Best 13 Indoor Activities in Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the most famous tourist destinations worldwide. Spread across a 2,194 km² area with over 13 million inhabitants, this city covers 0.6% of Japan’s total area and is among the world’s most populous metropolitan areas. In addition, this town offers visitors unlimited opportunities to explore, dine, and shop, so travelers come here all year long. This metropolitan city is unique because it offers myriad experiences. It has everything from adventurous theme parks and modern innovations to traditional and cultural sites. Even if you are stuck in the rain or not interested in outdoor activities, there are many indoor activities in Tokyo to do. If you don’t believe me, check out these handpicked activities, perfect for solo and group travelers.

Learn a Thing or Two at the Tokyo National Museum

Address: 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8712, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Entrance Fee: ¥1,000 (Adult), ¥500 (Student)

Let’s begin our trip with a tour of the Tokyo National Museum. Located in Ueno Park, this museum is within walking distance from the Ueno Station and is one of Tokyo’s oldest and largest museums. Moreover, it was initially at Yushima Seido Shrine before being relocated to its current location. Ueno Koen visitors often make their stop here.

This national museum has collected the best Japanese art and archaeological artifacts, including 100,000 individual items. Visitors will see numerous permanent and temporary exhibitions with guides. Furthermore, this museum has six buildings: Honkan, Hyokeikan, Toyokan, Heiseikan, Horyuji Homotsukan, and Kuroda Memorial Hall. Each building houses unique collections from different Japanese eras.

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Step Back in Time at Edo-Tokyo Museum

Address: 1 Chome-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0015, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: Closed for renovations until 2025
Entrance Fee: ¥600 (Adults), Free Entry (Children)

After an hour or two of touring the Tokyo National Museum, head to the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which is only nineteen minutes away. Nestled in the Ryogoku district, this museum takes visitors back to the Edo Period before the 1870s. It allows visitors to see and learn about Edo Period architecture, commercial situations, the lifestyle of the Edo people, and cultural heritage.

The museum has many models and figurines of old Tokyo buildings and attractions. You can also take pictures standing next to the collections as keepsakes. Moreover, the Edo-Tokyo Museum also holds temporary exhibitions every other month. The guides will give you a tour of the place in English and other languages.

Sadly, this museum is closed for renovation till 2025. In the meantime, you can explore its sister museum, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, in Koganei Park.

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Marvel at the Exhibitions of Nezu Museum

Address: 6 Chome-5-1 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entrance Fee: ¥1,600 (Adults), ¥1,300 (Students)

Let’s continue our museum visits to our next destination, the Nezu Museum in Minato City. This museum houses an impressive collection of East Asian and pre-modern Japanese art, including over 7,400 items and seven national treasures. You can see everything from classic calligraphy, stone Buddha statues, paper art, and ceramic collections.

Nezu Kaichiro was an avid collector who enjoyed sharing his collections with the public. After his passing, his son, Kaichiro Jr., built the Nezu Museum in 1941. He expanded and renovated this place after the Second World War. The museum is one of the popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. Many have donated works and contributed to its collection.

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Seek Shelter from Rain at teamLab Planets

Address: 6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: 9:00-22:00
Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook

If you are tired of plain old museum visits, have a change of scenery at teamLab Planets. Among ten permanent teamLab exhibitions in Japan, teamLab Planets is located in Toyosu and will be open until the end of 2027. This art museum is based on art without borders and allows visitors to explore ever-flowing art from one room to the next.

This facility has nine exhibitions centered around the Body Immersive concept. Visitors can walk through the water and become one with the flowers. One of the museum’s exhibitions allows people to feel water and koi fish swimming around. The fish later transform into flowers, allowing audiences marvelous views. They must go barefoot to get a more surreal experience.

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Interact with Sleepy Owls at Owl Cafe Tokyo Akiba Fukurou

Learn how to interact with owls at Owl Cafe Tokyo Akiba Fukurou.

