One of the best parts about Tokyo is that you’ll never run out of weird and unique things to do here – take it from someone who lives here. There’s always something new and quirky to discover! That’s why Tokyo is the best place in the world to for discovering weird and unique experiences.
Take a break from more serious cultural and historical excursions during your Tokyo Itinerary and check out some weird and unique things to do in Tokyo. I guarantee by the end of this list you’ll be shaking your head saying, “Only in Japan.”
I had so much fun putting this list of weird Tokyo activities together, that it’s now part of a series on my travel blog. Be sure to also check out my list of unique things to do in Kyoto and unique things to do in Osaka to go along with your weird Tokyo activities!
Weird and Unique Things To Do In Tokyo
1. Real Life Mario Kart
First-timers to Tokyo might be surprised when they see Mario, Peach, Yoshi and the crew zooming by on real-life Mario Karts through the city. The locals won’t even blink an eye. Tokyo’s streets are no stranger to go-carts, and in fact, it’s one of the best ways to see the many highlights of Tokyo.
Insider Tip: You’re required to have an international driver’s license to partake in this incredibly weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo. Be sure to get one before leaving your home country.
- Check out this Mario Kart tour that focuses on West Tokyo. It starts near Shinjuku and takes you to Harajuku, through Shibuya crossing, and more.
- If you have a bit of need for speed, take the East Tokyo Akihabara go-karting tour, which takes you over the Rainbow Bridge and you can hit speeds up to 60 km/hr!
Note: Throwing banana peels and turtle shells are not allowed, even though it’s weird Tokyo.
2. Visit a Maid Cafe
Visiting a maid cafe is undoubtedly one of the top weird things to do in Tokyo. And don’t worry, they can be family-friendly and fun for girl groups to visit too.
Maid Cafes were first started in Japan to cater to otaku, young (usually) men obsessed with computer games, manga and/or anime. This gradually evolved into a whole maid cafe culture, and now there are hundreds of these cafes across Japan.
Akihabara, or the manga and electronics center of Tokyo, is the neighborhood most famous for maid cafes (and otaku). If you want to experience this weird thing to do in Tokyo, I recommend booking Maidreamin, a family-friendly Akihabara maid cafe in advance. I don’t advise just walking in to a random maid cafe – Akihabara is also home to some creepy ones.
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3. Visit the Samurai Robot Restaurant!
The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku will always go down in history as one of the most over-the-top, weirdest experiences in Tokyo. Although the Robot Restaurant closed in 2020 because of you-know-what, it re-opened in 2023 as a re-branded Samurai Restaurant!
This weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo is wildly popular and actually hardly a restaurant. It’s an assault on all your senses as flashy dancers and samurai, echoing drums, neon props, and laser beams fill the stage in front of you.
Visitors have described this as ‘life-changing’, or so strange it was like a fever dream. No matter what, this weird Tokyo attraction will make you think, “yes, this is Tokyo.”
Check out tickets to the re-branded Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku at a discount from Rakuten here. Same colorful chaos, different theme!
If you prefer robots to samurai, consider staying a night at Henn na Hotel in Tokyo, which us run by robot receptionists. Read more on my list of Unique Hotels in Tokyo.
Source: Klook
4. Visit Gotokuji Cat Temple
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path, weird, and Instagramable place to visit in Tokyo, head to Setagaya. This neighborhood in south-west Tokyo is home to Gotokuji Temple, a Buddhist temple with thousands of beckoning cat statues. This is a family-friendly and calm, but still weird thing to do in Tokyo.
Maneki-Neko, as they are called in Japanese, are often placed in front of businesses and stores to beckon customers in. If you purchase one at Gotokuji Temple and leave it here, it is said to bring in more customers and bring success to your business.
You can purchase a maneki-neko for as little as ¥300 ($2.70 USD) for a teeny-tiny one, or as much as ¥5000 ($47 USD) for the largest size.
Make the visit even more memorable by taking the Maneki-Neko cat train on the Setagaya train line.
Admittedly, Setagaya is a little bit out of the way from central Tokyo. Pair a trip to Gotokuji cat temple with a visit to the Setagaya Shiro-Hige Cream Puff factory. It’s famous for serving the cutest Totoro-shaped cream puffs, and is a perfect stop for Ghibli fans in Tokyo.
5. Eat Pufferfish - a meal that could kill you!
Fugu, or pufferfish, is considered a delicacy in Japan, and it can be found on the menu of many established seafood and sushi restaurants. Tokyo even has Michelin-starred restaurants that focus on fugu-based course meals.
The weird part about this is, live fugu contain enough poison in their puffy bodies to kill eight humans! Despite the possibility of death, over 10,000 tons of it are consumed here each year. Chefs are required to train for years, and pass a national written and practical exam before they are allowed to prepare are serve fugu to customers.
Enjoy fugu and escape death at Guenpin Fugu, one of Tokyo’s most popular pufferfish restaurants. Reserve a table and meal through Klook to and yourself to a traditional Japanese meal.
Read more about eating pufferfish in the Food & Wine Article, “How to Eat Pufferfish and Not Die.”
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Looking for other things to do in Tokyo?
