The Most Unusual Experiences In Tokyo

Tokyo’s reputation for the weird and zany is widely known. So there’s no better place than here to get off the beaten path and try something new. Get out there and check out some of the most unusual experiences Tokyo has to offer.

Dance with kawaii monsters

At the Kawaii Monster Cafe near Takeshita Street, you’ll meet the kawaii monsters who personify the spirit of Harajuku and the subcultures that once flourished there. Take your seat in one of four uniquely themed rooms and dine on any number of crazy rainbow concoctions, from pasta and cake to an alchemist’s drink. At the heart of the restaurant is an enormous carousel where the stage show takes place, and one lucky audience member is invited to join in each time.

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Sip lattes with owls

Visit a maid café

Maid cafés are a dime a dozen in Akihabara, Tokyo’s manga and anime culture center. Walk along the main drag and let the touts dressed in uniform show you the way, or just stroll along until you find one that catches your eye. Maid cafés are a fun, safe and totally PG, if weird, experience for all ages and genders.

Advertisement for a maid cafe in Akihabara

Stay in a capsule hotel

Capsule hotels have been around for decades, but their bare bones approach to accommodation still intrigues visitors from all over the globe. Whether you’re looking for a classic capsule experience or something more luxurious, Tokyo has one of these minimalist hotels with your name on it.

Catch dinner and a robot show

Shinjuku’s Robot Restaurant is everything you would expect from a night out in Tokyo. The idea is dinner and a show, but with a twist: some of the performers just happen to be robots. The restaurant is true to its theme everywhere except the menu, from the metallic and brightly colored décor to the adorable robot souvenirs you can pick up on the way out.

A glimpse of the Shinjuku Robot Restaurant show

Pachinko ’til dawn

Pachinko is a wildly popular game in Japan, so it isn’t difficult to find a pachinko parlor at which to try your luck. These quirky gambling dens are immediately recognizable from the loud noise and music spilling out into the street. The game is set up like a slot machine. Players sling small steel balls into the playing field and hope they’ll fall into the right cup for a payout. But if you’re wary of gambling the night away, you can try out no-risk pachinko at ordinary gaming arcades.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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