19 Epic Things to Do in Tokyo, Japan for First-Time Visitors
If you’re visiting Japan’s capital for the first time, it can truly be overwhelming! We spent a full week in Tokyo, and luckily, we had a friend who lives there to show us around and help us discover some of the best things to do in Tokyo for first-time visitors. From the major landmarks to neighborhoods, food, and experiences we probably wouldn’t have found on our own, having a local perspective made such a difference.
Whether you’re looking to see Tokyo’s most iconic attractions, dive into the incredible food scene, explore its unique neighborhoods, or experience some of the city’s more quirky side, we’re going to give you all the options you need to create an epic Tokyo itinerary.
This guide is here to share all of the best things to do in Tokyo, starting with the must-do activities for your first visit, and then getting into some of the experiences that helped make our week in the city so memorable.
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Before Exploring the Best Things to Do in Tokyo (A Few of the Basics)
Before diving into all of the best things to do in Tokyo, let’s go over a few of the basics to help you plan your trip.
🇯🇵 Why Visit Tokyo?
Tokyo is honestly one of the most unique cities in the world. It’s got this beautiful blend of modern and traditional, as well as chaotic and perfectly organized at the same time. One minute you’re surrounded by skyscrapers and giant video screens and the next you’re standing in front of a centuries-old temple.
What we loved most was the variety. Our friend could take us through a neighborhood we’d never heard of, we’d stumble into a tiny restaurant or shop, and then suddenly we’d be back in the middle of one of Tokyo’s most famous areas.
There are also so many different sides of the city to experience. You can spend your trip focused on food, shopping, nightlife, temples, pop culture, or major attractions, and still barely scratch the surface. It’s honestly a city anyone could fall in love with if they’re put in the right neighborhood.
⏳ How Many Days Should You Spend in Tokyo?
We spent one full week in Tokyo, and honestly, that gave us a much better feel for the city than trying to squeeze everything into a few days.
For a first trip, we’d recommend at least 4-5 days if you want to experience the major Tokyo attractions without constantly rushing. A full week is even better because it gives you time for neighborhoods, markets, shopping, nightlife, and a day trip.
And if you’re anything like us, you’ll probably leave with a list of things you didn’t get around to doing anyway (which is exactly what happened to us).
The Best Things to Do in Tokyo for First-Time Visitors
If it’s your first time visiting Tokyo, it can be difficult deciding what deserves a spot on your itinerary. From vibrant streets and crazy shopping to peaceful temples and trying the most viral foods in Japan, there are so many fun things to do in Japan to choose from.
To help you make the most of your trip, we’ve rounded up the experiences we think every first-time visitor should have. Whether you’re spending one day in Tokyo or a full week visiting, these activities will help you experience the very best Japan’s capital has to offer.
🤩 See Tokyo’s Most Iconic Sights
There are certain Tokyo attractions that are famous for a reason, and we’d definitely include several of them on a first trip.
You don’t need to spend your entire itinerary checking off landmarks, but these are the places that help you get a feel for Tokyo and give you some of those classic city moments.
🚶🏻♀️Cross Shibuya Crossing
You can’t come to Tokyo for the first time without experiencing Shibuya Crossing. It is one of the city’s most recognizable sights, and standing there as the lights change and people start crossing from every direction really is something you need to experience for yourself.
But don’t just cross the street and leave. Shibuya is a whole neighborhood, packed with shopping, restaurants, cafes, bars, entertainment, and plenty of streets worth wandering around.
We’ll get more into Shibuya below because there is much more to do here than crossing the intersection.
💡 Please remember that this is not just a tourist attraction, but a place that Japanese people use in everyday life. Make sure not to block anyone and be respectful of those around you.
🗼 See Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is another classic, and one of the must-see attractions in Tokyo for first-time visitors. The bright orange-and-white tower has been part of Tokyo’s skyline for decades, and seeing it in person is so much cooler than simply seeing it in photos.
You can head up the tower for city views, but we also recommend finding a good viewpoint where you can actually see Tokyo Tower itself. After all, if you’re standing at the top of Tokyo Tower, you’re missing the tower!
🤩 Go to an Observation Deck
Tokyo looks completely different from above, and there are several places where you can get really incredible city views.
Some of the most popular options include:
You definitely don’t need to visit every observation deck. Pick one or two that fit naturally into your itinerary and enjoy the view without turning it into an observation-deck scavenger hunt.
💡 Book your tickets or reserve your spots online ahead of time to avoid long queues.
😻 Find the Giant 3D Cat
If you’ve ever searched for Tokyo online, you’ve probably seen the giant cat casually appearing on a massive screen above Shinjuku.
The 3D cat is located near Shinjuku Station and is one of those quick Tokyo stops that is easy to add while you’re already exploring the area. It’s not something we’d build an entire day around, but it’s fun, very Tokyo, and makes for a great photo or video.
⛩ Explore Tokyo’s Temples & Shrines
Tokyo has thousands of temples and shrines scattered throughout the city, and you definitely don’t need to visit all of them. For a first trip, we’d pick a few that are either especially beautiful, historically important, or easy to work into the neighborhoods you’re already exploring.
