Picks and explorer guides
taste-tested by Richard Jeffery
5 south Indian restaurants
Judging by the lines at several of these South Indian restaurants, Tokyo folk can't get enough of the intense flavors and fragrant whole spices that characterize the cuisine. Here are some favorites.
picked by Where In Tokyo
8 dioramas
All those tiny people - where are they all going? What are their lives like? Here are some of the best places to ponder these important questions.
curated by Jonelle Patrick
4 flower gardens in bloom year-round
There's something in bloom in Tokyo every month of the year - if you know where to look.
test-imbibed by Bento.com
Ginza sake-bar tour
If you find yourself in Ginza with an hour to spare and you wouldn't mind trying out different styles of sake from all over Japan, we've got just the places for you.
selected by Tim Eustace
4 under-the-radar craft-beer restaurants
Tim Eustace introduces five Tokyo craft-beer restaurants and bars that serve very good beer and food, but aren't widely known or reported on.
researched by Tokyo Picks
9 things to do at Tokyo Skytree
There's a lot more going on at Skytree than just the observation deck. And since it's all indoors, Skytree is a good all-day destination for when Tokyo is too hot, too cold or too rainy to spend time outside.
curated by Ryo Seven
5 random martinis in Tokyo
Cocktail connoisseur Ryo Seven recommends five Tokyo bars he likes to visit when he gets that martini itch.
surveyed by Where In Tokyo
Kenzo Tange buildings in Tokyo
Our pick of the Tokyo buildings designed by Japan's most prominent 20th-century architect.
inspected by AnimalCafes.com
Cat Cafes for Kids
Many families visiting (or even living in) Tokyo are surprised to learn that most cat cafes don't allow young children. There are a number of exceptions though, so here is a guide to our favorite cat cafes for kids, broken down by age group.
taste-tested by Bento.com
6 cheese restaurants
Once found almost exclusively in expense-account Swiss restaurants, cheese fondue, raclette and other cheesy delights are surging in popularity in Tokyo.
selected by Where In Tokyo
5 aquariums (metro area)
Where are the best places to marvel at manta rays and hang out with penguins? Here are aquarium picks for the metropolitan area.
test-crawled by Craft Beer Bars Japan
Kanda craft-beer bar tour
Although it's not especially fashionable, trendy or gourmet-conscious, somehow the Kanda neighborhood has turned into a major destination for craft-beer fans in Tokyo. Here's our guided (DIY) tour of 10 of the area's best bars.
researched by Where In Tokyo
Getting the most out of the Grutto Pass
The Grutto Pass provides free admission to more than seventy museums and other attractions during a two-month period. Here's a map of all of them, plus recommendations for some favorite spots.
selected by Bento.com
6 burger joints
Gourmet hamburgers are everywhere in Tokyo these days, but where do you go to find the meatiest, juiciest patties in town? Here's a rundown of a few of our favorites.
inspected by Where In Tokyo
5 train museums (metro area)
Train simulators, room-size train layouts, vintage uniforms and full-size locomotives - where are the best places for train buffs to indulge?
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Latest recommendations
Newest listings from Where In Tokyo, Bento.com, Animal Cafes.com and Craft Beer Bars Japan.
Codename Mixology serves inventive, wonderfully oddball drinks, and just might be our favorite cocktail bar in Tokyo. The bartenders make use of fresh herbs, seasonal fruits and vegetables, artisanal and home-made spirits,...
This intimate jazz club has been an important part of Tokyo's jazz scene since 1974, moving to Shibuya from their previous Omotesando location in October 2021. There's a full calendar of live music with shows every night -...
This lively after-work izakaya specializes in the cuisine of Kita-Kyushu, with an emphasis on seafood. It's a great place to try out interesting regional dishes like seared mackerel sashimi, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and...
A combo sake retailer and standing bar, Asano is a great place to try before you buy, with more than 130 different sakes in stock. Or you can just drop in for a quick tasting flight and perhaps discover some new favorites. ...
The fridges are filled with hundreds of exotic imported beers at this third retail branch of a Tokyo-based beer importer. Unlike the first two standing-bar branches of Beer Ma, this one has seating, in the form of three...
The spacious, stylishly decorated basement lounge in Citan Hostel offers a wide selection of exotic imported craft beers in cans and bottles as well as numerous wines by the glass, all in a quiet, very relaxed setting. ...
Siam Heritage serves excellent traditional Thai cuisine in a gorgeous dining room overlooking Tokyo Station. The spicy dishes here are complex and well-balanced rather than just fiery, with a wide-ranging menu that includes...
Do you love looking at architectural models, but simply can't spare enough time during the day? If so, then this late-night architecture-model cafe might be just the place for you. Wander around the spacious interior and...
Designed by architect Tadao Ando and completed in 2007, the low-slung museum building is designed to fit harmoniously with its surroundings, with 80% of its very limited floor space placed underground. Inspired by Issey...
A new branch of Craft Beer Market is always a welcome addition to Tokyo's beer scene - you can count on a wide and varied tap list, decent food and good prices. This outlet is located in the stylish Tokyo Torch Terrace...
"French kushiage" is the unusual specialty at Beignet. Deep-fried morsels of meat and seafood are assembled with a creative flair, and served alongside original French-style side dishes and international wines. The artful...
If you're on the hunt for unusual craft beers, this tiny retail shop specializes in small, innovative breweries from under-represented corners of the world. There seems to be a emphasis on fruit flavors and...
The Cubar Lounge on the fourth floor of Tokyo Dome's bowling facility is a dimly lit and somewhat more relaxed setting than your usual bowling alley, with a full-service bar, comfortable sofas and original artwork by artist...
BankArt Station, spread out over 1,500 square meters inside Shin-Takashima Station, is the largest of several Yokohama galleries run by the government-supported BankArt 1929 arts program, and it's probably the best venue for...
Small Worlds Tokyo is an essential destination for anyone who loves elaborate dioramas, massive European-style model-train layouts, or the Sailor Moon or Evangelion anime franchises. Open since June 2020, it's advertised as...