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National Geographic
14-04-2025
- National Geographic
Don't leave Tokyo without these must-do experiences
Forget the notion that Tokyo is nothing but a concrete sprawl, neon and crowds—that tells only a small part of the city's story. From centuries-old festivals and calming gardens to cutting-edge galleries and culture classes, these seven experiences will help you discover the many other sides of Japan's capital. 1. Check out a local festival Fireworks light up the sky over the Sumida River during the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in Tokyo. Photograph by Aflo Co. Ltd., Alamy Stock Photo Every year, around one million people attend Tokyo's Sumida River Fireworks Festival, the largest and most popular fireworks festival in Japan. Photograph by Jeremie Souteyrat, laif/Redux With festivals taking place throughout the year in Tokyo, you have a good chance that your trip will coincide with a celebration of some kind. If you feel like braving the summer heat and humidity, head to Koenji on the final full weekend of August, when thousands of traditional dancers take to the streets for the Awa-Odori. On the last Saturday of July, another summer favorite is the Sumida River Fireworks Festival on Tokyo's east side. In the spring, there's cherry blossom viewing, or hanami. It might not be a festival per se, but it is one of Japan's most enduring seasonal traditions. For a lively picnic under the pink petals, try Ueno Park, or take an evening stroll along the blossomed-lined Meguro River, where you'll find the sakura illuminated by lanterns. (Related: The essential guide to visiting Tokyo.) 2. Look beyond the beaten path Apricots sit on a railing outside a pavilion at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, one of Tokyo's largest and most popular parks. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection You don't have to go far from Tokyo's most popular areas to find quieter alternatives. Close to the museums and street market of ever-popular Ueno, you could get lost in the narrow backstreets of retro Yanaka. For Mandy Bartok, a tour guide specializing in history and culture walks, another gem is Ochanomizu, just a stone's throw from the famed home electronics, manga and anime stores of Akihabara. 'Start with a visit to the Origami Kaikan, where you can see intricately folded seasonal designs in the second floor gallery before popping up to third floor, where octogenarian director, Kazuo Kobayashi, loves to regale visitors with his paper folding skills. Afterwards, you could try an origami workshop in the fourth floor paper making studio,' Bartok says. 'A few blocks away, also stop at Kanda Myojin Shrine, where the wooden prayer plaques are often decorated with hand-drawn images featuring manga and anime characters.' For a coffee break in Ochanomizu, Bartok suggests an outdoor seat in the courtyard of Imasa, the traditional wooden home of a former lumber dealer reborn as a small cafe. (Related: The essential guide to visiting Tokyo.) 3. Hop between museums and galleries If it's your first time in Tokyo, make sure to visit Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park for Japan's largest collection of art and archaeological objects, ranging from noh masks to samurai armor and paleolithic tools. A short walk away, also stop by the National Museum of Western Art, where the permanent collection includes Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo paintings. For contemporary art, head to the cosmopolitan Roppongi district, home to the Roppongi Art Night festival every September and several leading art venues. With no permanent collection, Roppongi's National Art Center runs an eclectic mix of special exhibitions. For 2025, the lineup includes a look at contemporary Japanese art from 1989 to 2010. Atop the 54-story Roppongi Hills complex, Mori Art Museum's shows have touched upon Japan's underground culture in the 1960s and early 1970s and broached the sensitive topic of AI art. 4. Go on a day trip Nikko Toshogu Shrine enshrines the most famous samurai