Hello! I will be traveling this autumn (late september- early october, depending on how quickly my visa is accepted) to meet my long-term partner after two years apart. Unfortunately, because he is Japanese and working at a very stereotypically Japanese company, he does not have enough free time to go on trips outside of the weekend. As such, going anywhere else besides Tokyo is reserved for the weekends, and the rest of the days will be spent in the city. I already have some activities planned ( both for date spots and while I’m “solo” in the morning while he’s working) but I was wondering if any of you have any advice of some lesser known things to do while in Tokyo.
So far I have planned:
\- trips to museums: Mori Art Museum, National Art Center, Tokyo metropolitan art museum, Ghibli, and TeamLab ( the one closing later this year, I think it was planets?). These will all be in different days.
\- Ice skating rink near meiji jingu
\- Roller skating at Tokyo Dome
\- Arcade games date at Akihabara
\- Cafe date at Harry Potter cafe in Akasaka
\- Odaiba to see the huge Gundam ( he’s a big Gundam fan) and the various gunpla available
\- Shopping together for a day or two
\- Sumida river dinner cruise
\- Ueno park & Zoo
\- Osaka ( USJ) trip in the weekend
I know this is not the most exciting itinerary, but the purpose of the trip is to finally meet my partner after a long time, so super high tension activities are not my priority. Still, I will be spending mornings alone while he’s working, so I’m open to any suggestions for what would be fun to do as a solo traveler. Similarly, I’m not very experienced in dating, so if you know any cool, cute or interesting things we could do as a couple in Tokyo I’d also love to hear it.
Thank you in advance!
4 comments
While your partner may have to work during the week and can’t go on day trips – you can actually take some half-day trips to Yokohama, Kamakura, Kawagoe, Sawara, Omiya (bonsai museum and train museum) to relax.
Tokyo has plenty of gardens, parks, museums and galleries to explore on your own. Thus said, finding something ‘unexplored’ that is not on Japan-Guide’s, JNTO’s, Tokyo Cheapo’s or Time Out Tokyo’s lists is something that rarely happens.
As for date spots – Ueno Park & Zoo would work as weekend spot due to opening hours and this is probably not an area, where I would take my date. If you need to combine greenery and zoo, then Inokashira-koen, Zoorasia in Yokohama, or Tama Zoo seem like a much better idea.
A stroll down Meguro River and a snack at one of the cafes there, experiencing Shimokitazawa, Koenji or Kichijoji together may also be fun.
As far as arcades go – probably finding one that would work for you in Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ikebukuro would make more sense than sticking to Akihabara, as the latter is somewhat a barren desert, when it comes to good food and you may find yourself moving to Ochanomizu or Kanda to grab a bite.
There’s so much to do/see in the Tokyo area both by yourself on weekdays and on the weekend with your partner. What are your personal interests/hobbies? Try to seek those out in Tokyo during the time you’re on your own too. If you want another pretty easy weekend trip, try Kusatsu Onsen. I saw a lot of couples there when we visited. Depending on weather/dates, the roses might be blooming along the Arakawa streetcar line or you might be able to get tickets to the September Sumo Tournament. TeamLab Planets would be an awesome date night you could do on a weekday too if your partner doesn’t work too late.
– [Top 25 Easy Day Trips from Tokyo](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/easy-day-trips-from-tokyo/)
– [Trip Report: Kusatsu Onsen Weekend](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/meafbh/trip_report_kusatsu_onsen_in_gunma/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
– [Trip Report: Roses Along the Arakawa Line](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/nf7hgc/tokyo_day_trip_rose_spotting_on_the_toden_arakawa/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
– [September in Tokyo](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_train_station/article-a0003563/)
– [Japan Web: September in Tokyo](https://jw-webmagazine.com/tokyo-in-september-best-things-to-do/)
– [TimeOut: TeamLab Planets Still Open](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/not-closing-soon-teamlab-planets-in-tokyo-will-now-be-open-until-end-2023-090122)
– [TimeOut Tokyo Website](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo)
I hope you have an amazing time together finally!
As for your solo activities, I recommend following activities:
-If you love to walk around like me, Tokyo is definitely the best place on earth. For example, areas around Harajuku to Shibuya are fun to strawl (Meiji jingu shrine, Yoyogi Park, Miyashita Park[*Not park but mall], cloth shops around Meiji street or Daikanyama ).
-Also, as mithdraug commented, a half-day train trip to the adjacent Kanagawa prefecture is really a good option. For example, Kamakura (Great Budha statue and other historical sites), Minato-mirai or Sakuragicho (shopping and sea-side view), Yokosuka (Battleship Mikasa, seafood, and Ameican influenced Culture) and Hakone (Hotsprings) are great place to visit.
-Short cruise between Odaiba area to Asakusa by water bus ([https://www.suijobus.co.jp/en/](https://www.suijobus.co.jp/en/))
-If you are fine with public bath experince, try Super Sento (public bath/onsen) facilities such as “Saya no Yudokoro” ([https://www.sayanoyudokoro.co.jp/english/](https://www.sayanoyudokoro.co.jp/english/)) or “Spa Laqua” ([https://www.laqua.jp/en/](https://www.laqua.jp/en/)).
-If you can read Japanese comics, Comic Cafe (Internet Cafe）is a good way to kill time. My recommenation is a franchise called “Gran Cyber Cafe Bagus”
-If you are an outdoor person, hiking at Mt. Takao ([https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/](https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/)) or at Okutama rejion such as Nippara Cave ([https://www.ohtama.or.jp/sightseeing/330.html](https://www.ohtama.or.jp/sightseeing/330.html)) and Mt. Mitake ([https://www.ohtama.or.jp/sightseeing/169.html](https://www.ohtama.or.jp/sightseeing/169.html)) would be a good option (easy to access, not so hard).
Other specific places not mentioned in your comment and I can recommend are as follows:
-Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum ([https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/](https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/)). Adjecent Institute for Nature Park ([https://ins.kahaku.go.jp/english/index.php](https://ins.kahaku.go.jp/english/index.php)) is also fun to visit. The area around there are sophisticated and really a good place to strawl.
-Shinjuku Gyoen Park and its Botanical Garden ([https://fng.or.jp/shinjuku/en/](https://fng.or.jp/shinjuku/en/))
-Miyashita Park ([https://www.miyashita-park.tokyo/](https://www.miyashita-park.tokyo/)) for shopping
-Imperial Palce East Garden ([https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3018.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3018.html))
-Tokyo Open-air Architectual Museum ([https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/](https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/))
-Tokyo National Museum of Science （[https://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/）](https://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/)
-Tokyo National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovations ([https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/](https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/))
-Sunshine Aquarium ([https://sunshinecity.jp/en/aquarium/](https://sunshinecity.jp/en/aquarium/))
-Tokyo Sky Tree ([https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/](https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/)) or Tokyo Tower ([https://www.tokyotower.co.jp/en/](https://www.tokyotower.co.jp/en/)) , if you’d like to see good view
-Rainbow bridge promenade ([https://www.japan.travel/en/tokyo2020/crossing-rainbow-bridge-foot/](https://www.japan.travel/en/tokyo2020/crossing-rainbow-bridge-foot/)); You can cross Tokyo bay from Shibaura-futo station to Odaiba area or vise versa.
I highly recommend enoshima it’s amazing