Planning My Tokyo 2022 Trip Highlights and Attractions (for Anime and Regular Tourists)
Tokyo is a megacity that is constantly changing. Old attractions go away, new attractions arrive, and even the vibe of the place is in flux. If it has been a few years between visits then even you have changed, so what you want to see and do will be different between the current you and the you of the past.
It is said that the journey is sometimes the important part of a trip, but for most of us to get to Tokyo it is just a flight and a train ride in from the airport to your hotel. I find the the journey between sights to see is actually pretty important to revel in the atmosphere of this city. Taking trains, navigating the train stations / enjoying their shopping malls, and walking the massive subterranean concourses is fun and makes you wish your own public transit was this nice. There are 23 wards and 26 cities that make up the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, so even if you are just staying within the central core area there are over a dozen wards (e.g. Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Sumida, etc.) to travel between. Each of these wards will have the equivalent of an entire downtown core or more of a major North American or European city.
For 2022, I would like to see, eat, or do the following things, so have a look at the write-up to see what you might like to see too! I've organized everything by area and themes.
See what I actually visited.
Highlights From My Japan Trip Visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka in December 2022
Things That Closed During Covid
- The small Pokemon Center in Tokyo Station. Other locations also closed across Japan.
- Kawaii Monster Cafe in Omotesando.
- Robot Restaurant with the laser show/dancing girls in Shinjuku.
- Alice in a Labyrinth Restaurant in Ginza closed in late 2020.
- The One Piece Theme Park at Tokyo Tower.
- The Orange Sega Arcade with the Gundam Versus Sit Down Cabinets in Akihabara. Not sure if the cabinets moved to other arcades as there are still two in Akihabara. A number of arcades closed in Japan, but arcades in general have had declining customers over the years. Sega sold off their arcades to another company that now runs them under the Sega Brand.
- Gundam Cafes are all closed or closing in early 2022.
- Oedo Onsen Monogatari, the hotspring resort in Odaiba, closed as their lease ran out.
- Edo-Tokyo Museum is temporarily closing from March 2022 til 2025 for refurbishing/renos.
- The Nagakin Capsule Tower from Wolverine movie fame with the round windows was finally torn down in 2022. Capsule rooms are now in museums.
- Teamlab Borderless is now closed. Venus Fort, the big ferris wheel in Odaiba are also gone because everything is being redeveloped.
Odaiba
This area has always been great for shopping, museums, The giant Gundam at DiverCity, conventions such at the IREX Robot Exhibition, Comiket, Tokyo Game Show, and Tokyo Auto Show.
Odaiba High Tech - Tokyo Intro: Experience #26 of 55
What's New For Me
Teamlab Borderless at the Mori Building to see their amazing projection mapped and 3D environments. Just an amazing light show you walk through and immerse yourself in! It is closing in 2022 thought. If you love this, there is also the teamLab Planets exhibit in Toyosu that runs through 2022 and into 2023.
Revisit For Me
Revisit Showa era themed mall, Takoyaki Town / Ramen Town at the Decks Mall and Aquacity.
Go to DiverCity to shop at Gundam Front and see models. It is hard to miss the giant Unicorn Gundam do its little lightshow and limited movements out in front of the mall here. The big attraction is the more heavily animated giant Gundam down in Yokohama which I will also see!
Giant Gundam in Odaiba - Tokyo Intro: Experience #15 of 55
Yokohama
Yokohama is another city outside of Tokyo and it has its fair share of attractions. It is less than an hour by train from Tokyo Station. The big things for me to see here have been the Nissin Cup Noodle Museum, the Ramen Museum, the Pokemon Center, and now the giant RX-78-2 Gundam!
What's New For Me
The giant RX-78-2 at Gundam Dock and a visit to Gundam Factory. This premiered in 2021 and I really want to see this life-size Gundam go through its factory test mode movements. The giant robot walks forward out of the maintenance gantry a little, runs through arm and hand movements, kneeling tests, etc. It'll be quite cool to see it and it runs every 1.5 hours. You can buy tickets to go up in the gantry to take pictures too! Gundam Factory is a great big store, cafe, and exhibition space too.
