Things to Do in Japan

Vintage fun comes to Osaka in the shape of the Tsutenkaku, Osaka’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. Tsutenkaku, translated into "tower reaching heaven," reaches 338 feet (103 meters) high, making it one of the tallest buildings in Asia when it was built in 1912.

Beautifully illuminated and outlined in neon by night, the tower has a decidedly kitsch but cute 1950s futuristic look. Take the elevator to the observation deck on the summit’s fifth level to visit the popular good luck symbol, Billiken, the God of Happiness. A popular American doll in the early 1900s, Billiken was enshrined in the nearby Luna Park, but went missing when the park closed in 1923. To revive the tower and park, a replica was put in the tower and is considered a good luck symbol. Each year thousands of visitors place a coin in his donation box and rub the soles of his feet to make their wishes come true.

Tsutenkaku also boasts some other cool features. The neon lights at the top of the tower are also a weather vane and will predict the next day's forecast. And the clock located on the east side of the building is huge - 18 feet (5.5 meters) across and weighing about 55lbs (25kg). There is also a theater and a few toy museums located within!

A maritime city with international flair, Yokohama was once one of Japan's preeminent ports for international trade. Yokohama's port was the first to open up to foreign trade after the end of Japan's isolationist economic policy in 1854. By 1923, the once small fishing village had emerged as a burgeoning metropolis but faced an early demise after experiencing devastating damage in the Great Kanto Earthquake. Before it could fully recover, World War II fire bombings ravaged the city again. Today, Yokohama steadfastly remains Japan's second largest city with a population of over three million and attracts foreign tourists and expatriates in large numbers. It boasts one of the world's largest Chinatown areas and preserves Western residences built in the 19th century to welcome international traders.

Strolling along the waterfront at Yamashita Park, visitors take in the famous Yokohama Marine Tower, the tallest inland lighthouse in the world. Further inland, a ferris wheel towers over the city, affording views of the industrialized port, quaint residential streets, and ships in the bay. International restaurants cater to visitors and residents from China, Thailand, South Korea, and even western countries. Parks, stadiums, shopping centers, and skyscrapers adorn the city landscape. There's a cosmopolitan feel about the city with a laid back maritime vibe.

Yoyogi Park, one of the largest parks in Tokyo, was the site of the 1964 Summer Olympic Games before it was turned into a public area three years later. Today, Yoyogi is one of the most popular youth hangout spots, particularly for rock music fans. You can rent bikes or browse the wares at the Sunday flea market.

On weekdays, the park fills with walkers, joggers and picnickers enjoying the ponds and forested areas, but not so on Sundays. Each Sunday, bands and musicians set up throughout the park, and Tokyo’s Cosplay shows up in full force, donning all sorts of 50s-era rocker costumes. Don’t be surprised to see several Elvis impersonators and girls with poodle skirts or rockabilly getups. If you want a look at Japan’s youth culture, it doesn't get much better than this.

If you're here in the spring, Yoyogi has a great scene of cherry blossoms, while the park’s gingko tree forest makes for excellent leaf-peeping in autumn.

If you're burned out from sightseeing and just want to kickback and have some fun like the locals do, you'll find what you're looking for at Tokyo Dome City, a massive entertainment complex in the Bunkyo district.

The area's centerpiece is the Tokyo Dome: the world's largest roofed baseball stadium. The dome, also known as The Egg, is the home stadium of the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham. It can seat up to 55,000 people, and often fills up for popular matches. If you have a chance, catching a game offers a uniqe insight into Japanese sports culture.

Also in the area you'll find a small but fun amusement park (the roller coasters are a highlight), an arena for boxing and martial arts known as Karakuen Hall, a 43-floor hotel, bowling center, shops and eateries. A recent addition is the LaQua Spa onsen complex.

Modern architecture goes space age and skywards at the cutting-edge Umeda Sky Building.

Two glass towers soar 173 meters (567 feet) into the air, connected by a futuristic observation platform that provides amazing 360-degree views. Located on the 40th floor, visitors can find the stunning "floating garden" and observatory, along with a restaurant and bar. The SkyWalk observation deck is also popular among visitors who want to feel the fresh air from the 40th floor and get 360-degree views of the city below.

For a change of pace and century, head to the base of the building to enter the old-fashioned Takimi Lane of Restaurants. Reproducing a Showa-era street, the precinct has a shrine, well, stone paving and enough restaurants and taverns to feed an army of visitors with delicious gourmet treats.

