Best of Tokyo Experience

Start the day off with your freshest breakfast (yet). Visit the center of Edo (the Tokugawa shogunate political power center of Japan between 1603 to 1868). Spend your afternoon contributing to the Japanese economy through some serious retail therapy!

The Tsukiji Market was once the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. In 2018, the wholesale market and early morning fresh tuna auctions moved to a new facility, the Toyosu fish market. The outer (retail) market remains. With its restaurants and associated restaurant supply stores, this place continues to be a major tourist attraction. In the mornings, this place is brimming with visitors, both domestic and from overseas. It's lots of fun exploring the small shops here. Sample the fresh seafood, sashimi, sushi, extra large oysters, scallops and sea urchins in the area. Yes, you might even find Japanese beer or sake here to add to the flavour. Once, I'd even spotted a pop-up stall in this place serving prime wagyu beef .. not sure how that got here.

from here take the Subway Hibiya Line (各停Naka-Meguro) from Tsukiji Station --> to Hibiya Station 5 min (3 stops)

Kusunoki Masashige was a 14th-century samurai who fought for Emperor Go-Daigo in the Genkō War, the attempt to wrest rulership of Japan away from the Kamakura shogunate and is remembered as the ideal of samurai loyalty. A photo of this nice statue of the samurai makes for a nice souvenir of Japan.

Get a beautiful photo of the Seimon Ironbridge and an imperial castle keep here.

The royal palace can be accessed from this area. If you are lucky, you might be visiting on a day when visitors are allowed inside! If not, no worries, simply walk along outside the walls and take a stroll through the royal gardens.

Stroll through the royal gardens. This manicured garden is a nice place to relax away from the urban city.

Marunouchi is a central commercial district of Tokyo. The name, meaning "inside the circle", derives from its location within the palace's outer moat. The area is like New York City’s Financial District. High end restaurants can be accessed on the top floor of many of the business buildings around. Good for a nice meal or high- end drinks at the end of a long day. KITTE is nice mall here. There is a tourist information office here at basement 1 and an outdoor rooftop garden with a view of the trains at Tokyo Station - can you spot the Shinkansen from here?

This station is the main intercity rail terminal in Tokyo with the most number of trains (over 3,000) coming through each day. It is served by many regional commuter lines of Japan Railways, the Tokyo Metro network and the high-speed Shinkansen rail lines. Hopefully, you would have had enough "fresh air" by now, and it's time to head underground. Check out the vast underground shopping alleys here which link to vast shopping malls. It get very busy here during lunch hour when plenty of working folks are out and about.

The Tokyo International Forum is a multi-purpose exhibition center in Tokyo, Japan. The eastern wing here is a true architectural marvel which looks like a glass ship in urban waters. On the ground floor, close to the Northern Entrance is a statue of Ota Dokan - the samurai who first built the Edo Castle (Chiyoda Castle) in 1457, which stood at the site of the imperial palace where you have just visited. If you get a chance, take the elevator up to the top floor and view the insides of this beautiful building from the top.

Enter the Ginza district, high fashion center of the city. There is plenty of upscale shops and restaurants all around. Spending the rest of your day exploring this area. Let Japanese style here inspire you.

If you looking for food .. Check out the basement floor in this building under a highway for some restaurants.

This is a newer mall which opened in 2016. if you are looking to take a break from all the waking, there is a nice lounge/resting area here on the 6th floor and on the rooftop.

This department store has fashion good for both men and women. The clock tower here has been a Ginza landmark since 1932. The Wako watches here are quite unique and can only be found here.

This is a nice place to shop. There's currently an art aquarium exhibit nicely tucked away in the top floors of this department store. Be sure to get tickets in advance online. p.s. Check out the fantastic food basement in the building!

This department store is known for the exhibitions here. See website for what's on.

Flagship store of the world renown Uniqlo brand of Japanese fast fashion - in all 12 floors or retail glory!

The name Ginza Six or G Six reflects the building address in Ginza 6-chome; as well as the desire to provide an exceptional "six-star" shopping experience!