leader Tokugawa Ieyasu. This is a view of the shrine's Yomeimon Gate. Photograph by Jon Arnold Images Ltd, Alamy Stock Photo In Kanagawa Prefecture, you can see this Daibutsu or Great Buddha statue when visiting the Kotoku-in temple in Kamakura. Photograph by Christopher Tamcke, Alamy Stock Photo Tokyo could keep you busy for weeks, but don't overlook the attractions on the city's doorstep. Within day-trip range, you'll find everything from mountain trails to UNESCO sites. An hour by train to the southwest, the numerous remnants of Kamakaura's time as Japan's seat of power from 1185 to 1333 include Kotokuin temple's Daibutsu (Great Buddha), a weathered 103-ton bronze statue of Amida that has been here since the 1200s. While in Kamakura, licensed guide Haruko Saruwatari suggests stopping by a lesser-known temple like Kakuonji. 'It's so serene. The mid-14th century buildings and surrounding nature here are perfectly harmonized, and the main hall houses several beautiful Yakushi Nyorai buddha statues.' Two hours north of Tokyo by train, another popular side trip is Nikko. Plan a day trip to visit the World Heritage Toshogu Shrine complex, Lake Chuzenji, and ryokan inns, if you want to try a night in traditional tatami rooms. Alternatively, catch a ferry just under two hours to Izu Oshima, the nearest of the Izu Island chain to Tokyo. Go hiking around volcanic Mt. Mihara and then soak in natural hot-spring baths. ( Related: A family-friendly guide to plan a trip to Tokyo with your kids .) 5. Take a cultural class To make your time in Tokyo more immersive, consider signing up for a cultural experience. There's a long list of activities and workshops possible in English. For starters, you could learn how to make sushi, teriyaki fish, and miso soup at one of Tsukiji cooking's classes near Tsukiji Outer Market. At Maikoya in Asakusa, you can try on a kimono and take part in a traditional tea ceremony in English. For a moment of calm, you should consider visiting Rinshoin near Yushima Station. Every weekday morning and on Saturday afternoons, the temple runs Zazen seated meditation sessions. Or try a workshop at Sumida Edo Kiriko-kan, where you can use an Edo-era carving technique to decorate colored glassware. 6. Unwind in a traditional garden Tokyo offers plenty of green spaces to escape from the urban chaos, but for a calming glimpse at the capital's traditional side, you should try one of its historic landscape gardens. The most impressive for photographer John Lander, author of Hidden Gardens of Japan, are Koishikawa Korakuen and Hamarikyu. 'Although they are very well known, they are almost never overly crowded. One can always find a quiet space to admire these gardens in peace,' Lander says. 'Both offer large pond gardens, arched and zigzag bridges, and winding trails that make the visitor forget they are in one of the largest cities on the planet.' (Related: Some of the nicest gardens in Tokyo are hidden behind hotels.) 7. Find good food at a bargain Office workers are known to frequent the restaurants and bars in the popular Shimbashi neighborhood of Tokyo. Photograph by David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection Great Japanese food doesn't have to be expensive, even in the country's priciest city. Waving the flag for comfort food is a low-cost culinary category called b-kyu gurume, or b-class gourmet, which runs the gamut from yakisoba fried noodles to ramen and all sorts of deep-fried food. For a b-kyu dish that hails from the Tokyo area, try monjayaki, a runny batter mixed with chopped ingredients that all turn into savory goo as you cook it on a hotplate. With a little more to spend, you can also find well-priced tasting menus at some high-end restaurants—think 4,000 Japanese Yen (about $27.50) for omakase-style sushi at Manten for 7,700 Japanese Yen (about $53)for a Michelin-starred kaiseki course at Seisoka, where dinner can be 30,000-plus Japanese Yen ($200 or more). (Related: The high art of ramen in Tokyo.) Rob Goss is a freelance writer based in Tokyo, covering travel and culture in Japan. Follow him on Instagram.