Address: Japan, 101-0022 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Neribeicho, ６; Google Map
Opening Hours: 12 PM – 6 PM
Social Media: Official Website, Official Instagram, Official Facebook, Official X

You must have heard of rabbit, dog, and cat cafes. But have you ever been to an owl cafe? Japanese people consider owls to be auspicious birds and enjoy interacting with them. You can also become friends with these intelligent creatures at Owl Cafe Tokyo Akiba Fukurou. It is only three minutes from Akihabara Station.

Don’t worry if this is your first time. The cafe’s staff provides guests with an informative folder and instructs them on petting and interacting with owls. Akiba Fukurou has forty owls of different species who are friendly and used to being handled. Sessions with the owls last an hour and cost ¥1500. You can also take pictures with the birds.

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Bring Out Your Inner Child at Sanrio Puroland

Address: 1 Chome-31 Ochiai, Tama, Tokyo 206-8588, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Entrance Fee: ¥4,300 (Adults), ¥3,200 (Children and Seniors)

Good news for Hello Kitty lovers! They can meet their favorite Hello Kitty and Sanrio characters at Sanrio Puroland. This indoor theme park opened in 1990 but didn’t do well commercially. It was also temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, it is now open and provides visitors with many memorable experiences.

Sanrio Puroland has several walk-through attractions, such as Lady Kitty House, Kiki & Lala Twinkling tour, and Tree of Wisdom. It also has two dark rides: the Sanrio Characters Boat Ride and Mymeroad Drive. In addition, this indoor park hosts stage shows and seasonal parades. Finally, don’t forget to snap photos with your favorite Sanrio characters at Kiki & Lala Twinkling Studio, My Melody Garden, and Wish Me Mel Photo Spot.

Experience Childhood Nostalgia at Legoland Discovery Center

Address: Japan, 135-0091 Tokyo, Minato City, Daiba, 1 Chome−6−1, Google Map
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: ¥2,250

Did you ever play with Legos when you were kids? Most people from the ’90s grew up building Lego houses, buildings, and blocks. Although Gen Z is more into PUBG and Minecraft, Lego’s popularity hasn’t decreased. You can take a trip down memory lane at Legoland Discover Center Tokyo, designed for small kids and adults.

This place has twelve family attractions and activities, including Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, 4D Cinema, Ninjago Adventure, Miniland, Merlin’s Apprentice, and Duplo Village. Legoland also hosts Lego-themed birthday parties for children. Moreover, visitors can enjoy coffee and snacks at the Legoland Cafeteria. Finally, they can stop by the Lego shop to buy gifts and souvenirs.

Explore the Indoor Arcades of Akihabara

Address: Taito City, Tokyo 110-0006, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 11:30 PM
Popular Destinations: GiGo Akihabara 1, GiGo Akihabara Building 3, Handa Building

What could be more fun than visiting indoor arcades during rainy days in Tokyo? You can find the best arcades in Akihabara, the city of anime. This neighborhood also has many otaku stores, comic cafes, maid cafes, and electronic shops.

Akihabara’s arcades are open till 11:30, so you can drop by to play in the evening and at night. The oldest indoor arcades are GiGo Akihabara 1 and GiGo Akihabara Building 3. They were initially named SEGA Arcade Buildings before being re-branded as GiGo. Likewise, you can try your luck with prize machines in Taito Station Akihabara, HEY, Super Potato, and Tokyo Leisureland.

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Have a Fun-Filled Day at Tokyo Joypolis

Address: Japan, 135-0091 Tokyo, Minato City, Daiba, 1 Chome−6−1 3F～5F DECKS Tokyo Beach; Google Map
Opening Hours: 11 AM – 7 PM
Entrance Fee: ¥1,200 (Adults), ¥900 (Elementary, middle, and high school students)

If you are in Odaiba, visit its largest indoor theme park, Tokyo Joypolis. This place is perfect for exploring during rainy days when outdoor activities are impossible. Located on DECKS Tokyo Beach Seaside Mall’s third floor, it has over twenty attractions, including the world’s first music game coaster, Gekion Live Coaster.

Other attractions include Halfpipe Tokyo, Pirate’s Plunder, Joypoli Expedition Daiva’s Treasure and Mysterious Crest, and Spicy Taxi. You can also compete with six others at Zero Latency VR. Furthermore, visitors can experience mysterious space interactions at Icon Swarm, Mermaid Aquarium, and Bunshin. Finally, you can close your day with a light meal at D-Lounge.

