Tokyo is one of those cities that genuinely overwhelms on first glance — and that’s before you’ve even opened a map. Ten million things to do, every neighbourhood a different world, every street a different decade. The trick isn’t doing everything. It’s knowing which experiences are worth your time.
This guide cuts through the noise. Whether you’re a first-timer trying to hit the highlights or a returning visitor hunting for something different, these are the Tokyo experiences that genuinely deliver.
Table of Contents
The Best Things to Do in Tokyo
Go-Karting Through the Streets
Dressing up as your favourite character and driving a go-kart through Tokyo traffic is one of those experiences that sounds absurd until you’re actually doing it — and then it’s genuinely brilliant. Monkey Kart lets you cruise through real city streets past temples, crossing districts, and bewildered tourists.
The Asakusa route is the best choice for first-timers. Streets are more manageable, traffic is lighter, and the backdrop of traditional architecture makes the whole thing feel surreal in the best way.
Locations
- Asakusa: 4-9-9 Yokokawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0003
- Shibuya: 1-27-7 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0011
- Shinagawa: 7-6-5 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0031
Hours: 10am – 8pm daily
Cost: From approximately ¥7,000 (USD 45) for 2 hours
Book: Monkey Kart link Premium GoKart Tour
✈ Pro Tip: You must have an international driving permit to participate. Sort this before you leave home — it’s easy to organise but impossible to get once you’re in Japan.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is one of those landmarks you’ve seen in a hundred photos — and it still genuinely impresses in person. The red-and-white structure, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, offers city views from both a main deck and a higher top deck. Evening is the best time to visit: Tokyo lit up at night from this vantage point is spectacular.
Beyond the views, the tower hosts regular live events and cultural performances. Worth checking what’s on before you go.
Address: 4-2-8 Shiba-koen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0011
Cost: Main Deck ¥1,200 (USD 8); Top Deck ¥3,000 (USD 19)
Book: Tokyo Tower admission ticket
✈ Pro Tip: Visit on a clear day and go at sunset — you catch the golden hour and then the city lights without committing to two separate trips.
Custom Onitsuka Tiger Shoes
Onitsuka Tiger’s Ginza flagship lets you design your own pair of trainers from the ground up — colour combinations, materials, laces, the lot. The result is a genuinely wearable piece of art that you’ve designed yourself. It’s a level of personalisation you simply can’t replicate at home.
This one appeals far beyond sneaker enthusiasts. If you’re after a meaningful, one-of-a-kind keepsake from Tokyo, it’s one of the best options in the city.
- Address: 7-8-8 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
- Hours: 11am – 8pm daily
✈ Pro Tip: Allow at least 90 minutes. The customisation process is enjoyable but not quick — rushing it defeats the point.
Custom Levi’s at Harajuku
The Levi’s store in Harajuku takes denim customisation seriously. You can choose your fit, wash, and cut, then personalise with patches, embroidery, and embellishments. The end result is a pair of jeans that’s genuinely yours — and it doubles as a sustainable fashion choice, upcycling existing pieces rather than buying new.
The store atmosphere is vibrant and encouraging. Even if you’re not a denim person, this experience is worth considering for the creative process alone.
- Address: Jingumae Green Terrace, 6-16-12 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001
- Hours: 11am – 7pm daily
✈ Pro Tip: Harajuku is worth a proper wander before or after. Takeshita Street and the surrounding area are a genuinely fascinating window into contemporary Japanese youth culture.
Create a Custom Scent at Ann Fragrance
Ann Fragrance in Shibuya offers something genuinely unusual: the chance to create your own perfume, guided by experts who help you navigate notes and combinations until you land on something that feels entirely personal. It blends traditional Japanese fragrance sensibilities with modern techniques.
The experience makes for an exceptional keepsake — and a memorable story to go with it.
- Address: 3-31-17 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001 (VILLA ROSA 101)
- Hours: 11am – 7pm daily
✈ Pro Tip: Appointment required — non-negotiable. Walk-ins are turned away. Book ahead online before you arrive in Tokyo.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – Harry Potter
The Tokyo edition of the Harry Potter studio tour is genuinely impressive, even if you’ve been to the original in London. The sets are meticulously recreated — Gringotts, the Potions classroom, the Great Hall — and the interactive elements are well-designed rather than superficial.