National Geographic
17-03-2025
- National Geographic
10 unforgettable experiences for your next trip to Japan
Travelers should visit Senso-ji temple, Tokyo's oldest-established temple located in the city's Asakusa neighborhood. It's just one of 10 things first-time visitors should do when exploring Japan. Travelers should visit Senso-ji temple, Tokyo's oldest-established temple located in the city's Asakusa neighborhood. It's just one of 10 things first-time visitors should do when exploring Japan. Travelers should visit Senso-ji temple, Tokyo's oldest-established temple located in the city's Asakusa neighborhood. It's just one of 10 things first-time visitors should do when exploring Japan. Travelers should visit Senso-ji temple, Tokyo's oldest-established temple located in the city's Asakusa neighborhood. It's just one of 10 things first-time visitors should do when exploring Japan. In a nation as culturally rich as Japan, it can be hard to know how to spend your time there. Here are ten of our favorite things to do. Japan is an alluring destination because of its many juxtapositions. Neon skyscrapers tower over Shinto shrines, and salarymen ride the train next to Harajuku girls. The Land of the Rising Sun also has diverse climates and cultural attractions to please every style of traveler. Adventurers can ski Niseko's slopes or hike Mount Fuji, while food lovers can eat their fill of street snacks in Osaka. Those seeking a more 'Zen' vacation can relax in outdoor hot springs, explore an art-filled island, or join Buddhist monks for morning chants. Here are 10 not-to-be-missed experiences to immerse yourself in Japanese culture. When visiting Japan, travelers can stay at a traditional ryokan with a communal onsen or opt for a private dip in an open-air bath like this one in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Photograph By Jeremie Souteyrat/laif/Redux For centuries, Hakone has been a favorite getaway spot for onsen, or open-air hot springs baths. Stay in a ryokan (traditional inn) with a communal onsen or take a private dip while gazing at Mount Fuji at the luxurious The Hiramatsu Hotels & Resorts Sengokuhara. During the day, join a boat tour of Lake Ashi and ascend the Hakone Ropeway cable car for views of Owakudani, a volcanic valley bubbling from sulfurous vents. For a different perspective, visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum to admire large-scale contemporary sculptures set against the mountains. (Related: Everything you need to know about Japan.) View avantgarde art on Naoshima Island Art aficionados can see the avant-garde work on display in museums and galleries, and found around Naoshima Island, like Yayoi Kusama's 'Pumpkin.' Photograph By Andrew Rowat/Redux Naoshima is a tiny isle on the Seto Inland Sea that has become a hub for groundbreaking art. Reserve tickets to visit the Chichu Art Museum, designed by Tadao Ando. His stark, geometric architecture harmoniously works with the surrounding landscape, highlighted by artwork by James Turrell and Claude Monet. Yayoi Kusama has several sculptures on Naoshima, including an enormous yellow-dotted pumpkin overlooking the shore. Don't miss the Art House Project, which transforms decaying wooden homes into thought-provoking installations. (Related: Where to go in Japan beyond Tokyo.) Visit Harajuku for its hip street-style Tokyo's Harajuku area should be added to your trip itinerary if you enjoy looking for hip street-style clothing. Photograph By David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection Tokyo's Harajuku district has become world-famous for its experimental street fashion. Shop for Goth platform boots and shredded punk jackets on pedestrian street Takeshita Dori. Find frilled Lolita dresses at the secondhand shop Closet Child and candy-rave kawaii accessories at 6% Doki Doki. Shoppers should also head to the department store Laforet for a dozen floors of street-style attire, as well as J-pop art and a Sailor Moon boutique. Snack on street food in Osaka A food vendor at Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka serves skewered grilled eel, mussels, and squid. Photograph By Markus Kirchgessner/laif/Redux (Top) (Left) and Photograph By Mrkit99/ Getty Images (Bottom) (Right) Osaka's Dotonbori neighborhood is a sensory explosion of flashing billboards and smoke wafting from food vendor grills. Take selfies with Glico's retro sign of Running Man (a Korean reality show) and a Godzilla-sized red crab clinging to Kani Doraku seafood restaurant. Follow your nose to stalls hawking takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers). Pop culture fans can dine on dishes decorated to look like cute characters at a theme café like Eorzea, which is inspired by the Final Fantasy XIV video game. (Related: Tried street food in Osaka? Then go to Fukuoka.) Sleep in a temple on Mount Koya For a serene getaway, travelers can stay with monks in a shukubo (temple guesthouse) to participate in their spiritual practice. Koyasan (Mount Koya), the pilgrimage center of