Here are some of the most popular ones to put on your Tokyo itinerary:
You don’t need to make a dedicated temple day out of this unless that’s something you’re particularly interested in. Senso-ji fits perfectly into an Asakusa day, Meiji Shrine pairs naturally with Harajuku, and Zojo-ji can easily be combined with Tokyo Tower.
That’s how we’d recommend approaching temples and shrines in Tokyo rather than running across the entire city just to check them off a list.
🏰 Visit the Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace sits right in the middle of Tokyo, surrounded by the city’s modern skyscrapers and busy streets.
The palace grounds give you a completely different side of the city and are an easy addition when you’re exploring central Tokyo. The surrounding area also makes a nice break from the neon and crowds you’ll find in neighborhoods like Shibuya and Shinjuku.
🏘️ Explore Tokyo’s Neighborhoods
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when planning things to do in Tokyo is treating the city like one giant attraction.
Tokyo’s neighborhoods each have their own personality, and exploring a variety of them is part of the experience. You could spend hours or even a full day exploring each one, and we recommend choosing a few of the most popular ones, as well as one or two less-touristy neighborhoods.
🛍️ Shop ’til You Drop
One of our top tips for visiting Japan is bring extra luggage, because the shopping is insane!
Shopping is a huge part of visiting Tokyo, and there are entire neighborhoods and massive shopping complexes dedicated to completely different types of things. Tokyo’s shopping districts range from high-end Ginza to the trendier shops of Shibuya and Harajuku, vintage stores, electronics, anime, and everything in between.
I’m typically not a shopper, but I honestly couldn’t help myself in Tokyo – from amazing skincare and trendy fashion to all of the local crafts, you could literally make an entire trip about shopping in Tokyo.
Some of the areas and shopping centers worth checking out include:
🤑 Have the Don Quijote Experience
We’re giving Don Quijote its own spot because this is not just where you go to buy a few souvenirs.
Walking into a Don Quijote store can feel like entering a maze where absolutely everything is for sale. Snacks, beauty products, electronics, souvenirs, household items, costumes, random gadgets, Japanese products you’ve never seen before… the list goes on.
Even if you’re not planning to do much shopping, we recommend walking into one just to see what the experience is like. And yes, we can guarantee you’re going to walk out with something you didn’t plan on buying.
🍝 Eat & Drink Your Way Around the City
Food is a huge part of any trip for us, but the food in Tokyo is truly something else. There are markets to wander through, tiny restaurants tucked into side streets, themed cafes, sushi counters, izakayas, and plenty of foods that you may have even seen all over social media.
We’re going to have several guides dedicated to just the food scene here, but here are some of the top things to do in Tokyo when it comes to food.
🛒 Visit Tokyo’s Markets
Tokyo’s markets are worth visiting even if you’re not planning an entire meal. They’re packed with fresh seafood, snacks, sweets, street food, specialty products, and plenty of things you’ll probably want to try simply because you’ve never seen them before.
Some of the best markets and market areas to add to your itinerary include:
🍢 Try Tokyo’s Viral Foods
Tokyo has no shortage of foods that have taken over TikTok and Instagram, and honestly, while some are overrated, some of them are truly worth the hype
We’re talking giant mounds of fluffy Japanese pancakes, massive steak sandwiches, souffle-style desserts, matcha everything, colorful pastries, and other foods that seem specifically designed to make you pull out your phone before taking the first bite.
Some will be delicious, some will be more about the novelty, and some are foods we’d happily go back for. We’re putting together a full guide to Tokyo’s viral foods, so we’ll save the complete list for that article.
☕️ Cafe Hop Around Tokyo
Japan’s cafe scene is an entire activity in itself, and one of the best things to do in Tokyo is to experience some of the most unique cafes that the city has to offer.
Of course, there are beautiful coffee shops and bakeries all over the city, but Tokyo also has some of the most creative cafes we’ve ever seen. You can find character cafes, animal cafes, dessert-focused spots, matcha cafes, and places built around very specific themes.
We’re going to have a full guide dedicated to the best cafes and themed cafes in Tokyo, because there are way too many to squeeze into this one section.
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🍴 Indulge in Iconic Tokyo Dining Experiences
Don’t just think about what you’re going to eat in Tokyo. Think about how you’re going to eat it.
Some of our favorite meals came from experiences that are completely different from what we”d find at home. A few we’d look into for your trip include:
🤼 Go to a Sumo Show
Sumo is such a fun part of Japanese culture to experience in person, and there are a few ways to you can do it! Tokyo has sumo experiences where you can watch wrestlers demonstrate the sport, learn about the traditions behind it, and even get involved yourself.
Some experiences take it to another level, with visitors putting on massive inflatable sumo suits and actually battling it out in the ring. Yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds, and that’s exactly why we love it.
If you’re looking for things to do in Tokyo for first-time visitors that you’ll actually be talking about after the trip, we’d put a sumo experience high on the list. You can absolutely watch from the sidelines, but if you find one where you get to throw on the inflatable suit and step into the ring yourself, DO IT.
