Keen on cultural immersion? Here is how you can get to know Japanese culture while in Tokyo.

Before entering a home, a traditional restaurant, a Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine, do remove your footwear. This is done for hygiene purposes, and also to protect the tatami—a type of mat that is typically used as flooring material in traditional Japanese rooms. For this reason alone, do remember to pack a pair of shoes that are easy to slip on and off!

As seasoned travellers know, the best way to get acquainted with any city is to go on foot. While in Tokyo, you can use the Go Tokyo website to find a suitable DIY walking tour for your family. Alternatively, visit Tokyo Localized for guided tours (both free and paid). 

For families with children, enjoy the rare chance to be a ninja for a day at the Ninja Trick House, where you can try your hand at swordplay and throwing shurikens—popularly known as “ninja stars.” 

Wondering about the difference between ninjas and the samurai? Both were involved in fighting and warfare in ancient Japan. But here is a key distinction—ninjas were trained as assassins and mercenaries and tended to have disadvantaged backgrounds, while the samurai usually belonged to noble classes of Japanese society.

Prefer a more laid-back activity? Consider the following Japanese food-related tours:

• Tokyo’s #1 Family Food Tour

• Kawaii (“cute”) food tour

• Visit a Tokyo fish market

• Wagyu and sake pairing (if you are not travelling with children)

To have a relaxing morning or afternoon, visit Spiral Design Market to check out its design store and enjoy brunch at the cafe. Look out for the gallery space, where you can catch exhibitions by emerging artists and designers. You can also partake in a Japanese tea experience, complete with traditional sweets.

Get directions to Spiral Design Market (9-minute drive from Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel)

Known as the “people’s park,” Yoyogi Park is where locals indulge in cherry blossom viewing (while in season) and people watching. On weekends, the park frequently plays host to traditional and contemporary Japanese festivals, such as food and culture celebrations.

Yoyogi Park is also famous for being a popular culture hub, regardless of whether there is an organised activity. During your weekend visit, you might run into Elvis impersonators, breakdancing grandpas, cosplayers, or young artists letting their creativity run wild. 

On less-crowded weekdays, you can create your own fun at Yoyogi Park, by renting bikes as a family to explore the park grounds. 

Get directions to Yoyogi Park (10-minute drive from Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel)

Designed to thrill the young and young at heart, Kiddy Land is a five-storey toy store with anything you could possibly dream of—it is a place to spot faddish toys or pick up some adorable souvenirs. These include anime or manga-inspired toys like One Piece, Gundam, or Sailor Moon, as well as evergreen favourites.

Get directions to Kiddy Land (10-minute drive from Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel)

Did you know that the majority of Japanese practise Shintoism, a traditional Japanese religion focusing on animistic rituals and worship at shrines? 

Immerse yourself in the heart of Japanese spirituality by visiting Tokyo’s most famous religious landmark, the Meiji Shrine. Located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji—the 122nd emperor of Japan—and his wife.

Travellers would be wise to avoid the shrine during major festivals, for instance, during the New Year’s Eve good luck prayers, which draws hordes of Japanese worshippers. But on a regular day, you can have your personal space and enjoy tranquillity as you watch Shinto priests offer their prayers for peace (8.00am and 2.00pm). If fate is smiling upon you, you may even get to catch a Shinto wedding ceremony in progress.

Get directions to Meiji Shrine (12-minute drive from Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel)

Curious about Tokyo’s Imperial Palace? It is the residence of Japan’s Imperial family, and the inner grounds of the palace are generally not open to the public. However, visitors are welcome to explore the East Gardens, to enjoy lush greenery and seasonal flowers, as well as to view moats, gates, and guardhouses built during the Tokugawa period (1603–1867).

Get directions to Imperial Palace East Gardens (12-minute drive from Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel)