Top things to do in Tokyo

The world's biggest city: neon, shrines, and the Michelin stars.

• Shibuya Crossing & Hachiko — The scramble: the world's busiest crossing, the Shibuya Sky view.
• Senso-ji (Asakusa) — The 628 AD temple: the Kaminarimon gate, Nakamise's snacks — go early.
• Meiji Shrine & Harajuku — The shrine forest in the city; Takeshita's youth fashion next door.
• Shinjuku: Gyoen, Golden Gai, the towers — The garden, the six alleys of tiny bars, the free observatory at the Metropolitan Government Building.
• Akihabara / teamLab — The electric town; teamLab Planets' digital art (book ahead).
• Ueno: museums & the park — The National Museum, the zoo, the lotus pond — the culture day.
• Tsukiji outer market / Toyosu — The outer market's street food; the tuna auction at Toyosu (book ahead).

Free things to do in Tokyo

Tokyo is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:

• Meiji Shrine (grounds) — The forest and shrine: free.
• Metropolitan Government observatory — The free observatory: the city panorama.
• Shinjuku Gyoen (small fee) — The garden: the entry is minimal.
• Yoyogi Park — The park: free.
• Senso-ji (temple) — The temple: free.
• Harajuku/Takeshita — The streets: free.

Festivals & the religious calendar

The town's own festivals:

• Sanja Matsuri (May (third weekend)) — Asakusa's great festival: the mikoshi, the crowds — Tokyo's wildest weekend.
• Kanda Matsuri (May (odd years)) — The alternate-year great festival: the parades through the business district.
• Sumida River Fireworks (late July) — The million-strong fireworks: the summer signature.
• Cherry blossom (Ueno/Shinjuku) (late March–early April) — Hanami: the parks' picnic parties — the national ritual.

And the national calendar:

• Cherry blossom season (late March–early April) — Hanami: picnic parties under the blossoms — the national spring ritual.
• Golden Week (late April–early May) — The clustered holidays: the year's biggest domestic travel peak; book ahead.
• Obon (mid-August) — Honouring ancestors: bon dances, lanterns, family returns.
• New Year (Shōgatsu) (1–3 January) — Hatsumode (first shrine visit), osechi food, nengajo cards — quieter and more traditional than the Western NYE.

Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.

Sports: Baseball

The Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome: Japanese baseball's cathedral — the cheer sections, the balloons (check current customs). The Yakult Swallows (Jingu Stadium, the umbrellas) and Seibu Lions complete the city's three. Sumo: the Ryogoku Kokugikan tournaments (January, May, September) are the essential Japanese sport.

Football: FC Tokyo/Urawa nearby. Marathon: the Tokyo Marathon (March) is a World Major. The 2020 Olympics' venues dot the bay.

Tickets: official site

What's new in Tokyo

teamLab's new spaces keep opening — book ahead. The cruise terminal's schedule grows. Festival dates are confirmed yearly; the sumo tournament months (Jan/May/Sep) book out.

Submit your event

Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.

Common questions

More to explore in Tokyo