LANDON'S TOP ATTRACTIONS IN TOKYO: SPRING 2018

Tokyo, Japan is a massive city to explore. Most tourists only have a few days to work in a limited amount of activities. Tourism increases in the spring as temperatures rise and flowers bloom. Here are a few suggested activities to add to any short list for exploring Tokyo.

​Rappongi
Well known for its nightlife, Rappongi offers many activities and attractions to tourists. Outside of bars and restaurants, there is much to see and do. Rappongi Hills is a complex containing  many shops, a museum, and an observatory deck. If you are looking for deep discounts on high end fashion accessories, there are a number of 2nd-hand stores carrying brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Yves Saint Laurent. The National Art Center is a brief walk from Rappongi Hills and contains many art galleries and exhibits. If you are a fan of the movie Your Name, then stopping by museum's elevated cafe is a must. Fans of the Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior video game franchise will enjoy visiting Luida's Bar. You may even stumble upon the Rosso Scuderia Ferrari dealership while exploring this great area of Tokyo.

National Art Center

View from Rappongi Hills observatory

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Virtual Reality Experience
One of the relatively new attractions in Tokyo are the video game arcades offering virtual reality experiences. There are a number of options in Tokyo including VR Park Tokyo in Shibuya and VR Zone Shinjuku. You can read more about VR Zone Shinjuku in this article. It costs around ¥1,200 per VR experience for each person. You should definitely check out one of the VR arcades for a high tech and unique experience.

Attend a Baseball Game
​Baseball is the national sport of Japan. The Nippon Professional Baseball season starts in March and runs through October. The Yomiuri Giants play in the Tokyo Dome. Tickets are available for purchase online here. It is highly recommended to buy tickets well in advance and bring a print out with you. Ticket prices vary depending on the seat location. While the rules of baseball may be the same, the experience in Japan is quite different. For example, fans do not cheer while their team is batting because it can distract the players. If you do want to cheer and make a lot of noise, purchase a ticket in the outfield cheering section.

A baseball game at the Tokyo Dome

Dome of the baseball stadium

Harajuku
The district of Harajuku, located in the Shibuya area, is well known as the origin of many street fashion styles. It is a unique experience for the fashion connoisseur. Takeshida Dori is full of trendy boutiques, vintage clothing stores, cafes, and a plethora of other interesting shops. This is the street you will want to explore first. If you are interested in more of the European high-end fashion such as Louis Vuitton, Boucheron, and Missoni; take a stroll down Omotesando Avenue. A few interesting shops in Harajuku are B-Side Label (sticker store), Kiddy Land (huge toy shop), and DOG (vibrant and eclectic clothing store). If you are not interested in shopping, there are a few other activities worth exploring. Yoyogi Park has an entrance next to Harajuku Station. You can enjoy a nice, relaxing stroll through the park and visit Meiji Shrine nestled inside. There are also a couple of cat cafes around Harajuku such as Cat Cafe MoCHA. Cat and other animal cafes are unique experiences found across Japan.

Stickers from B-Side Label