(optional, if you are keen to experience Kabuki theatre and have got tickets in advance) Kabuki-za is the principal theater in Tokyo for the traditional kabuki drama form. This art form is rather unique, and only in Japan!

For younger & mid-range shoppers, today is your day. Being your day visiting a shrine. See the youth culture of Japan (possibly some cosplay) and end the day scrambling across the road with a few hundred other people as you keep your eyes on the lighted shops all around.

This area used to be the place on Saturdays in the warmer months to see lots of action for cosplayers. However, these days you just might spot young singers and musicians dishing out lovely upcoming tunes instead, Yes, the dream of becoming a J-POP idol, before the virtual pop stars completely take over.

Built in commemoration of Emperor Meiji in 1920, this is Tokyo's grandest shrine. Like all of Japan's major shrines, it's large in scale but simple in structure, entered via a winding path and through giant Torii gates. On summer weekends you have a very good chance of catching a Japanese wedding in progress here; the shrine is also packed on New Year's Eve when people come here to celebrate the new year. An excellent place for those who wish to experience an oasis of tranquility among the hustle and bustle of the rest of the area.

Takeshita Street (Takeshita-dōri) is a pedestrian shopping street lined with fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants in Harajuku in Tokyo, Japan. This street is very popular with young teenagers, particularly those visiting Tokyo on school trips, or local young people shopping for small "cute" goods at weekends. Tip: Grab a Crepe at one of the many stands along the street, or search out a Chococro / Saintmarc Café for fresh chocolate stuffed croissants. There's cotton candy for kids too! Note: The animal cafes in the area are extremely popular, especially MiPig Cafe (definitely book in advance if you want to do MiPIg). What's a MiPig? You had to ask ..

Don’t miss the 4-story 100yen shop (the Japanese equivalent of the $1 Store .. but SO MUCH MORE!)

Continue your walk up Meiji Dori ..

(optional) This is a youthful place where lots of quirky cult favourite brands cut their teeth.

This is a castle like structure with a spacious roof top garden for sipping Starbucks.

Omotesando Hills is a high end shopping complex and makes for interesting viewing. Handsome dining options too.

This is the only place you'll need for classic style Japanese souvenir shopping for folks back home. It's time to load it up!

Look for the MoMA store upstairs. It's got Japanese designer goods and very interesting knick-knacks.

Take a peek into the 5-storey Harajuka flagship toy store. If you have kids with you. You might loose them in the chaos here. Keep tight!

Head up this street. More youthful fashions and vibe in this area. Feel free to look around the many shops and side streets around here.

Continue you leisurely shopping stroll along Cat Street in this direction. Quaint stores here offer original Japanese design goods. 2nd Street thrift store is good for anyone looking to score a used Supreme t-shirt (I would hardly call this a thrift item though) ..

This whole Shibuya area is a major shopping mecca for younger generations and adults. There are plenty of bright lights, stores and eateries to experience while you’re here. You are now at *the* famous five-way "scramble crossing" under the giant video screen. If this place looks familiar, it is because it has been featured in various movies. In the backdrop is the famous landmark 109 building of the area. That entire 109 store is for young women apparel. The 109 store for guys is just across the street. Visit a game arcade in the area. Try out some games, but don’t miss the purikura stations to get some memorable pictures taken! Some of the famous “Sushi-go-round” restaurants in this area are worth a stop. If you arrive on a weekend during the dinner rush, you might find hawkers standing outside prepared to give you a ‘deal’ for all you can eat.

The famous statue of the dog Hachiko who waits loyally by the station gates every night for his master to return home. Join the queue to get your own photo/ selfie taken - you were here!

Plenty floors of designer shopping here. But for most of us, it's about grab that selfie from the open top of this new building.

This is the main shopping street. Feel free to wander a little. It's a good place to spot some dinner too.

A purijura mecca indeed for teenage girls and families. Gotta have your photo's taken here!

Ok, here's the largest superstore around in Tokyo. Can pretty much anything you need.

