{"id":661,"date":"2016-11-17T05:16:59","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T05:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/14-things-you-have-to-try-in-tokyo\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:21:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:21:55","slug":"14-things-to-do-in-tokyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/14-things-to-do-in-tokyo\/","title":{"rendered":"14 things you have to try in Tokyo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Big cities can be tricky to navigate at the best of times, but when you\u2019ve only got a couple of days up your sleeve it can be even harder. Tokyo<\/a> is full of unique, exciting neighbourhoods, and if you\u2019ve only got a short window of time to explore, you\u2019ve got to be organised. McKean Studio recently took a quick trip to Japan<\/a>, to spend some time in Tokyo. If you\u2019re planning a trip for yourself, here\u2019s a list of what to do with just two days in Tokyo!<\/p>\n

Wherever you\u2019re staying in Tokyo<\/a>, it\u2019s likely that the subway will be your best friend while you\u2019re in town. It\u2019s easy to use (there\u2019s a convenient app you can pre-download to make navigation even simpler) and well serviced \u2013\u00a0buy a full day pass and you won\u2019t need to worry about replacement tickets during the day. You\u2019re already on a time limit, you don\u2019t want to waste precious moments fumbling through the ticket machine each time you want to catch a train!
\n<\/p>\n

Shibuya Crossing<\/h2>\n

The famed intersection in front of Shibuya Station<\/a> is a great place to start your first day (and it\u2019s right at the station, so you\u2019re delivered straight into the action).<\/p>\n

One of the biggest and busiest crossings in the world, the five way crossing surges with people in every direction as soon as the traffic lights turn red, giving it good reason for the moniker \u2018The Scramble\u2019. You can watch the action from some of the walkways throughout Shibuya Station, or for a different vantage point you can try and nab a second-story window seat at the Starbucks that directly overlooks the crossing.<\/p>\n

Tokyu Hands<\/h2>\n

Labelled a \u201cCreative Life Store\u201d, there\u2019s really no better way to describe Tokyu Hands<\/a>. Spanning eight floors in the Shibuya store, it has everything you could want to look for (and all of the things you\u2019d never think to look for as well). DIY projects, stationery, books, crafts, outdoor goods\u2026 the list could go on!
\n<\/p>\n

Loft<\/h2>\n

Similar to Tokyu Hands, Loft<\/a> has a huge assortment of products (but a little less of the craft-based DIY projects). Watches, accessories, homewares and a very fun display on the first floor for \u2018seasonal\u2019 displays are just a few reasons to stop by. Whatever the holiday next on the calendar is (Halloween, Valentine\u2019s Day, Christmas\u2026), this is where you\u2019ll find every festive item you could need to celebrate.<\/p>\n

Genki Sushi<\/h2>\n

If you like your sushi with a side of novelty, then Genki Sushi<\/a> is for you. Stop in for lunch that is fast, fresh, cheap and fun \u2013\u00a0ordered on iPad and delivered to you on a conveyor belt! This is a fun stop, with menus available in a variety of languages on the iPads. Some dishes even have a bonus \u2018roulette\u2019 game when ordering, which might result in a discount on your next meal, or a token to the toy vending machine at the front of the store \u2013 we\u2019re now the proud owners of a sushi stamp after winning a spin!<\/p>\n

Metropolitan Government Building<\/h2>\n

After lunch, it\u2019s time to take in some views! There\u2019s definitely no shortage of sightseeing locations around the city (Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree\u2026) but when you\u2019re short on time the last thing you probably want to be doing is queue. The Metropolitan Government Building<\/a> in Shinjuku is a great option when you\u2019re on a time limit and is also free. You\u2019ll be whisked all the way to the 45th floor via elevator to access the observatory that gives views across the whole city, 202 metres up in the sky. If it\u2019s a clear day you might be lucky enough to spot Mt Fuji, but even amongst the clouds it\u2019s a great view.
\n<\/p>\n

Ueno Park<\/h2>\n

From Shinjuku, nip along to Ueno and into Ueno Park. Home to an assortment of museums (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum<\/a>, National Museum for Western Art<\/a>, Tokyo National Museum<\/a> etc) and the Ueno Zoo, the park is also extremely popular during cherry blossom season. A huge lily pad pond will give you the chance to spot fish and turtles in the water, and behind the pond is a small lake where you can hire Swan Boats to spend the rest of your afternoon pedalling around enjoying the scenery.<\/p>\n