- Read up on my Tokyo itinerary – The Perfect Three Days in Tokyo Itinerary
- Check out the highlights – Top 15 Things To Do In Tokyo
- See Tokyo’s weird and quirky side – 50 Weird And Unique Things To Do In Tokyo
- Learn where to escape the crowds – Off-The-Beaten-Path Places In Tokyo
- Get out of the city for a day – Best Day Trips From Tokyo
- Gain some elevation over Tokyo – Six Amazing Tokyo Viewpoints
6. Visit a Kawaii Monster Cafe Pop-Up Shop
The Kawaii Monster Cafe is another quirky dining experience that deserves a spot on the weird things to do in Tokyo list. It was visited by Netflix’s Queer Eye cast while filming in Japan, and is known for serving rainbow, monster-themed foods and drinks in an out-of-this world setting.
While the full cafe and monster experience is still officially closed, their Instagram page posts about pop-up events around Tokyo, like parties, make-up booths, and street food stalls. Is there anything weirder in Tokyo than partying with some colorful monsters?
If you want to take a piece of kawaii monster home with you, check out their online shop too.
Love the kawaii vibes? Harajuku is the pop culture capital of all things rainbow and kawaii in Tokyo. Check out this kawaii Harajuku walking tour to maximize your experience.
7. Eat burgers with rice buns
That’s right – rice buns! Mos Burger, which is the Japanese competitor to McDonald’s, serves two fast-food burgers with rice patties for buns instead of bread. This isn’t your average Big Mac!
Mos Burger is a great place to get a fast-food fix in Tokyo. Because it has smaller portion sizes than Western fast food chains, it won’t make you feel sluggish for the rest of the day. For vegetarians, it also offers a green burger which is high on my list of Tokyo restaurant with vegetarian options.
The two rice-patty burgers available from Mos Burger are a seafood medley burger and a chicken teriyaki burger. Check Mos Burger’s entire drool-worthy menu here.
McDonalds Japan also on occasion serves rice burgers on their menu! Three varieties of burgers, a beef, chicken, and teriyaki, are served with fried rice buns for limited times of the year. Check out the McDonalds Japan English menu here.
8. Eat Rainbow Food in Harajuku
Harajuku’s Takeshita street is the heart of cute and kawaii Tokyo, home to weird, unique, and colorful street food. I’m talking rainbow cotton candy, rainbow grilled cheese, and rainbow ice cream!
Visiting Takeshita Street in Harajuku should be on everyone’s Tokyo itinerary. Part of the charm of this kawaii neighborhood is discovering all the colorful food that it offers. Classic weird Tokyo.
Check out Le Shiner for unicorn-themed foods, including unicorn-shaped ice cream and rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches. Totti Candy Factory is famous for its picture-perfect, massive rainbow cotton candy. You’ll definitely need a friend to help you finish these.
Don’t forget to take an Instagram picture and show all your friends at home the weird things to do in Tokyo. If you’re looking for more cute and Instagramable food in Tokyo, check out my running list of cute and kawaii food in Tokyo.
9. Check out Tokyo Station's Character Street
One of my favorite places to shop in Tokyo is Tokyo Station because of the insane variety of unique stores there. My favorite section of the station is B1 on the Yaesu side of the building (opposite the Marunouchi, red-brick side).
B1 is Tokyo Station’s character street, where each shop sells souvenirs special to that character fandom.
Find Studio Ghibli, Pokemon, Crayon Shinchan, Ultraman, One Piece, Miffy, and more at Tokyo Station’s Character Street! It’s a perfect place to get some souvenir shopping done, because there are unique souvenirs here that you won’t find anywhere else outside of Japan.
If you’re into some of these fandoms, be sure to check out my posts about Pokemon things to do in Tokyo and Studio Ghibli things to do in Tokyo.
Insider Tip: If you find yourself in Ikebukuro, the Sunshine City Mall also has a character street, and is home to the Pokemon Center MEGA Tokyo and the Pikachu Sweets cafe.
10. Visit the Yayoi Kusama Museum
Yayoi Kusama, with her signature polka-dot artwork, is one of Japan’s most well-known artists. Her quirky fashion sense and unapologetic art and style makes her a weird and wonderful Japanese icon. The Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to Yayoi’s iconic work. The exhibitions here are constantly changing, allowing visitors to admire the artists latest and most unique work.
Visitors usually spend 30-60 minutes here (it’s a small museum), and you’re required to book tickets in advance. Book them through the official website here.
If you want to see more of Yayoi, consider visiting Naoshima, home to her massive polka-dot yellow pumpkin statue. Matsumoto, where Yayoi Kusama was born, also features her art in the Matsumoto City Museum of Art.
11. Visit the Crappy Unko (Poop) Museum Tokyo
I don’t think I need to explain why this is on my list of weird things to do in Tokyo. A museum dedicated to the cuteness of poop? Only in Japan. The Unko museum originally opened as a pop-up only, but due to its wild success, it became a permanent attraction in Tokyo.
Here are some quotes from the website to get you hyped up about visiting this weird place in Tokyo:
- “Take pictures of various poops like the surreal flying poop and colorful shiny poop”
- About interactive rooms: “Games using your body such as stepping on poop projected onto the floor”
- About their arcade games: “Getting a high score will be more satisfying than taking a big dump!”
