Continuing in the spirit of the very first post I made for this blog, “13 Amazing Places to Visit in Tokyo“; I wanted to expand upon that and include some one-of-a-kind things to do not just in Tokyo, but all over Japan! This will be for a unique Japanese experience!
While some of these might seem like something in other countries, Japan puts a creative, differentiating spin on them to make it all their own! Some you may already know, but I’m hoping some will be new to you as well! I hope you enjoy this list!
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1. Animal Cafés
The first unique Japanese experience will involve getting closer to animals…while still being in the city! Normally this might involve a zoo. While Japan does have plenty of zoos, they don’t have the personal touch of an animal café!
There are several types of cafés that you can go to in order to see animals. The most popular one would be cat cafés. There are so many different ones in Japan, with the most popular being Cat Café Mocha. Other types of animal cafés include otter cafés, owl cafés…even penguin and hedgehog cafés! Most don’t have a large selection of food (mostly drinks, sometimes included). However you can also just relax and interact with the animals as well, just make sure you follow the rules there.
2. teamLab Borderless
The next unique Japanese experience is actually a museum…but not your traditional museum. Instead of finding paintings and pieces of pottery, you’ll find art that is out-of-this-world! That’s the futuristic art at teamLab Borderless (and yes, they do spell their name with a lowercase t).
teamLab Borderless also has artwork that goes from room to room and flows throughout the complex. Each artwork makes for truly unique Instagram-worthy photographs and is a sight to behold! teamLab Borderless is located in Odaiba near Palette Town in Tokyo. Tickets cost 3200 Yen for adults.
3. Tokyo Joypolis
Sticking to Odaiba, go to the DECKS Tokyo Beach area & you’ll find this next place. Tokyo Joypolis is an indoor amusement park run by SEGA! And the price is well worth it, as you’ll find so much to do there!
One of the main attractions of Tokyo Joypolis is the indoor roller coaster, Gekion Live Coaster. You’ll also find a halfpipe ride where you swing from side-to-side, and a few VR rides as well. Even famous franchises like Ace Attorney and House of the Dead are there! Each ride does cost money individually (unless you get the 4500 Yen Passport Ticket). However they do have a stage show with their own mascot LOPIT (Live-show Operator Prototype by Interaction Technology) there as well, which is free to watch. It also has its own selection of arcade and crane games.
4. Ghibli Museum
Leaving Tokyo behind for a bit, this unique Japanese experience goes all the way to the western city of Mitaka. There you will find something for anime lovers: Ghibli Museum! This is a museum based upon the works of Studio Ghibli. Of course they are famous for such anime movies as Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and My Neighbor Totoro (just to name a few).
The museum is laid out in a rather unique manner. It has a false entrance (Totoro will show you the real one). Inside are vast open areas as well. There is even a theater that will show an exclusive short from Studio Ghibli! Purchase tickets in advance for 1000 Yen per person for adults.
5. Maid Cafés and Themed Restaurants
If you are looking to get a more peculiar dining experience, then the themed café is just the thing for you! While there are many types of themed cafés in Japan and Tokyo in general; the maid ones in Akihabara are the ones not to miss!
Akihabara (or Akiba) is famous for its electronics and geeky/nerdy culture. Called Otaku culture in Japan, the maid cafés there really show their skills because of this. You’ll find girls in maid outfits who will bring out your food and give it a special blessing with a magical spell that they perform!
And if you’re not into maids, Japan has other types of cafés for you to experience. Looking to have a handsome man serve you? They have butler cafés where they will serve you with class! But for a truly unique experience you should try one of the other themed cafés!
These kinds of themed cafés are similar to maid cafes, but instead of the staff dressing up as maids, they will dress up according to the theme of the restaurant. For example, the Lockup will put you in a jail cell and serve you as wardens and zombies! Also you’ll find robot-themed cafés, ninja-themed cafés, and a bunch of cafés that are based upon Alice in Wonderland as well!
6. Miraikan
It’s back to Odaiba for this next unique Japanese experience! Going away from the waterfront area a little way will take you to the Miraikan building. Miraikan is the generally used shortened name for the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.
Spanning 6 floors, here you will find exhibitions like no other, with lots of interactive exhibits and displays. You’ll see a giant globe of the Earth surrounded by a spiral staircase you can climb up! But the star of Miraikan has to be ASIMO, the famous walking robot, who will display his capabilities and sing for onlookers! Miraikan also has comprehensive research and discovery facilities that are all working on new technologies and discoveries, in addition to public displays and shows. Tickets are 630 Yen for adults.
7. Japanese Vending Machines
The humble vending machine is often overlooked when thinking about truly unique Japanese experiences. And while you can easily find vending machines anywhere in the world, Japan offers ones that sell things you’d never expect!
