Curator’s statement
I recently spent an incredible 5 days in Tokyo with my family. We marveled at the city's size, the precision of its operations, the perfection of every meal we ate and the dichotomy between ancient temples and neon lights. It was our first trip to Japan and while we covered a ton of ground, I feel like we only scratched the surface. Tokyo is already calling me back.
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Where to stay in Tokyo, Japan
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Things to do in Tokyo, Japan
Shibuya
Sensoji Temple: Tokyo’s oldest and most iconic Buddhist temple, completed in 645 AD. Enter at Kaminarimon Gate and stand under the giant lantern—it’s considered good luck!
Tsukiji Fish Market: Arrive early to beat the crowds. Then make your way through the maze of stalls to sample some delicious fatty tuna, wagyu beef skewers, cream-filled mochi, and matcha!
Shibuya: We loved walking through the high-energy neighborhood of Shibuya with tons of stores. This included a must-stop for my girls at the Sony & Smi (Sonny Angels) store.
Vintage shopping from the high-end boutiques in Omotesando and Harajuku to the more affordable Shimokitazawa (which has a high concentration of men’s stores).
The dazzling neon lights at night in Shinjuku were definitely something to see. We then headed to the arcades in the area, where we had a lot of fun trying to win prizes out of one of the 100’s of claw machines.
Azabudai Hills: A beautiful complex with modern architecture, lots of green space, and features high-end restaurants and shopping as well as Teamlab Borderless and interactive experience for the whole family.
Pet cafes: My kids had a ball at the mini pig cafe in Harajuku, where they got to play with little pigs. Tokyo has a number of other pet cafes, including cats, dogs, and even otters!
Need to know
Download the Table Check app before you go and make any must-try reservations in advance. In general, reservations are required for most meals at restaurants in Tokyo.
Purchase a PASMO card at the train or subway station (which can then be loaded onto Apple Pay) for ease of use to get around public transport. It also works at vending machines!
Google Lens is a great tool to help interpret Japanese Kana writing.
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Tokyo page.