Tokyo is a LOT. It would be easy to build a one-week itinerary just in Tokyo but I get exhausted just thinking about it. It seems so much busier and hectic than what I remember from 20 years ago, which I think reflects how popular Japan is as a tourist destination at the moment.

The photo above is from Meiji Shrine, which is in a forest oasis in the middle of the city (we even saw a snake!). Looking at this photo now I cannot believe there is no-one in the background, it was pumping at the time and a wedding procession walked through the courtyard minutes after this photo was taken.

To stay sane, I'd personally prefer to stay in Tokyo for no more than 2 consecutive nights at any one time. In and out. Good time not a long time.

That said I can't seem to bring myself to skip it completely. This post is completely self-centred: here are two things I'd like to do in the big smoke.

Go to a baseball game

I can't say I've ever spent much time thinking about baseball, but I care deeply about seeing passionate Japanese sports fans en masse. Heading to a baseball game to people-watch is something I would love to do. There are two Tokyo teams: the Yomiuri Giants, and the Yakult Swallows. The Swallows are the underdogs and play in an open air stadium, which I think is slated for demolition/redevelopment - and so are the team I'd like to see. And that's not even taking account of their sponsorship by a wholesome probiotic yoghurt drink. Here are the Swallows fans in action with their signature umbrella dance.

Looks like games wrap up in September so the timing may or may not not work. But one day Swallows, one day...

Browse bookstores in Jimbocho

Many suburbs in Tokyo seem to specialise in a niche retail area. I have been to neighbouring Kanda-Ogawamachi, which specialises in selling ski gear of all things (so convenient!), but not to Jimbocho, which was voted by Time Out readers as the world's 'coolest neighbourhood' in 2025.

Jimbocho's speciality is used bookstores. There are somewhere between 150-180 in the area. Many of the stores will stock only Japanese books, but as an intellectual hub the suburb also has many stores selling art, art supplies and stationery, cafes, antiques and the like.

Keen to see what intellectuals look like in 3D, since I don't know any personally.

Is that it?

There are a gazillion other things to do in Tokyo, and there are so many recommended itineraries online with 'must see' lists. Art galleries, architecture, food tours, shopping, watching Sumo etc. I always have fun in Tokyo and am totally happy to do anything, but in terms of things I would advocate for I can only think of baseball and Jimbocho right now.