This is nice place to pick up less expensive items and interesting bits and bobs. Not as big as the store in Ikebukuro, but a good stop if you're only going to be in town for a few days.

Say hi to Mario and Pikachu here at the 6th-floor Shibuya Cyberspace, dedicated to all things manga and gaming.

Head back towards the main scramble via this street / crossing.

Unwind with some local style dinner at this new cultural style "food court".

Visit the most famous temple in all of Tokyo City today. Then, make a trip to the tallest building in Japan!

Arrive very early (or late) in the day at Asakusa to try avoid the crowds. This Asakusa Sensoji temple area is a very popular sight-seeing spot!

The Kaminarimon (God of Thunder) Gate is the outer of two large entrance gates that ultimately leads to the Sensō-ji temple (the inner gate being the Hōzōmon).

There are stalls of historic gifts leading up to the temple here. Feel free to browse and pick stuff up as you make your way forward. Step into a side alley from time to time to get some reprieve from the crowds and do some shopping for local goods - hair accessories, fish-shaped pancakes (filled with sweet red beans or custard cream), senbei (rice-crackers), kimono accessories, etc. Try some Monjayaki down one of the smaller alleys.

Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon, is Tokyo's largest Buddhist temple and a major attraction for Japanese and foreigners alike. Pay a 100 yen to pick up a fortune (stick with number, then get paper in drawer with number). Tie your curse/ blessing (paper) O-mikuji to the strings (tree) around - to leave your bad luck there or multiply your fortune! Cover yourself with the smoke from the incense burner before the temple to ward off illnesses-(and be smarter?). Next, purify yourself at the washbasin. - Scoop up some water with the ladle. - Wash left hand - Wash right hand. - Scoop up another cup - Cup left hand and pour the water into hand - Put water in your left hand into your mouth, rinse and split out. - Done. Climb the stairs and enter into the main hall of Sensoji Temple. Offer a prayer.

Enjoy the walk through this beautiful garden past the smaller shrine. You might notice people in their yukata dresses taking photos in the area. Also notice the beautiful 5-storey pagoda in the background. This is a reconstruction of a pagada built by Togugawa lemitsu which was recently renovated. It is the 2nd highest pagoda in Japan.

Continue your stroll down this shopping street.

Continue your stroll down this shopping street.

Take the Tobu Skytree Line (towards Tatebayashi) to Tokyo Skytree Station 2 min (non-stop)

New to the Tokyo skyline is Skytree - the tallest building in Japan! Skytree is the new TV station antennae for Japanese stations, but there’s more to it than that. Take an elevator up to the top to get a full 360degree view of Tokyo. On a clear day, you might even see Mt. Fuji! The view is fantastic. You might need to join a fairly long queue to get to the top? The base of the tower is a huge full mall of food, toys and special gifts focused on the building and its mascot. Shop and eat here.

Feeling thristly? Sample from over 150 types of beers from around the world.

Start the day with a walk in the park, learn some Japanese history at the museum and then hit the bright lights of Electric Town Akihabara (aka Akiba)!

Ueno is home to some of Tokyo's finest cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Museum of Nature and Science, as well as a major public concert hall. Many Buddhist temples are in the area, including the Bentendo temple dedicated to goddess Benzaiten, on an island in Shinobazu Pond. The Kan'ei-ji, a major temple of the Tokugawa shoguns, stood in this area, and its pagoda is now within the grounds of the Ueno Zoo. Nearby is the Ueno Tōshōgū, a Shinto shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu. WHAT TO TRY: Andersons Bakery, located at the north exit by the subway entrance. Most bakeries require their head chef to study in France for 1-2 years, so bread and cakes are delicious here!

Here stands an unassuming statue of a pudgy man walking his dog. This is Saigō Takamori, a famous samurai general best known for leading the doomed Satsuma Rebellion against the Meiji government (and the inspiration for Hollywood blockbuster The Last Samurai).