Across the bay from Tokyo Disneyland you will easily spot the distinctive glass dome of the city's largest aquarium. Located in Kasai Rinkai park, this government-run aquarium is an inexpensive alternative to some of the city's flashier sea parks while still being quite impressive in its own right.

The exhibits each focus on sea life from a different environment: the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and an extensive exhibit on the local Tokyo Bay. In the watery blue depths you'll encounter giant spider crabs, deep sea isopods, hammerhead sharks and more. There's an enormous theater-style tuna exhibit. Outside of the water you'll encounter a waterbird sanctuary featuring puffins and a fun penguin exhibit. The park is also home to Japan's largest Ferris Wheel.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, more commonly known as Tokyo City Hall or Tochō, is one of the most distinctive and famous buildings in the Tokyo skyline. Tokyo is a huge city and their governmental offices are huge too, taking up three city blocks with three immense buildings.

The tallest is Tokyo Metropolitan Main Building No. 1, built to resemble both a computer chip and a gothic cathedral. It splits at level 33 into two twin towers which stretch to a height 48 stories, making it the tallest building in the city for many years.

Both towers have observation decks free to the public on level 45, 202 meters high. On really clear days, you might even spot Mt Fuji to the west. The view from the southern tower is considered slightly better but the northern tower remains open later, making it more suitable for night viewing.

Since its completion in 2011, the Tokyo Skytree, the world’s second tallest building, has become the most visible landmark in Tokyo. At its base, you’ll find Tokyo Solamachi, the largest shopping, dining and entertainment venue in the city with more than 300 shops and restaurants.

If you want to visit the viewing gallery on the building’s 450th floor, you’ll have to book your tickets ahead of time. Once you’re back at the bottom, take some time to shop at the Solamachi mall. The shops sell a huge variety of wares, including local crafts, Japanese housewares, souvenir shops and an entire floor of cartoon and character shops.

Come hungry, because the complex has a large market, a food court and four floors of restaurants serving Japanese and global cuisine. If you’ve had enough shopping but you still need to kill some time, check out the onsite aquarium and planetariums.

Osaka’s World Trade Center Cosmo Tower, center of trade information linked with 282 cities around the world, soars at 256 meters (840 feet), and the observatory provides wonderful views of Osaka and the port. With 3 stories below ground, and another 55 above ground, it's the highest tower in Western Japan.

The ride to the top is in a glass-walled elevator, taking just 80 seconds to soar to the 52nd floor.The views are specially magical and twinkling at dusk and night when you can watch the sun set over Osaka. You can even see planes taking off and landing at Kansai Airport!

There are several restaurants and bars, jazz music, and cozy seats designed for two that provide a comfortable vantage point to sit back and take in the views from the top of the world.

The Tsukiji Fish Market is the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world, handling more than 2,000 tons of marine products a day. Although the market wasn’t originally intended to be a major tourist attraction when it opened in 1935, Tsukiji now regularly shows up on visitors’ lists of must-see destinations in Tokyo. Witnessing the fresh tuna auction before the sun rises is the primary draw.

The Basics

The market is comprised of two areas: the public Outer Market, which features shops, sushi, and various market stalls; and the Inner Market, where the famous fresh tuna fish auctions are held. The Tsukiji Market is often visited with a tour guide on city walking and biking tours. Fish market tours can also be combined with other Japanese cuisine experiences, such as sushi making classes, cooking classes, and tastings. Nearby attractions seen on sightseeing tours include the Hamarikyu Gardens, the Asakusa district, and the upscale Ginza neighborhood.

Tips for Viewing the Tuna Fish Auction

Whether you’re a sushi connoisseur or just starting to appreciate this popular cuisine, it’s a unique experience to stand amidst freshly caught tuna the size of small children and observe how quickly the pieces are snapped up and carted off to be sliced into nigiri and more.

• The early morning tuna fish auction is free and open to the public, although registration is on a strict first-come, first-serve basis and typically opens at 5am before the first 20-minute viewing at 5:25 and the second at 5:50am.
  
• It’s best to arrive at least two hours early, as crowds are large and the maximum number of visitors allowed in each viewing group is 60. Lines are known to queue up as early as 1am.
  
• You’ll know you’re getting in if the staff provides you with a vest and directs you to a waiting room where you can sit on the floor if necessary. Keep in mind that there is no flash photography.
  
• Be sure to dress warm and wear comfortable shoes.