Catching the Action at Tsukiji Fish Market. Get up early your first morning in Japan (you'll probably be wide awake with jet lag anyway) and head straight for the country's largest fish market, where you can browse through stalls of seafood and sample the freshest sushi you'll ever have.
Sitting Pretty in Shinjuku. On the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (TMG), designed by well-known architect Kenzo Tange, an observatory offers a bird's-eye view of Shinjuku's cluster of skyscrapers, the never-ending metropolis, and, on fine winter days, Mount Fuji. Best of all, it's free.
Walking the Imperial Moat. It's an easy, 4.8km (3-mile) walk around the Imperial Palace moat, especially beautiful in spring when the many cherry blossoms are aflame. Don't miss the attached (and free) East Garden.
Appreciating the Beauty of Ikebana. After seeing how flowers, branches, and vases can be combined into works of art, you'll never be able to simply throw flowers into a vase again. You can learn the basics of ikebana, Japanese flower arranging, at several schools in Tokyo. Exhibitions of ikebana are held regularly at Yasukuni Shrine and department stores. Shows are often free.
Visiting Company Showrooms. Several of Tokyo's biggest companies have showrooms, including Toyota, Panasonic, and Sony, where you can ogle their latest products for free. Panasonic even has a cool house of the future (reservations required).
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
