Japan is famous for both its warrior history and its finely made crafts, and the two things can be seen side by side at the Japanese Sword Museum (Token Hakubutsukan), in Tokyo’s Ryogoku area. Displaying swords, mountings, armor, samurai costumes, and other metalwork, and focusing on these as art objects, this specialist museum is fascinating for visitors who are interested in Japanese culture and history.
Namjatown is an indoor theme park on the second floor of the Sunshine City shopping complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The park is operated by Namco, the creator of Pac-Man and many other arcade games. Stop by to experience themed dining, carnival-style games, a haunted house, and a line of character mascots exclusive to the park.
It’s fitting that Tokyo’s Ushijima Shrine (Ushijima Jinja) is named after the proverbially strong ox (ushi in Japanese), as it has survived major earthquakes and war. Established in the ninth century, it’s one of Tokyo’s oldest surviving shrines and is said to protect residents on the Sumida River’s east bank, just as the more famous—and older—Senso-ji Temple protects those on the west.
The regal Mount Nesugata (Nesugatayama) sits—or lies, some would say—on the Izu Peninsula, a popular vacation spot southwest of Tokyo. Take the ropeway up to the observatory on a clear, sunny day, and savor the sweeping views.
Founded in 1924, Toyo Bunko is one of the five largest Asian studies research libraries in the world, and it's the oldest and the largest institution in Japan. The museum was opened to spark interest in the region's history and culture and has contributed to Asian studies through the acquisition of books and other materials.
In 1986, Suntory Hall opened as Tokyo’s first dedicated concert hall. Since then, it has earned a reputation as one of the finest concert halls in Japan, thanks in part to its unrivaled acoustics. Located in the central Akasaka district, it regularly hosts classical music concerts by local and international musicians and orchestras. The concert hall’s architecture, organ, and decorative features are just as worthy of admiration as the concerts.
Around 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside of central Tokyo, the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba is dedicated to the natural and human history of Chiba province. The museum has a large collection of geological finds from the region as well as dioramas showing the flora and fauna of the area.
At the Nasu Stained Glass Museum, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had left Japan and entered the English Cotswolds. Designed to look like an English manor, the building is home to antique works of stained glass art, as well as a pipe organ. Art and antiques enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the museum on a day trip from Tokyo.
Just east of Tokyo you’ll find Mother Farm, an animal- and flower-focused amusement park. Get to know the animals in the petting zoo, or spend the day sheepshearing and horseback riding while enjoying the slower pace and fresh air of the countryside.
Yebisu Beer is a popular Japanese lager that’s been brewed since the late 19th century, and you can take a behind-the-scenes tour at this museum, which includes a brewery area, a taproom, and a gift shop. While the more extensive tours are only conducted in Japanese, there are short options for English speakers.
Visitors to Tokyo are spoiled for choice when it comes to fine art museums, but the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum is the place to come to learn about the ordinary crafts that have been interwoven with Japanese daily life for centuries. The museum holds around 17,000 craft artifacts from all around Japan, as well as the Korean Peninsula, China, and Taiwan.
Established in 1960 to house the art collection of Japanese businessman Keita Gotoh, the Gotoh Museum is known for its traditional Japanese and East Asian art. Gotoh was especially interested in the culture and history of ancient Nara, and some of the museum’s treasures include ancient sutras, Zen calligraphy, and scrolls of the Japanese literary classic The Tale of Genji.
Lazona Kawasaki Plaza is a large, modern shopping center connected to the JR Kawasaki train station. It houses more than 300 retail outlets selling Japanese and international brands, plus food options, indoor and outdoor seating, a cinema, a gym, and a grassy outdoor performance plaza.
Nicolas G. Hayek Center is the 14-storey headquarters and flagship store of the Swatch Group Japan, where you can browse and buy its stylish watches. The building is an architectural wonder in itself, but also has plenty to explore inside, including boutiques dedicated to the group’s luxury watch brands—Omega, Longines, and Swatch. There’s also an exhibition hall and magnificent views from the top floor.
Tokyo’s Unko Museum has pulled off the near-impossible: it’s made poop cute. Kawaii culture is a big deal in Japan, and the Unko Museum is a whole space dedicated to the more delightful aspects of poop. Less an educational museum and more an Instagrammable delight, you’ll find photogenic spaces, interactive and arcade games, and more, all in inoffensive pastel hues.
Odaiba’s Immersive Fort Tokyo is a theme park with a difference: the 10 attractions in one put visitors in the center of the action. Rather than theme park staples like roller coasters and bumper boats, Immersive Fort Tokyo offers visitors the chance to be at the center of a mafia versus spy agent showdown, dodge enemies in an escape room scenario, and more.
Located in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district, Kabukiza Tower is best known for being home to the renowned Kabukiza Theater, where you can watch live performances of kabuki–a traditional form of Japanese theater. The tower also has plenty of amenities, including souvenir shops, an information desk, and restaurants.
In Tokyo’s trendy Ginza district, this contemporary gallery showcases work by both Japanese and international artists, such as Sophie Calle, Olafur Eliasson, Kengo Kito, and Hiroshi Sugimoto. It’s well-known for its photography exhibitions, but also displays mixed-media installations, sculptures, and works from diverse art movements, with receptions and artists’ talks to catch.
Dover Street Market Ginza, the Japanese outpost of the iconic London store, feels more like an art gallery than a retail space. Curated by fashion visionary Rei Kawakubo, it features high-end clothing, urban streetwear, jewelry, accessories, books, and more, spread over seven floors, creating a unique shopping space that blends art and style.
