When I saw Tokyo for the first time, it was as if I had stepped into another dimension. I had chosen to visit as it’s such a diverse place and I knew it would be an experience like no other.
I was really wowed by everything in Tokyo. Everywhere I looked there was always something more random or a sight more jaw-dropping than before.
I think the main advice I can give to prepare you for your visit to Tokyo is; you never actually know what to expect going anywhere there. The best example I can give you is Robot Restaurant, but I’ll get back to that later.
The only frustrating thing about Japan is the distance and amount of time it takes to get there! I had a couple stop overs before I reached my destination, but I can honestly say it was worth it. Tokyo was actually one of my stops on my way down under and I’ve written a blog with my best tips on where to stay and what to do in Australia.
Man-made things to do
Robot restaurant
This is the first spot I visited when I arrived in Tokyo and I honestly couldn’t think of a better introduction to the place. My whole experience there sums up what Tokyo is like.
I expected to be going for a meal in a ‘restaurant’ but it couldn’t have been anything further from that. I hadn’t looked too closely at the promotions for the Robot Restaurant before I went because I love an element of surprise and discovering new places for myself. I had no idea that my visit to the restaurant would be such an event!
Firstly, you go into a waiting room area that has seats and a bar where you can order drinks during your wait (we had no clue what we were waiting for during this whole time, we just wanted dinner!). During the wait, we had a person in a robot costume playing the electric guitar as entertainment. We were then led down flights of funky stairs into a room with chairs either side of it and a big stage in the middle. We were so confused at this point as you can imagine!
Then there is the weirdest, wildest, coolest show that takes place over a few hours. You get 2 breaks where you can use the bathroom, buy drinks or snacks but you can’t buy a proper meal.
I would love to tell you all the stuff that I saw but not only would you think I’m on drugs, I would also spoil it for when you get the awesome experience! Although just to help you wrap your head around what I mean, by the end of it there were 2 HUGE pandas (fake of course) breathing fire and fighting. There were lots of floats decorated with 3D people coming out of the front/side etc… There were loads of different dances, impressive and imaginative costumes, fun music (even though I couldn’t understand it) and it followed no story line which made it even crazier.
I fully recommend this place as it was so much fun and a great experience in general. Robot ‘Restaurant’ isn’t suitable for people with sensitive ears, epilepsy or movement restrictions.
Hedgehog cafe
I would recommend this cafe to some extent. You can’t eat here, but you can get drinks. It’s only a small place with seating areas and lots of little hedgehog enclosures dotted around the whole place.
You have to make a reservation here as it is so full you shouldn’t risk an impromptu visit. When you get there, they will sit you down, ask you for your drinks and then give you some gloves, go through the rules in the cafe and allow you to play with the little hedgehogs for the amount of time that you choose to pay for.
My issue with Hedgehog cafe, and the reason I will only recommend it to some extent is that I have no idea how well the hedgehogs are treated. They seemed happy and relaxed, the staff made sure to give clear instructions on how to handle and act around the hedgehogs to make sure they are safe and you don’t scare them which makes me think the care of them is good, however that is never guaranteed.
It is a cute thing to do, the hedgehogs don’t do much but it is a cool experience anyway! I wouldn’t recommend this to super young children as I wouldn’t trust them with handling the hedgehogs properly, not only for the safety of the hedgehog but also for the safety of your child.
TeamLab Borderless- ‘light museum’
Going here definitely requires at least half a day. It is quite a big warehouse with lots of different areas inside it. Not only is it fit for everyone to visit, I can also say that it was quite spectacular.
It is a huge space which is used for different projections of things like animals and plants etc… some of which are interactive displays.
It is so hard to describe but it’s a once in a lifetime experience, so I have to say that it’s a must do!
My only reservation was that some of the queues to visit popular areas of the building had extremely long waiting times. One area I don’t recommend in there is where they display the hanging lanterns. Although it is a gorgeous room filled with hundred of hanging colour changing lanterns, the wait was around 2 hours and the time inside of the room was no more than 1 minute. So not worth it!
By the end of my time there, all the moving projections along the wall started to make me feel a bit sick too, so be warned if you get dizzy or travel sick easily and perhaps take some anti sick pill with you.
