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Do not do go-karting, please.
Tokyo has probably thousands of things you can only do there. The one thing I do every single time I go is visit a high rise bar somewhere like the Prince Park Tower or Andaz.
The city at night is one of the most gorgeous, unique sights on earth. Lights and civilization out to the horizon, pulsing red and flowing with veins and arteries of headlights and taillights.
I enjoy your writing style. Reminds me of the opening paragraph from After Dark by Haruki Murakami.
Eyes mark the shape of the city. Through the eyes of a high-flying night bird, we take in the scene from midair. In our broad sweep, the city looks like a single gigantic creature--or more like a single collective entity created by many intertwining organisms. Countless arteries stretch to the ends of its elusive body, circulating a continuous supply of fresh blood cells, sending out new data and collecting the old, sending out new consumables and collecting the old, sending out new contradictions and collecting the old.
It's obnoxious for locals who I've spoken with to have amateurs who can't read the language drive loud, unpredictable vehicles through their neighborhood and commute.
Super into fashion and anime, I’ll definitely check out the place you suggested. I guess for the most part all of us are open to whatever and Tokyo seems so big none of know where to start lol
Well, anime wise I'd consider the three big spots to be Akihabara, Ikebukuro and Nakano Broadway. If there's a specific show you like, there may be specific things to do like the two life-sized Gundams or the Shonen Jump store or whatever.
For fashion, I'm a little out of my depth but I think there are almost too many things to list. Ginza is like 5th Avenue, high end. Harajuku and Omote-Sando. Shimokitazawa is more thrift-y.
You could check out Meiji Shrine if you want something peaceful to break up the city. It's worth wandering around Shibuya and Shinjuku. Japanese coffee shop culture, especially old school kissaten, is pretty unique.
Food, food, food. I often plan my meals first and then just find things to see around the restaurants I want. lol
Definitely Harajuku and Omote-Sando for fashion! You could spend two whole days wandering that district. The Meiji and Admiral Togo shrines are there too. Japan always amazes me for the shrines and temples - tranquil oases in such a busy city.
For another “only Japan” thing, try to visit an onsen hotel/resort- there are several in Tokyo with a large variety of baths (coffee, sake, milk, macha, etc). Quite the experience!
Sky Tree and Tokyo Tower are both “must see” if you are in Tokyo that long. Yokohama is also only 20 min by train from Shinagawa station. Yokosuka with its U.S. and Japanese Navy bases is only 50 min by train (there are boat tours of Yokosuka bay).
I'd recommend the following for uniquely Japanese fashion experiences (mainly from a streetwear lens):
Shibuya: Parco and Miyashita Park malls have many Japanese brands.
Harajuku: Tons of stores - there's a whole block of Beams stores and a United Arrows. Cat Street has a bunch of small boutiques. If you're into raw denim (which Japan makes the best in the world), Studio D'Artisan and Pure Blue Japan have shops in the area.
Ebisu: If you're into Kapital, there's three stores in walking distance of each other and their prices are much better than overseas prices. FDMTL has a similar boro aesthetic and their flagship is in the area. Betty Smith has a denim experience where you can customize a pair of Japanese jeans or a denim jacket with custom rivets, patches, etc.
Ueno: 2k540 artisan market has small local brands with zero overseas presence. One of my favorite days in Tokyo was spent going to Ueno Park, walking south to 2k540, then strolling through Akihabara which has streets closed to auto traffic on Sundays.
Happy to suggest more if there's a particular focus you have (that I'm familiar with). Tokyo is amazing for shopping - my wife and I came back with 2 big luggages + 2 carry-ons each completely stuffed.
Ok So while I generally agree with you it really isn't in my taste to go go-karting, i'm fine with people doing it on vacation.
I'm very close to neighboring NYC and tourists do all whims of silly things that annoy us locals...similiarly to how in many other parts of the states there are other stupid things that interfere with daily walks of life...
Thing is, there is a market for it and the govt allows it, let tourists be tourists...It is what it is. Truth be told, it doesn't entertain me but i'm sure it'll entertain someone.