I might swing by the Pokemon Center here in the Landmark Tower as I have never seen it to take pictures of their Pokemon statues.
Revisit For Me
The Ramen Museum in Yokohama is always fun to visit for the retro Showa era street display you walk through above the courtyard of ramen shops from all over Japan. I might or might not visit this time around, but it is a shame to not visit.
Ramen Museums - Tokyo Intro: Experience #30 of 55
Tokyo Station in Marunouchi and Nihonbashi
These areas contain the business district, Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Imperial Palace, and of course Tokyo Station where mile zero for all train travel starts in Japan. Tokyo Station is a fabulous place to shop a bit, visit the amazing Ramen Street in the basement for a meal, and for general souvenir/hobby shopping in the basement again.
What's New For Me
Nihonbashi is new to me as I have never visited the area on the east side of Tokyo Station. Nihonbashi is a busy but less touristed district. The Coredo Mall and the Takashimaya Shopping Center are draws here.
Pokemon Center DX, Nihonbashi at the Takashimaya Shopping Center East Building. This is one of the newer Pokemon Centers and a bit of a flagship as it has the Pokemon Cafe attached. I'd love to visit to see the life size Snorlax, get some Pokemon merchandise, and eat at the Cafe (reservations needed in advance). Pokemon Center and Cafe / ( Reservations link )
Coredo Nihonbashi / Coredo Muromachi Malls. These are newer malls and they have nice light displays along with many store selling traditional or hand crafted merchandise. Not your typical commercial malls.
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya. This is another new mall/plaza/entertainment complex connected to Hibuya Station. Lots of new architecture, parks on the upper levels, and even movie theater. The original metre high statue of Godzilla is in the lobby of the Toho Theaters here on the 4th floor. I actually haven't seen the new and bigger Godzilla statue based on Shin Godzilla at the nearby Hibiya Chanter Square.
Walk underground to Ginza from Tokyo Station. This is not a short walk (a few km), but it is pretty cool to be able to head west from Tokyo Station underground, then cut south, and back east to Ginza station. It is a bit of a maze to navigate, but there are Youtube videos showing this and it uses both subway access tunnels and basements of various buildings. Would be really fun on a rainy day.
Tokyo Art Aquarium (closed at the moment of writing in January 2022). Really beautiful aquarium presented like works or art that had a permanent home here and traveling exhibits. Who knows if it will reaopen again? https://artaquarium.jp
Revisit For Me
East Imperial Gardens - only if time and weather permits as the lineups to get in are long even though they move quickly. The police search all bags here by the way to protect the imperial family of course.
Tokyo Station is a must to visit as you will pass through it probably more than once in your visit. There is a shop upstairs here that does really good oyakudon. Check out Ramen Street here along with Character Street in the basement. Don Quijote has opened up a specialty snacks and food store here to cater to travelers needing to buy souvenirs now too.
Tokyo Station - Tokyo Intro: Experience #45 of 55
Ginza
This is the luxury brand and classic department store shopping area, but it also has some great malls and lifestyle stores to shopping.
What's New For Me
Muji Flagship Store and Hotel. This combination store opened in 2020 and I've contemplated on staying here as I like Muji for housewares, food, and snacks! They have a cafe and a restaurant here too.
MUJI Flagship Store - Tokyo Intro: Experience #24 of 55
See the Shin Godzilla Statue, three meter high statue from the 2016 movie is displayed in the Hibiya Godzilla Square in front of the Hibiya Chanter building, in nearby Yurakucho.
Giant Godzilla Head and Where to Find Other Godzilla Statues - Tokyo Intro: Experience #14 of 55
Tokyu Plaza Mall at the scramble crossing in Ginza. This is a newer high-rise mall that wasn't built yet the last time I was in Tokyo. I'd visit just for curiousity and it is right by the Fujiya Building with its corporate candy shop. There is also a big Sanrio Store in the mall nearby.
Revisit For Me
UNIQLO Flagship - Tokyo Intro: Experience #54 of 55
Omotesando / Harajuku
This trendy part of Tokyo is always fun for watching the young crowd with their fashions.