On top of the awesome exhibitions inside this place, there are a few other attractions around it too. There is a big ferris wheel that you can go on and a cool go-kart track to race around on after tour visit there.
Temples
There are so many stunning temples that you can visit to see Japan’s culture and pay your respects. If you are interested in Tokyo’s traditions then I recommend you do research on temples near your area to pop in to. Please be sure to follow their rules once you are there and make sure to not disrespect their culture, traditions and practices once you are there. The temples are mainly used to practice Japanese Buddhism or Shinto (Japan’s earliest religion) which has its own statues that they worship.
Mario go-karting
Unfortunately I didn’t get to do this as you have to have a driving license, but if I had one I would definitely not have missed out on my chance of joining in.
You can go on a guided tour of the streets of Tokyo all whilst dressed up as a Mario character driving around in real life versions of the Mario karts. How cool is that?!
We saw lots of these wizzing around Tokyo when we were there. We managed to speak to some of the tourists that were on the tour. They said that it was one of the coolest things they have ever done and that it is a must do. It truly looked so fun!
I adore the whole idea of this and I really think that it describes what Tokyo is like. Random, weird, fun and different.
It is on the pricier side (starting price at 57 USD per person), but prices depend on where you choose your tour to be, and the length of time. (1-3 hours).
If you get the chance, do this!
Monster cafe
This is such a cute thing to do! The decoration of the place is so bright, fun, jaw dropping, cute and colourful along with the various mini shows that take place during your meal. The shows are quite interesting as they’re different but also really entertaining; the costumes that the performers wore were matched great with the decor of the ‘cafe’ and were super Kawaii (that means cute in Japanese). Not only was the restaurant out of the ordinary, but so was the food! It was dyed different colours (blue pasta, purple burger buns) and it was presented perfectly with the theme of the restaurant.
Why would you want to eat at a normal restaurant when you can eat at a wild monster cafe?
This is suitable for everyone, they really tried their best to accommodate me as a vegetarian which they found difficult but managed to do. If you have severe allergies then I would recommend running it past them before you make your reservation here.
The surrounding area of this cafe is also great for shopping, so be sure to go there a couple of hours before your reservation to get a look around some of those places too!
Towns to go to
Shinjuku
A cool town to visit lots of lights and signs so I recommend going once it is dark.
Shibuya
The famous crossing is here just around the corner from Robot Restaurant. It is a cool area full of shops and actual restaurants too.
Harajuku
Great shopping area with shops that you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the world. There are also cool restaurants and cafes there such as dog cafes where you get to play with dogs and a cute ice cream place that makes a normal ice cream ball into a cutesy (or Kawaii as they would say in Japan) animal.
Natural things to do
Ueno Park
Not only is this a beautiful park with lots of gorgeous plants in it, but it’s also full of things to do too! There is a zoo, various museums, ponds, temples, shrines and fountains.
This park is a great way to see the natural aspects of Tokyo whilst learning about their culture and having fun too.
Suitable for all ages, however if you struggle with mobility this could be difficulty as there aren’t many places to sit here.
Also, you must be aware that there are not many places in the park for food or drink, therefore your best option is to bring water with you and eat before you go to avoid being hangry throughout your visit!
Meguro River
This is the place to go if you are visiting Tokyo in Spring due to all of the cherry blossom around the river. Once it is in bloom, it’s such a gorgeous place to visit which I’m sure will make your eyes light up. There are also good restaurants and shops in this area.
However if you are not there during Cherry Blossom season, then I wouldn’t recommend coming here as it isn’t anything special.
Kodai no Yu
It’s hard to know whether to count this as a natural thing to do or not as it isn’t fully natural, but the idea of it is.
This place is one of the biggest Onsen places in Tokyo so far. Onsen are natural baths that are full of minerals which are said to help you with any aches and pains that you have and re-nourishes the skin (of course this isn’t guaranteed, it is just the tradition behind these ‘baths’).
Here you will find lots of baths both indoors and outdoors, massage rooms and a steam sauna. There is also a restaurant for you to visit when you are there.
All of the Onsen (baths) are filled with real hot spring water which also means that the temperature of them is warm, there are no harmful chemicals in them and you will be getting the authentic traditional experience!