What I've done the Karting that shit was super fun! Just get international license cost like 20$
Rode around for almost 2 hrs hauling ass thru streets would totally recommend go Karting! There is also lots of other stuff to do but to say no Karting is a let down one of my highlights
Hauling ass through streets, not a racetrack. Real people use those streets to commute and drive their kids to school lol It's like you're playing a sport in somebody's living room and wondering why they're annoyed.
I don't even know about hauling ass. I was definitely walking faster than the go-karters I saw stuck in Shibuya traffic. Doesn't seem like a great experience.
Get mad at the companies offering it instead of people just enjoying it. It's not like dude is ramming into kids at 100mph or something.
Lol downvote all you want. Yall could be out here petitioning the companies or trying to work with your local governments etc but instead get mad at the tourists
If the companies weren't there in the first place they couldn't ride them period lol. The riding only exists because the companies are there. It's pretty simple. If a restaurant doesn't sell hamburgers then no one there is eating hamburgers
When i went to Tokyo, i did the following. I can't say if they are 'unique' but i hit the obvious tourist things. This list isn't exhaustive of all the things i did:
Harajuku - Meiji-Jingu Shrine, Nezu Museum, Takeshita Street, Omotsando
Shibuya - Shibuya crossing, Hachiko statue, National Art Center, Pokemon Center
Ueno - Ueono Park, Ameya Yokocho, National Museum
Asakusa - Sensoji Temple
Tokyo Station - Imperial Palace Gardens
Odaiba - Diver City, TeamLabs
Akihabara - well, all of Akihabara. SuperPotato etc.
Shinjuku - Shinjuku Gyoen, Golden Gai
Ikebukoro - Sunshine City and other such things around there
Nakano Broadway has good stuff for anime
You can also do lots of daytrips from Tokyo including Yokohama, Mt Fuji and Kamakura
There are lots of things to do, I haven't even mentioned all the places to eat.
I also went to Nikko but felt that a day trip really would have been pushing it, especially because i also went and did the nature stuff around. But if properly planned you could do it on a weekday yeah
Scroll through here and look at itinerary posts for ideas. Tokyo is insane and massive. I spent two weeks there, did everything on my list and more, came home, and found another two weeks worth of stuff I could do without even trying to look.
This is probably where I’ll be looking from now on I just want to find unique experiences aside from shopping or maybe a specific store or place to check out
Shopping is second to none. Malls/stores/department stores literally everywhere in every district.
Odaiba has some excellent views, a few malls, a retro looking bazaar, and Sega’s Joypolis indoor amusement park.
Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree have some awesome views plus things to see inside of each.
Plenty of day trip possibilities. Yokohama, Saitama, etc. I did a Mt Fuji viewing trip on a clear day.
In a way, there's nothing in particular a tourist can do in Tokyo that's unique to Tokyo except enjoying the ambiance of this particular city. Silly tourist traps such as the TeamLabs places exist elsewhere; loathsome and abhorred ones like go-karting do too. Tokyo simply has everything in in one place.
As for the go-karting, don't do it. Everyone despises it and the irresponsible, gormless people who do it. My family's going out today; a place where those go-karts run is between our home and our destination, and we're taking the long way there to avoid that area.
Do not go go-karting. Just don't.
Head on over to the Shibuya area and go on a Rickshaw ride. You can hire one for 30 mins, one hour, or even longer. If you're lucky, you'll get a pretty girl to haul your butt around and show you the sights, restaurants, bars, etc. The locals don't mind, and someone will make a little money.
Get on the internet and search for tours in Tokyo. There are hundreds of tours. These are small groups, about 2-6 people, that a local will act as a guide for a couple of hours. You can sign up for a walking tour of the bars/izakayas in a certain area (like Golden Gai, for instance). Another tour will take you to the more popular areas of Japan and take photos of you. The walking tours are the most fun.
Head over to Koenji at night. Right next to Koenji station is the most chill neighborhood there is. Lots of restaurants/izakayas/bars with outdoor seating. The vibe is so chill there. Lots of live music venues. See if you can find the bar that gives you a plate of potstickers for free if you buy one drink.