Ueno Park is Tokyo's most popular spot for outdoor hanami (cherry blossom) parties. Occasionally you will find an outdoor market circling the pond, but there is also a zoo and temple hidden in the center of the grounds to visit if you have time.

This is a good place to visit to see many relics of Japan.

This shrine was built in honour of Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is a nice place to see. Get a good look from the front gate without having to enter the building.

This place is one of the last open-markets in Tokyo which dates back to the days after WWII. Started off as a black market for American goods post WWII. Check out the fresh seafood and exotic foods sold here. There are some gaming arcades, anime stores, and traditional foods along the way to keep you interested. It is a very different side of Tokyo!

Take the Ginza Line (towards Shibuya) to Suehirochō Station 2 min (2 stops)

Welcome to Akihabara! This place is known best as “Electric Town”. You can find anything electronic or anime related here. Akihabara is "mecca" for the otaku's (Japanese "geeks", typically into anime, manga, gaming and collectibles). Note: Though battery-powered electronics are basically the same world-wide, AC-powered electronics designed for the Japanese market use 100 volts, so "native" Japanese electronics may require a step-down transformer outside Japan. Even the U.S. standard 110V voltage is too high for many devices. Also, the majority of these products have no international warranty, and are labeled and documented only in Japanese. Head for the many duty-free shops to find export models, but note that they are priced at a premium.

Have you seen gatchapon (Japanese capsule toys)? This is the largest store in the area for gatchapon. Get one here!

There is a Don Quijote store here - they have all kinds of crazy stuff. But, don't spend too much time here, there is heaps more to see elsewhere .. The theater for the famous girl group AKB48 is at the top floor of this building.

This is the big store for manga & anime fans. Plenty of Japanese comics here.

Looking for a one stop shop for Otaku merchandise? This Softmap (building 1) has multi-levels with a bit of everything here! Note: look for the escalators on the left as you enter the building and head upwards.

This is the most talked about *maid cafe* in Akihabara. 3 floors here: 1. classical - quiet for eating 2. entertainment - for playing games with the maids 3. bar - for drinking The maid cafes tend to cater to younger Japanese speaking folks, but hey, don't let that deter you from checking them out (the cafes that is!).

If you are shopping for anime collectibles, this is one of the best shops for buying exceptionally high quality figurines.

Looking to buy some real robots .. Checkout Tsukumo here. There is also Vstone around the corner (up a skinny elevator).

Continue your wander around (up and down) and see the many levels of Japanese anime toys. When you have had enough, head through the train station to the other side ..

Check out this massive 9-story flagship store of the Electronics giant Yodobashi's. They sell anything that beeps or clicks, from PCs to games to cameras. Many languages spoken, tax-free and credit cards no problem.

Dinner? Try this place only if you like over priced food which probably looks better that it tastes. But, hey .. if you are a fan, who's stopping you? Alternatively, there's the Gundam cafe next door if that is more your thing? Just kidding .. more food options up next ..

There are plenty of meal options in the side streets along Chuo Dori (the main street of Akiharaba) you were walking along earlier. But, ... if at this point you are still lost for options, go for the safe option of Tonkotsu Ramen here in this mall .. Just enter coins into the vending machine, tap on your food option (Tonkotsu Ramen!) and get the ticket which pops out. Enter the mini-food court and wait for your number to show up on the display. Show ticket to guy at the store, get ramen and enjoy! Not the cheapest, but a real safe choice after a long day.

Spend you day today visiting the business & art district of Roponggi, followed by walking into the edge of the exotic red light district of Japan (Kabukicho)!

Grab a metro subway train to this starting point for your day.

Enjoy the stroll through and perhaps a picnic at this park, which is an urban oasis for the area.

