1 week ago
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Raining in Tokyo? Convenience stores will sell both umbrellas and light rain gear, think cheap plastic jackets that will keep your hands free. Stores like Tokyu Hands and Loft sell folding umbrellas that can be made into a small package for keeping in your bag. The quality of these are very good.
Some ideas for indoor activities to enjoy while staying dry.
Department stores. Peruse the basement depachika food halls but also explore the upper floors. Some department stores are like museums with tableware and kitchenware.
Museums. Some of my favorites include the ukiyo-e woodblock print museums Ota Memorial Museum of Art and the Sumida Hokusai Museum. The Nezu Museum with its traditional Japanese garden. Of course there are the institutions like the Mori Art Museum, The National Art Center, and the Tokyo National Museum. Some museums require tickets purchased in advance like the Yayoi Kusama Museum and Ghibli Museum for and insight to Hayao Miyazaki and his films.
Azabudai Hills is an exciting mall in Tokyo connecting three tall towers. Lots of exciting restaurants and shops here. In particular I love the Okume dashi store that sells dried ingredients such as katsuobushi smoked skipjack tuna flakes and kombu kelp for making dashi stock. The venerable store dates back to 1871.
Broadway Nakano is a cool spot to see Japanese pop culture under one roof for shops selling anime and manga character goods, and a basement with food, but not like the upscale department store depachika food hall, more like a local supermarket.
Near Shibuya Station are many buildings to explore. I love Hikarie as there is D47 which is a cafe, retail shop, and museum that promotes hyper-local products from throughout Japan. There are 47 prefectures in Japan.
Major train stations will have chikagai underground malls. One day a girlfriend and I had planned to do a walk, but it was pouring. So we met at Tokyo Station and walked the underground mall for two hours. That is how big it is! Some chikagai underground malls are at Tokyo, Shinjuku, and Shibuya.
Finally, I love to go soak in an onsen hot springs when it’s raining. In the city there is LaQua and Toshimaen Niwa no Yu. I love these bigger ones as there are rooms with lounge chairs for taking a nap post soak and restaurants. I haven’t been, but these are on my radar: Edo-yu Ryogoku and Musashi Koyama Onsen Shimizu-yu.
What are your rainy day activities in Tokyo? Let me know, please. 🙂
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