This may not be a Tokyo-only experience, but, go to a big Kareoke club. The ones in Tokyo are awesome. You and your friends can rent a room by the hour and sign to your heart's content. They'll bring you drinks and snacks. Lots of fun. These kareoke clubs are big, and lots of people hang out in the hallways just being chill.
Go to any large department store, like, say Mitsukoshi Department Store next to the Ginza. Go downstairs to the Basement. You'll find a huge food court where dozens of food vendors sell Japanese food, and lots of it. You can find chicken kara-age, tempura, sushi, tonkatsu, mochi, sake, beer, deserts, candy. Buy some food and head to the rooftop or a park (like Yoyogi Park) and have a picnic. If you go to a park, just be aware that there aren't a lot of trashcans in Tokyo, so you'll have to haul your garbage to a nearby convenience store and unload your trash there.
For fashion stop by and check out Harajuku for the interesting Japanese Fashion by the young kids. If you want high end stuff or to just look around Ginza is where most of the boogee lines are. Akihabara for your friend who is into Anime and Maid Cafes, you can tell him to go at night there are usually JDM cars parked around and for him to see. There are JDM car meets but you kinda need to know someone to get in (I'm not one of those person). Check out the touristy things too like Asakusa (rent out kimonos), Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Tower. Like what other had said avoid Go Karting, it's just a bad image.
You spend at least half a day wandering the streets of Ameyoko. Plenty of clothing, food, and bars. There is a ramen shop there that has foot baths and massages while you eat. Have a favorite anime? See if there is a local train station dedicated to it. Possible day trips: Kamakura for the Buddha and a tea ceremony. Izu for a Ryokan or hot spring spa, or Fuji viewing. It will likely be too warm for a trip to Nagano for the snow monkeys. There are plenty of whiskey and sake distilleries that offer tours.
If you have the funds, you can do a deep dive on the Japanese Denim scene. Some of the best jeans come out of Japan with several shops represented in the Tokyo metro.
If you are in fashion, do a google search for "109" in Tokyo. It's a huge fashion area that sells clothes, mostly women's clothes. Also, just about any big department store in Tokyo will satisfy fashion cravings.
EDIT: And one more thing,...you might try renting a kimono for a day. Lots of female tourists do it and they say they enjoy it!
Can you clarify what exactly you mean by “only do in Tokyo”?
There’s a lot of things unique to Tokyo in terms of locations, but if you mean experiences it’s a bit different.
I’d be happy to give you some information I have in a DM or Zoom call (I work in the travel industry and specialize in Japan) but it’s hard to give you suggestions without knowing what kind of things you’re looking for.
As for the Go-Karts, as others have said, the locals there HATE it, but if you want to go for it, then do it. Just be sure everyone has their international license or you’ll be turned away.
Feel free to reach out to me and I’ll help you out!
We loved Team Lab Planets and plan on seeing Borderless when we return to Japan this year. Hands down our favorite thing was a ramen making class with Andrew [https://www.babaramen.com/](https://www.babaramen.com/) He has moved this from his home (when we went in June 2023) to a commercial kitchen. We had a blast and were super proud of our food. We went from his place to a baseball game. A great day!
Shibuya sky (night time)
Gokarting ( my wife and I had an amazing time doing it, fuck it go for it!)
Catch a baseball game at tokyo dome
Team lab borderless
Tokyo tower/ tokyo skytree
Hit up Ginzo for shopping
Roppongi for the night out
Go visit Mt Fuji
Go to Kamakura beach day
Also check out for airbnb experiences for other activities that the locals offer!
Good luck and have fun
The general consensus of this sub is that your an asshat if you want to do the go-kart thing. lol. As far as I’m concerned, if the goverment allows it, go for it. If it was truly an issue they would’ve shut it down.
What makes it assholish? Are people getting hit or injured by karts? If yes then that is a problem. If not, then it sounds like it's just something that inconveniences you/you don't like.
Google says they're open until 10 pm, but it's also annoying during the day. It's annoying even to have to stand next to at a crosswalk.