Harajuku<\/h2>\n

Takeshita Street is always busy, but always fun. A train to Harajuku will pop you out at the top of the street so you can get straight to the shopping. Shoes, accessories, and plenty of outfit inspiration from the \u2018Harajuku Girls\u2019 you might spot around the area are waiting. Be sure to grab a fresh crepe from one of the many crepe stands dotted along the street – my theory is the brighter the stand, the better the crepe.<\/p>\n

Totti Candy<\/h2>\n

Tucked away up a small staircase, Totti Candy<\/a> is an Instagram dream. From the mirrors, baubles and buckets of candy to the amazing fairy floss (cotton candy), this place is all about bright pops of colour. The fairy floss is made on the spot, so you get to pick from plenty of different colour combinations and designs. Who knew fairy floss was so creative! A word to the wise if you\u2019re travelling during the warmer months; humidity is a very cruel mistress to fairy floss \u2013 you might be left holding a sticky mess before you can enjoy your colourful treat.
\n<\/p>\n

Opening Ceremony<\/h2>\n

A stroll down Cats Alley in Omotesando, and into Opening Ceremony<\/a> to see the staircase to end all staircases is a must for any design-minded travellers. Several floors of geometric painted stairs await and it needs to be seen to be believed. For the serious shopper, brands like Kenzo, Rodarte, DKNY and Adidas can all be found at Opening Ceremony.<\/p>\n

Dominique Ansel<\/h2>\n

A new outpost from NYC\u2019s most celebrated pastry chef (and inventor of the pastry perfection we now know as the Cronut), Dominique Ansel<\/a> Bakery is a good stop if you still haven\u2019t hit your sugar limit for the day. Cronuts, Cookie Shots and other pastry treats are on display, in a beautifully outfitted space just off the main street.<\/p>\n

Ginza<\/h2>\n

For the last stop of the day, catch a train to Ginza for some high-end shopping. On the weekends, the streets of Ginza are closed to cars, making it perfect for people watching and getting into some serious shopping.<\/p>\n

Uniqlo<\/h2>\n

The Japanese retailer that\u2019s famed for it\u2019s classic shapes and colour variations may have locations around the world, but visiting it in it\u2019s largest home is a must. There are a massive 12 floors of clothing so brace yourself!<\/p>\n

Dover Street Market<\/h2>\n

Right next door to Uniqlo, and accessible across a walkway on several levels, is the inimitable Dover Street Market<\/a>. The brain child of Comme des Gar\u00e7ons founder Rei Kawabuko the store features more than 150 brands carefully curated under one roof. Shop Gucci, Prada, Maison Margiela, Miu Miu, and of course, the whole Comme Des Gar\u00e7ons range in one spot!<\/p>\n

Itoya Stationery<\/h2>\n

Nine levels of stationery heaven. Need I say more? I\u2019ve long pondered the deep, philosophical thought experiment of \u201cif you go to Japan and don\u2019t buy stationery, did you really go to Japan at all?\u201d and Itoya<\/a> is the perfect place to give that some more consideration. And to buy some stationery, obviously.<\/p>\n

Expedia compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site, such compensation may include travel and other costs<\/i>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Big cities can be tricky to navigate at the best of times, but when you\u2019ve only got a couple of days up your sleeve it can be even harder. Tokyo is full of unique, exciting neighbourhoods, and if you\u2019ve only got a short window of time to explore, you\u2019ve got to be organised. McKean Studio… Continue reading 14 things you have to try in Tokyo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,6,2,3,39,14,74],"tags":[204,121,76,219],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asia","category-destination","category-experiences","category-explore","category-food-and-wine","category-interests","category-shopping","tag-japan","tag-markets","tag-shopping","tag-tokyo","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n14 things you have to try in Tokyo - Expedia AU Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/14-things-to-do-in-tokyo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"14 things you have to try in Tokyo - Expedia AU Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Big cities can be tricky to navigate at the best of times, but when you\u2019ve only got a couple of days up your sleeve it can be even harder. 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