Is Tokyo really worth it ?

12 comments

1. It’s perfectly fine to not bother spending much time in Tokyo. If you’re not that interested in Tokyo, I usually suggest people go immediately to their destination (without stopping in Tokyo overnight) after they get off the plane if they can. Then, at the end, you can maybe spend one or two nights in Tokyo to do some shopping for souvenirs, eat some last meals in Japan that you didn’t get enough of during your trip, etc.

   I think that’s perfectly fine for anyone but especially if you’ve already done a lot of the stuff there is to “do” in Tokyo, I mean, it’s your vacation. Do what you want.

2. For me, the main attractions of Tokyo are museums.

3. I guess the answer is that it’s up to what your interests are. If you have already been to Tokyo once and you’re more into Japan for the historical sites and nature then maybe skipping Tokyo is an option.

   However it goes without saying that Tokyo is a lot more than shopping and a crosswalk. I can give you more detailed advice on Tokyo but I’d need to know more about what your interests are.

4. Worth for what…

   That’s a very, very strange question to be honest. I’ve been living in Tokyo for 25 years, I still go out every weekend and find out something new to see, eat or do.

   In terms of history, it’s not as long as Kyoto, but has some extremely important relics and remnants here and there, unless you don’t care about the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji restoration or WW2, in which case fair enough, but if your family has already visited maybe now would be the time to document a bit about the history of the country, you’ll see that tons of shit are worth seeing in Tokyo. Tokyo (/Edo) was the political capital for 420 years, it shows.

   You’ve got ward museums that would put some provincial city museums to shame, Osaka may have good food from time to time, but it does not come close to the variety of what you find in Tokyo. Nightlife is unmatched. Same goes for shows, art exhibitions, etc. Even if you’ve been 10 times to Tokyo, you’ll find something to do or see for your 11th.

   You’re probably looking at sites for tourists that visit the city for the first time.

   So, what are you interested in ?

5. It depends on the person. IMO, the best thing about Tokyo is that it has so many different centers and districts that have their own individual feel to them, and it’s big enough that even relatively small districts like Nakano, Koenji, and Takadanobaba have more of a non-corporate, neighborhood feel while still being comparable in size to mid-sized city centers.

6. Yes and no. I love Tokyo that I don’t really mind spending 2 whole weeks in Tokyo alone, not even going out to other prefecture. While my friend who doesn’t like city life will only stay in Tokyo for a couple days. And I could say the same thing towards nature, I don’t really love beach so Pattaya, Bali, Hawaii, etc.. are not a thing for me so I will only stay there for a day or two, while my friend who loves nature could spend weeks in that area.

   It’s all depends on you, what do you want to do and see on your next trip? If you’re only going to the same places as your last trip which you don’t find attractive then it’s not exactly worth it. Perhaps find other area you never been to in Tokyo or choose a different city like Yokohama instead.

7. I recommend going up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. It’s free, and has some amazing views of Tokyo. Especially at night. You’re also in Shinjuku which is always amazing to walk around at night; seeing all the lights and taking in the atmosphere.

   Another spot to visit is Odaiba. It’s quiet and more relaxed there. There’s also a small beach with an amazing view of the Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo skyline. Again, better at night as it’s all light up and they play relaxing music on loudspeakers.

   There’s also some nice temples and shrines to visit. Meiji Shrine is very nice and next to Yoyogi park which is worth a visit, maybe take a picnic with you there. You can hire bicycles to cycle around the park.

   Then there’s Asakusa with the Sensouji Temple and if you fancy it, go up the Tokyo Sky Tree. Not far from Asakusa is Ueno which is home to a few museums and that’s not far from Akihabara where you can have a go in some of the arcades that are still there.

   Edit: i forgot to add that there’s the Ghibli Museum if you’re interested in that (though I’m not sure if it’s open?)

   There’s plenty for a family to do outside of shopping in Tokyo. I’ve been a few times and I’m always finding new things I want to do the next time I visit. If you’re not big city people I’d say 2 or 3 days is enough to get a taste of it, but it’s definitely worth a visit.

