10 Unusual Date Ideas to Try in Tokyo

Gaming at Anata no Warehouse

Anata no Warehouse is quite possibly the coolest arcade you’ll ever visit. It’s designed very realistically to look like Kowloon’s Walled City, a slum in Hong Kong where criminals, gambling dens and brothels thrived until the 1970s. The arcade and games are located on the second and fourth floors and the rest is a members-only cyber café. The warehouse is located just thirty minutes from Tokyo Station, and entry is free.

1-7 Nisshincho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, +81 44 246 2360

Going undercover (this is an arcade) #streetwear #japan🇯🇵 #undercover #anatanowarehouse

A post shared by Justin Kim (@juskimbap) on Jun 4, 2017 at 6:45pm PDT

Reminiscing at Brasserie Kyushoku Toban

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be a student at a Japanese elementary school? Experience it for real by recreating school mealtime at Brasserie Kyushoku Toban. This unique nostalgic café serves meals inspired by school-issue lunches, aka kyushoku, in an authentic-looking classroom on the restaurant’s second floor.

1-4-4 Moto-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3847 0537

✯ 久々の給食🍛おかわりしちゃった😋 *. #20170610#保育参観#給食試食会#食育#カツカレー#カレー部#カレー倶楽部#カレ活#やさしいカレー#カレー最強#みどり牛乳#shokuiku#kyushoku#instacurry#curry

A post shared by SHOGO (@shog0429) on Jun 10, 2017 at 6:41pm PDT

Fishing at Zauo Fishing Restaurant

Make dinner exciting again at Zauo Fishing Restaurant, where you can eat your own catch of the day. Diners are allowed to fish for their main course in stocked tanks before it’s prepared fresh by the chefs.

3-2-9 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3343 6622

Zauo Fishing Restaurant | © Thierry Draus/Flickr

Meet the Queen of Cute at Sanrio Puroland

While Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea get most of the attention, the adorable Sanrio Puroland is a must-see for lovers of kawaii culture. Sanrio are the makers of the queen of cute, Hello Kitty, along with favorites Pom Pom Purin, Little Twin Stars and My Melody.

1-31 Ochiai, Tama-shi, Tokyo, Japan, +81 42 339 1111

Cinnamoroll and My Melody wave hello at Sanrio Puroland | © Tomohiro Ohtake/Flickr

Get grossed out at Meguro Parasitological Museum

Meguro’s weirdest museum is the Meguro Parasitological Museum, an exhibition space dedicated to providing visitors with an educational overview of parasites and their interactions with humans including preserved specimens. If that’s not enough, the library contains over 5,000 books on parasitology. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

4-1-1 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3716 1264

Inside the Meguro Parasitological Museum | © Guilhem Vellut/Flickr | © Guilhem Vellut/Flickr

Raise a glass under the stars at Planetarium Bar

The aptly-named Planetarium Bar features a large planetarium in the ceiling as the focal point of the room. Rain or shine, here you can enjoy a romantic night under the stars.

4-9-23 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3440 2595

昨日行った #プラネタリウムバー 🍹 飲みながら星が見れるなんて素敵🌠 真っ暗過ぎて写真撮れなかったから これはネットから拾った画像だけど🔞 ほんと良かった💗眠くなったけど😴 そして周りにはカップルしかいなかった #planetariumbar#planetarium#bar #プラネタリウム#バー#白金台

A post shared by Miho Shimazu (@shimazuccho) on Apr 18, 2017 at 6:23am PDT

Visit Old Edo at Komagata Dojo

Kneel down on the tatami and dig into this refreshingly unique eatery’s specialty: loaches, prepared just as they were during the Edo Period. Komagata Dojo wants to take patrons back in time to the lives of peasants in the area centuries ago. It’s named after the loaches that are the main ingredient, dojō, and not the marital arts dōjō.

1-7-12 Komagata, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3842 4001

Loach hot pot at Komagata Dojo | © hirotomo t/WikiCommons

Get locked up at Alcatraz E.R.

Fans of all things spooky and creepy will love Alcatraz E.R., a prison hospital-themed café in Shinjuku. Dine with your darling in a prison cell while being served by undead hospital nurses.

2-13-5 Dogenzaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3770 7100

#アルカトラズ #アルカトラズer #渋谷刑務所病院 #刑務所病院

A post shared by じーふー (@jifu.1103) on May 25, 2017 at 1:50am PDT

Island hopping at BaliAn Hotel and Resort

Go to Bali without ever leaving Tokyo. BaliAn Hotel and Resort is a Bali-themed resort, spa and couples’ hotel in Shinjuku, meaning you can stay for as long or short as you want in the hotel’s luxurious rooms. The Bali island resort theme is immersive without being over the top. Don’t worry about it being seedy – thanks to their special girls’ party plan pricing it’s become a popular spot for birthday celebrations and other PG activities, as well.

2-1-11 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 120 759 417

まるでバリ島。この開放感、この明るさ。 バリアンのロビーはとっても開放的。 #バリアン#バリアンリゾート#バリアン女子会#お泊まり女子会#リムジン女子会#リムジン#開放感のあるロビー#バリアンなんば道頓堀店

A post shared by バリアン　ホテル＆リゾート（公式） (@hotel_balian) on Jun 22, 2017 at 5:03pm PDT

Cooking at Buddha Bellies

Going out for date night is great, but learning how to cook for your significant other is the gift that keeps on giving. Buddha Bellies Cooking School will teach you how to make delicious, traditional Japanese food like sushi, udon and ramen. Book as far in advance as possible.

2-4-7 Kanda-Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 80 5001 9395

Missing #Japan and these udon noodles @nickstergrams and I learned how to make from scratch. #throwbackthursday #letsthrowanoodleparty

A post shared by Chloe Sorvino (@csorvino) on Nov 3, 2016 at 9:24am PDT