Top 10 Things to Do in Tokyo [2024]

Below we have created my list of the top things to do in Tokyo, to help you further plan your visit and make the most of your time in the amazing city of Tokyo.  We have done most of these experiences ourselves so are well placed to make recommendations!

Top Ten Things to Do in Tokyo

Below is our personally curated list of the top things to do in Tokyo – check them out, and make your decisions early to have the best chance of success to get into your preferred activity!

1. Street Go Karting Experience in Akihabara

A very popular activity for adults in Tokyo is the Street Go Karting experience, where you dress up in character onesies and drive through the streets of Tokyo in a Go Kart. 

The tour comes with guides, and you have a guide at the front and one at the rear to ensure your safety and to help you with confidence to drive through the streets of Tokyo.  You MUST have a drivers licence AND purchase an International Drivers Permit (which is essentially a translation of your drivers licence) before you depart your home country to do this tour.  You cannot take your children with you on this tour as each Kart can only seat one person.

Click here to check out and purchase your Akihabara Street Go Karting Experience tour through Viator

Street Go Karting in Asakusa, Tokyo
Street Go Karting in Asakusa, Tokyo

2. Sumo Experiences

Most visitors to Japan are intrigued to learn more about Sumo Wrestling, and there are a great range of options to do this. 

Sumo Wrestling Tournament

Sumo Wrestling tournaments are only held six times per year in Japan. Note that tickets sell out quickly so get in early to have the best chance for success.  Click here to check out our detailed article on how to book your sumo wrestling tickets, which includes tournament dates and much more to help you plan your sumo wrestling experience!

Click here to check out and book your Tokyo sumo wrestling tickets through Viator

Sumo Second Throwdown!
Sumo Throwdown!

Sumo Training Session

Watching a sumo training session is the best option to experience sumo wrestling in Tokyo during the Olympics.  Viator offers a great option to watch a sumo wrestling training session in Tokyo.  Note for families that that viewers must be able to sit quietly on cushions on the floor, so this activity will not be suitable for younger children.  If you require a chair to sit on then please make this request when you make your booking.  We really enjoyed watching a sumo training session during our recent visit to Japan and would definitely recommend it to our readers!

Sumo training sessions sell out very early so for the best chance for success ensure you make your booking very early.

Click here to check out and book your Sumo Stable Tour through Viator

Sumo Training Exercise
Sumo Training Exercise

Sumo Show Experience with Chanko Lunch

Another great option to have a sumo experience in Tokyo is to watch a Sumo Show and have a traditional Chanko Lunch.  Sumo show location options include in Asakusa and Ryogoku.  This option is also great for families!  The venues are both stroller and wheelchair accessible.

The show includes a sumo wrestling demonstration, a traditional sumo style Chanko lunch, the opportunity to learn some moves and try to wrestle with the sumo wrestler!

The Sumo Show experience tickets usually becomes available 2-3 months prior.  Children 0-6 years old are free of charge, however will not be provided with separate seating or lunch.  Klook offers a full refund if you cancel by 7 days prior.

Click here to check out and book your Sumo Show Experience through Klook

3. Ghibli Museum

The Ghibli Museum is a very popular options for families and anime fans.  If you have ever watched Ghibli movie classics such as ‘Spirited Away’, ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ and ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ then a visit to the Ghibli Museum is a great option to learn more about the history of Japanese anime. 

When we visited the museum it was fascinating to see how anime has evolved over the years, and their displays showing the evolution of animation and the Ghibli story and artwork development processes were amazing!  You also get the opportunity to watch a short Ghibli Studios film during your visit.  Onsite is also a lovely café and shop.  Note that to get to the Ghibli museum you will need to travel by train approximately 45 minutes west of central Tokyo.

Ghibli Museum on the Roof - our family with the Robot
Ghibli Museum on the Roof – our family with the Robot

Viator has a great option to pre-reserve your Ghibli Museum tickets.

Click here to check out and pre-order your Ghibli Museum tickets through Viator

4. Teamlab Planets Digital Art Exhibition

One of our children’s favourite Tokyo attractions for kids (and us!) was to visit the teamLab Planets Digital Art Exhibition in Toyosu.  You have a fully immersive experience of sensation, lights, sounds and much more.  See some of our photos below to see a taste of what you will experience.

You have to remove your shoes and socks as this exhibit also includes wading through calf deep water on two occasions, so also bring a change of clothes for smaller children as there is every chance they will get wet!