Some of the most common ones will sell everyday items like drinks and snacks, but there are some that get crazy with what they offer. You can find ones that sell instant ramen noodles, ice cream, fresh seafood and ready-to-eat foods like sandwiches and burgers. You’ll find special machines called gachapon / gashapon that sell exclusive toys and trinkets like keychains and straps for anime and manga series as well!
8. Yayoi Kusama Museum
You might not be familiar with the name of the artist Yayoi Kusama, but their artwork is one that you wouldn’t forget if you saw it. Famous for making colorful polka-dotted pumpkins and related pieces of art, she has opened a museum for her art in Shinjuku.
There you will see different exhibitions from the artist herself (sometimes involving not just her art, but herself as well within the art)! Tickets are 1100 Yen for adults and the museum is only open Thursday – Sunday.
9. Capsule Hotels
Looking to stay in Japan on a budget? Then the capsule hotel is just for you! Numerous cities across Japan have them, and compared to a normal hotel they are cheaper. But of course this is for a good reason: Capsule hotels are very small…basically the size of the bed of a pickup truck on average! While it will vary between hotels, each one on average will have only enough space for you to lay down on a bed, which is often inside a small capsule.
Often capsules are stacked upon each other or lined up, maximizing space usage is important to the hotel. You will usually get a small TV with headphones, a light and some minor privacy with a pull curtain (features will vary, of course, from hotel to hotel). The reception desk holds your luggage, you can’t keep it at the capsule room. And you’ll be sharing facilities like bathrooms and showers as well (not at the same time…but one-at-a-time with the same room being used). So if you don’t mind the cramped quarters and lack of real privacy, you can save money and stay at any one of these anywhere in Japan! One more thing, most of these capsule hotels are gender separated (different floors or sections).
I would recommend these options: Book And Bed Tokyo Shinjuku (Tokyo), Cabin & Capsule Hotel J-SHIP Osaka Namba (Osaka), Maja Hotel Kyoto (Kyoto).
10. Japanese Photo Booths
A really unique Japanese experience is not something commonly seen in the rest of the world anymore outside of maybe amusement parks: Photo booths. Japan usually has them in arcades, but they can be found in other places as well.
Often going by the name of Purikura, these are similar to most photo booths where people go inside and take selfies. But the difference with the Japanese ones is the number of options you have to customize the photos…anything from making your more “kawaii” (or cute) to adding stickers and emojis and text to the images right in the booth! You’ll get a small printout which you can use to get larger prints, if you want. Prices on average are usually about 400 Yen, with the prints costing more (if you get them).
11. Karaoke Bars
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous with your unique Japanese experience, then you can try going to a karaoke bar! Karaoke Kan is the most famous one, with its neon blue and red sign. But Japan has other karaoke bars as well. There you can order food, drinks, and sing to your heart’s content, all within a soundproof room. There’s a TV monitor which will show you the songs and help you select the options, and you simply call for your orders when you are ready to get food or drinks. You can take a group of your best friends or family to have the time of your life singing the hits!
12. Life-sized Gundam Statues
While once relegated to the realm of sci-fi, life-size giant robots can be found in real life in Japan now! The first and most famous is in Odaiba, in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. The RX-78-2 Gundam was an older model that was removed; and now you can see the Unicorn Gundam there. The Gundam is a giant robot that is full-scale, towering at almost 25 meters tall (81.3 feet)! It does move a little, transforming with lights and sounds (by changing the faceplate and splitting the unicorn horn on its head, among other movements).
But for a moving full-scale sized Gundam you should go to Yokohama to see it at the Gundam Factory! This one has full range articulation, moving and walking! While it doesn’t have the fighting capabilities of the anime robots, this is still as close as you’ll ever get to being in the Gundam anime in real life!
13. Japanese Festivals
The last unique Japanese experience on my list is one of the ones you have to take part in if you have the chance! Saving one of the best for last, the Japanese festivals is one of those culturally events you’ll remember for the rest of your life!
Also called a matsuri, these festivals take place all over Japan and throughout different times of the year. These are usually very traditional events, with parades, traditional dances, fireworks, and traditional clothing being worn (such as a yukata). You will find games like fish scooping, shooting galleries, and other carnival-like, midway-style vendors. Taiyaki pastries, Takoyaki, Choco Banana and Yakisoba are just one of the foods that will be sold as well, so you can get your fill of food and fun!
These are a select few of the many crazy fun things you can experience in Japan. This country truly has it all; from traditional to modern to quirky! You can never run out of things to do here, which is why it’s personally my favorite country to visit! I hope you got something out of this list and get to experience some of these on your next trip to Japan!
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