I can’t believe it’s already been two years since my Tokyo trip in 2024. Time is running so fast – it is honestly crazy. It still feels so fresh in my mind. Finally, I found the time to put everything together! Here you will find everything your Tokyo heart could wish for.
That trip was such a special one for me. I visited the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter and completely stepped into the wizarding world (childhood dream unlocked *w*). I went to cat and dog cafés, which was pure happiness. I also stopped by that viral spot with the Tokyo Tower in the background.
I explored so many different sides of Tokyo. I went bar hopping in Shinjuku, walked through colorful Harajuku, crossed busy Shibuya and got lost in anime heaven in Akihabara. I experienced the digital art world at teamLab Planets and even visited Immersive Fort Tokyo. And yes — the Demon Slayer exhibition was happening back then, and of course I went.
And let’s not forget the food. So much good food. I am still thinking about it :)
This post is just me looking back at those days – sharing the places I loved and the little moments that made that trip so special to me ✨🇯🇵
What I did in Tokyo
For your orientation, here is a little summary of what I did in Tokyo:
I will talk about each of these in more detail below.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter (covered in a separate post)
- Instagrammable Tokyo Tower Photo Spot at Night
- Bar Hopping in Shinjuku with Smiley Walk
- teamLab Planets
- Immersive Fort Tokyo
- Demon Slayer Exhibition @ Creative Museum Tokyo (02.11.2024 – 02.03.2025)
- Harajuku (Laforet, @Cosme Store, U-Realm, Esperanto Studio, Sailor Moon Store, Q-Pot, Latte Pocket)
- Shibuya (Crossing, 109, Starbucks, Nintendo Store at Shibuya PARCO, Sakura Stage, Fast Nail)
- Akihabara (Game Center and Anime)
- Animal Cafes (Cat Cafe MOCHA & Samojede Dog Cafe Moffu)
- And of course… lots of amazing food! (Sushi, BBQ, Ramen, A Happy Pancake, i2 Café, Café 486)
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter
If you love Harry Potter as much as I do, you really shouldn’t miss Akasaka when you are in Tokyo. This area has such a special atmosphere because of its Wizarding World theme. The decorations, shop windows and little magical details make it feel like you have stepped into another world. I really enjoyed wandering around and taking in all the details – it is a perfect spot for photos and for fully enjoying the magic of Harry Potter. I also visited the Harry Potter Cafe, which is right nearby. Everything looks beautiful and themed and it really feels special sitting there as a fan. And of course, my highlight was the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter in Nerima City!
I have written a separate, detailed blog post about my full experience at the Studio Tour and everything you need to know before visiting. So I won’t go into too much detail here – but if you are curious about tickets, highlights and insider tips, please follow this link to read more: mihoshappylife.com/2025/04/26/japan-diaries-harry-potter-tokyo
☆ Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo
1 Chome-1-7 Kasugacho, Nerima City, Tokyo 179-0074, Japan
wbstudiotour.jp
Viral Tokyo Tower Photo Spot at Night
My photographer friend was very excited to capture some night shots of the Tokyo Tower, so we decided to visit the area and the well-known Instagram photo spot too – hoping it would not be too busy. I still remember back in the COVID days, when hardly any tourists could enter Japan. I basically had the place to myself and could snap so many photos without worrying about crowds. Now, the hype is real and the lines can get ridiculously long!
We were lucky this time – we had to wait, but not too long. It felt so good to finally capture a shot at the Instagrammable Tokyo Tower photo spot at night. If you want the exact location, you can find it in my full post here.
Bar Hopping in Shinjuku with Smiley Walk
During my trip to Tokyo in October 2024, I joined the Shinjuku Nightlife Tour with Miley and JE from Japan Explorer and it became one of the most memorable experiences of my visit.
I actually knew Miley from Instagram for quite a while. She used to be an idol and now works as a tour guide. We had never met in person before, so finally meeting her was really special. She was exactly like in her photos and videos – cheerful, friendly and full of positive energy. I love her so much!
We started the tour at the famous Godzilla area in Shinjuku, where our group met. It was a great mix of young and older travelers from all over the world. Our first stop was an Izakaya called Hakuritabai Hanbey Kabukicho, where we tried something unique: frog legs. They honestly taste like chicken! I had tried them before in Cambodia, but they tasted even better in Japan.