Please note that if you have any tattoos then you will be asked to cover them here. It is a bit expensive, so if it’s above your budget then I would recommend you choose a different Onsen to visit to enjoy the experience. Watch younger children on your visits to Onsen, be sure they are respectful to the area.
Must-do
Robot restaurant, Mario go karting, TeamLab Borderless, any of the spectacular temples, Harajuku and Shibuya.
Dining Experience
There is a lot of meat and fish there, especially their Wagyu beef (basically means Japanese cow) which apparently is really good, so if you are a fan of meat then be sure to give it a try!
I can’t say that is was the best suited for people with different diets, however everywhere at least gave it a go. People don’t look at you weirdly or treat you badly if you have any special requirements, they’ll make sure to cater for you the best they can.
However, I can’t really say that about everywhere, you may find translation errors on menus. I found myself ordering things that seemed to be very vegetarian on the menu, but then came to me with a lot of meat! For example, I went to a restaurant in Harajuku, ordered what literally said vegetable curry on the menu and what I got was a meat curry.
Just be sure to double check everything on the menu and to make it clear to the servers what your requirements are as a lot of the staff in restaurants there had limited English.
There are lots of awesome places to eat, from real animal petting restaurants to themed restaurants to restaurants with shows going on at the same time as meals, to be honest its rare to see a ‘normal’ place to eat there.
There are also lots of interesting snack places that will make lovely food, don’t be fooled by how little and hidden some of the places are, they will probably be amazing and crazy.
Where to stay
Below budget
- Red Planet, Asakusa – Clean rooms, not very spacious however you don’t need to have a lot of space as you will be kept busy outdoors, friendly staff who can talk English, located near subway station and bus stops.
- Shinjuku East Hotel- Great location, decently sized room, modern, up to date with appliances, comfortable and friendly staff who can talk English.
- Omori Tokyu REI Hotel- Perfect location, tasty morning buffet (mainly Japanese food), friendly staff, clean room, modern.
Within budget
- The Prince Park Tower- Restaurant with room service, a bar, a pool, perfect location, great views from rooms, friendly staff with good English and concierge to help you with your stay, clean rooms which are on the larger side and lovely decorations. Things are very up to date there.
- Dormy inn Premium Shibuya Jingumae- Comfortable clean rooms, free e-bikes to use around the city, friendly staff with good English, concierge service, a spa, a restaurant, great location.
- The Hilton Shinjuku- Gym, tennis court, pool, bar, restaurant, friendly staff, modern, ideal location, beautiful views from rooms, gorgeous hotel design throughout, modern and clean.
No expense spared
- Park Hyatt Tokyo- Luxurious, top staff, incredible design, clean, handy services, gorgeous and spacious rooms, bar, restaurant, spa and modern facilities. Great location with free shuttle services.
- Mandarin Oriental- Top service from staff, fitness centre, award-winning spa, incredible spacious rooms with spectacular views, ten great restaurants and bars, perfect location, kids club/ babysitting services, modern and luxurious.
- Imperial Hotel Tokyo- Very high class, spectacular design throughout the whole hotel, comfortable and big rooms, located in central Tokyo, 16 awesome bars and restaurants, fitness centre, baby-sitting/ kids club, friendly staff, beautiful views and overall incredible service.
Transport
Transport in Tokyo is really hit or miss. On the metros it can get extremely busy, so I would recommend avoiding them during rush hour times there. However, they are clean and inexpensive making them the best form of transport in Tokyo (as long as it’s not packed!).
Buses are more complicated and more expensive to use than the metros, however they are still clean.
I personally avoided public transport there, apart from the occasional metro which came in super handy.
I believe that when you are in Tokyo, the main and best form of transport is walking. You get to go exactly where you want, most likely quicker than if you were going on a bus and you don’t miss anything that you weren’t intending on finding in the first place (this happens a lot in Tokyo).
I would not recommend renting a car as trying to find parking along with all the traffic there would be hell!
I recommend walking, biking and using metros between places which are too far to walk to. If you can afford to, taxis are definitely a life saver in busy cities like Tokyo.
