There’s no lack of things to do in a city as large and vibrant as Tokyo. Whether it’s your first time in the city or your tenth time, there’s bound to be something new to discover. For part 2 of A Quick First-Timer’s Guide to Tokyo, here are 11 more things to do in Tokyo after making your way through the iconic must-visit neighborhoods of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, and Asakusa.

1. Walk around Akihabara

If you’re hoping to immerse yourself in the otaku (geek) culture that you’ve heard so much about, look no further than Akihabara, where you’ll find floors of electronic goods and comic books. Here, you can also stop by maid cafes – themed cafes where the staff dresses up as maids. For a starter list of shops to stop by, check this list out.

2. Shop at one of the ubiquitous Don Quijotes

Don Quijote shops have everything – supplements, snacks, cosmetics, pain relief patches for when you’ve clocked more steps than you’d like… you name it, they’ve probably got it. The best part is that it’s tax-free, which makes this a great one-stop-shop for all your souvenir needs, so remember to bring your passport along. For these tax-free items, they’ll seal your purchases in a bag, so you’ll only be able to consume them outside of Japan. It’s easy to get lost inside the maze that is Don Quijote because of the sheer amount of things to look at, but be warned – the infamous Don Quijote theme song that plays on loop is seriously sticky, and after a few hours of shopping, it’s almost impossible to get the tune out of your head!

Fun tidbit from one gamer to another: If you’ve played any games in the Yakuza series, Don Quijote will be a familiar sight to you.

3. Cafe hopping around Omotesando

Omotesando, located just a short walk from Harajuku, is one of the areas that I personally really enjoyed and would love to revisit. The tree-lined street is also known as Tokyo’s Champs Elysees, and if you’ve been to Paris, you’ll be able to see the resemblance. Compared to the frenzy of the nearby Takeshita-dori, the wide boulevards of Omotesando are a refreshing change. The shops around this area also cater to a slightly older demographic than Harajuku, so young adults might find their shopping pursuits to be more fruitful here.

One of my highlights was stopping by the Aoyama Flower Market, a small shop selling a variety of colorful flowers. This is a small shop that packs an explosion of colors for the eyes, and of course, makes for great photos.

There’s also a branch of Café Kitsuné in Aoyama, though I was pretty disappointed that unlike the one in Paris, they don’t have chai latte.

Lastly, make a stop at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku to admire the mirrors at the entrance.

4. Check out the Godzilla statue in Ginza

Whether you’re a fan of Godzilla or not, this statue located south of Yurakucho station is sure to catch your eye. It’s not as huge and imposing as the one in the movies, but if you’re in Ginza, it’s worth a stop. For more Godzilla statues around Japan, check out this article.

5. Soak in an onsen

If the crowds get too much for you, strip it all off (literally) and take a break in one of Japan’s many onsens. We had a great experience at Saya-no-Yudokoro, a ‘super onsen’ in the north of Tokyo with both outdoor and indoor hot spring baths. Curious about what visiting an onsen in Japan as a tourist is like? Check out my first timer’s guide to visiting an onsen on Tripzilla to find out more about the entire experience. Admission fees start at ¥870 for adults and ¥550 for children.

Alternatively, you might also want to check out Odaiba Oedo Onsen Monogatari, one of the largest onsen theme parks in Japan, for a complete package of relaxation and entertainment. After soaking in the hot spring baths, you can walk around in a yukata (included in the admission fee) and try out different carnival games in the beautifully decorated Edo Town.

While I personally have not had a chance to visit the onsen theme park, I do think it would make for a great family experience if the more traditional onsens are out of your comfort zone. Note that the admission fees start at ¥2,720 for adults and ¥1,058 for children, so it’s significantly pricier than most onsens. Also, as with most public baths in Japan, visitors with tattoos will not be allowed to use the onsens.

6. Stop by the famous Sushi Dai and Sushi Daiwa at the new Toyosu Fish Market

Ask anyone who’s been to Tokyo about food recommendations, and there’s a high chance you’ll hear about Sushi Dai and Sushi Daiwa. At the time of our visit, these two famed omakase restaurants were still at the Tsukuji Fish Market, but they have since moved to the new Toyosu Fish Market, so make sure you don’t head to the wrong place!

We chose to queue up for Sushi Daiwa because the restaurant had a larger capacity, so we wouldn’t have to wait as long to get in. Between queueing for 4-5h for Sushi Dai and about 1-2h for Sushi Daiwa, the choice was clear. With our limited time in Tokyo, we felt that the time spent queueing could be put to better use elsewhere. Both restaurants offer omakase courses from ¥4,000 per pax, with Sushi Daiwa being slightly more expensive.

We picked the cheapest option available, and still had a great experience thanks to the super friendly chefs at Sushi Daiwa. To be honest, after hearing so many rave reviews about it, I wish I could say that the food was mind-blowingly good, but it was just… good. Maybe I wasn’t hungry enough that day, or perhaps I should have tempered my expectations a little. Nonetheless, I’d still highly recommend giving Sushi Daiwa a visit, because it’s a relatively affordable experience – go without expectations, and give it a try!