After that, we went bar hopping in Golden Gai, one of the most famous nightlife areas in Tokyo. One drink was included at each stop and after that you could order more if you wanted. One of my highlights was Bar Mexico. The elderly lady behind the bar was so funny. At one point she handed out Mexican maracas and we all started making music together. It was such a fun and unexpected moment.
JE from Japan Explorer also took many photos during the tour and we received them for free afterwards, which I really appreciated (especially as a solo traveler). He even showed us a few hidden spots in Golden Gai after the tour officially ended.
Even though Shinjuku is not really my favorite area, this guided nightlife tour made the experience much more enjoyable. Miley and JE are wonderful guides and I truly appreciated the evening. If you want to explore Tokyo nightlife, Golden Gai and Kabukicho, I can warmly recommend this tour!
☆ Smiley Walk – Tour Guides in Tokyo
Tokyo and Area
smileywalkjapan.com
Tours
– Shinjuku Nightlife Tour
– Asakusa Tour
– Night Salaryman Tour
– Girls Bar Hopping Tour
– Shibuya Tour
– Private Group Tour
Fee
Shinjuku Drinking/Nightlife Tour: 26’000 JPY
Program
17:00 Start at Godzilla Building in Shinjuku
17:15 – 18:15 Dinner @ Hakuritabai Hanbey Kabukicho
18:20 – 19:00 Golden Gai Bar Hopping
19:00 – 20:00 Second Bar (Japan Explorer’s Recommendation)
20:00 – 21:00 Kabukicho Walking Tour by JE
teamLab Planets Tokyo – A Unique Immersive Art Experience in Japan
In Tokyo, I met up with my sister and some friends who were visiting Japan for the first time. They wanted to go to teamLab Planets, an immersive digital art museum where visitors walk through interactive installations made of light, mirrors, water and projection mapping. I decided to join them since I had never been there before either.
⚠️ Important: There are two teamLab museums in Tokyo – teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless. I visited teamLab Borderless several years ago. The concept is similar (immersive digital art), but each museum has different installations.
Personally, I like both. However, if you don’t want to get wet, I recommend teamLab Borderless. At teamLab Planets, many rooms are filled with water and you walk through the exhibition barefoot. Some areas even have water up to your knees, which creates a very immersive experience.
Quick tips for visiting teamLab Planets
- Book tickets in advance – it is a very popular attraction in Tokyo.
- Wear pants or shorts you can roll up because some installations have knee-deep water.
- Avoid skirts or dresses because many floors are mirrored.
- Arrive about 15 minutes early for your time slot.
- Charge your phone – photography is allowed and the rooms are great for photos.
- Don’t bring oversized luggage – they are not allowed in the museum, but you can store them in the coin lockers at the entrance
The exhibition is designed as a one-way immersive experience, where you walk through different rooms filled with light, mirrors, water and digital art. If you want to learn more about teamLab Borderless, check out my blog post here.
☆ teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM
6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan
teamlab.art/e/planets
Opening Hours
daily 08:30 – 22:00
Entry Fee
Premium Pass:
Adults / Children (4 Years and above) 12,000 JPY~
Entrance Pass:
Adults (18 Years and above): 4’000 JPY~
Junior high school / High school: 2’800 JPY~
Children (Ages 4-12): 1’500 JPY~
Under 3 years of age: Free
Disability discount: 2’000 JPY ~
Online reservation highly recommended! ↓
teamlabplanets.dmm.com/en/ticket
Immersive Fort Tokyo – Horror-Themed Amusement Adventure in Odaiba [Permanently Closed]
Right after visiting teamLab Planets, we headed over to Immersive Fort Tokyo, since we were already in Odaiba. I really wanted to visit this location, so I convinced my friends to join me. I actually knew the building before as Venus Fort, Tokyo’s unique Venetian-style shopping mall. It had closed for a while and reopened as something completely different. I assumed it was just some new entertainment spot, but when we got in line, everyone else already had tickets ready… I was a little surprised since I had not thought one was needed – haha – but luckily we could buy them spontaneously on our phones without any problem.
It turned out that Immersive Fort Tokyo was a mix of amusement park-style attractions, escape rooms and immersive experiences. The whole place was designed in a slightly horror-themed style, which was actually pretty fun – and luckily, we are all used to horror stuff!
The experience was a mix of interactive games, digital effects and themed rooms, making it really engaging. It was not too scary (at least not for us), but it had enough thrill to make it exciting. Sadly, Immersive Fort Tokyo closed on 28 February 2026. I am really curious to see what will open here next.
