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Check out a themed bar
Tokyo is one of my favourite places on earth for themed bars. I’m convinced that maybe nowhere else does themed bars quite as well, or as frequently as Tokyo. Some of my favourite ones are:
- NEOShinjuku Atsushi (Cyberpunk theme)
- 8bit cafe (90’s videogame theme)
- Coffee Zingaro (okay it’s not a bar, but it’s fully Takashi Murakami themed)
- JOJO-style bar DIO (JoJo themed)
- Kiha (train themed)
- New Marina (okay I haven’t been yet, but it’s Persona 5 themed so if you go let me know because I can’t wait to check it out!)
And this is just a small list! When you come to Tokyo, checking out a themed bar is, in my opinion, a must!
Rock out as a full band at karaoke
You may know karaoke rooms are a thing in Japan, but what about full studios with drums, guitars, keyboards and more? At Rainbow karaoke, you can book a karaoke room complete with all of these instruments! But make sure to book in advance as it’s popular. And if you want to check out karaoke but are a small group or alone, check out our nightlife guides! We’ll go rock out with you and will handle all of the booking 🎸
Bar hop the tiny streets of a local neighbourhood
Everyone knows about Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho, and while they are fun, they are very touristy. If you want to bar hop with the locals, you’ll have to get outside of the Yamanote line! My favourite places are Harmonica Alley in Kichijoji, Sankaku Chitai in Sangenjaya, around Nakadori Shotengai in Koenji, or generally around Nakano (try north of the station!). You’ll get the same, tiny streets and little hole in the wall bar feels, but a lot less busy than Golden Gai.
These more off the beaten track spots tend to be better on or closer to the weekend, but they are open every day of the week! And if hopping bars off the tourist track feels a bit too intimidating without knowing Japanese, we can help 👍 Check out our bar hopping guides, we can take you to any of the above mentioned spots so just let us know which one interests you most!
See some of the best parks in the city
My favourite parks in the city are a bit out of the way, but I guarantee they are worth it! My two favourite’s are Showa Kinen Park and Ikuta Ryokuchi Park (okay, it’s technically in Kawasaki, but it’s just over the river it’s practically Tokyo!). Calling either of these spots just a park also doesn’t seem to do it justice, so let’s break it down a bit more.
Showa Kinen Park is the perfect family getaway from the city. Not only is it home to beautiful gardens, it has great kids parks, a bonsai exhibition, a bird sanctuary and a history museum. It’s also a great place to go biking, and offers regular and tandem bike rentals for you to use around the park!
Ikuta Ryokuchi Park is also home to some gorgeous gardens, but in a bit of a different way than Showa Kinen Park. Showa Kinen Park is more manicured, whereas Ikuta feels a bit more wild and mountainous. It’s also home to the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art and the Japan Open-Air Folk Museum. This folk museum has preserved historic buildings, and also lets you participate in traditional activities such as indigo dyeing.
Step back in time at the Japan Open-Air Folk Museum or the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
I already mentioned the Japan Open-Air Folk Museum, but it’s not the only historic architectural museum in the city! The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is also a great one to visit. Whether you’re into architecture or not, I was actually pleasantly surprised at how fun going to these places are. It’s a great semi-outdoors activity, and is fun to run around pretending you’ve walked back in time to different centuries as you make your way through the park!
Eat some of the best shaved ice (kakigori) you’ve ever had
I am a huge kakigori fan. It is my passion, and trying new kakigori cafes is my favourite pastime. What is kakigori? In short, it’s shaved ice. But this is no regular snowcone. Kakigori is a dessert all on its own! It consists of fluffy shaved ice, toppings and fillings, but it’s hard to describe because it can really be any flavour. From classic strawberry to blue cheese, fig and mint, you have to try this dessert to really understand it. And expect to spend, if it’s less than ¥1500, it’s probably not the type of kakigori I’m talking about (not to be pretentious but the quality varies MASSIVELY when it comes to kakigori).
