the highest height they can pay.

Even before you visit any other exciting locations in Tokyo, head over to the Tokyo Tower to get a full view of the city. It is an excellent place to start while you explore the city’s entertainment options. There are numerous observation decks in the tower where people can pay to see the city. One can descend using the elevators located here.

The main observatory deck is 476 feet tall and has a stage where live music is performed, a cafeteria with stunning city views, and of course the Look-Down Windows from which you can observe the city. A separate observatory called the Special Observatory is also available, although it costs extra to use it. Access to the Tokyo Tower isn’t free.

The Foot Town is located at the base of the Tower. A restaurant, a kids’ amusement park, a wax museum, gift stores, and an aquarium—one of the biggest in the world—are all present. If you can’t climb the tower, you might as well explore these areas below it. This location in Tokyo offers a ton of entertaining activities that you should check out.

It is not difficult to find Toyo Tower because it is situated in southern Tokyo’s Minato district and is only a 15-minute walk from the area where the public transportation systems park. This route is served by numerous buses, subways, and monorails.

Get Amazed at Tokyo Skytree

This building, which is the tallest tower in the world at 2,080 feet (634 meters), was just recently made available to the general public in 2012. It provides an even better 360-degree perspective of Tokyo than Tokyo Tower, and you can’t help but like this experience. Take a ride to the highest Observatory Deck of this SkyTree, which is 1,476 feet (450 meters) and the best height to observe the city from.

There are other viewing decks available; for a price, an elevator will take you from the bottom to the Skytree Tembo Deck at a height of 1,148 feet (350 meters), which has some very spectacular views. There is a gift shop, a café, and a restaurant serving fusion food that is French and Japanese on this deck.

 You ascend through a glass tube to Skytree Tembo Galleria for an extra charge, and from there a walkway takes you directly up to the 1,476-foot highest viewing level (450 meters).
Similar to Tokyo Towers, a retail center with hundreds of stores, a planetarium, an aquarium, and restaurants can be found at the base of the Skytree.

The tower is particularly noticeable from anywhere in the city thanks to its alternating blue and purple lighting.

Tickets can be bought online using a Japanese credit card, but they can also be bought in person. Tickets for the Galleria level are only available on the Tembo deck. Although it’s open all day, it’s best to go on the weekdays rather than the weekends because of the crowds. It is preferable to leave your own or rented car at home and take the subway or public buses in place of it. Skytree has its own subway, but it is still reachable by public buses.

Read also: 11 Top Places To Visit In Japan You Should Never Miss 

Visit a Temple.

Japan is a country that values its customs and religious beliefs highly. Despite having cutting-edge technology, gorgeous architectural monuments, and skyscrapers, the country nonetheless upholds its traditional and religious values, which are highly valued. 

Both foreigners and native Japanese visit these places to pray and burn incense. One of the things to do in Tokyo is to pay a visit to one of these shintos in town to see how they operate and, of course, to say a prayer. The atmosphere in these temples is an extraordinary experience and spiritual.
In Tokyo, there are various Shintos, such as:

• Senso-ji 

With a construction date of 628, Senso-ji is the earliest Buddhist temple in Tokyo. The goddess of mercy is honored in this ancient shrine.
It is the most well-known temple in Tokyo, and everyone should look forward to visiting it at least once in their lifetime.

The historic Buddhist temple is situated in Tokyo’s Asakusa district. The temple lies at the end of the retail street, and to the left is a five-story pagoda that has just undergone renovation (ranking in as the second tallest pagoda in Japan).

This event is eagerly anticipated by tourists in Tokyo, who frequently swirl around a sizable cauldron outside the temple where incense burning is said to promote health.

To avoid the crowds that gather here every day, it is best to get to the temple extremely early. You will get knowledge of Japanese culture and have a memorable experience.

• Meiji Shrine

The ancestors of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shken, are honored at the Shinto shrine. On wooden emas, visitors can make contributions and wish wishes. The best day to go will be on Saturday if you want to see a Japanese wedding celebration and photo shoot. One of the things I suggest you do when you are in Tokyo is the exhilarating sensation of penning your best wishes for yourself and your loved ones and praying that they come true.