☆ IMMERSIVE FORT TOKYO
1 Chome-3-15 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
immersivefort.com
Opening Hours
Sadly, Immersive Fort Tokyo permanently closed on 28 February 2026.
Demon Slayer Exhibition @ Creative Museum Tokyo
[02.11.2024 – 02.03.2025]
My absolute highlight in Tokyo was this Kimetsu no Yaiba exhibition, which had just started on 2 November 2024! I happened to be back in Tokyo around the same time and I really wanted to snag tickets. It was actually easier said than done and I am so grateful my mum helped me out. As a foreigner, I couldn’t book the tickets online properly, and paying for them ended up being quite a hassle. I had to use the ‘pay at a convenience store’ method, which had to be done on the same day. And guess what — it was almost midnight when I tried to get the tickets! It was hectic, but in the end, I got them and couldn’t wait to see the exhibition.
The exhibition was held at the CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO in Kyobashi, Tokyo. It focused on the Hashira, the nine highest‑ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps, and brought their world to life in a huge immersive space. The exhibition displayed about 1’000 original drawings, life‑sized installations, video exhibits and interactive audio experiences.
Each area explored the unique personality and story of a different Hashira and there were dedicated zones that let you hear their iconic lines or see character backstories. There was a special Demon Slayer‑themed café that required a separate ticket, so I couldn’t go, but I did get some amazing exclusive merchandise.
The whole thing was incredibly popular – and honestly, no wonder. Kimetsu no Yaiba is one of the biggest anime series in the world and seeing the characters displayed like this was something I will never forget. And the best part? For the entry ticket, I got to choose a Hashira card – of course I chose Giyu‑sama hehe!
☆ CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO
1 Chome−7−1 TODA BUILDING 6, Chuo City, Kyobashi, Tokyo 104-0031, Japan
creative-museum.tokyo/exhibitions/kimetsu
Opening Hours
This was a temporary exhibition running from 2 November 2024 to 2 March 2025
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba “Exhibition of Hashira -to the Infinity Castle-“
Harajuku
Harajuku is a must-visit whenever you are in Tokyo. Even though I have been there many times, I am always amazed by how the shops keep changing and evolving. This time, I stopped by Laforet, @Cosme Store, U-Realm, Esperanto Studio, Q-Pot Café, Latte Pocket and plenty of other spots along the way.
I started at Laforet, a shopping mall known for its fashion and trend-focused boutiques. Every time I go, I notice something new — the styles are bold, different and really inspiring to walk through.
☆ Laforet Harajuku (Fashion Mall)
1 Chome-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
laforet.ne.jp
@Cosme TOKYO
One of my stops was the @Cosme Store, a must-visit for anyone who loves beauty. It is the physical version of @cosme, Japan’s biggest cosmetics review site, so everything in the store is organized by popularity and customer ratings. You can easily see what is trending right now — from skincare essentials like face washes and serums to makeup staples like foundation, powders and more!
☆ @Cosme TOKYO (Beauty & Cosmetics)
1 Chome-14-27 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
cosme.net/store/flagship/tokyo
U-Realm Hair Salon & Esperanto Photo Studio
I also visited U-Realm and Esperanto Studio. U-Realm is my go-to hair salon – if you are looking for a haircut or a glossy, shiny hair treatment, this is the place to go! Esperanto Studio is a photo studio I first discovered in Kyoto and I absolutely love it – the staff are wonderful and the photos always turn out beautifully. I have written a separate blog post about both, so you can click the links for more details.
☆U-Realm (Hair Salon)
東京都港区南青山3-6-7btowa 南青山2F-D
3 Chome−6−7 B-Town, ２F-D, Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
+81 3-6384-5020
u-realm.com
Check out >> my blog post << for detailed information
☆ Esperanto Kokoro Minami Aoyama Studio (Photo Studio)
3 Chome-4-5 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
tokyo.studio-esperanto.com
Check out >> my blog post << for detailed information
Q-Pot Café
Japan has so many pretty cafés, but one place I keep coming back to is the Q-Pot Café!
It is one of my favorite afternoon tea spots – even though a colleague once said it was just “okay” (I still disagree, haha). What I really like is that the price feels fair and you can even order the afternoon tea for one person. In Japan, many places only offer it for two people or more, so that is a big plus for me.
Also, it actually tastes really good. A lot of afternoon tea sets look amazing and super instagrammable, but the taste is often just average. Here, it is different. My personal highlight is always the croissant sandwich – I look forward to it every time. And somehow, I always end up picking the Halloween set… not even on purpose, it just happens since I somehow travel mostly during Halloween, haha.