Key things to pack
Summer time suitcase:
- Comfortable shoes as you all be doing a lot of walking!,
- Bring clothes that are quite airy as it is quite humid there so you will be sweating,
- Portable charger considering you will be out for long periods of time as you will get sucked into Tokyo life,
- Adapters to fit Japan’s plugs (same as England, however voltage is less in Japan than in UK so you would need a voltage converter),
- Sunglasses or hat to protect your eyes from the sun,
- Suncream! Burning on holiday is never fun,
- If you have tattoos and are planning on going somewhere traditional and away from tourism, be sure to pack clothes (or plasters) that will cover your tattoo to respect their culture.
Winter time suitcase:
- Comfortable yet warm shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking,
- Clothes that you can layer as the temperatures can range a bit in winter,
- tights,
- A beanie or some ear warmers
- If you have tattoos and are planning on going somewhere traditional and away from tourism, be sure to pack clothes (or plasters) that will cover your tattoo to respect their culture.
- Portable charger considering you will be out for long periods of time as you will get sucked into Tokyo life,
- Adapters to fit Japan’s plugs (same as England, however voltage is less in Japan than in UK so you would need a voltage converter),
- Warm PJs
- Rain jacket.
Need to know before you go
There are quite a few things which are seen as ‘normal’ around the world which would offend of be illegal to do in Japan. That’s why I am here to let you know how to be the ideal visitor when you go to Tokyo.
Most places, even in the street, it is illegal to smoke. There are designated areas for smokers such as outside a shop or outside a metro station. There are clear signs everywhere to tell you not to smoke, even on the path. The safest option is to smoke wherever you see a group of people smoking but yet still make sure to check that you can.
You can’t legally make a phone call on a train. No, it doesn’t make much sense I know, but like I said Japan has lots of laws like this! You have to have your phone on silent and not play anything from it out loud. It’s a manners thing.
You shouldn’t eat and walk at the same time. Either eat it where you bought it, or find a place to sit and eat. I don’t recall seeing one person eating whilst walking along when I was there.
If you are coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, try to do it as discreetly as possible. My dad sneezed on a train there and everyone around him gave him a death stare afterwards! It’s better to be polite and try your hardest to keep it in until you are somewhere quiet.
Places don’t really expect tips, some places will even call you back to pick up your change. However, I do think it is becoming more normal to tip, so I think you should but not a lot. No more than 10% is necessary.
Shoes tend to be taken off a lot. If you are visiting someones home or somewhere traditional, you will most likely be told to take your shoes off unless it is outside.
Tattoos are very hit or miss in Tokyo. In Japan, tattoos are still associated with crime groups and gangsters which makes locals feel uncomfortable or disrespected especially in smaller towns and traditional places. In Tokyo, you should be fine with walking around with them out, however make sure to see if the places you are visiting have mentioned anything about having them covered.
Chopsticks. There is a lot of etiquette when eating with chopstick that we could go through, however the main and most important thing is to never wave them around or rub them together. If you rub them together, it tends to be considered rude as that is a way of saying that they’re cheap.
Surprisingly, there are not that many bins dotted around Tokyo. Be sure to put your trash in your bag until you find a place to throw it away properly.
Book, book, book! Tokyo is so busy and fast moving, therefore I would recommend you book everything that you want to do to avoid disappointment.
Japanese people are so, so big on respect! Be sure to always be nice, don’t bump in queues, don’t be rude, don’t cough sneeze of sniffle near anyone, be respectful on transport and respectful when you visit traditional and cultural places. Keep an eye out everywhere for the signs telling you what you can’t do in the area, especially parks.
Quick tip- Always have google translate handy as although Tokyo is very touristic, a lot of the locals there struggle with talking in English.
Tokyo is like stepping into a wild future, it is full of breathtaking things, it is gorgeous and you will never have a dull moment there. The people are so friendly and Tokyo really isn’t as expensive as you would imagine. Make sure to have a decent amount of time here (at least 5 days) so that you have time to cram all these spectacular places in! It is quite safe there however I would be careful of pickpockets as in all large cities. It’s suitable for all ages. Do be aware if you have special dietary requirements though as the food is a little different to what you may be used to!