Hike Mount Takao

If you enjoy trying new things, Mount Takao is a well-known hiking destination in Takao and is even more well-known for being child- and beginner-friendly. This means that Mount Takao is going to shift the narrative for you and your enthusiasm for heart-pumping sports like hiking will be created, regardless of whether you can trek as an expert or don’t enjoy it much because of the stress.
Visitors are welcome to tour the temple, gift stores, and food kiosks at the mount’s summit.

Even the longest of the trail will only take two hours to hike from bottom to top. There are ten trails, and you can choose whatever suits your level of energy.
The Taao Money Park is a park that can be found on path one. About 60 Japanese macaques live in a glass-walled enclosure that serves as the park. The macaques are known by name, and the guides can frequently coax one or two of them to approach the walls.

It is not at all difficult to travel to Mount Taoa. If you’re coming from Tokyo’s city center, the train ride takes 50 minutes from Shibuya Station.

Buy Some Vinyl at HMV Records

Here is one of the things to do in Tokyo as a vinyl enthusiast because the city is a true haven for them! There are more record stores there than in any other city, and new collections are added each month. 

The largest and most well-known of the businesses is HMV Records, which is loaded with vinyl records. We advise you to bring a lot of cash since you will undoubtedly get lost among the wonderful recordings, which will make you nostalgic and reignite your love of music. 

Music fans can find a wide variety of items and genres in this enormous second-hand record store. Along with CDs, they also have a few cassettes and a dedicated area for them.

Wander in TeamLab Planets

Tokyo’s perfect technological magic is Teamlab. It is an interactive museum unlike any other that you have visited or seen. It is an oddly weird collection of art installations. You would believe you were on a foreign planet, which is, of course, true because of technology. 

You will have the opportunity to explore this area on your own, attempting to find your way, and you can’t deny that this seems like one of the exciting activities in Tokyo to keep you entertained. Because it is worthwhile, you would adore recording and snapping pictures of your moments here to post on your social media handles.

There is no map inside the museum since half of the thrill is in the discovery; you just meander through dim hallways and pick random doors to view the immersive exhibits that cleverly combine light and projection.

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Some of its rooms are:

• Floating Nest— In the floating nest, you lie on a big net as the room revolves around you.
  
• En Tea House — Flowers blossom inside your cup at En Tea House.
  
• Athletic Forest — There are play places for kids to make anything they can in The Athletic Forest.
  
• Forest of Lamps — The Forest of Lamps is a space filled with varying lighting.
  
• Crystal World — Waves pound the walls of The Crystal World while you sit on a bean bag and imagine yourself on a little boat bobbing in the water.

There is a lot to discover, so set aside at least 4 hours for this adventure.

The negative aspect of this experience is that food cannot be purchased or brought into the museum; as a result, you should eat well before visiting.

The optimum time to reserve on the Teamlab Borderless website is before the scheduled date because of the crowd that teams up for the experience.  Admission is 3200 yen and you should dodge the crowds by arriving early. Weekends and holidays are the absolute worst to visit due to the crowds, which will hinder your enjoyment.

The Museum is only a 5-minute walk from the Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line, and it is situated in the Mori Building in Odaiba close to the enormous Ferris wheel.

A Picnic at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

The English, French, and Japanese gardens in this gorgeous park make it a welcome respite from the hectic pace of the Tokyo central business district. A stroll, a picnic, or even some meditation at this park is a terrific choice if you’re looking for an enjoyable fun activity in Tokyo that will provide you with some peace and quiet.

The finest time to visit this park is when the cherry blossoms are in bloom or when the autumn leaves have turned red, but no matter what season you choose to relax here, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to spend time in nature.

You can take a stroll past the pagodas, teahouse, and ponds before having a picnic with your loved ones. The scenery provides a beautiful vista and a beautiful backdrop for images of your picnic.

The entry cost is 500 yen, and it is open every day except on Mondays, from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. The New South Exit of Shinjuku Station is just a 10-minute stroll from the park’s entry gate.

Try out Kaiseki Meals and Other Japanese Meals

A delightful activity in Tokyo would be to indulge in a fine traditional Japanese dinner prepared using unique methods. Kaiski is the name of this dish and is a multi-course meal. These dishes are available at a number of restaurants in Tokyo, albeit they are extremely pricey. However, choosing lunch is less expensive than choosing dinner. Are you a vegetarian? Don’t worry, there is a Kaiseki meal course called Shojin Ryori or Fucha Ryori, which is equal to a vegan Zen Buddhist diet. One of Tokyo’s top vegan restaurants is Ramen Ouka.