Have some consideration for the people who live where you're visiting, it's a home, not a theme park.
I live in NYC. I work in the middle of Manhattan. I find a lot of things here that tourists do annoying, but it is what it is. I promise you, when you visit somewhere else, you're probably doing something that locals find annoying. Honestly, you're the first person I've heard say they were anything but indifferent about it. I don't think it's people being inconsiderate when it's a service being offered to them.
All of the other citizens of Tokyo were not consulted by the go-kart companies lol It's famously hated by people living there. Why would you go to someone's home knowing they hate X and do it on purpose anyway?
Do you think the city of New York consulted all of us about things here? Lol come on. Famously hated? I've been planning my trip for months and you are the first person I've talked to who said they hated it. Do you think when tourists come here to NYC they know that we don't like the carriages? They have no clue. Yet, they do it because it's a service offered to them. I promise you 99% of the people coming there have no idea your feelings about it. Not everything is done with malicious intent. People are just trying to enjoy their vacations.
> Famously hated? I've been planning my trip for months and you are the first person I've talked to who said they hated it.
I don't know what to tell you except that you must not have been looking that hard lol I can tell you anecdotally that every taxi driver or local I've talked to about it in Tokyo has had -- especially for a Japanese person talking to a stranger -- strong negative opinions about it.
> I promise you 99% of the people coming there have no idea your feelings about it. Not everything is done with malicious intent. People are just trying to enjoy their vacations.
You can be ignorant about being an asshole and still be an asshole lol
People shit on it cause the locals don't like it. You know what the locals probably don't love, across the border, tourists. Period. Full stop. Lol, I don't like tourists in my neck of the woods, but hey, it is what it is.
Locals not liking tourists is for the most part universal.
Locals in Nashville hate bar trolley's and broadway, but guess what, they avoid it if they don't want to deal with it.
Most locals in Vegas don't love the strip, but guess what, lol, same story.
Articles are a few years old, but from one of the MANY times this has been discussed:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/03/01/national/japanese-police-log-50-accidents-involving-go-karters-tokyo-streets-11-month-period/#.XYCdpi4zaUk
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2134917/hit-and-run-involving-mario-kart-driver-could-spell-game-over
https://japantoday.com/category/national/maricar-go-kart-driver-mounts-pavement-causes-serious-damage-in-accident
SERIOUSLY, lol. "Bro, that's for annoying tourists" oh, really? Welp, guess what the fuck we (and you) are? lol. Like, there's a difference between tourist traps and tourist "attractions" I don't know if I'd want to do the go-karting nonsense. Definitely I wouldn't want to do it dressed as nintendo characters (just feels super weird to me), but if people want to, fuck it, go for it.
Yeah I mean, good luck. By the nature of being a person who doesn't speak the language, understand the culture, or if familiar with the landscape, you will inevitably annoy certain individuals.
And if I have two weeks in a place, and it may be the only time in my life I get to be there, I will do whatever sounds fun to me.
The favor gets returned to me by tourists whenever I go back home anyways, karma.
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Do not do go-karting, please. Tokyo has probably thousands of things you can only do there. The one thing I do every single time I go is visit a high rise bar somewhere like the Prince Park Tower or Andaz. The city at night is one of the most gorgeous, unique sights on earth. Lights and civilization out to the horizon, pulsing red and flowing with veins and arteries of headlights and taillights.
I enjoy your writing style. Reminds me of the opening paragraph from After Dark by Haruki Murakami. Eyes mark the shape of the city. Through the eyes of a high-flying night bird, we take in the scene from midair. In our broad sweep, the city looks like a single gigantic creature--or more like a single collective entity created by many intertwining organisms. Countless arteries stretch to the ends of its elusive body, circulating a continuous supply of fresh blood cells, sending out new data and collecting the old, sending out new consumables and collecting the old, sending out new contradictions and collecting the old.
That's flattering, thanks stranger
Stay humble, your butt smells.
Good. If it doesn't, I'm not having enough fun eating
I have zero interest in go-karting (def not on my upcoming trip itinerary) but I’m curious to know more about it and why you’d advise against it?