21_21 Design Sight is a museum in Roppongi in Minato (opened in 2007). The museum, design museum, was created by architect Tadao Ando and fashion designer Issey Miyake. "The idea was to create not only a museum that shows exhibits," says Ando, "but also a place for researching the potentiality of design as an element that enriches our daily life, a place that fosters the public's interest in design by arousing in them different sights and perspectives on how we can view the world and the objects surrounding us." The building includes two galleries and an attached cafe run by chef and restaurateur Takamasa Uetake. The split-level concrete structure includes a hand-sanded steel roof (whose design was inspired by Issey Miyake's A-POC ("A Piece of Cloth") concept) and 14-meter (46 ft) long glass panels. The current directors are Japanese designers Issey Miyake, Taku Satoh, and Naoto Fukasawa.

Tokyo Midtown is a large shopping area completed in March 2007 to the tune of $3 billion. It houses the Suntory Museum of Art. When it completed, the Midtown Tower was the tallest building in Tokyo. Wandering around inside for a little while.

Takoyaki is a must try when you are in Japan, and Gindaco is does it just right. These octopus in flour wrapped balls makes for a great snack in my books anytime!

Here is a nice landscaped garden modelled after those popular during the Edo period.

The centerpiece in this mega complex is the 54-story Mori Tower. Look for the resident spider here for a photo op!

The Mori Art Museum is a contemporary art museum founded by the real estate developer Minoru Mori (1934 - 2012) in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in the Roppongi Hills complex, both of which he built in Tokyo, Japan. The museum does not exhibit a permanent collection but rather temporary exhibitions of works by contemporary artists. Do definitely get the ticket for the rooftop observatory - which has some very spectacular views, especially at sunset (golden hour) where, on a clear day, you can see the Tokyo Tower and even up to Mt Fuji!

Shinjuku is another large shopping area - a little older and less flashy than Shibuya. Kabuki-cho (where the Robot Restaurant is) is commonly known as the “red light district”, but don’t worry; you’d have to get pretty far into the center to hit a seedy shop or two. This is one of the few places in Tokyo where you'll need to be a little more on guard. Do not follow touters on the street into their establishments, politely decline with a "no thank you", keep sober here and avoid the random bar hop. Spend some time walking around and see what you can find. There are many fun (and safe!) alleyways to bring you to small music shops or high-end stores at every turn!

(optional, visit this place for free views of the city if the Mori Art Museum's observation deck was not for you.) This building houses the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs the 23 wards of Tokyo. The design of the building was meant to resemble a computer chip, while also evoking the look of a Gothic cathedral. The two panoramic observation decks, one in each tower on floor 45 (202 meters [663 ft] high), are free of charge to the public and contain gift shops and cafes. The two observation decks alternate the dates they are open.

If you haven't visited any of the cat cafe's in Japan, this might be a place for you. This is the largest cat cafe in Tokyo housing over 50 cats in its two-floor facility located right smack in Shinjuku’s vibrant Kabukicho district. We are not fans of keeping wild animals in captivity .. but since cats are domestic animals, we suppose this might be ok ..

Can you spot Godzilla peeping over the cineplex building along this street? It breathes "fire" too!

A great little museum to get a bit of taste of Japanese Samurai history. The entry ticket includes a very nice small group tour of the place to see actual armour and weapons used by Samurai of the yesteryears.

Shinjuku’s Kabuki-cho exit is great for lots of shopping and cheap karaoke spots. Try to visit the Don Quijote store for some laughs (children should be steered away from certain aisles), or just walk among the many department stores full of clothing in the area.

Note: this is not suitable for families with kids. This is a crazy show which only happens in Japan. It's not cheap, but if you are going, definitely make reservations online in advance. Also, most folks will not be eating here.

(optional) Shinjuku Golden Gai is famous both as an area of architectural interest and for its nightlife. It is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are just about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 200 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. Do watch out for the tourist prices and cover charges here!

Best place for Yakitori. Cosy seating but good food and reasonable prices. Grab a seat next to a tired businessman, a giant Kirin, some skewers and eat in style.

(optional) A large store doing high fashion with a massive food basement.

(optional) Takashima here is a massive shopping area with a huge gourmet food basement.

Enjoy a relaxed day exploring the satellite island of Odaiba. If you are tight on time, and not so much a fan of museums, you can skip Roppongi and do Odaiba instead for Day 5.

