All Japan Tokyo

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Tokyo

226 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Tokyo, Japan

Updated August 10, 2025

Visit a vampire cafe, use a transparent restroom, and tap on a stone god for good luck in Japan’s capital city. We’ve rounded up the hidden treasures of Tokyo to fill your stay, whether you’re there for a week or a day.

Email

Unusual Attractions in Tokyo

See All 226 Things To Do in Tokyo

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Tokyo

See all 32 Places to Eat in Tokyo
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Explore Tokyo, Japan

History & Culture 44
Statues 27
Shrines 26
Architecture 21
Temples 20
Museums 20
Unique Restaurants & Bars 16
Shops 15

Tokyo Leaderboard

Recent Tokyo Activity

Stories About Tokyo

Podcast: Nakagin Capsule Tower

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Hachiko

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
Musicians perform sankyoku, traditional Japanese chamber music, in an undated photograph.

118 Years Later, Japan's Earliest Sound Recordings Still Resonate

Sessions in a Tokyo hotel room with a sound engineering pioneer captured a nation in transition.
by Anton Spice
Koronon hands out face masks to encourage people to stay vigilant about COVID-19.

In Japan, Combating the Coronavirus Calls for a Big Pink Cat

Meet Koronon—cute, cuddly, and a big fan of masks.
by Bailey Berg
Hachiko statue in Shibuya, Japan

The Tale of Hachiko, Japan’s Most Loyal Dog

Warning: this one’s a tear-jerker.
by The Podcast Team
Teruyo Usa, owner and founder of Harukor, wearing Ainu robes.

The Only Ainu Restaurant in Tokyo

Harukor serves foods from Japan's northernmost island that colonialism nearly eradicated.
by Mara Budgen
The entrance to the multimedia Queen in the Park art installation at Ginza Sony Park, in February 2020.

The Pandemic Hasn't Dulled Japan's Special Love for Queen

Fans are finding new ways to celebrate the band during the 45th anniversary of their first arrival there.
by Allan Richarz
Finishing before the coffee cools calls for composure.

This Latte Artist Forms Foam Into Flocks of Birds

Put a bird on it!
by Selena Takigawa Hoy

Lists Featuring Tokyo

Alcatraz ER
The “sweets-go-round” looking into the Milk Stand.

12 Tokyo Concept Cafés That Go Way Beyond Cats and Maids

Think monsters and fembots instead.

12

Including Kabukicho Robot Restaurant, Alcatraz ER, and Vowz

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member