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Enjoy Indoor Shopping in Ginza

Address: Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061; Google Map
Opening Hours: 7 AM – 11 PM
Popular Destinations: Tokyu Plaza Ginza, Matsuya, Seiko House Ginza

We can never exclude shopping when discussing things to do indoors in Tokyo. This metropolitan city has many shopping hubs, including Harajuku, Omotesando, Shibuya, and Shinjuku; however, if you want a one-stop shop, head to Ginza in Chuo City, where you will find everything from accessories to high-branded clothing.

Ginza has 400 luxury boutiques and department stores. Visitors can stroll around and find the shop that fits their budget. Some of the best stores are Ginza Six, Matsuya Ginza, Tokyu Plaza Ginza, Seiko House Ginza, Marronnier Gate Ginza, and Ginza Mitsukoshi. After shopping, try Ginza’s local delicacies in one of its restaurants or eateries.

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Get Traditional Theater Experience at Kabuki-za

Address: 4 Chome-12-15 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM
Ticket Fee: ￥1,000 (Full Program), ￥800 (Single Act)

Since you are already in Ginza, you might visit the Kabuki-za Theater. You will be in awe watching the classical Japanese dance-drama art form Kabuki. Unlike Broadway musicals, the cast for Kabuki performances are all male, including in female roles. These male actors are called onnagata and have quite a fanfare in Japan.

Kabuki performances are unlike anything you have seen before. They blend music, mime, dance, and costuming in a highly stylized manner. Moreover, these acts are usually four hours long, and Kabukiza Theater sells tickets for each act online and at the Single Act Box Office. Visitors can also buy Kabuki-related souvenirs for keepsakes, including samurai and ninja costumes.

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Catch the Best Shows at Asakusa Engei Hall

Address: 1 Chome-43-12 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan; Google Map
Opening Hours: 11 AM – 9 PM
Entrance Fee: ￥2,800 (Adults), ￥1,500 (Children)

If you enjoyed Kabuki performances, you will love rakugo plays at Asakusa Engei Hall. Running since 1964, this theater has been dedicated to rakugo, a comedic storytelling, for six decades. A single storyteller performs rakugo performances by wearing a traditional kimono with a folding fan.

That actor is responsible for delivering exaggerated and animated expressions and gestures and attracting the audience’s attention. Visitors can catch this comedic performance every day during the day and in the evening. However, they must be fluent in Japanese, as these performances are only available in Japanese. In addition, audiences can also watch a stand-up comedy double act, Manzai.

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Feel Big at Small Worlds Tokyo

Address: Japan, 135-0063 Tokyo, Koto City, Ariake, 1 Chome−3−33; Google Map
Opening Hours: 9 AM – 7 PM
Entrance Fee: ￥1,800 (Normal Tickets), ￥6,504 (Ticket with priority photo rights service)

Lastly, we have the iconic Small Worlds Miniature Museum in Ariake. With an area of 7,000 m2, it is one of the largest Asian indoor miniature museums. It is easily accessible from Haneda Airport and Rainbow Bridge.

Small Worlds Tokyo allows people to marvel at miniature scenes and dioramas. Tourists’ favorites are the 1:80-sized Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and Evangelion Tokyo-III. Other miniature exhibitions include the Space Center, Global Village, Crystal Tokyo, Kansai International Airport, and Nightlife in Japan. Finally, you can also sign up for a 3D figure-making program and create a 1:80 or 1:35-scale figure of yourself.

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As our list shows, staying indoors doesn’t have to be boring; you can explore many options and make the most of your Tokyo trip. Hop from one museum to another and learn about this city’s history and culture. Or, play to your heart’s content in our recommended indoor theme parks.

You can also watch the rain and the city’s hustle and bustle from your hotel room. If you are concerned about finding the best family-friendly or romantic accommodation in Tokyo, this blog can help. You can also explore restaurants for pastime; TourTeller has recommendations for the finest dining experience in this blog.