12. Shop at Mega Don Quijote, Shibuya
Here’s another place to have your senses assaulted on this weird things to do in Tokyo list: Don Quijote, or Donki, is a hyperstore chain known for being a one-stop-shop that offers great bargain shopping. Think Target, meets Costco, meets Tokyu Hands. Floor-to-ceiling shelves are overflowing will all sorts of crap that you never thought you needed. There are plenty of little screens shouting advertisements at you too.
The Donki in Shibuya is one of the the biggest and baddest in Tokyo. Looking for candy, booze, board games, sex toys, costumes, household goods, or all of the above? Come to Don Quijote.
But actually, Donki is a great place to shop for souvenirs in Tokyo. They always have a large Japanese souvenir section, and also sell food, drinks, and snacks like matcha tea, ramen, and flavored Kit-Kat souvenirs.
13. Visit an Onsen Theme Park
The first onsen (hot springs) theme park in Tokyo was Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba, which unfortunately closed in 2021.
In 2024 an alternative onsen theme park opened in nearby Toyosu – Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai. It offers a full suite of onsen experiences including gender-separated, nude hot springs and sauna. It also features an Edo-themed shopping and dining street, which features fresh seafood from the nearby Toyosu fish market.
While the shopping street is free to explore, tickets are required to enter the onsen areas, which are available on Klook.
If getting naked in front of others is not your cup of tea, this theme park also has a foot bath with a view overlooking Toyosu and Tokyo Bay.
Another awesome onsen theme park alternative is in Hakone: Yunessun hot spring theme park. Here, guests can bathe (with swimsuits) in wine, coffee, green tea, and more! Although not in Tokyo, this is definitely an awesome, weird thing to do in Japan.
14. Take Purikura Photo Booth Pictures
Wildly popular with local Japanese teenagers, purikura is a fun activity for friends and family, and a weird but also cute thing to do in Tokyo. You’ll have a nice souvenir to bring home from Japan too. Each photo booth session costs about ¥400 yen ($3.00 USD).
There aren’t your ordinary strip mall photo booths either. You can decorate them with stamps and stickers before they’re printed, and the weird Tokyo part – you can adjust the photos to make your face look skinnier or your eyes look extra big!
Instructions for most purikura machines are in Japanese, but all you have to do is pick settings like which frame color you want, and your preferred photo exposure levels. Input your email address into the machines so you can get a digital copy of the photos sent to you.
Find a place to stay in Tokyo:
- Find a cool and unique hotel – Coolest Hotels in Tokyo
- Find your perfect capsule hotel – Best Capsule Hotels in Tokyo
- Splurge on a private onsen hot spring – Tokyo Hotels with Private Onsen
- Stay in a traditional Japanese inn – Amazing Ryokan in Tokyo
- Live in luxury at Tokyo’s top hotels – Best 5-Star Hotels in Tokyo
- Stay somewhere spacious and family-friendly – Best Tokyo Hotels for Families
15. Dress Up And Sing Karaoke
The Japanese love their karaoke. Walking around any neighborhood, especially close to the train stations, you’re bound to see “KARAOKE” or “カラオケ” lit up across the buildings.
Going to karaoke is easy. Choose how many hours you want to sing for, and if you want to include all-you-can-drink options (not available at all stores). Expect to pay around ¥2,500 yen ($23 USD) per person, for two hours of karaoke plus all-you-can-drink beers and soft drinks.
Many karaoke joints have free musical maracas and tambourines to smash while someone is singing – some even have costumes you can wear!
16. Enroll in Ninja Training
I’m not the only one who wanted to grow up to be a ninja, right? Relive your childhood dreams by going through ninja training, a weird thing to do in Tokyo that you can also experience in Osaka and Kyoto.
At the Asakusa Ninja Experience Cafe, gusts can take part in ninja cosplay (dressing up like a ninja), and learn sword-fighting techniques from a master ninja. Activities include shooting shuriken ninja stars, practicing shooting a blow dart, and touring around historic Asakusa too.
It’s a great activity for families and ninja enthusiasts alike.
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17. Shop Fake Food
First-time visitors to Tokyo will notice a weird phenomenon: Many Japanese restaurants have a display case showing different menu items at the front of their shop. They’re all fake versions of what the restaurant serves inside. If you’ve ever wondered where and how these fake food models are made, head to Kappabashi-dori, the Kitchen Goods street near Asakusa.
Ganso Sample-ya is an example of one of these fake food shops. Find amazing, unique Tokyo souvenirs including phone cases covered in different Japanese foods (shown below), sushi-shaped key chains, magnets, and more. You can even pick up life-sized versions of (fake) Japanese staple foods here too, including ramen, udon, tempura, and omurice.
Ganso Sample-ya also host classes where visitors can try making their own fake food souvenirs to take home with them! This experience is the most popular in Osaka, the kitchen of Japan, and is on my list of weird and unique things to do in Osaka too.
18. Visit Hello Kitty Land
Did you even visit Japan if you don’t have a something Hello Kitty-related to prove it?
Visit some of Japan’s most famous characters at Sanrio Puriland. Take pictures with all of your favorite Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty and My Melody, watch their live performances, and take home plenty of souvenirs from the gift shops.
Book through Klook to get discounted tickets for Sanrio Puriland.
If you love Hello Kitty but don’t have time to visit a theme park, check out one of many Sanrio Cafes across Tokyo, or stay the night in the Hello Kitty room at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo. Definitely a weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo!