You need to book ahead to get timed entry tickets for a fully immersive experience.  They hold strictly to the allocated timings so ensure you arrive for your timeslot.  teamLab Japan Planets has a one way flow through the exhibition and takes 1 to 1.5 hours to complete the course.

Click here to check out and book your teamLab Planets tickets through Klook

teamLab Planets - The Crystal Room
teamLab Planets – The Crystal Room
teamLab Planets - the Water Room
teamLab Planets – the Water Room

5. Mt Fuji Day Tour

The opportunity to view Mt Fuji is a top activity for most visitors to Japan and a day tour from Tokyo is a great option. However, Mt Fuji can often be elusive and unable to be viewed, so if you are planning to book a day tour, you should also spend some time considering other activities you may wish to do in either the Kawaguchiko or Hakone areas.

We have written a detailed article on the best Mt Fuji tours which you can check out here, which includes maps and an overview of each of the major destinations to help you choose the day tour option to suit you best.

Klook has a large selection of day tour options so you can also click on the below link to see the options!  Please check your preferred day tour options to confirm the advance booking period and cancellation conditions.

Click here to check out and book your Mt Fuji Day Tour through Klook

View of Mt Fuji at sunset from Oishi Park on Lake Kawaguchi
View of Mt Fuji at sunset from Oishi Park on Lake Kawaguchi

6. Fly in a Helicopter Over Tokyo

An option you may not have thought of for your visit to Tokyo is to take either a day or night time helicopter flight over Tokyo.  We recently did a night time flight over Tokyo and loved it!  It was fantastic to really see how large the city is, and fly over tourist hot spots like Odaiba, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa and more.  During a day time flight you may also have the chance to see Mt Fuji.  Click here to check out our detailed review article of our helicopter flight over Tokyo.

Click here to check out and book your Tokyo Helicopter Flight options through Viator 

Tokyo Helicopter Tour Family Photo
Tokyo Helicopter Tour Family Photo
View of the Tokyo Skytree during our Family Helicopter Flight over Tokyo
View of the Tokyo Skytree during our Family Helicopter Flight over Tokyo

7. Dress in a Kimono and Explore Tokyo

One of the experiences we really enjoyed as a family was dressing in kimonos for the first time and learning more about how many layers and steps are involved to fit them properly!  We would definitely recommend that you plan to dress in kimonos during your visit to Japan.  One of the major areas where there are many options to rent kimonos and explore is in the Asakusa area, however there are also other parts of Tokyo where you can also rent a kimono.

Our family dressed in kimonos in Asakusa!
Our family dressed in kimonos in Asakusa!

Klook offers a great selection of kimono rental options, many of them where you can purchase a professional photo shoot as an add on option.  Most also offer kimono rental packages for families, couple and groups.  I suggest you check out the range of options available at the below link to find the one which will suit your group the best.  Also check the cancellation conditions of each package before booking.

Click here to check out the Kimono Rental Options and book through Klook

8. Do a Tokyo Foodie Tour

We really enjoyed doing food tours in Tokyo – they give you a much richer experience having a knowledgeable guide to explain what you are seeing and encouraging you to try things which may be out of your comfort zone!

Klook offers a great range of foodie tours in different parts of Tokyo.  Options range from a Tsukiji Outer Seafood Market tour, After 5 tours, street food, making sushi and a sake tasting tour!  Check on the below link to check out the options.

Click here to check out and book a foodie tour of Tokyo through Klook

Ice Cream in Tsukiji Market
Ice Cream in Tsukiji Market

9. Disneyland and Disneysea Theme Parks in Tokyo

One of the top Japanese activities in Tokyo for both adults and kids is to visit Disneyland and/or Disneysea Theme Parks in Tokyo!  Disneyland Tokyo is themed very similarly to Disneyland Hong Kong and Disneyland in LA, so if you have already been to other Disney theme parks then you should choose Disneysea which is unique to Japan.  If it is your first ever Disney theme park visit then you can choose either option.

Click here to book your Disneyland and Disneysea tickets through Klook

Disneysea Tokyo Going Underground...
Disneysea Tokyo Going Underground…

10. Asakusa Walking Tour

Guided tours are a great option for visitors to learn more about the Japanese culture, rather than just visiting a tourist attraction and trying to understand what you are observing. 

The Classic Asakusa Walking Tour through Klook enables you to learn more about the historic Asakusa area by visiting Senso-ji Temple, the Nakamise Food Street and Kappa Bashi Kitchen street. You can also choose the options to either dress in a kimono, ride in a rickshaw or participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

Click here to book the Classic Asakusa Walking Tour through Klook

Join the Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group

Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group

Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.