Featured on our Yokohama Tour, you can design your own cup noodles at The Cup Noodle Museum. The Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama is a fun, interactive, hands-on museum that depicts the history and creation of the instant ramen package and cup noodles. The instant ramen package was created in 1958 by the founder of Nissin Food Company, Momofuku Ando. The Cup Noodles was invented later on by him in 1971.

A long with a short movie, and exhibits to show the history the Nissin Food Company and Momofuku Ando, there is the My Cup Noodle Factory where you can create and design your own Cup Noodles to take home. You first receive and empty Styrofoam cup where you can draw your own designs on it. After choosing your special design you bring it over to the factory area where you choose your soup flavor and toppings! You can watch it being made right in front of you too!

Entrance Fee: 500 Yen General admission. 400 Yen to make a Cup Noodle.

Photo credit: Where in Tokyo

Address: 2-3-4 Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0001

Hours: Closed Tuesdays, 10am - 6pm

*If Tuesday is a National Holiday then it is open and closed the next day.

Website: https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/yokohama/

How to get there: A 10 minute walk from Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line.

*Cup Noodle Factory is in Yokohama, not Tokyo, however it is only about a 30 minute train ride away.

 

Want to have a hot spring getaway without leaving Tokyo? Look no further than Oedo Onsen Monogatari. It’s a public bathhouse in central Tokyo that’s part theme park, part bathhouse and part ryokan inn. This hot spring theme park features 13 different hot spring baths, an open air bath, foot bath, spa, massage, restaurant, relaxing space, mini soccer court and traditional carnival games at their edo style plaza.

Upon entrance into the bathhouse, you are given a yukata (light kimono) to wear to roam around the place. After soaking and relaxing in their bath, walk around in your yukata and try traditional Japanese snacks and sweets and try some traditional carnival games. If you’re tired you can go rest in their large lounge area where you can lay to rest and maybe even take a nap! If you feel like spending the night you can also reserve a room in a traditional Japanese styled room and sleep on a futon in a tatami matted room.

Entrance Fee: Entrance fee can change depending on time and day, but ranges from 2100-2500 yen which includes entrance, bath towels, bath fee and yukata robe.

Photo credit: Agoda

Address: 2-6-3 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064

Hours: 11am - 7am

Website: https://daiba.ooedoonsen.jp/en/#access

How to get there: A 2 minute walk from the Telecom Center Station on the Yurikamome Line.

 

Being near a waterside bay and having many rivers comes in handy for Tokyo as alternative route options to get around the city. There are a few companies that run boats to get around the city. The Water Bus, is a unique option to tour Tokyo and a different alternative to trains and taxis. Most notably conveniently locations for the Water Bus are the man made islands a long the Tokyo bay - especially Odaiba and it’s entire shopping and entertainment complex. Another notable location where the Water Bus leaves from is the Hamarikyu Gardens and Asakusa Pier.

Most of the Water Buses are operated by The Tokyo Cruise Ship Company and travel up and down the Sumida River - a very famous river in Tokyo. It also has access to the popular Eastern and Northern parts of Tokyo such as Asakusa and Ryogoku.

Entrance Fee: Depending on your destination and location, tickets can range between 400-2000 Yen.

Photo credit: Suijo Bus

Address: N/A

Hours: Depending on location and destination first buses leave around 10am and last ones about 4-5pm.

Website: https://www.suijobus.co.jp/en/

How to get there: There are multiple piers and stations which are shown below on a map.

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

Opening up in 1983, Tokyo Disneyland is the first Disney theme park to be opened up outside of the United States. It’s modeled after the Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Both Disneyland and it’s companion park Tokyo Disney Sea are the only Disney Parks not owned by The Walt Disney Company (although creative control is under Disney).

The park features seven themed lands throughout the park. Some of it’s highlights include the Star tours, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and foods such as Japanese curry and tapioca!

Entrance Fee: 8200 Yen for adults, 6900 Yen for ages 12-17, 4900 Yen for ages 4-11

Photo credit: Matcha JP

Address: 1-1 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0031

Hours: 9am - 10pm

Website: https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/index.html

How to get there: Get off at Maihama Station on JR (Japan Railway) Keiyo Line / Musashino Line. For more detailed info check here.

 

Located right inside the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, this medium sized, ultra modern aquarium is a one of a kind. The aquarium utilizes lights, colors, sounds and images fused within the aquarium for a unique user experience. It’s famous for it’s dolphin show which differs depending on the season and time of day and their jellyfish exhibit which puts you inside a galaxy of jellyfishes.

Entrance Fee: 2300 Yen for adults, 1200 Yen for middle/elementary school students, 700 Yen for 4 years and above.

Photo credit: Prince Hotel

Address: 4−10−30 Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo 108-8611 (Inside Shinagawa Prince Hotel)

Hours: 10am - 10pm

Website: http://www.aqua-park.jp/aqua/en/

How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Shinagawa Station on the JR Line. Located right inside the Shinagawa Prince Hotel.

 

Built in 1958, the Tokyo Tower is the second tallest structure in Japan standing at 333 meters tall which beat it’s inspiration by just 13 meters - the Eiffel Tower. It was the tallest structure in Japan and acted as a main broadcasting tower until 2012, when the Tokyo Skytree was completed as a much taller broadcasting tower. The tower still is intended for broadcasting with major companies like Fuji, Asahi and NHK still using the towers antenna. The tower is a unique symbol for Tokyo especially after World War II - a powerful mark for recovery and rise to a major economic power.

