Things to do in Japan – Tokyo Part 1

Out of all the places I’ve traveled to so far, Japan has been my favorite. It’s the perfect mix of old school and futuristic. It has a lot to offer and it has something for everyone to enjoy. It’s very clean and safe. The people are very polite and friendly. The food is amazing, and so are the sites! For those of you who are considering going, I have created a list of things to do in Japan to help you give you ideas.

Tokyo Tower

With gorgeous panoramic views of Tokyo, Tokyo Tower is a must! The tower stands at 332.9 meters tall and is the second tallest structure in Japan, only the Tokyo Skytree beats in height. Here you can get some amazing views of the city. The question is do you prefer city views during the day or at night? My solution is to pick day or night for Tokyo Tower and then pick the opposite for Tokyo Skytree which is on the opposite side of the city. The tower is made up of three main levels. The base level has some shops and a cafe. You can then either take the stairs or an elevator to the main level, however they both cost money to go up. Here you will find another cafe, along with a view of the city from all angles. Now, you can stop here but if you want to maximize that view of the city, then it may be worth it to pay a little extra to go to the top level. It’s a smaller room but it has one of the best views you can get in Tokyo.

Feeling Samurai Soul

If you’re looking for an authentic samurai experience, then this is it! This experience is pretty much several experiences in one. You start off by dressing up in a kimono and a hakama, which is traditional samurai clothing. Then you get to enjoy a tea ceremony with some wagashi snacks. Once the tea ceremony is over, the instructor will bring out a real sharpened Japanese Katana and teach you all about it. After studying the katana for a bit, the instructor will then  bring out additional unsharpened katanas for your group to choose from. Once everyone has selected one, then you will all spread out and get into position. The instructor will then have you do traditional Zen meditation techniques called Rituzen. This is to help clear your mind and focus.

After the meditation, you get to draw your katana and learn about proper form, stances and slashing techniques. Once your skills are developed a little, you get to put them to the test. They will be put to the test with “tameshigiri”, which is target test cutting with a bundle of straw. You will one by one take turns holding a real sharpened katana and practice cutting through your target. This part was definitely thrilling! After everyone has taken a turn, then you will get to watch your instructor put on a performance to demonstrate his skills. This was one of my favorite experiences in Japan and I highly recommend it! You can book it through Airbnb experiences.

Asakusa/Senso-ji Temple

Want to check out the oldest temple in Tokyo?! Then look no further! Senso-ji Temple is a Bhuddist temple located in Asakusa. At the entrance to the temple is the Kaminarimon or the “Thunder Gate”. It has two big statues and a giant red lantern. After crossing this gate you will walk into Nakamise, a shopping street that is over 200 meters long. Here you can find many different kinds of treats and souvenirs. Once you get to the end of the shopping street, you will find another gate, only this one is called Hozomon or the “Treasure House Gate”. This gate leads to the inner area, where you will find a five-story pagoda to your left and the main temple right in front of you. You will also find paths that lead to other small buildings and gardens.

While you are there, I recommend trying out some cultural traditions. For example, in the temple area there is a large cauldron filled with incense, where you can waft incense smoke over your body for good health. To the right of that, you will find a water fountain where you can wash your hands with a ladle to purify yourself before entering the temple. Once inside the temple there is a spot where you can shake a box filled with sticks for a fortune. There is a little hole on the box for one of the sticks to pop out. The stick will have a number. Right next to the stick box there are drawers with all of the numbers possible. You find the drawer with your number and pull out a paper with your fortune. It could be good or bad. If you get a bad fortune, there is a stand where you can tie it to so that it can be burnt later.

Owl CafeOwl Cafe Akiba Fukurou

I’m sure you’re wondering, “What on earth is an owl cafe?!” Well it’s like a mini zoo where you can sit, hold and spend some time with owls. They have several different species to look at and hold. They only allow a certain number of people inside at a time and you must book in advance so make sure to plan ahead. They keep the number of people low to avoid troubling the owls with too much noise. They also have you whisper once you are inside. You get to hold up to two owls during your visit and you get a polaroid picture at the end. The owl cafe is run by a married couple and they do a good job at taking care of their owls, they make sure that the owls get breaks away from people.

Maid Cafe

You might also be wondering, “What is a maid cafe?!” This one is an actual cafe, but with girls dressed up as maids. I know, it sounds kinky at first but it’s actually more cutesy than anything. It’s one of those experiences that’s hard to explain and you just have to experience. Nevertheless, I will try to describe it. For starters, there is a small fee you have to pay to get in, usually it’s by the hour. This is to prevent weirdos from overstaying if they have a crush on one of the girls. After paying your entrance fee, one of the maid girls will welcome you and sit you down at a table. Once you’re seated, they will bring out different kinds of animal ears and make you wear them. They will talk to you in a cute way and tell you to call out “Meow Meow” when you are ready to order. The menu has your typical basic meals but they are decorated to look all cute. For example, your scrambled eggs will have a happy face drawn on it or your ice cream will come out looking like a cute dog. If you buy a drink, they will mix it but make you say a cute chant with them while making heart gestures with your hands. 

You have the option of buying individual items on the menu or you can do one of the packages they have. I decided to buy a package that includes a drink, an ice cream, a performance and a polaroid. For the performance, they get on a mini stage that they have in the cafe and they sing a cute song and dance. Lastly, for the polaroid, they let you pick a maid to take a picture with. After the picture is printed out, they will sign it and put cute drawings on it. Keep in mind, they don’t let you take pictures of the maids, so this is the only way to get one with them. You can, however, take pictures of your food.

Overall, this is fun to experience at least once. The maid cafe concept has picked up a lot of traction and you will find many different brands of maid cafes. In fact, you will find other cafes with different themes, such as a ninja cafe, school girl cafe, cosplay cafe and so on. The one I went to was called Maidreamin.