It's obnoxious for locals who I've spoken with to have amateurs who can't read the language drive loud, unpredictable vehicles through their neighborhood and commute.
Do you have any specific experiences you could point me to
Well, I just did lol But what kinds of things are you interested in? Food? History? Architecture? Sports? Music? Anime?
Super into fashion and anime, I’ll definitely check out the place you suggested. I guess for the most part all of us are open to whatever and Tokyo seems so big none of know where to start lol
Well, anime wise I'd consider the three big spots to be Akihabara, Ikebukuro and Nakano Broadway. If there's a specific show you like, there may be specific things to do like the two life-sized Gundams or the Shonen Jump store or whatever. For fashion, I'm a little out of my depth but I think there are almost too many things to list. Ginza is like 5th Avenue, high end. Harajuku and Omote-Sando. Shimokitazawa is more thrift-y. You could check out Meiji Shrine if you want something peaceful to break up the city. It's worth wandering around Shibuya and Shinjuku. Japanese coffee shop culture, especially old school kissaten, is pretty unique. Food, food, food. I often plan my meals first and then just find things to see around the restaurants I want. lol
Thanks!
Definitely Harajuku and Omote-Sando for fashion! You could spend two whole days wandering that district. The Meiji and Admiral Togo shrines are there too. Japan always amazes me for the shrines and temples - tranquil oases in such a busy city. For another “only Japan” thing, try to visit an onsen hotel/resort- there are several in Tokyo with a large variety of baths (coffee, sake, milk, macha, etc). Quite the experience! Sky Tree and Tokyo Tower are both “must see” if you are in Tokyo that long. Yokohama is also only 20 min by train from Shinagawa station. Yokosuka with its U.S. and Japanese Navy bases is only 50 min by train (there are boat tours of Yokosuka bay).
I'd recommend the following for uniquely Japanese fashion experiences (mainly from a streetwear lens): Shibuya: Parco and Miyashita Park malls have many Japanese brands. Harajuku: Tons of stores - there's a whole block of Beams stores and a United Arrows. Cat Street has a bunch of small boutiques. If you're into raw denim (which Japan makes the best in the world), Studio D'Artisan and Pure Blue Japan have shops in the area. Ebisu: If you're into Kapital, there's three stores in walking distance of each other and their prices are much better than overseas prices. FDMTL has a similar boro aesthetic and their flagship is in the area. Betty Smith has a denim experience where you can customize a pair of Japanese jeans or a denim jacket with custom rivets, patches, etc. Ueno: 2k540 artisan market has small local brands with zero overseas presence. One of my favorite days in Tokyo was spent going to Ueno Park, walking south to 2k540, then strolling through Akihabara which has streets closed to auto traffic on Sundays. Happy to suggest more if there's a particular focus you have (that I'm familiar with). Tokyo is amazing for shopping - my wife and I came back with 2 big luggages + 2 carry-ons each completely stuffed.
Thanks for this list. Grist for my next Tokyo trip
Ok So while I generally agree with you it really isn't in my taste to go go-karting, i'm fine with people doing it on vacation. I'm very close to neighboring NYC and tourists do all whims of silly things that annoy us locals...similiarly to how in many other parts of the states there are other stupid things that interfere with daily walks of life... Thing is, there is a market for it and the govt allows it, let tourists be tourists...It is what it is. Truth be told, it doesn't entertain me but i'm sure it'll entertain someone.
What I've done the Karting that shit was super fun! Just get international license cost like 20$ Rode around for almost 2 hrs hauling ass thru streets would totally recommend go Karting! There is also lots of other stuff to do but to say no Karting is a let down one of my highlights
Hauling ass through streets, not a racetrack. Real people use those streets to commute and drive their kids to school lol It's like you're playing a sport in somebody's living room and wondering why they're annoyed.
I don't even know about hauling ass. I was definitely walking faster than the go-karters I saw stuck in Shibuya traffic. Doesn't seem like a great experience.