Definitely recommend if you are looking for a cute and tasty afternoon tea spot in Japan.
☆ Q-Pot (Cafe)
3 Chome-4-8 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
q-pot.jp/cafe
Reservation recommended (especially for Afternoon Tea):
booking.ebica.jp
Latte Pocket
Japan is, of course, known for its cute café culture – whether it is cafés or restaurants, the options are endless.
Thanks to a friend from Australia, who I originally only knew through social media, I discovered this adorable café called Latte Pocket. By pure coincidence, we were in Tokyo at the same time, and after so many years, we finally met in person. It was such a special moment – and we got along so well. Latte Pocket is a small, cozy café known for its incredibly detailed latte art. I went for the classic hedgehog design, but honestly, they can create almost anything – it is really interesting to watch. The drinks taste great too, not just cute to look at.
Overall, it was such a lovely experience, both because of the café and the company. Definitely a place I would recommend if you are in Tokyo and love creative coffee spots.
☆ Latte Pocket (Cafe)
4 Chome−28 ４ARES GARDEN 表参道 1F, Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
instagram.com/lattepocket2023
Shibuya (Crossing, 109, Starbucks, Nintendo Store, Fast Nail, Sakura Stage)
If you are in Shibuya, there is honestly so much to do! These are some of my personal highlights from my trick back in 2024:
Shibuya Crossing
Of course, I had to visit the iconic crossing. No matter how many times you see it online, it is still such a surreal experience in person.
Shibuya 109
A classic for shopping – especially if you are into trendy fashion. I always like stopping by to see what is current in Japan. P.S. The Shibuya 109 I mentioned is mainly for women. There is also a men’s version (109 Men’s) right across from the Starbucks.
Starbucks (Shibuya Crossing View)
For the first time, I actually went inside the Starbucks right in front of the crossing. I used to avoid it, but since they renovated it, I was curious.
Shibuya PARCO
A must-visit if you are into gaming and anime. It has the Nintendo Store, Jump Shop, Pokémon Center and lots of other Anime shops. Definitely one of the best places to explore.
☆ Nintendo Store @ Shibuya PARCO
15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0042, Japan
shibuya.parco.jp/
Check out >> my blog post << for detailed information
Shibuya Sakura Stage
A newer, more modern complex that combines everything: shops, cafés, restaurants and even offices. It is especially fancy at night with all the lights. Perfect for a relaxed evening walk.
☆ Sakura Stage Shibuya
1-1 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0031, Japan
shibuya-sakura-stage.com
Fast Nail (little side story)
I spontaneously went to get my nails done before the shoot at Esperanto. Turns out (like most nail salons in Japan), they specialize in gel nails… so I accidentally ended up with gel nails, haha. But they turned out really pretty! Note to my future self: French nails without gel are basically impossible in Japan. Also, getting an appointment without a reservation is really hard (I had to try so many places before finally booking a slot through Hot Pepper Beauty, lol)
☆ Fast Nail Shibuya
1 Chome−24−15 ヒューリック渋谷宮益坂ビル 5F, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan
beauty.rakuten.co.jp
Reservation recommended (via Rakuten Beauty):
account.rakuten.com
Akihabara (Game Center and Anime)
Akihabara used to be a place I visited all the time – probably for one main reason: Maid Cafés and Mokeke, haha. But on my last trips, I hadn’t really gone back. I often did not have enough time, and sadly, the Mokeke selection at the UFO store has gotten smaller (or meanwhile disappeared?!), which I found a bit disappointing.
Still, I decided to stop by again and visited Radio Kaikan. It is a huge building with around 10 floors full of shops; trading cards, anime merch, figures, dolls, DIY kits and so much more. It is perfect for just browsing, especially since the merchandise changes quite often.
I also wanted to check out a Taiyaki stand I had seen on Instagram, just around the corner. The reason? They sold Magikarp-shaped Taiyaki (yes, the Pokémon, haha). In the end though, I still went for the classic red bean paste filling – because if you are having Taiyaki, it has to be the traditional one, in my opinion. And it was really good!
By pure coincidence, a cabin crew colleague of mine was in Akihabara at the exact same time with his girlfriend, just a few minutes away from me. We met up very spontaneously, went to a game center for a Taiko no Tatsujin battle and then treated ourselves to some delicious soba. The company made it even more special.