What's New For Me
The IKEA Harajuku store and its IKEA Cafe which is right across the street from the newly rebuilt Harajuku Station at Jingumae 1-14-30, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. I'd like to check out the Swedish Convenience store they have onsite and they apparently have some unique hot dogs. There is also another of these compact IKEAs down in Shibuya. Both stores are smaller than your normal giant IKEA and are geared to smaller urban living which makes sense for central Tokyo.
A new twelve floor mall is opening in 2022 across the street from Tokyu Plaza. It is supposed to have vertical gardens on the top flooer and be very photogenic with lots of mirrors on the front. I guess it will compliment the neat mirrored entrance way of Tokyu Plaza. Afterwards, you can then walk down Omotesando Dori, the main shopping street to do your modern shopping at all the brand name stores and Omotesando Hills Mall which has a really interesting interior as it is built on a hillside.
Revisit For Me
A visit to the fantastic Kiddyland Store for toys and Oriental Bazaar for souvenirs while walking down Omotesando Dori with all its designer stores including the new Hermes store.
A walk down trendy Takeshita Street with a visit to the big Daiso store there.
If time permits, a visit to the Meiji Jingu Shrine on the west side of Harajuku Station with its lush forest and giant torii.
Harajuku / Omotesando - Tokyo Intro: Experience #16 of 55
Love Live! Superstar is set here. This show is my next favourite Love Live! other than the original. I'll be visiting a few of the locations from the show here such as the shrine and street locations. It is unfortunate that the Commune 2nd outdoor food court with food trucks and unusual shops is now closed or has been redeveloped. This neat little community-oriented
space is where the Takoyaki Truck from the show is located and I wanted to visit this area even before the show aired. If you want to do an anime pilgrimage of sorts, just Google the show and keywords like "real world locations" or "anime pilgrimage".
Shibuya
Shibuya is constantly changing with many new malls and attractions. There is much to see and do here too and I always love watching and making my way across the famous scramble crossing here.
What's New For Me
Taking in the panoramic views and the great view down of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing from the Shibuya Scramble Square building. The new 47 floor building is the tallest in Shibuya with a shopping area that has a Tokyu Hands, Tsutaya Book, and many other stores for traditional crafts, cosmetics, and fashion.
A visit to the new Shibuya Stream building too with its unique placement next to a river that is now a canal. All these new buildings have shopping and dining too so be ready to spend some time just to window shop / snack.
A must visit to the new Shibuya Parco which has shopping and some great anime related stores. It also has modern art floors and exhibits. I'll be checking out the Jump Store and Pokemon Center here too.
Seeing the new Miyashita Park building and the rooftop park which has climbing walls and a new new Doraemon sculpture monument titled "Doraemon - Door to the Future". There is big bronze magic door (4 meters high) and Doraemon statue along with other characters and gadgets from the show. There is a new Kit Kat Factory store here too where you can make your own Kit Kats.
I'll probably swing by the main One Piece Mugiwara Store that moved to Shibuya 109 Magnet (not the other famous 109 store).
Would love to visit the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in nearby Meguro. There is also the Meguro Sky Garden at Ikejiri Ohashi Station that sits above the Ohashi Junction of the Metropolitan Expressway. It is a unique urban green space in Tokyo that can be reached by a walkway on the fifth floor of Prism Tower or the ninth floor of Cross Air Tower. LogRoad Daikanyama is in the nearby Daikanyama district and it has many little boutiques and cafes built on an old rail line. If you're in Daikanyama then don't miss Daikanyama T-Site with Tsutaya Books.
Revisit For Me
QFront Starbucks and the view of the Scramble Crossing.
Must visit the Mega Don Quijote store here along with the big Tokyu Hands and Loft stores.
The many excellent bakeries in the area.
Shibuya Crossing - Tokyo Intro: Experience #33 of 55
Shinjuku
Shinjuku is always a big big hub with the busiest train station on Earth. You could visit the Tokyo Metropolitan building, do tons of shopping at Taskashimaya Times Square and all of the department stores around here.