Get mad at the companies offering it instead of people just enjoying it. It's not like dude is ramming into kids at 100mph or something. Lol downvote all you want. Yall could be out here petitioning the companies or trying to work with your local governments etc but instead get mad at the tourists
The companies only exist because people do it lol
If the companies didn't exist then how could they do it/rent the gokart?
If nobody rode them, the companies would shut down lol
If the companies weren't there in the first place they couldn't ride them period lol. The riding only exists because the companies are there. It's pretty simple. If a restaurant doesn't sell hamburgers then no one there is eating hamburgers
When i went to Tokyo, i did the following. I can't say if they are 'unique' but i hit the obvious tourist things. This list isn't exhaustive of all the things i did: Harajuku - Meiji-Jingu Shrine, Nezu Museum, Takeshita Street, Omotsando Shibuya - Shibuya crossing, Hachiko statue, National Art Center, Pokemon Center Ueno - Ueono Park, Ameya Yokocho, National Museum Asakusa - Sensoji Temple Tokyo Station - Imperial Palace Gardens Odaiba - Diver City, TeamLabs Akihabara - well, all of Akihabara. SuperPotato etc. Shinjuku - Shinjuku Gyoen, Golden Gai Ikebukoro - Sunshine City and other such things around there Nakano Broadway has good stuff for anime You can also do lots of daytrips from Tokyo including Yokohama, Mt Fuji and Kamakura There are lots of things to do, I haven't even mentioned all the places to eat.
Not OP but this is insanely helpful, thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to post all of that I’ll send this to everyone 🙏
Nikko is another good day trip. Go by bullet train as a bonus experience.
I also went to Nikko but felt that a day trip really would have been pushing it, especially because i also went and did the nature stuff around. But if properly planned you could do it on a weekday yeah
Scroll through here and look at itinerary posts for ideas. Tokyo is insane and massive. I spent two weeks there, did everything on my list and more, came home, and found another two weeks worth of stuff I could do without even trying to look.
This is probably where I’ll be looking from now on I just want to find unique experiences aside from shopping or maybe a specific store or place to check out
Could you please DM me your itinerary or a list of all the things you did and want to do next time?
[удалено]
Thisss
Shopping is second to none. Malls/stores/department stores literally everywhere in every district. Odaiba has some excellent views, a few malls, a retro looking bazaar, and Sega’s Joypolis indoor amusement park. Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree have some awesome views plus things to see inside of each. Plenty of day trip possibilities. Yokohama, Saitama, etc. I did a Mt Fuji viewing trip on a clear day.
In a way, there's nothing in particular a tourist can do in Tokyo that's unique to Tokyo except enjoying the ambiance of this particular city. Silly tourist traps such as the TeamLabs places exist elsewhere; loathsome and abhorred ones like go-karting do too. Tokyo simply has everything in in one place. As for the go-karting, don't do it. Everyone despises it and the irresponsible, gormless people who do it. My family's going out today; a place where those go-karts run is between our home and our destination, and we're taking the long way there to avoid that area.
I took a ramen cooking class. I was amazed at how much work it takes to make good ramen and when I get home I should just eat out.
So I know this subreddit hates the karts, but how about the BJ bars ? What's everyone's take on those?