19. Meet Godzilla
Did you know Shinjuku is the new home to the king of monsters, Godzilla? Check him out peeping over the top of the Toho movie complex in the heart of Shinjuku.
If you dare, enter through the connecting Hotel Gracery to visit Godzilla at head-level. He lights up, roars, and spews out steam at the top of every hour.
If you love Godzilla, be sure to check out the Tokyo Godzilla store in Shinjuku’s OIOI (pronounced Marui) store as well, or try to get a reservation to stay in the Godzilla room at the Hotel Gracery. A weird and unique experience, only in Tokyo!
Check out other weird Tokyo hotel options on my list here.
20. Visit an (Ethical) Animal Cafe
Sipping on lattes while patting furry (or spiky, or slithery) friends has been a growing trend in Japan. Animal Cafes allow you to interact with different animals while enjoying a drink and a meal, giving off a relaxed petting zoo feeling. Animals featured in Animal Cafes across Tokyo include dogs, cats, hedgehogs, owls, otters, mini pigs… even meerkats and lizards!
In order to make your visit an ethical one, I recommend doing your research before you choose which cafe to visit.
Check out Inu Neko Lua Cafe, which fosters dogs and cats that are looking for their furr-ever homes. Neko Republic is also a cat cafe chain where all of their friendly felines are adoptable.
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21. Visit Kanayama Jinja Shrine (home to the penis festival)
Kanayama Jinja is a shinto shrine located just south of Haneda airport. This shrine is where the world-famous Kanamara festival, nicknamed the ‘penis festival’, takes place in April each year. Both the shrine and the festival celebrate the male appendage, evidenced by the number of phallic statues present on the shrine grounds. Although it’s a weird and hilarious concept, be mindful that it is still a holy place so treat the statues with respect!
Visitors here have historically come to pray for protection from sexually transmitted diseases, but can also come to pray for fertility and protection in childbirth.
To reach Kanayama Jinia, navigate to the Wakamiya Hachimangu shrine first. The unique Tokyo penis shrine is located on the grounds here.
22. Soak in an electric onsen
If you love hot springs, how about relaxing at a traditional Japanese onsen – one that has an electric bath?
Tsukimi-yu is an old Japanese sento or bath house in Tokyo’s Setagaya neighborhood. This public onsen has many baths that are fed from natural hot spring waters. It’s also home to a denki-buro, or electric bath. Who said electricity and water don’t mix?
Electric currents run through the onsen bath water in the denki-buro, which is meant to ease tired muscles and is said to have a number of health benefits. Visitors stepping into the waters might get a little zap before enjoying tingling electric sensations as they soak. Be aware it’s not recommended for people with heart conditions or with pacemakers.
Love onsen? Check out my list of amazing hotels in Hakone, Nikko, and Beppu with private onsen!
23. Eat Michelin-starred cup ramen
Tokyo is home to more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world. Among these is a number of Tokyo ramen restaurants, that were awarded the star based on their version of this humble noodles and broth bowl. You can either spend hours waiting in line to try a bowl of Nakiyru’s spicy dandan noodles, Soba House’s tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen, or Ginza Hachigo’s chuuka soba… or buy a cup noodle version at the convenience store!
For example, Nakiryu has paired with 7-Eleven to provide their dandan noodles in a cup ramen form. Tsuta, the first ramen restaurant in Japan to receive a Michelin star, also has a cup noodle available at 7-Eleven. These cup noodles make a perfect keepsake and gift from Japan as well. You’ll never look at cup ramen the same way again!
Depending on your location, you can purchase these on Amazon as well.
24. Stay in a hotel with robot dinosaur receptionists
Henn na Hotels are located in many large cities across Japan including Tokyo, and are undoubtedly some of the weirdest hotels in Japan. In fact, the name “Henn-na Hotel” literally translates to “Weird Hotel” in Japanese.
Here, human-like robot staff and even dinosaur robots greet guests at the front desk upon arrival! Other robots like ones that carry your luggage, and mini robots to take your breakfast order, are available in some of the Henna na hotels too.
Henn na hotels can be found in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and even as far away as Seoul, South Korea too.
Check out my full list of coolest hotels in Tokyo here.
Find a place to stay in Tokyo:
- Find a cool and unique hotel – Coolest Hotels in Tokyo
- Find your perfect capsule hotel – Best Capsule Hotels in Tokyo
- Splurge on a private onsen hot spring – Tokyo Hotels with Private Onsen
- Stay in a traditional Japanese inn – Amazing Ryokan in Tokyo
- Live in luxury at Tokyo’s top hotels – Best 5-Star Hotels in Tokyo
- Stay somewhere spacious and family-friendly – Best Tokyo Hotels for Families
25. Challenge a sumo wrestler
Sumo wrestling may seem like a very weird sport to those not familiar with Japanese culture. Watching either a sumo wrestling tournament, observing a sumo wrestling practice session, or even trying sumo wrestling for yourself, is a weird thing to do in Tokyo that is uniquely Japanese.
Tokyo is home to the Ryogoku Kokugikan, a famous sumo wrestling stadium built in 1909. If you’re visiting Japan when a sumo tournament is happening, I highly recommend attending for the buzzing atmosphere and shows of Japanese tradition. Read about my experience and how to get tickets here.
Visitors to Tokyo can also join a tour to watch a sumo wrestler morning training sessions, or for an extra level of weird, dress up like a sumo yourself and wrestle with retired sumos! This is a brand new, unique Tokyo experience.