What's New For Me
Revisit For Me
Seeing the giant Godzilla Head in Kabuchiko and seeing the lights of Shinjuku Yasukuni Dori at night. There is the giant Yunika Vision screen near west end by the train station to see too.
Shinjuku Yasukuni Dori - Tokyo Intro: Experience #35 of 55
There were some pretty famous locations shown in Makoto Shinkai's Your Name and Garden of Words in this area. You could visit some of these. Google for anime pilgrimage for these shows.
Akihabara
This area was hit fairly hard by the lack of tourism and many stores closed, but it is still the otaku mecca and worth seeing for all of the landmarks made famous by anime.
What's New For Me
KENELE STAND inside Akihabara Station near Sobu Line Platform 6 (back of the concourse area). This little setup has over 150 gachapon machines full of the more unusual toys and collectables.
@Home Cafe, one of the biggest maid cafe chains, is opening a new flagship branch on the 5th floor of the Akiba Culture Zone building.
Tokyo Video Gamers cafe which has free to play video games and is also a full bar and restaurant.
Revisit For MeAll of the regular shops like the giant Yodobashi Camera Akihabara, Gamers, Animate, Kotobukiya, Gashapon Kan, Radio Kaikan, Akiba Culture Zone, and some second hand stores. Maybe a visit to Go Go Curry too.
I always fit time in for a visit to Kanda Myojin, the original Love Live! shrine too. The original Love Live! School Idol Project was aired in 2013 so it is now almost 10 years old. This is still my favourite one out of all of the series other than Love Live! Superstar. I'll also visit some of the locations around Harajuku / Omotesando for Love Live! Superstar.
Akihabara - Tokyo Intro: Experience #2 of 55
Asakusa Shrine / Sumida
This area is for an old and new Tokyo experience. Visit Sensoji Temple to see a huge temple complex and traditional food / souvenir street leading up to it. Across the river is the ultra modern Skytree. Both places are always good for a visit.
What's New For Me
Not much on the new hit list, but there is a great deal to see and eat in this area.
Revisit For Me
Sensoji Temple with the Thunder Gate is like an ancient shrine embedded in a modern neighborhood.
The towering Tokyo Skytree with its fantastic views and the really nice little mall with a Pokemon Center underneath.
Tokyo Skytree - Tokyo Intro: Experience #44 of 55
Ueno
This area and Yanaka to the NW is an older area with Ameyoko Shopping Street. Lots of parks, temples, and museums.
What's New For Me
Uenosakuragi Atari in Yanaka. Kind of an eclectic and traditional set of shops and restaurants made up out of three old traditional houses. I'd only get to it if I was exploring Yanaka and the cemetary here.
Pokemon Manhole Covers in Ueno Park. Gotta find them all! They're all over Japan.
Niki no Kashi, the traditional candy store in Ameyoko and the little shrine next to it.
Revisit For Me
Yamashiroya, another big toy store.
The National Museum with the ancient Haniwa and Dogu statues.
Museums - Tokyo Intro: Experience #25 of 55
Ikebukuro
This is a big transportation hub area in the NW part of central Tokyo with bustling shopping and nightlife. Sunshine City Mall and the SEIBU shopping center are big here.
What's New For Me
Animate is expanding its flagship store to take over the adjacent building. It will be open in 2023 and the chain is almost 40 years old. When the store opens it will be the largest anime store in the world. Visiting the store here is always a must for anime fans.
Bandai Namco has opened up a Gashapon Department Store in Sunshine City that has 3000 gashapon machines. I'm going to need a lot of change!
Revisit For Me
Sunshine City, maybe the aquarium there too, and of course the Pokemon Center. There is the Pokemon Bakery here too for takeout.
Roppongi
I've always liked the Mori Museum and the Mori Tower with the giant spider statue Maman that people use as a meeting place. The viewing deck at the Mori Tower is always pretty nice and if you go to that, you should visit the museum if there is anything of interest on. The Art Triangle is here too with several museums so do check what is on display. Of note, there is a huge Sailor Moon Exhibition on until the end of December 2022. If you are a Sailor Moon fan, it is a must see.