Under the tower, there is Foot Town which is a multi-story building that houses souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants and One Piece Tower - an indoor amusement park.

Entrance Fee:

Main Deck (150 meters): 1200 Yen for adults, 1000 Yen for high school students, 700 Yen for 7-15 years old, 500 yen for 4-6 years old

Top Deck (250 meters + main deck included): 3000 Yen for adults, 2800 Yen for high school students, 2000 Yen for 7-15 years old, 1400 yen for 4-6 years old

Photo credit: Japan Railpass

Address: 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0011

Hours: 9:00am - 11pm (last admission 10:30pm)

Website: https://www.tokyotower.co.jp/en.html

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Akabanebashi Station, Akabanebashi Exit on the Tokyo Metro Oedo Line, a 7 minute walk from Kamiyacho Station, Exit 1 on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.

 

This broadcasting and observation tower is the tallest structure in Japan at a staggering 634 meters (2080ft) which also makes it the tallest tower in the world and the second tallest structure in the world behind the Burj Khalifa. Opening in 2012, the Skytree overtook the Tokyo Tower’s job as the Kanto regions primary television and radio broadcasting site as the Tokyo Tower became overcrowded with surrounding high rise buildings.

The tower also features many shops within the structure such as the Tokyo Solamachi with over 300 shops and restaurants, Tokyo Skytree Town, the Sumida Aquarium and many other attractions.

Entrance fee:

The tower has 2 viewing decks which differ in price. Prices also vary depending on age and time of the year. With all these considered the prices can range from 500 - 4200 Yen.

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-8634

Hours: 8:00am - 10pm (last admission 9pm)

Website: http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

How to get there: Direct access from Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line or Oshiage Station on the Tokyo Metro Asakusa and Hanzomon Line and Keisei Oshiage Line.

 

Established in 1882, Ueno Zoo is the oldest Zoo in Japan. Aside for a recreational usage, the zoo also serves as a forerunner for wildlife conservation and public education. As an effort to breed endangered species, the Ueno Zoo has created the Gorilla Woods and Tiger Forest. It currently houses over 3000 animals and 400 species. As a bonus, the zoo also features a 5 story pagoda and traditional tea house to give the zoo a more Japanese feel.

Some of the popular animals in the zoo include the Giant Panda (there are only 1800 left in the world), their elephants and monkeys!

Entrance fee:

600 Yen for adults, 300 Yen for 65&over, 200 Yen for students (13-15), Free for 12&under

Photo credit: Mainichi Shinbun

Address: 9-8-3 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8711

Hours: Closed Mondays, 9:30am - 5pm

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the following day.

Website: https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/index.html

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Ueno Station, Park Exit on the JR Lines.

 

Rich with history, the Hie Shrine is one of the most important shrines in Tokyo due to it’s impressive Sanno Festival and it’s connections with the Shogunate Tokugawa family and the imperial family. The Sanno festival is one of three of Japan’s Great Three Festivals that takes place in June in every even numbered year. For a photogenic route, take the West entrance into the shrine to be greeted with a tunnel of red torii gates - one of the most popular photographed spots in Tokyo.

The shrine is thought to have been founded by Ota Dokan in 1478 - a warlord and the man responsible for constructing the Edo Castle - but other accounts say it’s been around for longer. When Shogun Tokugawa came into power during the edo period (1603-1868) his family was a patron of the shrine and kept it within the Edo Castle. It was moved outside the castle in 1607 so the people of Edo (Edo is original name for Tokyo) can visit the shrine. From 1878-1946 the shrine served as a First Class Government Shrine.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Photo by Tom Chen on Unsplash

Address: 2-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014

Hours: 5am - 6pm (Apr-Sep)/6am - 5pm(Oct-Mar)

Website: https://www.hiejinja.net/english/index.html

How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Akasakamitsuke Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Marunouchi Lines. A 5 minute walk from Kokkaigijidomae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

 

Kanda Myojin has over 1300 years of history when it opened up in Otemachi in 730. It moved to it’s current location during the Edo period (1603-1868). Due to it being very close to Akihabara - the geek/computer savvy neighborhood - it’s popular among the otakus and tech geeks as well. You can pray for prosperity, good luck, success in business and marriage at this shrine. Kanda Myojin enshrines 3 deities: Daikokuten, who presides over bountiful harvests and matrimony, Ebisu, the god of fisheries and business and Taira no Masakado, a rebel against the Hei'an government (794–1185) whom later earned revered status. You can find their beatiful statues inside their large complex. The shrine also features a shop and cafe where you can get souvenirs unique only to this shrine and try traditional drinks and sweets in the cafe.

If you’re lucky to visit during an odd numbered year in May (ex. 2019 May), then you can experience their very famous festival. The festival or Kanda Matsuri is considered to be one of Japan’s Three Great Festivals.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Jana Guide

Address: 2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021

Hours: 9am - 5pm

Website: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/what/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Ochanomizu Station on the JR Chuo Line. If you are in the Akihabara area, it’s about a 15 minute walk.