Start your train journey from here to Odaiba. Experience a ride on elevated tracks between skyscrapers before doing a loop to reach Rainbow Bridge. Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo. There are many hypermodern (and just plain strange) buildings here. The largest convention center in Tokyo is on Odaiba island along with several shopping and museum attractions. Food courts are located in most of the buildings for a quick bite, but the shopping centers, such as Venus Fort and AcquaCity are the best locations to find variety.

Completed on 26 Aug 1993, this gateway to Odaiba is among the most beautiful modern bridges in Japan. Decorated with 444 lights, which change according to the seasons. Some say that this bridge looks like a bleached version of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge!

Alight from the train here

Nice place for a view. New Yorkers will probably be smiling when they see this, but a nice experience nonetheless ..

An Odaiba landmark which looks like it's built of tinkertoys. Going to the observatory usually costs ¥500. Alternatively, visit the second-highest story for free for some nice views. The giant ball suspended in the structure has an expensive Chinese restaurant. Note: the studio tour is of limited interest unless you speak Japanese and/or are familiar with Fuji's programming.

This place is a draw for those who have a slightly nerdy affinity for Japan. In front of this shopping complex, stands a huge 1:1 scale robot from Gundam here! A must-see if you are passing by. The robot does a mini-transformation to a music and light display every hour or so - the night shows are better (if you are in the area then).

(optional, this is a place for you if you are into futuristic architecture. If you like to head there, consider using the trains as it is quite a walk to there and back.) Officially known as Tokyo International Exhibition Center, this the largest convention and exhibition center in Japan! Opened in April 1996, see its visually distinctive Conference Tower.

Slightly geeky, this Toyota car technology showcase that will fascinate car nuts and bore the rest of us - who may wish to adjourn to the nearby Venus Fort shopping mall instead!

The slowly-spinning ferris wheel provides great views and is very popular among Japanese couples. ¥900 per head.

An elaborately Venice-themed shopping mall, complete with marble fountains, artificial sunsets every 30 min and an Italian "mayor" reading out speeches from a balcony. All shops are geared for women and generally quite expensive, but it's worth visiting this just for the decoration.

(Optional) Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, created by Japan's Science and Technology Agency. As the name indicates new technologies like robots, space modules etc. are presented here as well as demonstrations and physical experiments for the inquiring mind are given. The Asimo robot demonstration is the highlight event here. Check showtimes from their website.

If you're into looking for some time off in an onsen (hot spring water bath) .. check out Tokyo's newest and largest (artificial) hot spring complex, done up in Edo-era (1800s) style and featuring an endless array of bathtubs of all temperatures (and flavors?). Inside are plenty of restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and resting rooms for sleeping too. If you have any tattoo (no matter how small it is), do check in advance if they will let your in. You'll get a wrist tag on entry, which acts as your wallet while inside, so anything you buy is paid when you leave.

Hakone is a mountainous area west of Tokyo city. This is a nice place to sit in onsen and enjoy the quieter side of Japan. Consider an overnight stay if you are planning to visit this area.

This is a museum showcasing the work of the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli. It is located in Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a western city of Tokyo, Japan. The museum combines features of a children's museum, technology museum, and a fine arts museum, and is dedicated to the art and technique of animation. A nice place for a day trip if your are fan of the anime productions from this studio.

Tokyo Disneyland was constructed by Walt Disney Imagineering in the same style as Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. Its companion park, Tokyo DisneySea is right next door. The park has seven themed areas: the World Bazaar; the four classic Disney lands: Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland; and two mini-lands: Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown. Many of these areas mirror those in the original Disneyland as they are based on American Disney films and fantasies. Fantasyland includes Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, based on classic Disney films and characters. In 2013, Tokyo Disneyland hosted 17.2 million visitors, making it the world's second-most visited theme park behind the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

An indoor sporting arena with a capacity of 11,098 people. Watch a sumo wrestling tournament (honbasho) here. Tickets are no easy to get though, so you'll need to score some way in advance. There is also a museum about sumo here.