Instant ramen is another Japanese dish to try. Even though it seems ordinary, this is one of the Tokyo experiences that will stick in your memory. There are many ramen restaurants in Tokyo, so you should just walk into one of your favorites, sit down at the counter, and wait for your instant ramen. Of course, you’ll need to pay at the vending machine outside the door and give the chef your ticket so they can start preparing it. There is also vegan ramen, of course, and T’s Tantan is one of the restaurants in Tokyo that offers it. The restaurant is in Tokyo Station.

 An Adventure at Shibuya Crossing

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The bustling Shibuya pedestrian walkway is located right outside Shibuya station. It is well-known and one of Tokyo’s famous attractions. Getting lost in the crowd or enjoying the view from Starbucks or the Hikari building, depending on what suits you best, is one of the enjoyable fun activities in Tokyo to keep you entertained. 

Drive a Mario-themed go-kart through the city.

Rent a costume from the wide selection available, such as a famous Mario Kart character, a Disney favorite, or a superhero, then get on this go-kart with a Mario theme and tour Tokyo.
If you are seeking fun things to do in Tokyo, Japan, this is the ideal activity for you and your family or spouse to partake in.
Action cameras on the top-of-the-line go-karts, which are outfitted with communication bands, will record every moment so you can always look back on this incredible event in the future.
A tour operator will lead the excursion.

Tour the Imperial Palace

A visit to the Imperial Residence, which serves as the Emperor of Japan and his family’s official residence, is among the most memorable activities you can partake in. The main palace, several gardens, the royal family’s homes, a museum, office buildings, and an archive are among its facilities. You cannot enter the inner palace grounds; instead, you can only visit its many beautiful gardens.

A guided tour will give you a better understanding of the palace and its garden as well as a history of this magnificent structure and its various residents over the years.
Make sure your camera is well charged before spending the day exploring the building’s gardens and learning about the royal family.

But this tour is not without charge.

Watch Traditional Kabuki Drama at Kabuki-za Theater

If you’ve run out of energy and want to stay inside or if the weather isn’t conducive for one of those outside experiences, watching a dance drama, which is the traditional Kabuki drama and Japanese adaptation of a Shakespearean play, is one of the indoor things to do in Tokyo.

 Everyone who has seen it has found it to be a live show that they thoroughly loved. You should reserve seats for the upcoming performance and go witness this fantastic drama with loved ones on a rainy day in Tokyo.

Dinner Reservation at New York Bar

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The New York Bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is a well-liked location for lunch dates and dinner dates. It is located on the 52nd floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo and provides breathtaking city views. It is the ideal location for a private date, and any couple on a romantic holiday knows that going out to dinner is one of the best things to do in Tokyo.

Make a reservation at the New York Bar when searching for the ideal location in Tokyo with breathtaking views for this activity; you’ll be happy you did.
The New York Bar has a large selection of wine and drinks for you to pick from, as well as breathtaking views of Tokyo, live entertainment, delectable nibbles, and desserts.

Conclusion 

Tokyo is one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world, and there is always something to do. From shopping in the Harajuku fashion district to exploring Tokyo Bay with a view, there’s always something new happening in this metropolis. If you’re looking for things to do on a budget, head to Shinjuku for its affordable restaurants and bars or try out Akihabara for anime conventions and electronics stores.

If you want wholesome activities that will keep your body moving (and mind sharp), take a stroll through Ueno Park or Meiji Jingu Gaien Densho Museum. Or if classical Japanese art is more your thing, visit The Nationalmuseum of Western Art where you can enjoy 360-degree views of Tokyo from atop Mount Fuji. And don’t forget about delicious food! Sample sushi at Sushi Zanmai next to Shibuya Crossing or indulgent ice cream at Aoyama Milk Bar while admiring Ginza’s gleaming skyline in the distance.

There’s no way around it – Japan has everything you could possibly desire when it comes to entertainment options! So go ahead – pack your bags and explore this fascinating country firsthand! Check out the best travel bags and most comfortable toiletries bags for every trip.

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