Exploring Tokyo at night will give you the best and most remarkable urban jungle adventure of a lifetime--that’s for sure. Tokyo unveils its inherent beauty during waking hours. But it really comes alive after dark.
Whether it is to dine, party, shop, or just chill out, Tokyo will have endless of options even for the most discriminating taste. From the busy lanes of Shibuya to the back alleys of Shinjuku, here are five of the best night tours in Tokyo that you might want to take a look at.
1. Tokyo 360-View Night Tour
To witness Tokyo at night in all its glory, two of the best options you have is to view it from Tokyo Skytree or World Trade Center Observatory. From the latter’s vantage point, you’ll be treated with a stunning view of Tokyo Bay and the luminous Tokyo Skytree tower standing tall in the middle of Tokyo’s shimmering city lights.
Depending on which tours, you can choose to see nearby attractions afterward. Some must-visit spots within the Tokyo Skytree premises include Sumida Aquarium, Konica Minolta Planetarium, and Tokyo Solamachi complex.
2. Robot Restaurant Night Tour
Robot Restaurant is a must for a night out in the city. It’s one of the most remarkable things to do in Tokyo at night because you can’t find it anywhere else in the world.
Located in Kabukicho, Shinjuku’s entertainment and red-light district, the theme bar-cum-restaurant has four 90-minute cabaret shows every night where giant robots, daft characters, and entertainers will perform before hundreds of spectators. Make sure to get your ticket in advance as the show is popular with both local and international tourists.
3. Hanami Night Tour
Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, is an old Japanese tradition which celebrates the beauty of nature in time of spring. If you happen to be in Tokyo around March to June, we highly recommend experiencing a genuine Hanami at Meguro Canal in Nakameguro area near Shibuya.
The gorgeous canal is a popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms and at night, it becomes even more sensational when lights and lanterns turn the tree-lined streets of Nakameguro into a natural wonderland. Note that cherry blossoms only last about four weeks and its start and end dates are unpredictable, a major consideration if you’re dying to experience Tokyo with sakura in full bloom.
4. Shibuya Night Tour
Tokyo’s infamous scramble crossing might be the first activity that comes to mind when we hear Shibuya, but there’s more to this lovely ward. Bar-hopping and pub-crawling around Shibuya is one of the best things to do in Tokyo at night.
We highly suggest going into the deepest and hidden food alleys for your dose of the Japanese cuisine. Draft beer, Japanese sake, Kobe beef steak, or meat sushi, you can satisfy your taste buds by throwing food tour and bar-hopping together at the same time.
5. Shinjuku Night Tour
Have you seen those photos of Japan in neon-spangled skyscrapers? They’re most likely taken in Shinjuku, the microcosm of Tokyo. Entertainment, shopping, food, culture, and every weird stuff imaginable--you can see them all here.
Tokyo Localized has a free Shinjuku night tour for that exhilarating nightlife experience around the ward. It’s a free walking tour where you will get to roam around the red-light district Kabukicho, the back alleys of Omoide Yokocho, and the Godzilla road. Kabukicho can be a tricky area for some reason but with the right guide, you should be good.
Night Tour in Tokyo
Tokyo is indeed such an amazing place that you will see different facets of the city no matter what time of day it is. While there are lots of things to do in Tokyo at night, we guarantee that each item on this list will make your stay in Japan one for the books. Which night tour in Tokyo are you most keen on? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Tokyo Localized provides visitors and travellers to Tokyo with a unique perspective of this great city, what makes us unique is that our tour guides live and work in Tokyo, have a passion for this city and love meeting and welcoming new faces. Find out more about our Unique Day and Night Tours of Tokyo - we can't wait to meet you!