26. Catch your own meal at a fishing restaurant
Zauo Fishing Restaurant provides visitors to Tokyo with the weird and wonderful experience of catching your own fish before you eat it. If you opt to catch your own fish for eating, you get a few hundred yen discount for your hard work!
Once you’ve caught one of the red snapper, flounder, or other fish swimming around, choose how you want it prepared: sashimi, fried, grilled, or made into sushi. Other food is served here also, including tempura and oysters.
Visitors will also love the interior of this weird restaurant in Tokyo, which is shaped like a wooden boat surrounded by water. Tokyo locations of the Zauo Fishing Restaurant include Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Meguro neighborhoods. They’re also located in Osaka and Fukuoka.
27. Try one-of-a-kind ice cream flavors
Japanese businesses love to showcase regional and traditional flavors in many different ways. Lucky for us, soft serve ice cream is a popular way to showcase local flavors and ingredients. Find your new favorite ice cream flavor as part of this weird thing to do in Tokyo!
Here are some unique local ice cream flavors to try and where to find them:
- Uva (tea), Hojicha (tea), and other seasonal flavors at CHAVATY in Omotesando
- Adzuki beans, black sesame, brown sugar roasted tea, Japanese chestnut, persimmon, and other seasonal flavors at Japanese Ice Ouca in Ebisu
- Hokkaido milk, purple sweet potato, rice, Nagano dates, and other regionally-sourced ingredient flavors at Premarche Gelateria in Meguro
Other examples of regional soft serve flavors that can be found around Japan include wasabi ice cream in Nagoya and Nagano, soba ice cream in Sapporo, and soy sauce ice cream in Shodoshima – yum!
28. Indulge in all-you-can-eat KFC
The fast-food chicken brand Kentucky Fried Chicken, or just Kentucky, “Ken-tah-kii” in Japanese, has an all-you-can-eat restaurant located in the Minami-Machida neighborhood of Tokyo.
For around 2000 yen per adult for lunch and 2500 yen for dinner, enjoy buffet-style KFC fried chicken, sides, soft drinks, even rice, pastas, soups, and desserts for 80 minutes.
If you find yourself in Japan craving a bit of deep-fried, crispy chicken with 11 secret herbs and spices, definitely check out this weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo!
Here’s a bonus weird fact about KFC in Japan – Due to a super-successful advertising campaign stating “Christmas = KFC for dinner”, it’s now a popular custom for Japanese families to have KFC on Christmas day!
29. Visit the Gashapon Department Store
Gashapon, or gacha-gacha, machines are famous in Japan, and visiting the Gashapon Department Store in Ikebukuro is a quirky, weird thing to do in Tokyo.
Gashapon machines are simple: insert 100 yen coins into the machine, turn the handle, and get a prize! Photos on the front of the gashapon machine show you the variety of prizes you might win, and each machine usually has a theme to it, such as anime characters, keychains, and other collectibles. Gashapon toys make a great, affordable souvenir from Japan too.
The Gashapon Department store is located in the Bandai Namco section of the Sunshine City mall in Ikebukuro (also home to one of the best viewpoints in Tokyo). Over 1000 capsule machines are here for you to explore. Be sure to bring a lot of 100 yen coins with you!
30. Relax at a Footbath Cafe
Let’s face it, you will be walking a LOT while visiting Japan and Tokyo. Be sure to add a foot-bath cafe to your itinerary to give your feet a break and a pamper. When I say foot-bath, I mean an onsen-style hot springs bath for your feet called ashi-yu! Only in Japan.
These five cafes around Tokyo offer the awesome experience of dipping your feet in hot bath waters, while you relax with a snack or drink. Many come with a view, healthy drink options, and other spa treatments on-site as well.
Your feet will definitely thank you for taking part in this unique thing to do in Tokyo!
31. Rock out with the Yoyogi Rockstars
Every Sunday afternoon across from Yoyogi Park near Harajuku, you might hear some rock music in the distance and a crowd of people on the street. Get closer and you’ll see a variety of middle-aged Japanese rockstars dressed in denim and donning mowhawks, dancing and air guitaring wildly to popular rock songs.
The Yoyogi Rockabilly rockstars have been dancing here for decades, and visiting them is a weird thing to do in Tokyo that is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.
Whether you visit to take some photos, to dance along, or just to admire their enthusiasm and rockstar qualities, don’t miss this unique Tokyo experience during your next Sunday visit to Harajuku.
32. Symbolically Climb Mt. Fuji
Did you know you don’t have to actually hike Mt. Fuji to complete a Mt. Fuji pilgrimage? Tokyo has a number of Fujizaka mounds, located at Shinto shrines around the city, where you can symbolically climb Mt. Fuji.
Fujizaka are made of volcanic rocks sourced from the real Mt. Fuji. They’re shaped in a way that represents the real mountain too, with steep paths that follow similar routes as the four trails to summit Mt. Fuji. The Fujizaka even have tiny shrines and torii gates in the same location as the real Mt. Fuji!
Tokyo’s Fujizaka were built so that the sick and elderly (or anyone else not interested in hiking all 3776m to the Mt. Fuji summit) can still attain similar religious blessings as if they completed the real pilgrimage.
