These 4 Activities Will Make Your Trip to Tokyo Unforgettable
You’re gonna wanna save this one for later.
At the beginning of 2023, we spent five days in Tokyo and made very special memories through several unexpected, yet unforgettable experiences.
Tokyo is full of quirky and niche activities that you probably won’t encounter in your home country and even though the city can be quite overwhelming, the upside is a trip that will stay with you forever.
So, whether you're on the verge of booking your Tokyo adventure or have already secured your tickets, this post is will help you discover unique activities that will add an extra layer of magic to your trip.
Think you've seen it all? Think again!
Let’s dive into four Tokyo activities that will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.
Visit a Pet Pig Café
If you want to remember a half-hour-long activity for the rest of your life, visit a pet pig café in Tokyo.
We went to pignic cafe yoyogi park and we’re still laughing at the chaos, insanity, and involuntary feelings of terror because of the constant baby pig squeaks in our ears.
It was great.
You arrive at a small (and cute) reception area, order a pink (and cute) drink, and receive a protective (and slightly less cute) apron to wear over your clothes. You get the apron because the pigs will happily sit on your lap and sometimes happily chew on things, as well as your clothes (so, yay for the apron).
You can order some veggies to feed the baby pigs during your stay and after a quick explanation, you get guided to your private petting box (which was very cozy for us tall Dutchies).
And then…
The fun begins.
You get to hang out with them for 30 minutes and believe us, that’s perfect. It’s a mix of entertainment, fear, and comedic gold, all for the price of one.
We paid 2700yen (~17euros) for the entrance and around 1200yen (~7.50euros) for the pink drink & chopped veggies.
An activity that will leave a lasting impression and in Mike’s case, apparently, “make you long for bacon”.
✨ No micro pigs were hurt during or after our visit to pignic cafe yoyogi park. ✨
Get Your Photos Taken in Shibuya
Doing a (couples) photoshoot is one of the best ways to capture your adventure in one of the world's most vibrant cities.
As Hannah’s Christmas gift, Mike booked a photographer for an hour who took us through neon-lit and busy Shibuya, along shopping streets, and all the way to the cozy bars in Shinjuku (Golden Gai).
Because of the diversity in Tokyo, you get a great mix of photos - between the hustle and bustle of people, from viewpoints over the streets below, and cozy side alleys with colorful lights.
A unique way to explore different spots of Tokyo through the lens of a local, plus you get high quality pictures to keep for forever (which is great because it’s not the cheapest activity at around 200euros, here’s an example option).
But let's be honest, it's a nice to step-up from the typical holiday selfies for a change, right?
Take it from us: your photo album will thank you.
Enjoy a Moment of Peaceful Bliss in Meiji Shrine
One of the most beautiful aspects of Tokyo is the many gardens and temples that are scattered throughout the city.
Tokyo has 90 gardens and around 2000 temples and shrines, which means that there is almost always a serene garden or temple in your neighborhood if you need to escape the hectic Tokyo streets.
And, yes, that moment will come.
Our sanctuary of choice for this is Meiji Shrine & Inner Garden.
Meiji Garden was once part of the residence of Katō Kiyomasa, who was a powerful magnate during his time. It was later visited frequently by the Emperor and Empress of Japan, which we can definitely relate to.
It’s a beautiful, serene garden in a great location with unique features, such as a tea house, a fishing pond, and an iris garden.
It’s quite surreal to escape the bustling Tokyo streets and step into a spacious park, with large walkways and quaint spots where you can really relax and enjoy history and nature all at once.
Even though there were many people in the Meiji Shrine as well, we were often by ourselves and could slowly soak it all in.
The Meiji Shrine & Inner Garden are an example of the richness and diversity of Tokyo, where tradition and modernity coexist. And even though Tokyo's vibrant energy is undeniable, don't forget to bookmark Meiji Shrine & Inner Garden for that much-needed dose of tranquility.
It’ll recharge your batteries so you can continue exploring the rest of crazy (but amazing) Tokyo.
Immerse Yourself in Digital Art at teamLab
Introducing our absolute favorite, unforgettable experience in Tokyo: teamLab Planets.
Imagine an art exhibition that's not just a joy to look at but incorporates all your senses into a digital arts playground (and not just for kids).
Think water, movement, and light installations.
At the entrance, you’re told to take off your shoes and that you will need to roll up your pants during certain parts, which were very confused by. The reason for this is that you move through art installations that include water (and yes, please roll up your pants because the water does really come up to your knees).
From sitting in a mirrored-room whilst pretty flowers dangle up and down above you, to walking through a room filled with colorful, life-size balloons to look at.
It’s kind of hard to explain, but we were blown away by the creativity, variety in rooms, and level of immersion throughout. It’s unlike any exhibition you’ll go to and you’re guaranteed to have a great time for your afternoon or morning activity.
The tickets cost us 6400yen (~20euros per person) and after exiting the exhibition, you can stop for vegan ice cream or a tast bowl of vegan ramen at the café outside (which was a luxury for Hannah who struggled to find veggie food on a daily basis in Tokyo).
Originally teamLab was supposed to run until the end of 2023, but because so many people (us included) loved it so much, they’ve extended it until 2027.
So, it’s time to put those travel plans into action so you can enjoy this immersive wonderland yourself!
Can We Do That Again, Please?
These activities were so much fun, that we’re kind of jealous of you having the chance to enjoy them for the first time.
Plus, the list of unforgettable experiences isn’t even complete yet, because we didn’t talk about enjoying the pretty Sakura flowers during Cherry Blossom Season, or taking the first bite of the iconic Sufflé Pancakes. But luckily, you get to read about those in the blog posts we’ve tagged.
So, which activity are you booking straight after you’ve booked your flight tickets to Tokyo?
Pet pig café
Photoshoot in the streets of Shibuya
Meiji Shrine & Inner Garden (only 1euro fee for the garden)
teamLab Planets
Let us know in the comments which one’s most up your street!
Our Japan trip is hands down our favorite trip we've ever done, although I'm sad to say we missed the pig cafe. Guess we'll have to go back 🤷🏽♀️ Felix booked us a private traditional hour-long official tea ceremony for my birthday in Osaka. That was also an unforgettable experience, I loved it!