Animal Cafes (Cat Cafe MOCHA & Samoyed Dog Cafe MOFFU)
I probably don’t need to say it, but Japan is famous for its animal cafés (although honestly… what isn’t Japan known for?). If you know me, you know I somehow always end up in one – usually a cat café.
This time, I visited a MOCHA Cat Café in Shinjuku. It is one of my favorite cat café chains in Japan. As always, the atmosphere was very relaxed, and I really love the beautiful wooden interior, which makes everything feel calm and cozy. Some of the cats were wearing little Halloween costumes, which I felt a bit sorry about, but some of them seem used to it (and dressing up pets is quite common in Japan…).
☆ Cat Cafe MOCHA Lounge Shinjuku
3 Chome−31−5, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
catmocha.jp/shop/shinjuku
Opening Hours
daily 10:00 – 21:00
Last Entry: 20:30
Entry Fee
Weekday: every 10min 297 JPY / max. 3’960 JPY
Holiday: every 10min 385 JPY / max. 4’620 JPY
And for the first time ever, I also went to a dog café! The Samoyed Dog Café Moffu in Harajuku had just opened and a colleague told me about it. The dogs were incredibly cute – honestly, perfect for cuddling. They were still quite young though, so they barked at each other a lot (the staff said that is normal).
Personally, I thought the café was nice, but a bit too crowded and slightly small for the number of people and dogs. The staff were very friendly though and even helped take photos. I mostly just enjoyed spending time with the dogs – petting them, watching them nap and giving them snacks.
One thing to keep in mind: it is not cheap and your time is usually limited to one hour. I would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance.
☆ Samoyed Dog Cafe Moffu Harajuku
3 Chome−21−21, Aristo Harajuku B1, Shibuya, Jingumae, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
samoyedmoffu.com
Opening Hours
Weekdays: 11:00 – 20:00
Weekends & Holidays: 10:00 – 20:00
Last Entry at 19:00
Entry Fee (1 Hour + unlimited drinks)
Weekdays: 3’995 JPY
Weekends & Holidays: 4’665 JPY
All about Food
BBQ BeBu-Ya
We celebrated my sister’s birthday here with all-you-can-eat and drink; it is quite affordable and they offer different set options. It used to be one of my favourite BBQ places, but I feel like the quality has slightly declined over the years… We definitely had a lot of lemon sour that day, haha.
P.S. When it’s someone’s birthday, people in Japan are incredibly thoughtful and helpful, and many places offer special little services. They even prepared sparklers and a small dessert for my sister! (I made a prior inquiry)
☆ BBQ BeBu-Ya (all you can eat & drink possible)
Udagawacho, 31−1 HULIC & New SHIBUYA 5F, Shibuya, 150-0042 Tokyo, Japan
shop.bsp-j.com/detail/Be_shibuya
Reservation recommended:
tabelog.com
BBQ 0-second lemon sour Sendai Horumon Yakiniku Barbecue
One of my favorite BBQ chains with an all-you-can-drink lemon sour option for just ¥550, which is honestly very dangerous but also very fun.
☆ BBQ 0-second lemon sour Sendai Horumon Yakiniku Barbecue Tokiwatei Shibuya
All you can drink Lemon Sour for ¥550 !
1 Chome−5−5, Fujiki Building (2F), Dogenzaka, Shibuya, 150-0043 Tokyo, Japan
store.zero-tokiwa.com
Reservation recommended:
tabelog.com
A Happy Pancake
A must-visit for fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes; I especially loved the chestnut pancakes (seasonal menu), they were so good.
☆ A Happy Pancake Shibuya
1 Chome−18−8 Nishinaya Building 3F, Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan
magia.tokyo
Reservation possible:
tabelog.com
i2 Café
A spontaneous stop between appointments, small but lovely, and the Shokupan bread was delicious.
☆ i2 Café
3 Chome−9−1 ABLIM, Minamiaoyama, Minato City, 107-0062 Tokyo, Japan
instagram.com/i2.cafe
Reservation possible:
tabelog.com
Café 486
A Korean-style café I probably wouldn’t have found without a friend; we went for the croffle (croissant waffle) and both taste and appearance were amazing. The whole café had such a cute, aesthetic vibe and it was honestly the perfect little sweet stop.
☆ Café 486
4 Chome−8−6 Maple House, BF-1, Shibuya, Jingumae, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
instagram.com/cafe486__
Reservation possible:
tabelog.com
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