The most accessible Fujizaka is at the Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine in Yoyogi, conveniently located near Shinjuku Gyoen gardens.
33. Eat Monster-Sized Ramen
Visit Hyori Ramen in Takadanobaba or Yarou Ramen in Asakusa and indulge in monster-sized ramen. You’ll definitely need to bring some friends and family with you to help tick off this weird thing to do in Tokyo.
Hyori Ramen’s monster ramen serving comes with karaage fried chicken, a mountain of bean sprouts, spice levels of your choosing, and of course a massive portion of thick ramen noodles and broth.
Eating the monster ramen at Yarou Ramen in Asakusa has become a social media trend due to the Instagram-perfect ginormous ramen. Their ramen comes with large slabs of char-siu pork belly, bean sprouts, and enough ramen to feed a whole family!
34. Visit a Themed Cafe or Bar
Take your café or bar-hopping experience in Tokyo to the next level by eating with vampires, drinking with muscle girls, or pretending to be in a prison! Visiting themed cafes is a weird thing to do in Tokyo and a popular activity for both locals and visitors who want to escape reality or just try something new.
Enter into the fantasy world of a vampire den at the Vampire Cafe in Ginza for example, and eat food out of coffin-shaped bowls while surrounded by blood red, velvety decor.
The reel below showcases an experience at the Tokyo Muscle Girl Bar in Ikebukuro, where super-fit girls will squeeze drinks for you with their bare hands and challenge you to lift some weights.
Whichever themed café in Tokyo you visit, it is sure to provide you with a memorable experience!
35. Buy (or just admire) expensive fruits
Gifting high-quality fruits in Japan is a cultural phenomenon not seen in many other countries around the world. Gift-worthy fruits in Japan are meticulously grown, sometimes one fruit per stem, and consciously and beautifully packaged (not your average grocery store quality!)
Expensive fruit in Japan is a marvel to behold and even better to receive, and can be purchased in specialty stores around Tokyo.
If you want to give a gift to someone special, or gift to yourself, check out Sembikiya in Nihonbashi, a store famous for its fancy and expensive fruit boxes. Example prices include one mango for 5,400 yen (below), a melon in a wooden box for 17,280 yen, 15 strawberries for 18,600 yen, and more.
You can also opt to try a luxurious fruit parfait in the café on-site for only 2,000 yen. Sembikiya celebrates seasonal fruits grown around Japan, both for gifting enjoying as a dessert in their cafe.
36. Have a Pokemon-themed day
Tokyo is the perfect place to explore for Pokémon fans. Japan is the birth place of Pokémon afterall! Spend a weird and unique day in Tokyo exploring everything Pokemon that Tokyo has to offer. Tokyo has so many Pokémon-themed activities that I’ve made a whole blog post listing various things to do for Pokemon fans.
Top attractions include Tokyo’s Pokemon Centers, which are large Pokemon gift stores that sell everything from Pokémon cards to plushies to home goods to stationary, even limited edition collectibles only available in Tokyo!
Tokyo also has the famous Pokémon cafe and a bakery called Pikachu sweets cafe, located in Ikebukuro.
37. Dine alone in a cubicle restaurant
It’s no secret that Japan has some loner residents that prefer only their own company. After days of exploring Tokyo’s flashy lights and crowded streets, you might feel like taking a solo break too. Whether you’re wanting to eat a meal in peace and quiet, traveling solo, or are just interested in what a secluded, one-person table entails, eating at a cubicle restaurant is another weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo.
One of the most famous and popular cubicle restaurants is Ichiran Ramen. Here, one-person tables available for guests have barriers between each seat. Order ramen using a screen or writing on paper, then have your meal delivered through a ramen bowl-sized curtain in front of you. Aside from the sound of others slurping their ramen (as is the norm in Japan), you can enjoy your Ichiran Ramen in solitary peace and quiet.
Ichiran ramen, which was founded in Fukuoka, is known for its amazing tonkotsu ramen and thin noodles, not just for having solo dining seats! Ichiran ramens are popping up all over the world, and you can even take a Ichiran ramen-making kit home with you.
If you love ramen, check out my post about Tokyo’s Cup Noodle Museum and Shin-Yokohama’s Ramen museum.
38. Stay overnight or have a "rest" in a love hotel
Tokyo and Japan in general are known for an interesting (efficient and convenient) hotel option called Love Hotels. Love hotels in Japan started off as places for couples to have a little privacy, to engage in “adult activities”. But with amenities like hot tubs, karaoke machines, rentable costumes, room service food and drinks, love hotels have become a fun place to hang out with friends and hold events too.
Love hotel rooms can be booked in-person for anywhere from 20 minutes (known as a “rest”) to a full night. Because the real purpose of these hotels is to get a bit of adult-time in, many love hotels can be decorated with tacky hearts, dim lighting, and large beds. Reception is also behind a mirrored wall or screen for maximum privacy of the guests.
Some examples of Tokyo love hotels bookable through Booking.com include Hotel Oldswing, Hotel Lotus, and Sweets Hotel Ruby (photos below) all in Shibuya. Just don’t arrive expecting 5-star service and free breakfasts.
Love hotels are also on my list of weirdest hotels around Japan – check out that list for more weird Tokyo inspiration.