8. Like many large cities in the world the amount of interesting things you find in a city is proportional to the amount of effort you put in exploring it. If you stick to the main business districts and the main streets everything can get boring pretty quickly. Start going down alleys and you can find tiny shinto shrines in unexpected places. Walk down a seemingly residential neighborhood and you might end up finding a bakery with the most amazing bread you’ve ever had. Going along the green belts that hug the rivers and you may find a relaxing and peaceful environment to chill. Go to another neighborhood and you may find newly dyed fabrics drying near a river.

   Tokyo is full of interesting things to see and do. It’s not just the 23 special wards. There are pristine mountains on the western edges and tiny islands off the coast of Japan. That being said some places take patience and effort to find. Other places might be considered too far out of the way. If you want to just explore more of the country of Japan and see different local cultures then that is a totally valid thing to do as well.

9. Tokyo always has stuff going on. From festivals to events to great food to people watching to general exploring of the tokyo labyrinth, I’ve never had a boring day in Tokyo.

10. Check out some specialized itineraries such as the Art Lovers Itinerary to see if these suit your interests. If you’ve already done a lot of the ‘Japan’ stuff elsewhere you may want to explore some less well known areas and things to do. For example, sites like Time Out Tokyo and Tokyo Weekender list upcoming events/activities each week that you may want to factor in. I think if you plan to spend 3 days in Tokyo and then head to Hakone for a night or two you might find a good balance. There’s also places like Kawagoe that are day trips from central Tokyo but might be more your style. Really, just Google Tokyo + whatever your hobby/interest is and you’ll likely find lots of great ideas. Check out Paolo in Tokyo on YouTube too for some excellent ideas that aren’t just the same basic touristy stuff all the other vloggers post.

    – [Truly Tokyo: Itineraries](https://trulytokyo.com/tokyo-itineraries/)
    – [Atlas Obscura Tokyo: 150 Things to Do (double check locations on Google maps as some things may have closed during Covid)](https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/tokyo-japan)
    – [12 Unique Tokyo Neighborhoods](https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002322/)
    – [Top 25 Easy Day Trips From Tokyo](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/easy-day-trips-from-tokyo/)
    – [10 Best Nature Spots in Tokyo](https://jw-webmagazine.com/10-best-nature-spots-in-tokyo/)
    – [TimeOut Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo)
    – [Tokyo Weekender](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/)
    – [Savvy Tokyo](https://savvytokyo.com)
    – [Tokyo Zebras/Paolo From Tokyo](https://www.tokyozebra.com/)

    If you aren’t city people and prefer nature/outdoors head to the mountains or up north to Tohoku or Hokkaido. In summer it’ll be far less humid than in Kanto/Tokyo anyways. Here’s some of my fave trips to Nagano and Tohoku:

    – [Trip Report: Long Weekend in Matsumoto and Waterfalls in Norikura](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/piyive/summer_weekend_in_matsumoto_and_waterfalls_in/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
    – [Trip Report: Weekend in Takayama](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mg8ir9/autumn_weekend_in_takayama_gifu_prefecture/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
    – [Trip Report: Samurai History in Aizuwakamatsu](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/metuf4/samurai_history_in_aizuwakamatsu_in_fukushima/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
    – [Trip Report: Aomori and Samurai History in Kakunodate](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/nahtfk/chasing_cherry_blossoms_in_aomori_and_samurai/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)

    And if Tokyo isn’t your jam, it’s not your jam. No need to force yourself to stay longer m Tokyo then you want just cuz you feel like you ‘should’. There’s sooooooo much more to Japan than the city centers and most tourists never get to see it. 🙂

    Happy Planning!

11. The first 2 times I visited Japan, I also only went there for shopping and eating. But now I plan a Tokyo-only visit and I found so many things that you can do. Of course, if it were your first time in Japan, and you’re mainly interested in traditional things, then I would also skip Tokyo in favour of Kyoto and other more historical cities. But if you have already seen the Kyoto area, then Tokyo has still a lot of temples, shrines, historical streets and parks/gardens to offer. The most famous spots are Asakusa shrine and Imperial palace. I don’t know were you have researched, but japan-guide.com and tokyocheapo.com list tons of historical sights in Tokyo.

12. You can’t find enough to do in Tokyo for 2-3 days?