Tokyo is filled with places to see and things to do. You could spend weeks in the city and still not experience everything Tokyo has to offer. Some of its popular tourist spots are well-known, such as the Tokyo Skytree, Shinjuku National Garden, or Meiji Jingu Shrine. However, there are also plenty of “hidden gems” that are a little off the beaten path but are definitely worth checking out for tourists.
A recent article from Mezamashi Media interviewed tourists about their favorite lesser-known travel spots in Tokyo. They highlighted a mix of cultural sites, shopping experiences, and even a few places to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here are tourists’ favorite “hidden spots” in Tokyo, according to the magazine.
Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo Ward
Picture: tobyhoward / PIXTA(ピクスタ)
The Nezu Shrine, one of Tokyo’s oldest shrines, has been in its present location since 1705. Legend claims that the Shinto shrine was first established in Sendagi many centuries ago by the folk hero Yamato Takeru, who dedicated the shrine to Susanoo-no-mikoto, the god of sea and storms. Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi moved the shrine to what is now Bunkyo Ward to celebrate the naming of his successor, Ienobu.
Today, the Nezu Shrine honors five deities. It is home to several designated important cultural properties, including the central honden building, outer lattice walls, and a two-story romon gate. Visitors can walk along a path of bright red torii similar to those found at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Many treasures and cultural items are on display at the shrine, including swords, masks, painted scrolls, and more.
Tourists particularly enjoyed the torii path, calling it beautiful and appreciating that it was not as crowded as similar locations such as Kyoto’s famous “thousand torii.” While the Nezu Shrine is open to the public all year long, one of the best times of year to visit is in April, when the shrine hosts its annual Azalea Festival, during which attendees can view dozens of different types of azaleas as well as dances and other performances.
Mipig Cafe
Picture: Mipig Cafe website
Animal cafes – relaxing places where visitors can enjoy coffee, tea, sweet treats, or even meals while interacting with various animals – have been all the rage in Japan for several years. Cat cafes are the most widespread and popular, but there are also dog cafes, reptile cafes, bird cafes, and even otter cafes.
One of the most unique is the Mipig Cafe, which has over a dozen locations in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyushu, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and more. In Tokyo, there are currently six Mipig Cafes: Meguro, Asakusa, Ikebukuro, Musashi-murayama, and two in Harajuku. At Mipig, visitors interact with micropigs, a breed of small pig originating in the UK that are often kept as pets.
A staffer at the Harajuku Takeshita-dori location told a Mezamashi Media representative that approximately 90% of their customers are foreign tourists. Tourists who were interviewed explained that they gravitated to the cafe because of its cute aesthetic and unique experience: cat cafes have begun to spread abroad, but there are not currently equivalents to Mipig Cafe outside of Japan.
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In addition to allowing guests to meet and interact with the pigs, Mipig Cafe also works with individuals who want to adopt a micropig pet of their own, providing instruction and guidance. They also host educational events such as lectures about micropig husbandry and summer programs where children can learn how to interact with micropigs for the first time.
Joyful Minowa Shopping Street, Arakawa Ward
Picture: skyyokohma / PIXTA(ピクスタ)
There are dozens of shopping streets throughout Tokyo, selling everything from food to clothing to souvenirs, electronics, and even pets. Stretching from Minowabashi Station to Arakawa-itchumae Station, Joyful Minowa is an over 400-meter-long line of stores and cafes first established in 1919. Although it’s over one hundred years old, it is still a bustling and popular location today that locals and tourists alike enjoy visiting.
Today, the shopping street is popular for its Showa-era retro atmosphere and focus on delicious food; Joyful Minowa contains multiple cafes, both classic and modern in style, a bakery, a soba shop, a gyoza shop, a coffee roastery, and more. The official website for Joyful Minowa lists over fifty stores and stalls currently operating in the shopping street. There’s even a karaoke spot, a guest house, and a public bathhouse that’s perfect for relaxing after a long day of shopping.
Street food enjoyers can snack their way down as they look for souvenirs and other interesting finds. Particular highlights include ginger fritters, Minowabashi Toden Blend coffee, skewers of yakitori from popular local spot Torifuji, and gyoza at an unbeatable price of just 300 yen for a pack of eight. There are also several cafes where shoppers can sit down and take a break while enjoying treats such as soda, pudding, ice cream, and more.
Tourists interviewed for the article praised the retro atmosphere of Joyful Minowa and listed multiple types of delicious food they were able to enjoy, including sashimi, ramen, and, of course, gyoza. Some tourists were even able to participate in a cooking class, where they learned how to make traditional shoyu ramen. It’s no wonder that Airbnb named Arakawa Ward as one of the most popular Summer 2025 booking spots in not just Tokyo, but all of Japan.
There are many more hidden gems out there…what’s your favorite?
These are only a few of the many “hidden gems” that can be found around Tokyo. It’s truly a city where you never run out of things to do, no matter how long you stay. Visitors to Tokyo should definitely step off the beaten path – you never know what you might find just around the next corner.
What is your favorite lesser-known travel spot in Tokyo? Let us know in our Discord chat!
Planning a trip to Japan? Get an authentic, interpreted experience from Unseen Japan Tours and see a side of the country others miss!
“Noah [at Unseen Japan] put together an itinerary that didn’t lock us in and we could travel at our own pace. In Tokyo, he guided us personally on a walking tour. Overall, he made our Japan trip an experience not to forget.” – Kate and Simon S., Australia
See a side of Tokyo that other tourists can’t. Book a tour with Unseen Japan Tours – we’ll tailor your trip to your interests and guide you through experiences usually closed off to non-Japanese speakers.
Want more news and views from Japan? Donate $5/month ($60 one-time donation) to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund to join Unseen Japan Insider. You’ll get our Insider newsletter with more news and deep dives, a chance to get your burning Japan questions answered, and a voice in our future editorial direction.
Sources
【絶賛】外国人観光客が殺到 東京の意外な人気スポットとは?伝統文化や様々な体験「人が多くないので…」「スイスにはない」
AloJapan.com