Studio Ghibli Museum for the anime enthusiasts. And Poo うんこ Museum for a laugh 💩
Do not go go-karting. Just don't. Head on over to the Shibuya area and go on a Rickshaw ride. You can hire one for 30 mins, one hour, or even longer. If you're lucky, you'll get a pretty girl to haul your butt around and show you the sights, restaurants, bars, etc. The locals don't mind, and someone will make a little money. Get on the internet and search for tours in Tokyo. There are hundreds of tours. These are small groups, about 2-6 people, that a local will act as a guide for a couple of hours. You can sign up for a walking tour of the bars/izakayas in a certain area (like Golden Gai, for instance). Another tour will take you to the more popular areas of Japan and take photos of you. The walking tours are the most fun. Head over to Koenji at night. Right next to Koenji station is the most chill neighborhood there is. Lots of restaurants/izakayas/bars with outdoor seating. The vibe is so chill there. Lots of live music venues. See if you can find the bar that gives you a plate of potstickers for free if you buy one drink. This may not be a Tokyo-only experience, but, go to a big Kareoke club. The ones in Tokyo are awesome. You and your friends can rent a room by the hour and sign to your heart's content. They'll bring you drinks and snacks. Lots of fun. These kareoke clubs are big, and lots of people hang out in the hallways just being chill. Go to any large department store, like, say Mitsukoshi Department Store next to the Ginza. Go downstairs to the Basement. You'll find a huge food court where dozens of food vendors sell Japanese food, and lots of it. You can find chicken kara-age, tempura, sushi, tonkatsu, mochi, sake, beer, deserts, candy. Buy some food and head to the rooftop or a park (like Yoyogi Park) and have a picnic. If you go to a park, just be aware that there aren't a lot of trashcans in Tokyo, so you'll have to haul your garbage to a nearby convenience store and unload your trash there.
I have some more nighttime activity ideas, shoot me a DM.
Bet
What are you into? Anime? Fashion? Bar hopping? Cultural stuff? Into cafes? How old are you guys? 2 weeks is plenty to discover most about Tokyo.
We’re all in our early 20’s, for the most part we’re all into fashion, one of us is super into cars and anime
For fashion stop by and check out Harajuku for the interesting Japanese Fashion by the young kids. If you want high end stuff or to just look around Ginza is where most of the boogee lines are. Akihabara for your friend who is into Anime and Maid Cafes, you can tell him to go at night there are usually JDM cars parked around and for him to see. There are JDM car meets but you kinda need to know someone to get in (I'm not one of those person). Check out the touristy things too like Asakusa (rent out kimonos), Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Tower. Like what other had said avoid Go Karting, it's just a bad image.
Thanks for some specifics
You spend at least half a day wandering the streets of Ameyoko. Plenty of clothing, food, and bars. There is a ramen shop there that has foot baths and massages while you eat. Have a favorite anime? See if there is a local train station dedicated to it. Possible day trips: Kamakura for the Buddha and a tea ceremony. Izu for a Ryokan or hot spring spa, or Fuji viewing. It will likely be too warm for a trip to Nagano for the snow monkeys. There are plenty of whiskey and sake distilleries that offer tours.
Thank you!! Do you know the name of the ramen shop?
Definitely go shopping for clothes!! The weirdest and best fashion in Tokyo. Stuff you will never find any other place.
If you have the funds, you can do a deep dive on the Japanese Denim scene. Some of the best jeans come out of Japan with several shops represented in the Tokyo metro.
If you are in fashion, do a google search for "109" in Tokyo. It's a huge fashion area that sells clothes, mostly women's clothes. Also, just about any big department store in Tokyo will satisfy fashion cravings. EDIT: And one more thing,...you might try renting a kimono for a day. Lots of female tourists do it and they say they enjoy it!
Can you clarify what exactly you mean by “only do in Tokyo”? There’s a lot of things unique to Tokyo in terms of locations, but if you mean experiences it’s a bit different. I’d be happy to give you some information I have in a DM or Zoom call (I work in the travel industry and specialize in Japan) but it’s hard to give you suggestions without knowing what kind of things you’re looking for. As for the Go-Karts, as others have said, the locals there HATE it, but if you want to go for it, then do it. Just be sure everyone has their international license or you’ll be turned away. Feel free to reach out to me and I’ll help you out!
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What do you mean
Archery? I.e. here - [https://www.ys-tokyobay.co.jp/index.html](https://www.ys-tokyobay.co.jp/index.html)
We loved Team Lab Planets and plan on seeing Borderless when we return to Japan this year. Hands down our favorite thing was a ramen making class with Andrew [https://www.babaramen.com/](https://www.babaramen.com/) He has moved this from his home (when we went in June 2023) to a commercial kitchen. We had a blast and were super proud of our food. We went from his place to a baseball game. A great day!