39. Find unique vending machines
Tokyo is covered in vending machines. This cheap and ultra-convenient way of purchasing snacks, drinks, and ice creams around Tokyo extends to other consumables too. Go on a unique vending machine hunt for this next weird thing to do in Tokyo!
By weird, I mean have you ever bought alcohol from a vending machine (no ID needed)? What about packets of bug snacks, cans of cake, or fish broth?
Check out this blog post for specific locations and items that you can score as part of a unique and weird vending machine hunt across Tokyo.
Pizza vending machine
Pudding in a bottle vending machine
40. Play retro arcade games in Akihabara
This weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo is in Akihabara, the electronics, manga, and gaming capital of Tokyo. Head to Super Potato, a multi-story entertainment store that sells everything from anime character figurines to rare Pokemon cards, to retro gaming consoles and games.
The top floor of Super Potato has a number of nostalgic retro games like the original Pong and Street fighter! With coin changing machines, ice cream and cup noodles available, you could spend plenty of time (and money) indulging in this weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo. Super Potato also has N64 games available in the retail section of their store.
For a modern twist on gaming, head to the larger game centers like Sega or GiGO. You’ll find all the latest games here including racing games, DDR, and a Japanese favorite, Taiko no Tatsujin (turned into a Switch game). At these game centers, you can try your hand at claw machines and gachapon too.
Hanging out in Akihabara, including gaming and visiting a maid cafe, and both on my list of rainy day things to do in Tokyo.
41. Party with nuns at the Church Bar
Shibuya is home to Dogenzaka Church, a night club and bar that looks like a church. This weird and unusual spot in Tokyo is sure to surprise even the most seasoned travelers.
The Church is located just steps away from Shibuya Scramble, so you can even see the candle-lit interior of the bar and hear the thumping techno music when walking by on the street.
Guests here are served by waitresses in nun outfits, and sinful drinks available on the menu include a snake-infused spirit drink from Okinawa, “X-rated” mystery shots, tequila, and bottles of champagne.
The altar at Shibuya’s “The Church”? Of course it’s a DJ table.
42. Be served by robots at the Avatar Robot Cafe
DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe is a unique dining spot in Tokyo that is wholesome as much as it is super weird. Visitors to this cafe are served by robots.
This sounds futuristic, until you realize that the robots are operated remotely by people with disabilities, referred to as “pilots”. “Pilots” are unable to leave their homes for various reasons, but working through robots at DAWN allows them to connect with people in the outside world.
DAWN started as a pop-up and experimental cafe, but its popularity and success made it upgrade to a permanent location in Tokyo. The cafe is located in Nihonbashi in eastern Tokyo.
43. Rent a schoolgirl outfit in Harajuku
Renting a schoolgirl (or sei-fuku) outfit during your visit in Tokyo could be as quirky or weird as you make it. In reality, renting schoolgirl outfits is a common activity, especially with local girls who enjoy dressing up in these cute outfits.
Rentals are used for school photos, as well as for Instagram-worthy photoshoots, puri-kura photo sessions, and especially on trips to Tokyo Disneyland!
Kanko Shop in Harajuku Select Square is a foreigner-friendly school outfit rental store. Both male and female school outfits are available, and rental options ranging from 5 hours to three days.
You can also book a schoolgirl outfit rental through GetYourGuide here.
44. Make your own hanko seal with cute animals
Yanaka Ginza offers a truly unique Tokyo experience and souvenir: make your own hanko stamps! At the quirky Shimonogurui shop, you can craft and design a personalized hanko stamps.
Hanko are traditional Japanese stamps that are used as a personal signature for official documents. Historically made from wood, stone, and rubber, hanko seals are engraved with the user’s name in kanji. Owning your own hanko therefore is a functional and unique souvenir from Japan.
Shimonogurui adds a cute twist – pick out cute animals and other cartoon impacts to pair with your name on your personalized hanko. Check out the animal options on their official website. Along with your hanko design, you can also choose from various hanko stamp cases. If you love their drawings, they can also design personalized t-shirts for your too!
45. Visit a Tokyo Speakeasy
Visiting a speakeasy is a unique activity in any city, and you bet Tokyo has some too!
Nappa Gochiso Meguro is a Tokyo speakeasy in Nakameguro that creates a unique experience for guests. Hidden behind a bookcase, push three green buttons in order to enter this hidden establishment.
This Tokyo speakeasy isn’t just a bar – it actually serves some incredible food including set meals and drinks in their modern izakaya restaurant. Due to its popularity, reservations are required ahead of time via their LINE or phone number, which can be found (alongside their menu) here.
46. Visit the Meguro Parasitological Museum
Tokyo is home to one of the weirdest museums you could imagine: the Meguro museum of parasites. Not for the squeamish, this unique science museum and research facility in Tokyo is home to 60,000 parasite specimens, 300 of which are on display to the public. And it’s totally free to visit!
The first floor of the museum presents educational information about different types of parasites, while the second floor exhibits Human and Zoonotic parasites and educates about their life cycles and symptoms.
If you want a souvenir from Japan with images of parasites on it (Acanthocephala or Monogenea, take your pick) you’re in luck! This super weird Tokyo museum even has a gift shop so you can remember your bizarre learning experience here.
47. Make your own katana sword
At the outskirts of Tokyo, dive into the world of expert Japanese craftsmanship by joining a katana-making experience. As part of this hands-on activity in Hirata in western Tokyo, you’ll work with a Japanese furnace master and blacksmith to make a small katana.