Both Sushi Dai and Sushi Daiwa open at 5.30am, but I honestly feel that there’s no need to go at the break of dawn to secure a spot, for Sushi Daiwa, at least. Just head over after breakfast, and bring some snacks to munch on if you get hungry while queueing!

At the new Toyosu market, you’ll find Sushi Dai on the 3rd floor of Block 6, and Sushi Daiwa on the 1st floor of Block 5. For more information on these restaurants at the new Toyosu market location, click here.

7. Try on a kimono and have your own photoshoot

This one is for those of you who enjoy dressing up and taking photos. I’ll freely admit that this was one of the top things on my to-do list (huge thanks to my friend Sand who indulged me in my photo-taking spree).

If it’s convenient for you, you can consider renting a kimono for a few hours near Asakusa – the old-town atmosphere of Asakusa makes for some unique photos.

8. Spend a night in a capsule hotel

Traveling is about trying new experiences and making new memories. So if you’ve never slept in a capsule pod before, why not spend one night in a different type of accommodation? You might actually find it to be a fun experience.

The three of us spent a night in 9hours, possibly one of the most high-tech capsule hotels in Tokyo. I personally found it to be one of the highlights of our trip – click here to read more about it. If you’re traveling in an odd-numbered group, this is also a practical option to consider that’s easier on the wallet than booking separate hotel rooms.

Looking for something a little more peaceful? Check out hotel zen tokyo, one of Tokyo’s newest luxury capsule hotels that opened in April 2019. hotel zen tokyo puts forth its own take on capsule hotels – instead of being a short-term accommodation where you’re in and out in a matter of hours, hotel zen tokyo promises a relaxing experience with a strong emphasis on ‘zen minimalism’, by marrying traditional design with modern comfort.

You’ll see this most noticeably in the form of hotel zen tokyo’s spacious teahouse-inspired capsules (called ‘zen pods’) that are twice the size of the typical capsule pod. Even with the standard zen pod, the ‘aoi‘, the pods reach all the way to the ceiling, and come with a plush, Western-style single (100cm) bed.

The way hotel zen tokyo maximises its use of space and incorporates natural materials makes me think of MUJI – if you’re a fan of MUJI, this capsule hotel might be down your alley! Disclaimer – I haven’t had a chance to personally visit hotel zen tokyo yet, since I’m based in Singapore, but it’s definitely on my list for the next time I’m in Tokyo.

hotel zen tokyo is a 15 min walk from Tokyo station, and is 1 min away from the closest metro station, Ningyocho. More details at their official site here.

9. Indulge your inner child with a trip to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea

I’ve no doubt that you’re already familiar with Disneyland, also known as the Happiest Place on Earth, but it’s still worth including in the list for both the young and young at heart. Tokyo’s Disneyland and DisneySea are some of my favorites in Asia. Although my first visit was almost ten years ago, I can still vividly recall the joy I felt from exploring the parks for the first time.

While the experience that you’ll get in Tokyo Disneyland is pretty much similar to what you’ll get in other Disneylands, DisneySea is unique to Tokyo. IMO, it’s worth braving the massive crowds, especially during Christmas time – it’s one of the best places in Tokyo to soak in the festive atmosphere in December. Don’t miss the popular 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Centre of the Earth rides!

10. Check out the Studio Ghibli museum

If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli, you’ll want to book your tickets for the Studio Ghibli museum way in advance (like, 3 months before your visit), because tickets sell out very quickly. So quickly that we didn’t manage to secure tickets ): While you can still get tickets from alternative sources, by the time we wanted to get tickets, we found the prices were way too jacked up for our liking, so we chose to give it a miss. For a pretty comprehensive guide though, check out The Studio Ghibli Museum Ticket Guide 2019/2020. For hours and directions, visit the official website here.

11. Do a day trip to a nearby city

One of my favorite things about Tokyo (or Japan, really) is how well-connected the public transport system is, and how easy it is to travel between cities. It’s definitely a challenge, especially if it’s your first time trying to navigate the complex network of lines, but it’s incredibly reliable and fast. So if you’ve got a day or two to spare, why not do a day trip to a nearby city?

A popular option to consider is Yokohama, where you’ll find the Momofuko Ando Ramen Museum. Here, you’ll get to make your own instant noodles that you’ll be able to bring back. All for the ‘gram.

With more days to spare, taking the bullet train to Osaka or Kyoto to spend a few days is always an option. In mere hours, you’ll be comfortably speeding past the majestic Mt Fuji, and in a different city – though admittedly, at a pretty steep cost.

Whatever you choose to do, there’s something for everyone in Tokyo. I hope you’ll enjoy your time in the city as much as I did!

If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends! Leave a comment and let me know if you’ve got more recommendations for Tokyo. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, check it out here.