✨ Experience teamLab
If you’ve been scrolling through photos of Tokyo, you’ve almost definitely seen teamLab. The immersive digital art installations have become one of the city’s most popular attractions, and after seeing them ourselves, we totally get the hype.
Instead of walking through a museum and looking at art on the walls, you’re actually moving through the installations. Lights, projections, mirrors, water, flowers, and other elements interact with you as you move around, so there is a lot more to do than just stand there taking pictures.
There are two different teamLab experiences in Tokyo – Team Borderless and Team Planets, so make sure you check which one you want to visit before booking. If you’re looking for things to do in Tokyo for first-time visitors that feel completely different from the temples, shopping, and sightseeing you’ll already have planned, this is one of our favorite ones to add.
💡 We personally love Team Lab Planets, as it’s a bit more interactive than Team Lab Borderless
🏎️ Do a Mario Kart Experience
Okay, this one is ridiculously touristy, but we’re still putting it on the list. Racing through Tokyo dressed up in costumes feels like exactly the type of completely over-the-top activity you go to Japan for, and it’s definitely going to give you some stories to bring home.
The street karting experiences let you drive through parts of the city while taking in Tokyo from a completely different perspective. Just make sure you choose a legitimate operator, have the proper license and documentation required to drive in Japan, and understand the rules before you get behind the wheel.
🎤 Sing Karaoke
You can’t come to Japan and not give karaoke a shot. And no, we’re not talking about standing on a stage in front of a bar full of strangers waiting for your turn. In Japan, karaoke is usually done in private rooms, which means you can absolutely butcher your favorite songs without an entire restaurant hearing it.
You rent a room for your group, choose your songs from the machine, and usually have the option to order food and drinks while you’re there. The rooms range from simple to surprisingly elaborate, and you can find karaoke spots all over Tokyo.
🎢 Visit Tokyo Disneyland
If you’re a Disney-lover, then visiting Disneyland is one of the best things to do in Tokyo!
Tokyo Disneyland has the classic Disney experience you’d expect, but there are also attractions, seasonal events, food, merchandise, and details that make the Japanese parks their own experience. And if you’ve already been to Disney parks in the US, it can be fun to see what feels familiar and what is completely different.
Just don’t make the mistake of putting Disneyland in the middle of a day where you’ve also planned Shibuya, a market, dinner in Shinjuku, and three shopping centers. Give Disney its own day, especially if you’re visiting during a busy period.
🚐 Take a Day Trip from Tokyo
Tokyo is a huge city, but you don’t have to spend your entire trip inside the city limits. Once you’ve covered the neighborhoods and major sights, there are some seriously good day trips that let you see a completely different side of Japan.
Some of the most popular options are:
If you’re spending a full week in Tokyo like we did, having extra time for a day trip would make a lot of sense. If you’re only visiting for a few days, we’d put your time into Tokyo itself. But with a longer itinerary, getting outside the city is one of the best ways to add some variety to your Japan trip.
Enjoying the Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Final Tips & What’s Next
Tokyo is one of those cities that truly lives up to the hype.Tokyo is a city where it’s very easy to build an itinerary that is completely packed. There are so many Tokyo attractions, neighborhoods, restaurants, shops, markets, and experiences that you’ll probably end up with more saved places than you could possibly visit (we still have SO many 😂).
After spending a full week there, our biggest recommendation is to give yourself room to explore, and some wiggle room to pop into random shops or wander down some of the smaller streets. Having our friend show us around helped us experience Tokyo more than just checking famous attractions off a list, and that’s something we’d try to recreate even if you’re planning your trip without a local friend.
Before you go, here are a few final tips to help you make the most of your visit:
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👀 What’s Next?
Now that you know the best things to do in Tokyo, let’s help you explore more of the city and the country!
Here are some other Japan travel guides that we have:
🚊 How to get to Kyoto
🎋 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
⭐️ Is Osaka worth visiting?
🗼 30 things to do in Osaka, Japan
✈️ How to get to Osaka, Japan
🚗 How to get around Osaka, Japan
📖 Ultimate Osaka travel guide
🍴 Osaka food guide
🚌 How to get to Nara, Japan
🏮 Nara Lantern Festival
🦌 What to do in Nara in one day
📖 Nara travel guide
📆 The best time to visit Japan
🇯🇵 The ultimate guide to planning a trip to Japan
Now you know the best things to do in Tokyo for first-time visitors! If you have any other questions about the activities, feel free to drop your questions in the comments below!
Want to learn more about visiting Tokyo? We have more guides coming up, as well as a lot of other Japan Travel Guides for you! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so that you’re able to stay up to date with our most recent articles, and get special discounts on our shop.
Ready to start planning an incredible trip to Kyoto, Japan? Well, we’re here to help! Scratch Your Mapa offers customized travel planning, so you can skip all the tedious work, and simply enjoy your trip. Take a look at our travel planning packages we have, or simply email us to get started today!
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