Shingon Buddhism, is also home to the Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex. Photograph By Jeremy Horner/Panos Pictures/Redux Koyasan is an ancient Shingon Buddhist center located high in the misty mountains of Wakayama. Visitors can stay with monks in a shukubo (temple guesthouse) and take part in their spiritual practice. Rise at dawn to watch residents chant sutras at an altar and sit with them for a meal of seasonal vegetables and tofu. Visit the 16th-century Kongobu-ji Temple, known for its stunning rock garden and the sliding doors painted by artist Hiroshi Senju. Visitors can also reflect on impermanence at Okunoin, a cemetery with 200,000 moss-covered graves and miniature Buddha statues in red bibs and hats. Explore geisha culture in Kyoto Culture vultures can't miss visiting Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district, seen here with the Yasaka Pagoda in the background. Photograph By Oliver Bolch / Anzenberger/Redux (Top) (Left) and Photograph By Leon Harris / eyevine/Redux (Bottom) (Right) In the 1800s, Kyoto's Gion district was the playground of geisha, the elegant entertainers in intricate kimonos, pale makeup, and stylized wigs. Step back in time at Gion Corner, a theater that keeps its culture alive with tea ceremonies, flower arranging (ikebana), koto music, and dance shows. For a more intimate experience, gather a group of friends for a private kaiseki (multi-course dinner) with geisha entertainment. Or you can get a geisha makeover at a studio and pose for portraits at landmarks like Tatsumi Bridge. (Related: How this Japanese city is keeping the geisha tradition alive.) Feed friendly deer in Nara Approximately 1,200 Sika deer roam freely in Nara Park—one of the oldest public parks in Japan—and around the buildings of the Nara Temple Complex, which includes the Todai-ji Temple. Photograph By Chris Stowers/Panos Pictures/Redux Nara has one of the oldest public parks in Japan, which is home to hundreds of free-roaming deer. The spotted and horned beasts have been protected for over a thousand years, as they are considered the sacred messengers of Shinto gods. Keep a respectful distance as you feed the gentle creatures deer crackers known as shika senbei—some will bow their heads to say thank you. Visitors should not touch the deer but can safely follow the animals as they amble around Nara's serene spaces, such as the large Buddhist complex Todai-ji and the classical Yoshikien and Isuien gardens. Remember Hiroshima's history When visiting Hiroshima, travelers can visit the peaceful Hall of Remembrance in the Peace Memorial Hall to reflect on lives lost after an atomic bomb was dropped on the city on August 6, 1945. Photograph By Jason Edwards, Nat Geo Image Collection Delve into Hiroshima's past and the city's commitment to peace and rebuilding after the 1945 nuclear bombing. The devastation of the atomic bomb attack is palpable at Genbaku Dome, a building reduced to blackened walls and a cobweb-like roof. At the Peace Memorial Museum, bear witness to powerful exhibits—such as a human shadow burnt into stone—and hear the stories of survivors. End the day with a stroll through Memorial Park, a green space with monuments that pay tribute to Hiroshima's resilience. (Related: What locals love about Japan.) Enjoy outdoor activities in Nagano Japanese macaques fall asleep while bathing in a hot spring in Jigokudani, Japan. Photograph By Jasper Doest, Nat Geo Image Collection The 1998 Winter Olympics put Nagano on the map as a year-round nature destination. In the winter, the slopes of Hakuba, Nozawa onsen, and Shiga Kogen take on the perfect powder for skiers and snowboarders. Animal lovers will be amused by the sight of red-faced snow macaques splashing in the hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park. When Nagano warms up, hikers can trek the scenic alpine paths at Kamikochi Valley, as well as the historic Nakasendo Trail that connected Edo to Kyoto in the 17th century. Barhop in Shinjuku Travelers visiting Japan can't miss exploring Tokyo's nightlife, specifically Golden Gai in the city's Shinjuku neighborhood—home to more than 200 tiny bars, clubs, and eateries. Photograph By David Guttenfelder, Nat Geo Image Collection Tokyo's pleasure center, Shinjuku, has hundreds of niche bars that rage all night long. For a glimpse of Japanese subculture, dance with Day-Glo club kids at DecaBarS in Kabukicho. Pop into one of the many bars crammed into the gritty Golden Gai alley. Each has a distinctive theme—from horror movies to karaoke—and some seat only a handful of people. Those intrigued by Shinjuku's LGBTQ+ nightlife can head to Ni-Chome and cheer on the drag queens at Eagle Tokyo Blue. This article was originally published on September 20, 2011, and updated on March 17, 2025. La Carmina is an award-winning travel journalist and blogger, TV host, and Simon & Schuster author, specializing in alternative culture and Japan. Follow her on Instagram Inspiring exploration for over 130 years Subscribe now a get a free tote SUBSCRIBE