Butterbeer is available and, yes, it’s worth trying. Budget a full half-day at minimum — rushing this one is a genuine waste.
Book: Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo
✈ Pro Tip: Book well in advance. This sells out weeks ahead, particularly during school holidays and weekends. It’s not a drop-in experience.
Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea
Tokyo Disneyland is excellent — genuinely well-run, immaculately maintained, and a cut above many international counterparts. But if you’re choosing between the two parks, DisneySea is the one worth prioritising. It’s the only Disney park of its kind in the world, with ocean-themed worlds and an atmosphere that feels more sophisticated than the traditional fairy-tale format.
Both parks get extremely busy. Arrive at least an hour before the gates open. The app is essential — FastPass allocation, ride wait times, and show schedules all live there.
Book: Tokyo Disneyland 1-Day Passport | Tokyo DisneySea 1-Day Passport
✈ Pro Tip: Download the Tokyo Disney Resort app before you leave home. You’ll need it from the moment you walk through the gates. Arriving without it costs you time and queue position.teamLab Borderless Digital Art Museum
teamLab Borderless is one of the most genuinely impressive things you can do in Tokyo — and that’s not marketing. The digital art installations respond to your movements, shift and evolve throughout the day, and blur the boundary between viewer and artwork in a way that photographs simply cannot capture.
It appeals across all ages and travel styles. Culture lovers, photography enthusiasts, families, and solo travellers all find something worthwhile here. Allow two to three hours.
Book: teamLab Borderless/Planets
✈ Pro Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and avoid long skirts or very formal clothing. You’ll be walking, crouching, and moving through interactive spaces. Loose, easy clothing makes the whole experience better.
Harajuku: Fashion, Culture, and Yoyogi Park
Harajuku is far more than its reputation as a fashion district — though Takeshita Street and its extraordinary concentration of boutiques, crêpes, and vintage shops genuinely warrant an hour or two on their own. What makes Harajuku worth a proper visit is the contrast available within walking distance: loud, colourful street culture on one side, and the serene Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park on the other.
The shrine, set within a forested area, feels genuinely removed from the city despite being minutes from Takeshita Street. It’s one of the best places in Tokyo to appreciate how seamlessly the city holds its contradictions.
✈ Pro Tip: Sunday morning brings cosplay enthusiasts and street performers to Yoyogi Park. It’s entirely free to watch and genuinely fascinating — one of those only-in-Tokyo experiences that requires no planning beyond showing up.
Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya Crossing needs no introduction — it’s one of the most recognisable intersections on the planet, and it lives up to every bit of the reputation. Hundreds of pedestrians crossing simultaneously from all directions, all somehow navigating without collision. Experiencing it from ground level is one thing; watching from above is something else entirely.
Several cafés and bars with window seats overlook the crossing — Shibuya Sky, the observation deck on top of Shibuya Scramble Square, gives the best elevated view. Worth the short queue.
✈ Pro Tip: The crossing is busiest in the evenings, particularly Friday and Saturday. If you want to photograph it without obstruction, a weekday morning is considerably calmer — but far less dramatic.
Where to Stay in Tokyo
Your neighbourhood choice genuinely shapes your experience. Shinjuku suits those who want everything at arm’s reach and don’t mind urban intensity. Shibuya is ideal if the activities above are your focus. Asakusa offers a more traditional atmosphere and easier access to Monkey Kart’s best route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Explore Tokyo?
Tokyo rewards the visitor who chooses deliberately rather than trying to tick every box. Pick four or five experiences from this list that genuinely appeal to you, and give them proper time. You’ll leave with a far richer sense of the city than someone who rushed through ten.
The city will surprise you. It always does.
Want personalised advice for your Japan trip? Schedule time with me — I can help you plan an itinerary tailored to your interests, whether it’s a quick Tokyo stopover or extended Japan adventure.
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Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you—this helps me keep creating free, detailed travel guides. I only recommend services and products I genuinely use and trust after years of travel across Asia.
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