By: Bound2explore November 12, 2020

Tokyo is a wonderful city. It is a perfect combination of old world and new world. Where you can find the old tradition among futuristic and modern technology and architectures. From the world of Geisha to Tokyo sky tree to bullet train, you can easily find them in Tokyo. Depending on what you want to do and what is your interest, this ultimate guide to Tokyo will ease your planning process for a trip to Tokyo.

If you want to maximize your time and experience, you need to start planning  on how to get around, things to do and see, where to stay and where to eat especially if you follow a certain strict diet. This ultimate guide to Tokyo will give you step by step on how to plan your amazing trip to Tokyo.

Where should you stay in Tokyo? Tokyo is a massive city filled with different neighborhoods. If you are planning to visit Tokyo during Cherry Blossom festival, the best place to stay will be around Ueno Park where you can see blossoming cherry blossom any time of the day. If you like crowd and people watching then Shibuya neighborhood will be perfect for you. For you who love tradition and like to reminisce in past the Asakusa is the place to be. Personally, I love Asakusa neighborhood. I love watching tourists or residence in kimono and yukata strolling along temples around Asakusa.

Now that you pick your preferred neighborhood, what are things to do and see in Tokyo?

• Relive your childhood dream at Sanrio Puroland

Who doesn’t love hello Kitty and her adorable friends? This super famous character is in every child’s collectible items. This indoor theme park is perfect for younger travelers. But it is also perfect for adult travelers who want to relive their childhood dream. Since it is located a little bit far in Tama New Town, depending where you start your trip, you might have to change the subway line a couple time. This ultimate guide to Tokyo will show you on how to get around and how to get to Sanrio Puroland, check this link for step by step instruction. Hot tip: get a 3 PM Sanrio Puroland coupon for discounted ticket.

• Stop at Meiji Shrine

This is one of Japan’s popular shrine. Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Shibuya.

If you are lucky, sometimes you can see a wedding ceremony being performed inside the Meiji Shrine. You can also write a wish or message on wooden block. Then you can hang your wish/ message on a wishing tree.

• Cross the famous Shibuya Crossing

Nothing is really special about the crossing, but I include this in ultimate guide to Tokyo for anyone who love the crowd. If you want to take a picture at this famous crossing then your trip here will be worth it. For you who love people watching and prefer to enjoy it from a distance, the best place to watch Shibuya crossing is at upper level Starbuck store located right by the crossing. From there you can see entire view of Shibuya Crossing.

• Visit the famous Tokyo Skytree

This tallest tower in the world at 634 meters is a must see when you are in Tokyo.  From the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree Tower, you can see a sweeping view of Tokyo. There is a shopping mall inside Tokyo Skytree Tower. So, when you visit Tokyo Skytree, you can also shop at many stores including Pokemon store.

• Explore Sensoji temple

This is the oldest temple in Tokyo. This ancient Buddhist temple is located in Asakusa neighborhood. You can enter it from Kaminarimon Gate or you can enter it from the back.

The entire complex is really impressive, beside the temple and the gate, you can also enjoy a small Japanese garden with a koi pond. The best time to see the temple is at nighttime when everything is lit up. If you have time, visit it at both time during the day for the garden and nighttime for the temple.

• Take a picture at Kaminarimon Gate

This gate is a gate to enter Sensoji Temple. Behind Kaminarimon Gate, you can find so many souvenirs stores. Here you can find anything from kimono, yukata,  to mini samurai sword or katana. You will pass all these stores before you finally reach Sensoji Temple. If you are looking for souvenirs to bring home, make sure you make a stop at this gate. This is the easiest place to shop for all your souvenirs. Surely this make a list of things to do in ultimate guide to Tokyo.

• Stroll inside Imperial Palace East Garden

This garden is a part of Imperial Palace. Imperial Palace is a residence of the emperor of Japan.

Inside the garden you can find the ruin of Edo castle, where the former emperor Tokugawa Shogun and Emperor Meiji resided before Imperial Palace was constructed.

This place is open for public free of charge.

• Visit Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

It is free to tour Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The building has two towers: south tower and North Tower. You can access both towers free of charge. Each tower offers observation area where you can see a sweeping view of Tokyo. This is a perfect stop whenever you are in Shinjuku neighborhood.

• Shop at Don Quijote Store

This is just a chain store. But in Japan, even a chain store sells unique stuffs and delicious food. From souvenirs, matcha, cosmetics, Japanese rice cracker to cheesecake. You can bring home their Japanese rice cracker as souvenirs and their cheesecake is the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten.

• Try a kimono or yakuta

Yakuta is a light version of kimono, usually Japanese wear them during summer. So, you can choose to rent or buy a kimono or yakuta. Many places around Tokyo rent kimono/yakuta. Some places even style your hair and do your make up for a photoshoot. Best place to rent is in Asakusa. It is close to temples so you can stroll along in your kimono around the temples. If you prefer old style mode of transportation, the rickshaws are there to take you around the neighborhood for a complete experience. I mean, where else you can pretend a life of Geisha?

• Try authentic Japanese food

Japanese ice cream is so delicious and it looks so cute. You definitely have to try it. So, while you are in Tokyo, eat all of their scrumptious food, from ice cream, to hibachi, teriyaki, sushi, tempura to their super famous Ramen noodle. For places to eat around Tokyo, check this link.

• Explore Harajuku

If you like or interested in Harajuku style, this is a place you want to explore. Harajuku area or neighborhood is an area around Harajuku Station in Tokyo. This is like a center of Japanese pop culture. Where you can see girls dressing up in Harajuku style (a mix of all well-known Japanese sub styles). As a center of Japanese youth culture and fashion, here, you can find many small youth- oriented shops and boutique. If you love characters from Line, such as brown and Cony, you can easily spend some of your money to buy souvenirs from Line store in Harajuku.

• Walk inside Ueno Park

Ueno Cherry Blossom festival is an annual event at Ueno Park. Next year the festival is scheduled from late March to early April, 2021. This is the best place in Tokyo to enjoy and celebrate Cherry Blossom. If you happen to visit Tokyo outside Cherry Blossom season, Ueno Park still offers you many things to enjoy and see, including its temples and beautiful garden.