Rain, rain, go away…actually, never mind, you can stay!
Let’s be honest, there aren't many situations where rain is fun. Maybe if you're in bed wearing PJs and sipping a warm cup of coffee? When travelling, rain may seem like your worst enemy, especially when you wanna explore your destination—unless you’re visiting Tokyo. Tokyo in the rain is actually one of the most fun ways to explore this buzzing city. If you plan it right, the rain won’t dampen your mood, it will help bring to life some hidden parts of the city you may not have realised were waiting to be explored.
Tokyo is a city that really has everything for all types of weather. The city is always buzzing and full of life. If it rains, the city doesn’t stop, so neither should you, so if you’re caught in the rain in Tokyo, we have you covered.
Here are our top 10 activities in Tokyo for a rainy day:
- Visit teamLab Borderless
- Explore teamLab Planets
- Discover Tokyo Skytree
- Experience Robot Restaurant (Permanently Closed)
- Seek thrills at Tokyo Joypolis
- Become a kid again in Legoland
- Keep warm with a Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting
- Experience a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Take a Japanese cooking class
- Relax in an onsen
- Check out Art Aquarium Museum
- Think tiny at Small Worlds Tokyo
- Go to a hedgehog café
- …and owl café!
- Try glassblowing
- Japanese Traditional Kintsugi Experience
1. Visit teamLab Borderless
Step into a world of imagination and art during an immersive experience at teamLab Borderless. This adventure will expand your mind as you wander through each of the rooms of this vast museum. This place is perfect for all the creatives out there—you’ll be amazed by the fascinating exhibits waiting around every corner! It’s beautiful, complex, and a must-try thing to do in Tokyo, especially when it’s rainy!
2. Explore teamLab Planets
teamLab Planets is truly an incredible experience and perfect for any rainy day. This immersive art exhibition will send chills down your spine and awaken your senses as you become part of the pieces on display. One highlight we truly recommend visiting at this museum is the beauty of the infinite crystal universe - it will blow your mind and provide some of the best Instagram content for your trip... which is the main reason you're there, right?
3. Discover Tokyo Skytree
Step on top of the world at the tallest building in the city:Tokyo Skytree. This is a relatively new landmark in town and the perfect experience for a rainy day. With two packages to choose from, you can either head up the 350m or 450m observation decks and witness unmatched 360-degree views of the entire Tokyo Metropolis that you won’t get to see anywhere else. The views are stunning both morning and night, so this is a fun activity to pop into your day when the weather is looking a little grey.
4. Experience Robot Restaurant (Permanently Closed)
Visiting themed restaurants is a huge part of Japanese culture and something you need to experience; certainly one of the best things to do in Tokyo when it’s pouring. You’ll witness multi-coloured laser lights, flashy dancers, and extravagant robots put on the show of a lifetime. The Robot Restaurant provides a fun evening full of amazing food and entertainment!
5. Seek thrills at Tokyo Joypolis
Tokyo Joypolis: think thrilling theme park, but with the luxury of it being indoors - what a perfect combination! It is Japan’s largest indoor theme park and should be high on your list of things to do in Tokyo. Fun has no age limit, so grab the Tokyo Joypolis Passport to get unlimited access to the park and try the myriad of rides and games. Some highlight rides for us include the Resident Evil-themed BIOHAZARD and the Phoenix Wright Ace game! With the Passport, you will be able to go in and out of the park, which means you have the opportunity to explore Odaiba or go shopping.
6. Become a kid again in Legoland
If you’re a Lego fan, then this activity is one to put on the books for a rainy day. The Legoland Discovery Centre Tokyo brings to life the amazing world of Lego. It's the perfect day for creativity, building, and adventure, especially for kids, as it keeps the restless little ones in check. That said, adults will also get a kick out of Lego City; you can take a tour of the Lego Factory and see how the bricks are made or head to the Duplo Village, which is stacks of fun... see what we did there? :-)
7. Keep warm with a Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting
What better way to keep exploring Japanese culture than a “rainy day” Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting. This tour takes you to a sake brewery in a nearby town called Sawai where you will learn the intricate process of how to make Japan’s national drink. You'll discover everything there is to know about Japan's most celebrated beverage and get the chance to sample a selection! Everything is taken care of with this guided tour, including a hotel pick-up and optional lunch, meaning you don't need to worry about being caught in the rain. Oh.. and of course, sipping sake is always a nice way to keep warm!