Samurai, members of the Japanese warrior class, wielded katana in battle and also enshrined them in their homes to provide protection and ward off evil.
Visitors to Hirata will learn about the history and philosophy of katana-making, and also take part in their own forging of parts of katana swords. This activity is perfect for anyone interested in an off-the-beaten path, unique experience, especially if they are interested in samurai culture.
If you want exposure to full-sized katana, you can join a katana polishing course in Setagaya, Tokyo (you can’t take the katana home, though).
Image courtesy of Wabunka
48. Eat bugs, birds, and beasts
Brave eaters seeking a one-of-a-kind feed in Tokyo should check out Kome to Circus in Shibuya’s Parco department store.
The store name translates to “rice and circus”, which you may have guessed by now refers to eating some pretty unique critters and creatures. Unique meats like frog, boar, snake, kangaroo, crocodile, and camel can be tried here, which are definitely not part of your everyday Japanese meals!
The restaurant also serves different types of bugs like crickets, beetles, and spiders for a little extra crunch with your rice.
Eating this circus of snacks and small plates is definitely a weird thing to do in Tokyo that you’ll never forget.
49. Visit the Art Aquarium Museum
Everyone knows about the stunning Teamlab museums in Tokyo. But what about the Art Aquarium?
The art aquarium museum in Ginza is a weird and wonderful museum in Tokyo unlike any other in the world. Art Aquarium Museum Ginza displays thousands of goldfish in colorful water exhibits that create a beautiful, other-wordly vibe. A variety of goldfish are on display here, including some rare and valuable types. In addition to the delicate aquarium exhibits, rotating collaborations such as those displaying Japanese lanterns or traditional masks can be enjoyed as well.
The museum is located in the Mitsukoshi Ginza department store and is a perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of Ginza. This unique Tokyo destination is a perfect and Instagrammable addition to your next Tokyo itinerary!
50. Admire the toilets of the Tokyo Toilet Project
Visiting toilets that are works of art is another weird and unique thing to do in Tokyo in and around Shibuya. The Tokyo Toilet Project showcases 17 art-tastic toilets designed by Japanese and international architects and creatives including Tadao Ando and Toyo Ito. The most famous toilets of the bunch are Shigeru Ban’s see-through toilets, with floor to ceiling glass walls that frost over when a visitor locks the door to conduct their business. His two toilets are located by the Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park.
See the map of toilets on the official website map here.
A fan of Tadao Ando? Be sure to check out my Naoshima itinerary to see some of his other designs and installations.
51. Visit Teamlab Borderless or Teamlab Planets
Immerse yourself in the world of digital art as part of this unique Tokyo activity. Teamlab Borderless and Teamlab Planets are two digital art museums in Tokyo that feature interactive, digital art installations.
At Teamlab Planets, walk barefoot through water, feel soft and bouncy surfaces beneath your feet, and interact with art that shifts with your movements.
At Teamlab Borderless, digital art flows from room to room, creating a constantly changing environment. Lose yourself in glowing forests, floating flowers, and interact with digital creatures that react to your touch.
It’s worth visiting at least one of these museums on any Tokyo itinerary. Read more about each museum and how to pick which one do visit in my post comparing Teamlab Borderless vs Teamlab Planets.
52. Visit a Hot Springs Cafe: Rebon Kaisaiyu
For a truly unique Tokyo experience, visit Rebon Kaisaiyu, a renovated sento (public bathhouse) that has been transformed into a cozy cafe.
Located in Shitaya, a quiet residential neighborhood north of Ueno, it’s a Tokyo hidden gem known for its retro vibes. The inside of the cafe blends the charm of an old Japanese bathhouse with the atmosphere of a relaxed cafe.
If you’re looking for a unique place in Tokyo to unwind or have a quick bite, Rebon Kaisaiyu is a perfect escape from the busy city life.
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Are You Prepared For Your Trip To Japan?
Be sure to check out my Japan home page for Japan travel information, insider tips, reading list, and must-haves for traveling to Japan!
- Book Your Flights – To find the cheapest flights, flexibility is key. I use both Google Flights for their low fare calendar, and Skiplagged, which uses airfare loopholes to get the lowest prices. For a trip to Japan, check flights to both Tokyo airports (Haneda, Narita) and to Osaka (Kansai).
- Getting Around Japan: Prepare your JR Pass and Suica transit card before you depart.
- Book Your Accommodation – Check out Booking.com for the largest selection of accommodation in Japan. Consider having a bit of fun at one of these Weirdest Hotels in Japan too 🙂
- Book Local Excursions – Don’t miss out on world-class experiences, like Teamlab Borderless or Tokyo Disneyland, by booking tickets online now. Check GetYourGuide and Klook for fun experiences all around Japan.
- Stay Connected: Order a pocket WiFi for airport pickup if you’re traveling with family or with a large group. Solo traveling to Japan? Order a SIM card just for you.
- Pack Your Essentials – Check out my posts about Long Term Travel Gear, and Carry-On Luggage Packing Essentials.
- Read more on my Travel Resources page!
One thought on “52 Weird and Unique Things To Do In Tokyo”
We definitely need to get back to Tokyo. We crossed some of these off our list but still have a few still to do. Great list. I love how there are so many unique things to do in Tokyo.