Some of my favourite shops are below (but beware, these are all pretty popular so you may have to wait!):
- Kurogi in Ueno (expensive but worth it)
- Lumiere in Kichijoji if you’re looking for theatrics (fire is involved)
- Azuki to Kori for a currently trendy location (I recommend a reservation)
- Paku-Paku for those who want their kakigori to also be cute! (hint: you have to ask for them to add the ears for a small extra charge)
Check out a local brewery’s taproom
Craft beer has taken off in Japan, and trendy tap rooms are popping up all over the city. Some of my favourite tap rooms selling local beers are Kaigan Brewing's bar Coaster (Nakameguro or Shimokitazawa, take your pick!), Cyad Brewing (west of Ikebukuro station), Uchu Brewing (in Tokyo you can go to the one in Minato, but they have a taproom also out of the city if you want an adventure!), Stand Umineko SiB100 (Shibuya), and Y.Y.G Brewing and Beer Kitchen (Shinjuku).
Have a cat themed day in Gotokuji
Most people know about the cat temple now in Gotokuji but many just come to the temple and then leave, missing everything else this area has to offer! Gotokuji is such a cute little neighbourhood, so if you’re coming out here, you may as well make the most of it! Some other things I recommend doing are eating takoyaki at Takobo (not cat themed but it’s worth it), trying cat shaped castella at RARASAND, and getting some ice cream with a cat shaped cookie at HOLIC color drinks.
Kissaten hop your way through the city
I think kissatens are great, and if you try them I think you will too. A kissaten is basically an old school, Japanese cafe. Some still allow smoking, so if that is a concern I recommend checking the policy beforehand, but generally you’ll find a charming old cafe with great coffee, sandwiches, and a relaxed atmosphere. Some of my favourite Kissaten’s are Kissaten Seven, Cafe Trois Chambres, Monozuki and Ladrio.
Go to a local sento
I love going to sento, especially in winter after a chilly afternoon of exploring the city. And while I love all kind of sento, lately there has been a trend of older sento’s renovating into modern facilities with trendy bars of cafe’s attached. But what is a sento? A sento is basically a public bath, but a lot of them also have sauna’s as well as baths. And just like onsen, they are separated by gender and you are expected to go completely nude. But don’t worry if you’re nervous to try a sento for the first time, I have a guide that will take you through all the steps! Some of my favourite sento in the city are Komaeyu, Koganeyu and Bunka Yokusen, but there are sento all over the city so I recommend exploring one near your hotel if you can!
Find a hidden cocktail bar
Tokyo is full of speakeasy style cocktail bars, and as a sucker for a hidden entrance, I’ve made my way to quite a few! Some of these are easier than others to figure out (the Janai bars are the hardest!) but making a day of finding all of these hidden spots can be a fun adventure! Listed below from easiest to hardest (though none are too hard, so don’t be discouraged!)
- A10 in Ebisu
- SG Low in Shibuya
- No Room for Squares in Shimokita
- LOST in Shibuya
- Moss Dining Bar in Sangenjaya
- Janai Coffee in Ebisu
- Janai Hotel in Suidobashi
Go thrift shopping in Koenji or Shimokitazawa
Tokyo has some great thrift shopping areas, but two that are particularly famous for it are Koenji and Shimokitazawa. Shimokitazawa seems to be getting a lot of attention for it lately, but less so Koenji! I think both are worth checking out, and both also have a lot of other fun things to do if you want to make a day/half day of it.
Shimokita is a cafe lover's dream, often has outdoor markets and food trucks in the area, and has a lot of good shopping in general! Koenji also has some great cafe’s, and is a fun spot to go izakaya hopping or grab some drinks and see some live music!
I truly believe Tokyo has something for everyone—far beyond what any “Top 10 Things to Do” list (or even an “off the beaten path Tokyo” guide 😅) could cover. But having a loose plan helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed and makes it easier to uncover the city’s hidden gems! My best tip? Choose one of these unique Tokyo experiences for the day, then explore the surrounding neighborhood to see what surprises you find. Often, the most memorable off the beaten path Tokyo spots are the ones you discover on your own!
And if you’re planning a longer trip, don’t miss my 5 Days in Tokyo itinerary for a complete plan, and check out my Where to Stay in Tokyo guide before booking your accommodation! Whether you’re chasing hidden bars, local sento’s, or quirky cafés, I hope this list helps you find your next Tokyo adventure. Have an amazing time in Tokyo, friends, and as always, wander on ✨