8. Experience a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
You probably already know, but tea is a massive part of Japanese culture. Experiencing a traditional tea ceremony is almost a rite of passage for any visitor. This ceremony is a form of art, waiting to be enjoyed and experienced. It is a great way to keep dry, as you learn the history and importance of this ceremony and enjoy delicious tea accompanied by some sweet treats. It’s also a perfect way to wash away any stress that the rain might be causing you!
9. Take a Japanese cooking class
Taking a cooking class is a great thing to do in Tokyo to enjoy a rainy day indoors. There are heaps of Japanese cooking classes that you can get your hands on, but some of our favourites include the Instagrammable Cooking Class in Asakusa and the Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Half Day Tour. Sushi is a world-famous Japanese delicacy, and these cooking classes will equip you well to impress your friends with a traditional Japanese meal once you return home.
10. Relax in an Onsen
What better way to warm up than a hot spring? An Onsen (or hot spring) is an important part of the culture, with the waters said to be healing, taking away stress and anxiety. The Oedo-Onsen Monogatari in Tokyo is the largest facility in Japan and hosts a variety of indoor and outdoor natural hot springs. You can also relax further as you spend time in the rock salt saunas, which will leave you feeling relaxed from the inside out.
QUICK TIP: The subway is the best way to get around Tokyo on a rainy day! You can purchase a Suica IC Card that can be refilled as you explore the city!
11. Check out Art Aquarium Museum
A one-of-a-kind thing to do in Tokyo is visiting the Art Aquarium Museum. This truly awe-inspiring museum is also an aquarium that showcases sealife through artistic installations. Really, you won’t find the usual round and rectangular fish tanks here! Instead, you’ll find artistic marvels like the Origamirium, a fish tank inspired by the traditional Japanese art of origami, as well as other creative installations like the Flowerarium.
12. Think tiny at Small Worlds Tokyo
As the saying goes: it’s a small world. Small Worlds Tokyo heard this and said, “Why don’t we make this literal?” This miniature theme park showcases various themed zones, such as the Kansai International Airport area with its mini planes and the Global Village that takes you throughout Asia and Europe. Anime fans will also enjoy the recreation of their fave scenes from Sailor Moon and Evangelion! Oh, and fun fact: despite Small Worlds being all things small, it’s the largest indoor miniature theme park in the world!
13. Go to a hedgehog café
They’ve got robot and maid-themed cafés, and they also have hedgehog cafés! Spend a rainy day in Tokyo with the cutest little hedgehogs housed in adorable dreamy homes at Hedgehog Home and Café. Little ones will also enjoy the little play area so they can interact with the tiny creatures. Oh, and if you book on Klook, you can enjoy an unlimited flow of coffee, black tea, green tea, and oolong tea for free!
14. …and owl café!
A visit to Owl Café Akiba Fukurou will surely keep you relaxed during downpours! Not only will you be able to see over 30 fluffy owls of different shapes and sizes, but you’ll also be listening to Mozart (the owls love classical music!). Make sure to book in advance, the cafe likes to keep visitors few for the wellbeing of the owls.
15. Try glassblowing
Want to get your creative juices flowing? Then one of the best things to do in Tokyo is to go on a glassblowing experience and create your very own glass art! To create something that’s uniquely YOU, pick out the colours, shapes, and patterns you want and let your creative muse take the lead. You can also take your creation home to commemorate the experience!
16. Japanese Traditional Kintsugi Experience
Kintsugi is a Japanese art form teaches us that broken things can be fixed and made even better! With thiskintsugi experience, you can piece together broken ceramics using golden or sparkling dust, and the results are stunning. To take your cultural immersion up a notch, you’ll wear the samue or craftsman uniform during the experience.
Ready to explore Tokyo?
Tokyo in the rain is one of our favourite ways to explore. Whether visiting museums or discovering indoor theme parks, Tokyo is a city made to be explored, come rain, hail or shine. So get your feet a little wet and experience Tokyo in a whole new way!
Now that you know the best things to do in Tokyo on a rainy day, we’ve got a little tip for you. You can save up to 62% on tickets to multiple attractions in the city using the Klook Pass Tokyo!
With this, you can access Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo, Small Worlds Tokyo, teamLab Planets TOKYO, and more with one voucher and save big time!
Only got a couple of days in the city? Check out our guide on how to explore Tokyo in just five days!
Updated by: Hana Monzon