Some New Food Items
There will always be new food items / restaurants appearing. There are always snacks and things that I have never tried or that I want to buy again. There are always seasonal or limited time items to get, so keep your eyes open for something different when shopping. Also, I never get tired of the awesome baking that Japanese bakeries do, so trying their baking is a must!
Some new snack items include:
- Varieties of convenience store onigiri I haven't tried like SPAM Musubi, or other special ones like the limited time Attack on Titan meaty onigiri. You'll have to visit different konbini as they often compete with slightly different products.
- Ruby Kit Kat - these are made with a new breed of cocoa pod so it isn't common yet.
- Tamago sandwiches at the konbini's - will need to do my own taste test from the different chains of stores.
- UHA Mikakuto Korokke no Manma Croquette Cracker
- Tsuminaki Karaage from KOIKEYA - from New Days konbini?
- Too bad I missed the McDonalds Beef Stew Pie that was offered in December 2021, but there will be other products at various fast food outlets. It's always hard to do this as there are so many other Japanese foods I want to eat!
- Another food item from supermarkets and konbini are the peanut cream sandwiches from "Lunch Pack" brand that were a hit with the international news staff at the 2021 Summer Olympics. These prepacked sandwiches are pretty amazing as they stay fresh for three days at room temperature!
- Tokyo Banana now has Pokemon cookies you can buy as souvenirs at most major train stations / airports!
- I heard about this expensive, but amazing dessert at the Intercontinental Tokyo Bay Hotel. The Strawberry Candy Parfait is limited time and quantity of course, so it isn't a sure thing to get.
- Planning My Tokyo 2022 Trip Highlights and Attractions (for Anime and Regular Tourists)
- Highlights From My December 2022 Trip to Japan (with links to daily pages)
- Day 1 - The First Night In Tokyo
- Day 2 in Tokyo - Visiting Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Taking a Taxi
- Day 2 in Tokyo - Evening with Godzilla and Christmas Lights
- Day 3 - Back to Shibuya for New Parco, Nintendo Store, Pokemon Center, Miyashita Park
- Day 3 - Views From Shibuya Sky, Shopping at Tokyu Hands and Don Quijote
- Day 4 - Nezu Shrine, Ameyoko, Ni No Kashi Candy Store, Yamashiroya Toy Store, and Ichiran Ramen in Ueno
- Day 4 - Sensoji Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo Midtown Christmas Illuminations, and Pokemon Store and Cafe Nihonbashi
- Day 5 - Yokohama, Giant Gundam at Gundam Factory, Landmark Tower Shopping, Harry Potter Christmas Trees
- Day 6 - Yokohama , Nissin Cup Noodle Museum, World Porters Mall, Landmark Tower Shopping Area
- Day 7 - Kyoto Part 1, Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine
- Day 7 - Kyoto Part 2, Kodaiji Temple Night Illuminations and Yasaka Shrine at Night
- Day 8 - Travelogue - Kyoto Part 1 - To Fushimi Inari Shrine and The Mountain Summit
- Day 8 - Travelogue - Kyoto Part 2 - Kennin Ji Temple and Evening at Kyoto Station
- Day 9 - Travelogue - First Visit to Nara for Deer, Pikachu Donut, Daibutsu Temple, Kasuga-Taisha, Kohfukuji Temple
- Day 10 - Osaka - Seeing Osaka Castle, Pokemon Center, and DotonboriDay 11 - Seeing Himeji Castle, the Most Beautiful One in Japan, and the Umeda Sky Building
- Day 12 - Osaka Aquarium (Whale Sharks!), Den Den Town, Shinsekai, and MOS Burger
- Day 13 - Travelogue - Back to Tokyo - Akihabara - Shinjuku at Night
- Day 14 - Underground to Ginza, Shopping, Ginza GoldFish Aquarium, and Tokyo Skytree
- Day 14 - Tokyo's Underground Labyrinth 2 - Walking From Tokyo Station to Ginza
- Day 15 - Travelogue - Museums Close Monday - Ueno Park - Narita - Flight Home
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