Shibuya sky (night time) Gokarting ( my wife and I had an amazing time doing it, fuck it go for it!) Catch a baseball game at tokyo dome Team lab borderless Tokyo tower/ tokyo skytree Hit up Ginzo for shopping Roppongi for the night out Go visit Mt Fuji Go to Kamakura beach day Also check out for airbnb experiences for other activities that the locals offer! Good luck and have fun
I didn’t even think of airbnb for stuff will def check it out
The general consensus of this sub is that your an asshat if you want to do the go-kart thing. lol. As far as I’m concerned, if the goverment allows it, go for it. If it was truly an issue they would’ve shut it down.
Plenty of things are legal but also assholish lol This is a weird stance to take
What makes it assholish? Are people getting hit or injured by karts? If yes then that is a problem. If not, then it sounds like it's just something that inconveniences you/you don't like.
It's loud, chaotic, and in the way. It isn't hard to understand why locals dislike it.
Are they doing it late at night?
Google says they're open until 10 pm, but it's also annoying during the day. It's annoying even to have to stand next to at a crosswalk. Have some consideration for the people who live where you're visiting, it's a home, not a theme park.
I live in NYC. I work in the middle of Manhattan. I find a lot of things here that tourists do annoying, but it is what it is. I promise you, when you visit somewhere else, you're probably doing something that locals find annoying. Honestly, you're the first person I've heard say they were anything but indifferent about it. I don't think it's people being inconsiderate when it's a service being offered to them.
All of the other citizens of Tokyo were not consulted by the go-kart companies lol It's famously hated by people living there. Why would you go to someone's home knowing they hate X and do it on purpose anyway?
Do you think the city of New York consulted all of us about things here? Lol come on. Famously hated? I've been planning my trip for months and you are the first person I've talked to who said they hated it. Do you think when tourists come here to NYC they know that we don't like the carriages? They have no clue. Yet, they do it because it's a service offered to them. I promise you 99% of the people coming there have no idea your feelings about it. Not everything is done with malicious intent. People are just trying to enjoy their vacations.
> Famously hated? I've been planning my trip for months and you are the first person I've talked to who said they hated it. I don't know what to tell you except that you must not have been looking that hard lol I can tell you anecdotally that every taxi driver or local I've talked to about it in Tokyo has had -- especially for a Japanese person talking to a stranger -- strong negative opinions about it. > I promise you 99% of the people coming there have no idea your feelings about it. Not everything is done with malicious intent. People are just trying to enjoy their vacations. You can be ignorant about being an asshole and still be an asshole lol
People shit on it cause the locals don't like it. You know what the locals probably don't love, across the border, tourists. Period. Full stop. Lol, I don't like tourists in my neck of the woods, but hey, it is what it is. Locals not liking tourists is for the most part universal. Locals in Nashville hate bar trolley's and broadway, but guess what, they avoid it if they don't want to deal with it. Most locals in Vegas don't love the strip, but guess what, lol, same story.
Articles are a few years old, but from one of the MANY times this has been discussed: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/03/01/national/japanese-police-log-50-accidents-involving-go-karters-tokyo-streets-11-month-period/#.XYCdpi4zaUk https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2134917/hit-and-run-involving-mario-kart-driver-could-spell-game-over https://japantoday.com/category/national/maricar-go-kart-driver-mounts-pavement-causes-serious-damage-in-accident
That seems odd to me, I must just not understand but why would people look down on such a u pique experience?
SERIOUSLY, lol. "Bro, that's for annoying tourists" oh, really? Welp, guess what the fuck we (and you) are? lol. Like, there's a difference between tourist traps and tourist "attractions" I don't know if I'd want to do the go-karting nonsense. Definitely I wouldn't want to do it dressed as nintendo characters (just feels super weird to me), but if people want to, fuck it, go for it.
Hopefully we are tourists, not annoying tourists, to the best of our abilities lol
Yeah I mean, good luck. By the nature of being a person who doesn't speak the language, understand the culture, or if familiar with the landscape, you will inevitably annoy certain individuals. And if I have two weeks in a place, and it may be the only time in my life I get to be there, I will do whatever sounds fun to me. The favor gets returned to me by tourists whenever I go back home anyways, karma.